Tuesday May 21: On to Cleveland

Friday was decision day: attempt to fix the hole we found and assume the rest of the shaft tube was ok OR go head with the original (and much more costly) plan of totally replacing the tube.

To find out, we decided to use our computer camera to investigate what the rest of the inside of the shaft tube looked like.

Step 1: again remove the shaft. Steve is getting very good at this - 5 minutes and the prop was popped off with the use of heat. Last time? 30 minutes. Guess experience DOES pay!

Step 2: thread the camera through an 8 foot piece of small diameter pvc pipe. This will make it easy to move the camera around.

Step 3: place a small mirror on a swivel next to the camera lens so we can see the sides of the tube as the camera is moved. The fit was perfect with the mirror Wendy found on our shopping trip to New Bern on Thursday.

Step 4: use the USB port to connect with the computer and we are in business!

Next cover Steve's head and the computer screen so he can see the picture on the screen as he moves the camera inside the shaft tube.

Sadly, what we found was there were more small holes and the beginnings of other holes.

I tried to include a picture of the inside of the shaft but wasn't successful - maybe later. So even though the news is not what we hoped it would be at least we are sure now that the only solution will be to totally replace the tube. Only this time it will be fiberglass and not stainless steel.

To finish up getting the boat ready to sit in North Carolina's muggy humid weather, we hung closet Damp Rid in the main and front cabins. Along with a couple of trays of kitty litter (we've heard this works - will find out for ourselves!) sitting around.








The dinghy was deflated and zipped into it's bag. Many things that might mildew were hauled off to be stored at Matt and Wendy's. Good thing they are in the area until at least October when we return - makes me wonder what we would have done if they weren't here on the Neuse River on the ICW!!

After a very enjoyable 10 days in NC, it was again time to pack our stuff in Wendy's car, go to the airport in New Bern and pick up a car to drive to Cleveland. How we get so much stuff is amazing to me!

Today was a really nice day to travel - a bit of rain for about 10 minutes and that was it. We were closing in on Cleveland quickly!!! Almost exactly 12 hours from New Bern to Julie  and Jim's place.It'll be good to see them again!