June Operating Notes

  Hard Schedule Bid – The July Hard Schedule bid is coming up soon, please begin thinking about your trip preferences for the period September through February.  Each fractional owner will be contacted in seniority order and given a short window to get their personal use choices on the schedule.  Once all personal use weeks are scheduled, then any unused time can be turned over to charter in round two of the bid process for charter time.

o   Each owner can schedule up to two of their 5 weeks during this bid process.  

o   Weeks can be taken together or separately, but if taken separately, please allow two full weeks in between.  You do not have to take both or any weeks, you can choose to use your weeks via the rolling schedule if you choose.

o   A “week” includes any block of time that lands on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

There is a chance that Gateway II will be in operation by the September Boat’s Afloat Show, but without that being certain we have to block off show dates in September (11 - 17^th & 28 - 30). Bringing the next boat online will help create significant slack in the schedule, so please help us along by bringing friends and family into the program!

Sea Water Impellor – Gateway I’s cooling system draws in salt water from inside the starboard hull just below the water line.  An engine driven sea water impellor is what draws this water in.  The water is then moved through an aluminum heat exchanger where it is used to cool the engine coolant.  The engine coolant also has its own pump, but that impellor is much more reliable than the sea water impellor as it is not exposed to the possibility of running without water flow. 

While running the boat I immediately noticed that the temperature rose above 180 degrees.  First 185, then with higher power settings the temperature rose up to 190+.  When I returned to the marina it rose back to 190+ at idle – definitely not normal.  The good news is that Aspen designed the boat to have some water flow just from the pressure created on the inlet while the boat is in motion.  I called out our mechanic and sure enough the impellor blades were almost totally gone!

What could cause the sea water impellor to run without water?  Several things – remember that it is drawing in water pretty strongly, so things floating on or just under the surface can be drawn into the screen that covers its entrance.  Things like plastic garbage bags can be picked up quite easily and it only takes a few moments of running dry before damage to the rubber-like blades begins to occur.  Seaweed can also block the entrance, but that’s not likely while the boat is in motion.  A sure way to run the pump without water is to have the sea water intake handle closed (horizontal), which in this case it was in the proper (vertical) position.

The lesson here is to pay attention to the tempature… any temp above 180 degrees is not normal and should prompt an immediate investigation of the sea strainer, water intake handle, and it should generate a call to Gateway for help.  Also, if you are passing over debris in the water, try not to pass over it with the starboard hull if you have the choice. 

A spare sea water impellor now resides inside of the starboard oil/spare compartment.

Cutting Board – We are trying to keep one side of the stove’s wooden cutting boat in show condition.  I have now marked that side, “no cut this side.”  So if on an extended trip, please flip it over and remember that there are three plastic cutting boards under the sink, right side.

Boat mats – Please make sure to bring the Gateway Yacht blue mats inside the boat at night or if you’re leaving it unattended, that will help keep them nice, thank you.

Catering – we have been using Gere-a-Deli for catering, this is pretty easy, cost effective, and delicious!  You can examine their catering menu at their site and simply let us know what you would like and it will be waiting for you on the boat.

Kayaks are here!  Two very stable, very comfortable kayaks are now available for the boat.  They come with graphite paddles, paddle leashes, kayak life vests, and paddle gloves.

DIESEL Fuel – On a recent trip to Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal, Connie and I stopped at a little marina called “Hood Canal Marina” just north of Alderbrook for some fuel.  Generally I avoid little, seldom used, marinas as you never know how old or what condition the fuel is in, but we wanted to make sure we had plenty for the return.

The attendant came out, turned on the pump and handed me a green hose without saying a word.  I noticed the pump handle was black and so I asked, “Diesel fuel, right?” 

“Ahh, no, that is unleaded… that boat take diesel?”

“Hmmm,” I replied.  “Aren’t diesel fuel hoses supposed to be green and unleaded black?”

Nothing but a blank stare in return…

Good thing I noticed and asked.  A good attendant will ask every time, especially if they are unfamiliar with the boat as this gentleman obviously was. 

Be careful out there!