Monthly engine check

After our trip to Block Island, it was time to open up the hatches and check the engines for fluid levels and anything else that might need attention. We know a lot of people don't bother with this but ours are older engines and deserve a little extra attention.  Besides, we were brought up that way and old habits are difficult to break.

Once we down there, we checked the oil level on each engine. The port engine was down a little less than a quart so, under Frances' careful supervision, we added the needed oil.

Then we crawled down between the rear of the engines to check the transmissions. Both looked OK but we added a cup or so to the starboard transmission. Might as well get it right up to the "full" mark on the dipstick.

The V-Drives also live in a nice bath of SAE-30 oil and both of them looked fine.

Then, again as Frances supervised, we checked the belts; two on each engine. The starboard belts were OK but the alternator belt on the starboard engine had a little too much play so we hauled out the wrenches and tightened that belt up a little. Nothing bad here, just good maintenance.

On Sunday, we cleaned the bridge enclosure windows, never a fun task. We washed both sides of each panel and then applied a little Plexus, polishing with a soft, clean cloth.

While we were doing this, a dockmate arrived with his new (to him) boat, which he and a fellow dockmate had driven from Maine the day before.  Very nice boat: a Cruisers 37 Express.

It was a tight fit into our section of the marina, but she finally slid in between the pilings. Great to see old friends with a new boat on our dock. We hope they really enjoy it.