Airship Goes to Alaska
I took a few photos yesterday before (well, and after) all the drama. It was sunny and clear and we got quite a different view of the scenery than we did on our way out of Juneau last week as we headed to Hoonah, Elfin Cove, and Pelican (when it was socked in and rainy).
Leaving Flynn Cove yesterday morning, looking west down Icy Strait:
Lynn Canal, looking toward Juneau (before the seas kicked up):
Rounding Point Retreat (from Lynn Canal into Saginaw Channel):
After we rounded the point (before the drama), another boat (a Grand Banks called "Safari") who had been traveling the same route radioed and asked how we'd liked the ride out in Lynn. Heh. We both felt about the same: glad to be out of it. Here's Safari with some nice scenery in Saginaw Channel, also headed to Juneau:
Mendenhall Glacier:
We passed a tug in Stephens Passage towing a barge with a bunch of containers on it, and also, this little scenic railroad train car, probably heading up to Skagway.
We binoc'd it and there is no name or writing on the side, but I'm certain it's a new car for the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad. Kind of cool to think about riding that railroad from Skagway in a train car that arrived by boat.
Today the weather is (again!) sunny, mostly clear, gorgeous, and warm.
We're working with the local Nordic Tug dealer this afternoon in Juneau (and a fantastic guy he connected us up with) on our boat issues from yesterday. We'll update you after haul out (which is at high tide, in about an hour and a half)!
I’m really enjoying your blog, thanks so much for investing the time and effort into making it special. You provided a great technical description of the Cutlass bearing, I’m certain you will diagnose and resolve the issue!
Thanks so much for your note, Glen! You’re very welcome…we figure some people might wanna learn what we’re learning too! We have mostly diagnosed the issue (and it’s a pretty interesting one)! We’ll be posting a follow up when we’ve got things all fixed and back to normal. Thanks for following along with us! 🙂
Be sue to post pics of the defective cutless bearings….probably air shipping them in from the lower 48?
Cutless bearing not defective. The real problem is much juicier. 🙂 We found one cutless bearing local and we’re having another shipped up (along with a new shaft seal bellows).
Well, and to be accurate Kevin, yes, the cutlass bearings failed (we have two of them, in line, separated by about 6ft, hull mounted). We finally got them both out today and they’re completely shredded inside. As to whether they were defective, I don’t think so. Update post coming up soon (with photos).