Back on the Boat!

28 February 2017

Why so long with no blog?  In a word...teeth:  broken teeth, missing teeth, dead teeth and the repair thereof! Finally after what seemed a long time of singlehandedly supporting the dental industry we were released to travel south.  We made a lovely stop at Port St. Joe, FL to spend some time with John and Lois, friends from Rochester and Jill and Bud, boating friends from Regatta Pointe.  

View from John and Lois' house at Port St. Joe

Jim, Jill, Bud and Matey

 

Seen near Apalachicola - A cautionary tale

We are now back on "Well, Why Not?" though the boat is not on the water.  It is on jack stands with hurricane tie-downs, looking rather sad with shade netting in somewhat of a disarray after the summer storms that came through.  Berries and bird droppings litter the deck.  But no mold nor mildew.

Shade netting did its job, but is a little worse for wear

Turns out we had had an unwelcome visitor (visitors?) during the summer....a cockroach!  Jim was a masterful hunter and did it in but in his unflappable style assured me that "where there is one cockroach, there are surely others". To add insult to injury what I first thought were dead no-see-ums turned out to be cockroach poop which was distributed rather generously throughout the main and aft cabin. I am not particularly squeemish, but I was not happy.  Obviously some massive cleaning was in order which given life on the hard, is not easy!  We do have running water on the boat from our water tanks, but no appropriate drainage other than a bucket under the galley thru hull.  

our drainage system

So with hot soapy water, (hot because I boiled the water on the stove) I scrubbed all of the nooks and crannies and dumped bucket after bucket, and put out cockroach bait.  No more signs of the nasty intruders, but based on everything I have read, it is not quite so easy to get rid of them so I am making no predictions at this point. Not sure what inspired them to come aboard. We had left no food on the boat, but there was a scented candle which showed telltale signs of having been nibbled on. Hope it gave one and all a gut ache!!

Jim has spent what seems to me to be an inordinate amount of time trying to fit too many tools into too small a space.  Gotta be prepared for whatever, whenever  he says.  And yes, he was a Boy Scout.  He has also been trying to get our internet extender to work.  So far unsuccessfully.

The boatyard painter has been working on the bottom - fixing a few small blisters, raising the waterline, cleaning the prop and shaft and sanding the old bottom paint, all in preparation for adding 2 coats of new ablative paint. So glad we decided to let the boatyard take care of it. Meanwhile we have been getting little projects done while trying to stay out of his way.

Egret and alligator at Myakka Lake

Great Blue Heron and alligators

Friends from Chatfield, Mary and Bill were in town for a day and a half and it was delightful to take a day off from the boat.  We spent a full day at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota where we enjoyed an airboat ride, a tram tour and a canopy walk! Lots of alligators, great blue herons, a limpkin, ibis, egrets, deer, bald eagles, ospreys and turtles.

Mary and Bill on canopy walk

Jim and Marg on canopy walk, tower in background

View of palms and oaks  from top of  the 75 ft canopy tower 

Living "on the hard" is a poor second cousin to being on the water.  No gentle rocking, no cooling sea breezes, no quiet anchorages, but it is a necessary stage for getting certain types of boatwork done.  One advantage which I am enjoying is eating out more and discovering interesting out of the way restaurants.  (Sandwiches on the boat get tiresome) We read about a great sounding fish restaurant on the water.  But when we found the address we ended up at an outdoor art and craft market. We wandered around for while, and after giving up on finding the restaurant we started to leave.  As we went behind the stalls and small markets, totally hidden from view, we found the fish restaurant. Clearly it was a place for locals - you would never happen upon it. It was full of personality, was right on the water and had great food - all served in the friendly, casual style that we enjoy.

Back to work.......

The Safe Cove challenge

May 13

We decided to keep "Well, Why Not?" on the hard (up on jack stands with hurricane tie-downs) rather than in the water this hurricane season.  Safe Cove Boat Storage seemed like a good option and before we left Regatta Pointe Marina we drove down, looked at it and signed a contract.  It is located northwest of Charlotte Harbor and is accessed by way of a hand operated lock system and a 9 1/2 mile narrow and shallow canal! Sounded intriguing.

We were given two pages worth of instructions - single spaced, small print. The first ones were just how to find the lock - not so easy when coming from the south end of Charlotte Harbor. The first "rule" was to time ones arrival at the lock for high tide.  5:00pm, check.  Stay to the right of the green channel marker, check - but how far right?  Waaay right it turned out as we nearly ran aground.  At that point, the red marker which would have given us our right hand boundary was no where in sight. We kept going on faith with a close eye on our depth gauge until we finally saw a narrow channel become visible through the mangroves. As we got closer it was clearly marked by the green and red markers.  There were also a number of power boats and together we formed a slow moving line towards what we assumed was the lock. 

There it is....the hand operated lock.

Indeed it was the lock.  A series of challenges met us immediately. How and when to enter it - our boat was almost as wide as the lock and there were a number of power boats both going into and out of the lock in a somewhat organized fashion.  Apparently the lock is the only waterway access for residents in the South Gulf Cove residential communities to Charlotte Harbor, the Intracoastal Waterway and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.


When it seemed to be our turn, and again following the next set of instructions, Jim pulled a chain which opened the first gate. We slowly entered, but worried that the gate would close before we were far enough in. Not only were we really wide, but we seemed almost as long as the lock.  Once in, there was another chain to pull which closed the first gate and opened the second gate. Do you pull the chain once?  When do you let go? The boats waiting in line were yelling out instructions (in a friendly manner - at least at first) "let go", "don't let go yet".. yikes! Finally the second gate opened and we headed out.  Normally at this point we would have had to pull another chain to close the second gate but there were so many other boats waiting in line that one of them did it. Once through we breathed a sigh of relief, took several deep breaths and continued on the 9 mile trip up the narrow and shallow canal.  

Heading up the canal looking forward.

Heading up the canal looking backwards

With a draft of 5'6" we were close to the maximum accommodated in the canal.  The directions continued and were....interesting.  "Favor the land side", "Bear left - there will be twists and turns", "Apparent dead ends will open up", Stay to the outside of the middle of the curve", "Keep to the left of the red markers" (mind you that put us within 6 feet and closer in spots to the mangrove shore).  Our depth alarm sounded regularly, but we never actually went aground. The trip was actually very pretty and was reminiscent of "The African Queen" without the leeches. Three hours later, we were relieved to arrive at the boatyard where we could tie up to the dock and wait until our haul out two days later.

Waiting at the dock for haul out.

The journey from the dock to the parking spot

Living in a boat "on the hard" is not exactly pleasant. Just getting on and off the boat was challenging. Because it is up on jack stands the deck is approximately 10 feet off the ground.  We parked our pickup (which we had previously left at the boatyard) underneath the stern, opened the tailgate, put a small stool underneath, pulled down the swim ladder and climbed right on up!

Life without a ladder

We had enough electricity to run the refrigerator and freezer, lights, outlets and water pressure. No air conditioner so it was hot! Altho we could use the water from our tanks for drinking and cooking, we had to line up a bucket underneath the thru hull from the sink so that the used water had a place to go. Most of it went into the bucket, some just dribbled down the hull and keel.   Restrooms, showers and laundry were a bit of a hike from the boat. 

It took us a week to empty the boat of all food and all of Jim's tools.  Jim rigged up a system with the dinghy davits to essentially create a "dumb waiter" to lower all of the heavy items.  We lowered lighter things in a bucket on a line.  Remember, going up and down the swim ladder/pickup truck pretty much required 2 hands. After much cleaning of the interior, we finally added a shade netting over the top - not pretty but it provides some sun protection. We started the air dryers to evaporate the humidity (a system that had worked very well for us last year) and we hired someone to check the boat regularly. And so after a week, we bid farewell and headed home.  A rather sad image - boats belong in the water!

Missing some of the shade netting, but almost ready.

One of the things we had not anticipated about "commuter cruising" was the culture shock and adjustments involved with the semi-annual change of venue.  We arrived home to cold weather, (a relief at first) green environs and lots of space.  Then the unpacking, sorting, reorganizing and reconnecting with friends and the activities that fill our lives in Minnesota. It would be very difficult to choose one lifestyle over the other - but it is a bit jolting to transition between them. 

The view from our front porch 

Good-bye Boot Key Harbor

May 03, 2016

We left Boot Key Harbor after a great five week visit.  Our solar panel project was completed and the season was too far gone to travel to the Bahamas.  So, time to head home. It had been a comfortable and fun place to be for awhile. The garden which someone had started was just beginning to produce.  I managed to get a couple of green beans! 

The lovely, healthy and productive vege garden

Final strapping on of jugs

Our last trip of the season was to make our way up to Safe Cove Boat Storage in Charlotte Harbor.  Given that we had enough time, we opted to do it in day trips rather than the two overnight sails that we had done on the way down.   We left on April 26 with at least two days of good winds predicted.  And, indeed that is what we got!

Both sail out and filled!

Proof that we actually sailed!

Our first day we sailed, I repeat, SAILED to Shark River where we anchored mosquito free.  This is in the 10,000 island area and a part of the Everglades.  We were really pleased to have been able to actually sail altho the wind was from the south east and the boat motion was side to side.  Still I expect the sails were happy to see the light of day!! And we were happy to see the sails!

Shark River

Sunrise at Shark River

Day two we were also able to sail and after a long day found Russell Key, a totally private bay just east of Indian Key.  Only a few tour boats and fishing boats passed nearby but as evening approached we were totally alone.  It reminded me of the privacy and isolation of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area of Northern Minnesota except the green was from mangroves and not evergreens.

A little stowaway who visited us for awhile

Russell Key, Everglades National Park

 Day three we headed to Marco Island and with the dying winds it became a motor sail.  The anchorage in Factory Bay could not have been more of a change.  We were surrounded by boats, housing and/or hotel complexes, loud music blaring from all corners.  However, in the morning we were treated to the moon setting in the west while the sun rose in the east.

Moon setting in early am at Factory Bay

Sun rising in early am at Factory Bay

Day four was a repeat of the motor sailing and after a long day we opted to spend the night on a mooring ball at Ft. Myers.  Even treated ourselves to a lovely restaurant meal by the water.

Let me just interject here:  Dolphins are a tease!!  They play around the boat and swim alongside...until you reach for a camera.  Then they become shy.  One of these days I will get a good picture.

See the dolphin?  

Day five was a full-on bashing into the wind, and with 2400 rpm we were only making about 3 knots.  We tried a little tacking to gain some help from the sails with a bit of success.  It was another long day but we were able to anchor in daylight at Pelican Bay just at the entrance to Charlotte Harbor.  We appreciated the quiet, relaxing environment.

It was with some sadness that we knew that Day six was our last day of traveling on the boat.  No wind, so we motored across Charlotte Harbor and timed our arrival at the hand operated lock at high tide, late afternoon.  The process of leaving Charlotte Harbor and getting to Safe Cove is worthy of its own post.  It involves shallow canals, a hand operated lock.   To be continued....

Whack-a-mole, goodbyes, and finally a SSB

16 April 2016


Trying to finish stitching up the bimini is like playing whack-a-mole.  Every time I stitch up one ripped seam, another one disintegrates!!  I have two more sections in the rear part of the bimini and the other rips that keep rearing their ugly heads I am going to ignore!  We obviously need a whole new one, but I am not sure that I am up to sewing one from scratch myself even tho they are crazy expensive to buy.  Trying to exist in the Florida or Caribbean sun without a bimini is not an option.  It would be miserable and likely a significant overdose of sun and heat. 

Mike and Betty on JS Newby, Seth on Serendipity at Sea and Jim and I on Well, Why Not? had a farewell dinner at Burdines, one of the favorite spots in Boot Key Harbor. They are known for their wonderful hamburgers (impossible to eat with any sort of decorum) and a large discounted basket of fries to cruisers (impossibe to eat, because of volume).  It is beautifully situated by the harbor and the night we were there, we were serenaded by two singers from City Marina.  We hung around after eating just to enjoy the music.

Jim and I with Betty, Mike and Seth at Burdines

Enjoying live music

catch of the day???

A small group from C-dock at Regatta Point Marina got together yesterday for happy hour at Lazy Days in Marathon.  A few are staying at other marinas in the area, a few drove down to see about coming down here permanently and a few of us just happened to be here temporariy. Forgot to take pictures, but it was fun to reconnect with them. It stikes me that a typical characteristic of cruisers is that they are always saying "hello" and "goodbye"  and that once you have connected with someone, no matter where you run into them nor how much time has passed, they are still friends!

And speaking of "goodbye's, Seth left yesterday for Bimini.  It was a last minute decision based on the weather.  So we had breakfast at the Harbor Hillbillies floating breakfast cafe, Jim helped him raise the outboard and dinghy and then Seth left.  The "neighborhood" seems rather lonely without his Island Packet 38 moored right next to us!

Serendipity at Sea leaving Boot Key Harbor for Bimini

The major accomplishment of the week has been the installation of the SSB.  Mind you we have not yet successfully listened to anyone or transmitted anything, but we have the manuals and we will persevere.  Last week we attended a "hammer" lunch and met a local group of ham (not just marine) operators.  I was chastised mightily because when we introduced ourselves I did not know my ham call sign!  But really, I have had no radio either at home or on the boat, so why would I have memorized it?  But believe me, I am now going to memorize it and next time when asked, I WILL know it!!  :)  FYI it is KD0YDL for anyone who might care!

SSB in its temporary location

We have been watching the weather and it looks to us like the best weather for leaving will be Tuesday or Wednesday. Given a few more days than expected before departure, I think I will hunker down with my Kindle and get some reading done.  Nevermind cleaning the dinghy, restitching the bimini or staining the toerail.

Progress, Diversions and Plan B

April 5, 2016

One of our major motivations for coming to Boot Key Harbor was Alex at Sea Tek.  His company is based here and he did some great work for us last year.  This year's project was adding power.  To do that he determined that exchanging our older less powerful solar panels (120 watts each) for new ones (250 watts each) would make a significant improvement in our independence.  Enter Darren, his fabricator, who designed a new structure to mount the panels above the bimini.  He had to bend the stainless steel and in the process added grab bars which we had really wanted.  

new 250 watt solar panels

solar structure with grab rails

The second project was to fix the auto pilot which worked just fine when motoring but showed low power when we were under sail. New electrical cable had to be run from the steering quadrant underneath our aft bed to the circuit breaker in the salon via an amazingly circuitous route!  Jim managed to solve that maze and Alex finished the electrical hook up.  If we ever have a chance to sail, we will have the chance to confirm that it now works!

Jim running cable for the auto pilot 

Trying a different angle

In the meantime, before the new solar panels were up, but after the old ones were disconnected, our generator died!  Spectacular timing.  Running the engine accomplishes pretty much the same recharging of batteries so it was not crisis time, just irritating. Mike, a friend from Regatta Pointe very quickly diagnosed the problem - a dead fresh water pump.  We ordered a replacement and he and Jim installed it one afternoon.  Pretty straight forward except that they had to fashion their own gasket.  

Mike making the gasket for the water pump

It always amazes me when Jim seems to have stashed away whatever materials he needs and the gasket material was one of those things!  A drinking glass to make a circular pattern, scissors to cut it out, a hole punch and voila..a gasket!  And the generator was fixed!

The installation of the SSB is still a work in progress.  Again, running cables has been an exercise in flexibility, determination and scraped knuckles!  (See pictures above!)  The antenna has been installed onto the back stay and the ground plane is now in place. Much more to do: more cables, wiring, and equipment installation.  

Marg installing the antenna onto the rear stay

Another work in progress is hand stitching the ripping seams in our bimini.  All of the sudden many of the threads have decided that life in the sun is too hard and they are giving it up  en masse.  The effect of that is that we can no longer zip up our cockpit enclosures - neither the isinglass nor the netting - because the zippers are no longer attached to the bimini.  So in a fit of enthusiasm I bought a sewing awl which enables one to sew thick thread into thick material, one stitch at a time.  I admit to procrastinating and in the meantime more seams have ripped.  So I finally got started after watching a You Tube description of how to use the awl (there were no instructions that came with the awl) and although it seems very awkward at first, it gets easier and I got better.  It took me about 2 hours to stitch 2 1/2 feet!! This project will keep me busy for awhile!

A small example of the problem

First attempt, stitches at the left

The awl and some extra thick waxed thread

In between these projects we have made room for a variety of diversions.  First, Easter. An inviolate tradition in the Blanchard/Nelson household has been to make carmel nuts rolls at Christmas and Easter...no matter what!! This year was no exception.  I have no conventional oven on the boat but I do have an Omnia Stovetop Oven.  Thanks to it and Pillsbury instead of homemade yeast rolls we had a minimally modified traditional Easter breakfast. 

We joined friends for a real Easter dinner:  A multi course meal with the pre dinner Polish competitive entertainment of cracking hard boiled eggs.  It was a lovely time.

Starting the competition of egg cracking

Jim trying his best

with Mike and Betty

The Budweiser Clydesdales came to town last week.  It was quite the event!  They drove an 8 horse hitch around the parking lot of Publix and gave rides to a few lucky folks.

Unloading the wagon from the semi

What a way to travel!

And now for Plan B.  Between projects and iffy weather, time has run out for going to the Bahamas. We, along with many others have had to make other plans.  When the weather looks right for SAILING and not motoring we will head back north and do some "gunkholing" around the ten thousand islands and then head up to Save Cove where we plan to put the boat on the hard.  Then ... back to Minnesota.