Towed Back To JBM!

 

Entry #65:

Monday, June 24th:  It was 8:30 am and I finally got the bimini and dodger re-installed. When I got to NTL last night I noticed that my work order for an oil & filter change on my Yanmar single cylinder diesel was not completed.  I don’t know what I would have done without her during those Erie storms.  She needed an oil change and I will be depending on her going through the Blue Water Bridge.  The service department opened at 8 am.  I decided to talk to them. 

My oil change was completed at 11:30 am.  In the interim, I took the time to replace my bow light bulbs with the new ones.  As suspected, the new ones were too large.  I removed the burned out port bulb and walked the mile to the marine supply store.  I was on a roll.  I presented my case.  Well not only did I get a full $50 refund (at $24.99 apiece), the correct bulbs were in stock for only $1.99 a piece!  I returned to NTL and installed the new bulbs.  I left the slip late but happy, happy.  My contentment was short lived.

The winds were coming from the west at about 10 knots and building – good I have a long way to go.  I needed to make up so I kept my engine running.   About an hour out the engine began to cut-out.  I revved the throttle to no avail.  She felt like she was running out of fuel.  I put her in neutral ran out of the cockpit with the fuel key in hand.  I quickly poured more fuel from my spare diesel container.  The engine cut nevertheless and after an hour of unsuccessfully trying to re-start her, I finally gave up and called in for a tow.  Sitting drifting helplessly about four miles out, for the first time I questioned my quixotic quest – but only for a moment.  Too coincidental.  I was not out of fuel, she ran beautifully without a hint of issues.  Something had happened in the oil change.  I called JBM service and updated them – politely. 

A little over an hour later, JBM was waiting for me when I reached my slip.   It was late afternoon before my engine was running again.  Too late to depart.  I met a friend and then my son and daughter-in-law at the Watermark, watch Michigan play Vanderbilt in the CWS.  I went back to NTL and turned in anxious for the morning to arrive.