Prior to leaving the dock, I tested the backup autopilot and the rudder hard locked while the autopilot began alarming. Fortunately it was an easy fix (after a bit of head scratching). The trip back to her home slip was mostly uneventful, although I did loose steering (and the rudder locked hard port) as I was entering the breakwater. Another one of those fun, OH Sh*T boating moments. I was going slow enough that I was able to back out into the bay, which was good since I could not go forward due to the locked rudder.
Again, it was an easy fix and we were tied up in the slip, safe and sound in no time.
I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how the yard had gone through all 400 gallons of water and run the water pump dry (and HOT). I could tell there was a leak somewhere, and could hear the bilge pump running every 15 minutes, but it took me a while to figure out the hot water tank relief valve was leaking and the discharge was plumbed to the deep bilge, completely out of sight.
I found a replacement valve at a hardware store the next morning and enjoyed the peace and quiet of no water pump and no bilge pump for the rest of the day! Isn’t boating fun?