Boat repair update

We are still here at Knowles Marina, in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Here's an update on "Cruising", aka "boat repair in exotic locations" -

1. Engine and Saildrive - inside. We have had the mechanics examine the transmission (saildrive) from within the boat. There appears to be no leakage or other detectable damage on the upper part of the saildrive.  The gear oil is and remains full, even while and after running the engine at about 1000 rpm, in gear (pulling on the docklines).

2. Saildrive - under the boat. Still waiting haulout to examine the prop, driveshaft, and saildrive housing from below.  I expect that everything is either okay here or, might need some work on the prop?  I have run the engine, in gear, and there is no vibration or noise other than what we have always had. Pulls hard on the docklines - good.

3. Water leak (new problem, unrelated to saildrive) - We have a leak in our potable-water hot water heater/tank.  When we have power to the pump (pressurizing the system), water comes out of the tank bottom (not the hose fittings), and goes to the bilge.  Were thinking that we probably could not get this fixed / could not get parts / until we get back to the states. But the local mechanics (the guys who towed us here) pulled the tank out and are taking it to a local welder tomorrow - for pressure testing, leak finding, and stainless steel welding. So, we are keeping the pump off except when we need water - and then running the bilge pump to dump the water which leaks from the hoses where the tank used to be. Or, better, using the shore hose to get water. This is inconvenient, to say the least.  With any luck (we need some), they will have it fixed and back in our boat by Friday.

4. Weather - It is expected to rain and blow for the next several days.  The wind patterns are such that we have no intentions of going anywhere for at least a week. Ideally we would like a 3 day window - one day for the seas to calm down, one day to move, one day as a spare in case of trouble.  But 1-2 days seems to be all we get here, between 5 days or more of strong northers, cold temperatures (note: 60 degrees here is cold), and 5 to 9 foot seas on the outside.

5. Satellite Phone -  Seems to be working now about 80% of the time.  Am working with Global Marine Network to diagnose the problem.  Really need communication if we go anywhere away from Bahamian cell towers.

So we are here for at least a few more days.  Don't know what after that.  It is really nice being tied up at a floating dock in a boatyard where we can get things fixed.