Aboard Astraea

Invest in experiences

More Friends Visit and our First South Bay Family Race

March 25, 2013 by Nate |

On Wednesday we got a new digital camera we ordered in the mail. Natalie and I took Sullivan to the doctor’s office and then we went out to Balboa Park to play in the grass.

A pinecone!

Sullivan warmed up to the grass and played with a pinecone

On Friday Shaun and Michelle, friends from Everett, joined us for an evening sail.

Shaun and Michelle, our friends from Everett came along and enjoyed

Shaun and Michelle, our friends from Everett came along and enjoyed the sunshine

We decided to take the boat over to the public dock on Coronado and walked a few blocks over to the Coronado Brewing Company for drinks and dinner. Unfortunately, they were out of my favorite their red ale.

Natalie and I are starting a Sea Scout Ship at Chula Vista Marina. We took out one of the volunteer leaders, Alfonso, and our lone Sea Scout.

Alfonso gave Sully some lessons behind the wheel

Alfonso gave Sully some lessons behind the wheel

This gallery contains 17 photos

March 21, 2013
by Nate
Comments Off on Rebuilt Bilge Pump

Rebuilt Bilge Pump

The old and busted pump handle insert

The old and busted pump handle insert

Astraea has a Henderson MK 5 manual bilge pump in the cockpit. It sucks water from the deepest part of the bilge and gets the final water from the bottom of the bilge that the other pumps leave behind. A few weeks ago while I was pumping the pump rocker arm assembly broke and I knew it was time to rebuild the pump.

I ended up buying 3 service kits to get all the right parts. The first was the rocker arm assembly, Whale part number AS0531. When I disassembled the pump I found that the diaphragm was in good condition, but the diaphragm plates that hold it were made of aluminum and had corroded badly and needed replaced. I ordered a new diaphragm plate kit and rebuild kit, Whale part numbers AS0561 and AK8050.

The rebuild was easy, just remove a few screws, clean everything up with a rag and reinstall. The whole rebuild took just a few hours and $160.52. I bought my parts from Downwind Marine online and they were delivered two days later.

 

Rebuilt, watertight cover reinstalled and ready to go to sea

Rebuilt, watertight cover reinstalled and ready to go to sea