Thursday, March-19-15.

It’s been a rather tiring week here in Marina Papagayo what with trying to get the boat ready for sea and battling with apathetic Costarican Offices. Officials at every opportunity remind us that if we very from the rules, the impoundment and taxation of our vessel was likely. But at least they weren’t still threatening to arrest us anymore.

I had a mechanic come out to the boat to inspect, bleed and refill the boats hydraulic steering system. After a sea trial the mechanic declared the helm pump needed rebuilding and with the availability of parts being no-existent here in Costa Rica, a month would be required to attempt the repair.

When asked if the pump could catastrophically fail, he said no! But it would likely get worse, sloppier steering over time. He then gave his reluctant blessing to head back to sea, that is if we dared.

The marina Lawyer is still fight on our behalf to stay long term in CR and it appears that he is making some headway but ebven if he does manage to pull this off, I’m not sure that we should stay. El Salvador is looking pretty good from here and the weather is shaping up nicely as the gales are dyeing. It still will be a “boisterous” ride But manageable.

Jan and I have decided that we will let the marine continue to see if they can get us Permitted, while we take the boat back out for another sea trial to further check out the steering, Admiral Jan wants to put the boat through maneuvers before committing to fleeing the country.

At least in El Salvador we will have time to work on the boat and make the necessary repairs. This has been a hard voyage and tough on the boat.

Aside from the steering being an issue, the solar panels don’t seem to be charging, (faulty Regulator?)And I may have a bum battery in my house bank. And of course the wind generator also decided to mutiny. So grows my list of repairs.

Anyway today is the day we decide if we go or stay and if we do go, the process will start by revisiting all the government officials that gave us such a hard time.