Position: lat S13deg34min; longW142deg44min. I've battled what turned out to be a nasty airlock in the intake to the engine saltwater pump. It all started when we noted no water flow thru the "pee hole" which empties into the cockpit scupper (more boats should have these "pee holes" as a way to determine engine water flow without resorting to hanging overboard and trying to see the exhaust.) Starting at the thru hull, I traced the intake line to the strainer, then to the pump, then to the oil cooler; you'd think this would have been an easy fix. No way. There was great flow thru the seacock, but very little out of the strainer onwards. What??!! Finally, after verifying the integrity of the pump, which meant dismantling it from the block, changing the impeller, and ensuring said impeller was rotating on the shaft (seen when the pump cover's off and the engine is quickly "goosed" ie:started), I back filled all the hoses and pump, cracked the hose clamps on the seacock (only try this with the seacock closed) and made sure there was water flow from the hose that attached to the oil cooler all the way back thru the pump, the strainer, and down to the seacock. Finally...good water flow with the engine started, and a great sigh of relief. We have no idea why we would suddenly develop an airlock, but...all cruisers know shit happens. We're presently enroute to the Marquesas. Weather has been pretty good, if you don't count the squalls and periods of no wind last night, and it's blowing 18-20 but pushing us off our rhumb line further in a north direction than we want (we'd like to be going northeast). Hopefully, we'll get a favorable wind shift tonight or tomorrow which will allow us to aim more at our destination, Fatu Hiva. Although, we've kind of decided that any landfall in the Marquesas would be really good in these conditions, so we'll see what the next 2-3 days bring!
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