Started: Titusville (N), 28°37.83′N 080°48.44′W

Anchored: Eau Gallie (N), 28°08.16′N 080°37.53′W

Log: 32.2 nm. Time: 5½ hr. Engine: 5½ hr.

Making progress toward Vero ("Velcro") Beach and some anticipated repairs. We chugged down the Indian River in beautiful weather. Sunny. Warm. Scattered Showers.

Red Ranger is anchored near the Eau Gallie bridge. This is near the library. Many cruising guides point this spot out. It has a little bit of protection from wind blowing exactly from the SSW. Any other direction and this is kind of exposed.

Our anchorage in Titusville could have been much worse in a blow — there was no cover at all. We're reluctant to squeeze into small, protected spots. We're willing to put up with rough conditions.

The town of Eau Gallie is packed with amenities that are a short walk from the water.

In spite of how nice Eau Gallie is, we're leaving Wednesday for Vero Beach. The moorings are Vero are so much in demand that boats are often rafted up. We've asked to be rafted up with Creola.

Our inverter should be arriving soon at the Vero Beach marina. We really want to get that hooked up so that we can charge the computer without going ashore. That would be a good time to look at the starter issue.

We need to avoid the Velcro effect of Vero Beach. We want to be in Miami for a Southern Whitby Rendezvous synchronized with the Miami Boat Show.

Repairs

Mr. Lehman's starter system has developed a quirk. It doesn't always engage the first time I push the starter button. I think I hear the solenoid. It's hard to be sure because the alarm buzzer is so loud. We'll need to diagnose the problem. If there's no click, it could be a failing solenoid which an easy electrical fix.

If there's a click and a whirr or a click and nothing, then it's the starter itself. That's a much more painful operation: removing the starter, having it rebuilt, and then reinstalling it. Other Whitby folks have noted that the starter is in an awkward spot and is surprisingly heavy.

The tricks appear to be to (1) wrap a strap around the starter so it doesn't drop down behind the engine and wedge itself under the motor mount where you have absolutely no leverage for pulling it out and (2) take out the top bolt and replace it with a double-ended stud. Then you can take out the other bolts and the starter will be hanging from the top bolt where you have a fighting chance to wrestle it out of the engine compartment.

Don't forget to fully disconnect all wiring from everything. There's a lot of current available in those batteries.

The solenoid is a little ball of rust. It's underneath the vented loop. So there was some saltwater drippage from the old vented loop. When I replaced it with a new Groco loop, the new loop also dripped for a while. I've since taken the Groco apart and cleaned it. It no longer drips. But the solenoid is still a little ball of rust that should probably be replaced.

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