Rudderly Ridiculous (Wednesday - May 12, 2010)

There will be no escaping Mazatlan if Jim doesn't quit finding problems! Actually, it's a good thing he noticed the corrosion on the rudder shaft because we might loose the whole rudder while sailing and then be lack-a-directional. Or worse... blub, blub blub. (Now here's the whiny part) but it is starting to get really hot and humid here. Being on the hard is hotter because of the cement below us heating up in the afternoons like a kiln! or worse... a solar oven... Bake, bake bake!

The rudder shaft will have to be constructed... from scratch. The foam has to be replaced on the inside... it was wet... filled with water (see the big wet spot underneath!). The shaft was scored where it had been rubbing for years and was weak and snappable (break in half).

I hauled another load of dishes to the lavortory in the 5 gallon bucket and washed them. I thought it was sprinkling this morning when I lobbed myself down the ladder. It wasn't rain... it was condensation falling on my head off the rigging at 7am.  I'm trying to look on the bright side... but the sun is shining and it's hot. And humid. We have rudder problems.