M/V Serenity: 15 April, 2021 Why is the bilge pump running

26 SM; 3.3 hours

Windy anchorage but the anchor was dug in and this morning it would not budge. Had to drive Serenity up and over to break free from an oyster bed. We had gust to 30 MPH last night but actually a pretty decent night in an area surrounded by marsh grass. anchorage video Normal rise and shine time, coffee, study and weather review. Kim mentioned that the aft bilge pump came on last night and ran for a while. I was sound asleep and did not hear it ever though we sleep on top of the darn thing. Hum, bilge is generally pretty dry. I checked every thing and nothing seemed amiss but it was odd.

Kim was today's captain and did the route planning, untie the lines checklist, engine checks and engine start and piloted for the first two hours. Great job. I generally do engine checks and aft bilge checks every hour. About the second hour check I noticed the gland nut at the stuffing box was leaking pretty good. A drop of water every minute is desired for lubrication of the prop shaft and stuffing box/gland nut. This was too much. I did not want to wait until our next planned anchorage 20 miles ahead so we looked for an alternative. Five miles away was the Leland Oil company/marina. Leland Oil Company I called and they had a space on their face dock. Arriving shortly before 1200, the dock master was on the dock and directed us into a space between a 50 foot yacht and a pontoon boat. A little wind assisted us against the dock. Price for the night as a very reasonable $1.50, showers, free laundry and seafood store next door. So here we sit.

I got Serenity all secure, electric connected and got the water hoses out. Normally I don't flush out the bilge in a dock, but the bilge is clean so I let the water hose run quite a while and bilge pump worked as supposed to. We are surrounded by the shrimp fleet and this is a commercial working dock so maybe a little dirty bilge water will not be noticed. The aft pump has a pick up and a electronic water sensor and debris can set it off or not let it shut off when finished. I suspect that happened last night.

Next I got the tools, and the flood light out. Then I cleaned out the aft area to access the stuffing box. Wiped the area dry and spayed a little WD-40 before loosening the gland lock nut. Next I only tighten the gland nut about 1/8 of a turn. Too tight and heat will generate on the prop shaft not a good thing. Recommendation is no drip static and one drip/minute dynamic. I have no manual, just going on recommendations from others and Albin owners forum. Any comments? Anyway, no drips static, will inspect once we are underway tomorrow for heat and appropriate drips. I suspect I maybe at the end of tightening the gland nut and the sealing flax has been compressed so much it my not seal much longer. Previous owner had it repacked in 2017, so after setting in the Florida head for a year and our 3000 miles of travel, might be time to haul Serenity out of the water and install new flax.

Narrow and deep access to stern tube and gland nut

What a jewell of a town. Following repair work I washed Serenity while POC cleaning the head and galley, then we were ready to go exploring. McClellanville, SC is a fishing town McClellanville with amazing history. It was a mile and quarter to the Dollar General, while really did not need anything, we went and the store had fresh fruit and veggies. We stocked up.

St James Episcopal Chapel 1706

Gift shop

Down town house

1000 year live oak???

Dearhead Oak; 1000 years old

Returning from our walk about, stopped at the seafood marked on the wharf and bought a pound of raw shrimp for supper. Big fresh salads and steamed shrimp for supper. Excellent end to a grateful day.