Captain's Blog 8-13-16 Supplemental
Mechanic pulled each of the plugs and drained the sea water - sea water in all 8 cylinders. New plugs and fogged the system with anti-corrosive spray. She turns over again!!!! YES!!!! But runs rough as hell and doesn't want to continue running at idle. Mechanic believes blown intake manifold gasket due to the heat, possible head cover gasket, and possible riser/manifold assy. Going to have to tear the top end off to troubleshoot. But the good news at least - didn't damage a piston or something....! With the engine cleared of sea water and salt, she is put to bed. They will get back on her Monday for further diagnosis.
With work obligations looming for the coming week, Jonathan and I decided that with nothing more to be done until Monday, it is time to find alternative transportation home.... Luckily Naples has an airport and rental cars - and being off season, relatively cheap @ $60 for a one-way rental. I secured the car, we transferred all our gear and we are on our way home.
Until next week - take care Positive Lattitude! It has been quite an adventure!
To Be Continued.......
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Captain's Blog: 8-13-16
Well one good thing can be said for motoring slowly on one engine..... our crossing south drank about 170 gallons to the tune of $630. However the trip north, at limping speed on one engine, she only drank 84 gallons, to about $290.... I guess there is a silver lining in there somewhere.
Now we motor north to Naples to the Marine Max (Sea Ray Dealer). They have a mechanic that can climb on her for a quick diagnosis - here's hoping it's an easy fix.
Based on google searches and forums, it appears to be Hydra-lock. We saw the exhaust tubes collapse momentarily, implying a vacuum in the engine, which likely sucked up seawater into the cylinders. When I pulled one of the spark plugs, some sort of fluid (likely sea water) seemed to drain out..... With a little luck, they can pull the plugs, drain the cylinders, and ensure no salt crystals remain and we will be on our way..... crossing our fingers!!
Well one good thing can be said for motoring slowly on one engine..... our crossing south drank about 170 gallons to the tune of $630. However the trip north, at limping speed on one engine, she only drank 84 gallons, to about $290.... I guess there is a silver lining in there somewhere.
Now we motor north to Naples to the Marine Max (Sea Ray Dealer). They have a mechanic that can climb on her for a quick diagnosis - here's hoping it's an easy fix.
Based on google searches and forums, it appears to be Hydra-lock. We saw the exhaust tubes collapse momentarily, implying a vacuum in the engine, which likely sucked up seawater into the cylinders. When I pulled one of the spark plugs, some sort of fluid (likely sea water) seemed to drain out..... With a little luck, they can pull the plugs, drain the cylinders, and ensure no salt crystals remain and we will be on our way..... crossing our fingers!!
Captain's Blog: 8-12-16
Cruising is truly an interesting and exciting adventure.....
We started off our morning with a hot breakfast at the attached Hyatt Hotel. Then, shortly before good byes and casting of lines - in recognition for performance beyond the duties and responsabilities of his rank, Bilge Rat Jonathan was promoted to Mr Buoy Boy Clarke, with the responsibilities and privileges which go with it..... As Captain of Positive Lattitude, I of course have 3 buoys on my chord vs his newly appointed 1. Bruce has video somewhere......
We make our way out into the bay and commence our crossing. 1-2' seas from the seas brought them across us broadside, but the big girl took em well and you wouldn't even know they were there....! Then came the buoy minefield..... OH MY GOD!!! These things were freaking every where - you couldn't make a straight heading - constantly zigging, then zagging.....!! Once we finally cleared the little bastards, I noticed that we were having to run rather hard just to maintain RPM and speed - 22mph @ 4200rpm for 44GPH.... not as efficient as usual.... I also noticed that the seas had switched, and we now had a following sea. This can cause her to run funny for sure, but not like this..... I backed her down to check things out. Dawned a mask and jumped in - sure enough, we had wrapped another damn buoy - but to be honest, given the minefield, I am surprised it was only 1! I made short work clearing it, only wrapped around the exhaust port, and we were on our way.
About 30 miles into the 90 mile crossing, the seas had laid flat - Jonathan and I figured it was the perfect photo op and time to pull out our anit-piracy tools.....
At about 45 miles, alarms started going off....WTF!!? We quickly brought her down from plane and opened the engine hatch. Once determined the stbd engine was throwing the alarm and identified she was overheating, I turned her off. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, Jonathan saw the exhaust tubes collapse due to some sort of back pressure situation - SHIT!!! We checked the strainers - yes they were full, but shouldn't have caused any issue. Attempted to restart, all we got was a single "Clunk".... she won't turn over. We continue to limp on the port engine only while I break out my manuals and look for signs of anything else to look for..... I find a few circuit breakers and start to check on them. I climbed into the engine room to look for the circuit breaker in the front by the alternator - I notice on the floor of my bilge is my serpentine belt. I look over at my pulleys - they are missing a belt.... for a brief moment I am filled with elation (I have a belt on board). Then I notice that the idler pulley is COMPLETELY missing. Must have seized and ripped itself apart, which threw the belt, which caused the overheat..... we continue to limp to Marco Island on one engine.
Well crap!!!!! This is all we need with only 1 engine - luckily it was just rain, little if any wind or seas change...
We make our way into Marco Island about 1800hrs - what was supposed to be a 3 hour crossing took 7 hours, but we made it..... well almost.... as we entered the channel, we saw a looming storm just east of Marco Island and heard the CG break Squelch - "Alert - massive thunderstorm along Marco Island, 34 knot winds, high seas, water spouts. All with only one engine to navigate and dock....! Luckily for us though, the brunt of it passed just to our north and we only got breezy gusts during docking maneuvers - played a little bumper pylons trying to back her in, but we got her in!!!
Cruising is truly an interesting and exciting adventure.....
Another perfect Faro Blanco morning as seen from the stern of Neverland
We make our way out into the bay and commence our crossing. 1-2' seas from the seas brought them across us broadside, but the big girl took em well and you wouldn't even know they were there....! Then came the buoy minefield..... OH MY GOD!!! These things were freaking every where - you couldn't make a straight heading - constantly zigging, then zagging.....!! Once we finally cleared the little bastards, I noticed that we were having to run rather hard just to maintain RPM and speed - 22mph @ 4200rpm for 44GPH.... not as efficient as usual.... I also noticed that the seas had switched, and we now had a following sea. This can cause her to run funny for sure, but not like this..... I backed her down to check things out. Dawned a mask and jumped in - sure enough, we had wrapped another damn buoy - but to be honest, given the minefield, I am surprised it was only 1! I made short work clearing it, only wrapped around the exhaust port, and we were on our way.
About 30 miles into the 90 mile crossing, the seas had laid flat - Jonathan and I figured it was the perfect photo op and time to pull out our anit-piracy tools.....
At about 45 miles, alarms started going off....WTF!!? We quickly brought her down from plane and opened the engine hatch. Once determined the stbd engine was throwing the alarm and identified she was overheating, I turned her off. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, Jonathan saw the exhaust tubes collapse due to some sort of back pressure situation - SHIT!!! We checked the strainers - yes they were full, but shouldn't have caused any issue. Attempted to restart, all we got was a single "Clunk".... she won't turn over. We continue to limp on the port engine only while I break out my manuals and look for signs of anything else to look for..... I find a few circuit breakers and start to check on them. I climbed into the engine room to look for the circuit breaker in the front by the alternator - I notice on the floor of my bilge is my serpentine belt. I look over at my pulleys - they are missing a belt.... for a brief moment I am filled with elation (I have a belt on board). Then I notice that the idler pulley is COMPLETELY missing. Must have seized and ripped itself apart, which threw the belt, which caused the overheat..... we continue to limp to Marco Island on one engine.
Well crap!!!!! This is all we need with only 1 engine - luckily it was just rain, little if any wind or seas change...
We make our way into Marco Island about 1800hrs - what was supposed to be a 3 hour crossing took 7 hours, but we made it..... well almost.... as we entered the channel, we saw a looming storm just east of Marco Island and heard the CG break Squelch - "Alert - massive thunderstorm along Marco Island, 34 knot winds, high seas, water spouts. All with only one engine to navigate and dock....! Luckily for us though, the brunt of it passed just to our north and we only got breezy gusts during docking maneuvers - played a little bumper pylons trying to back her in, but we got her in!!!
A couple of Miami Vice's for the boys of Positive Lattitude.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Captain's Blog: 8-11-16 Supplemental
Will managed to simultaneously fall off and onto the boat this evening - landing straight on his knee..... it is now the size of a softball.... poor guy! He is out for the evening, full up on advil - with a little luck, taking our advice and elevating it with an ice pack.
We sit on the dock, enjoying drinks in his absence.....
Will managed to simultaneously fall off and onto the boat this evening - landing straight on his knee..... it is now the size of a softball.... poor guy! He is out for the evening, full up on advil - with a little luck, taking our advice and elevating it with an ice pack.
We sit on the dock, enjoying drinks in his absence.....
Captain's Blog: 8-11-16
Our last day of diving....!! Each year, we have a game to see who can come up with the best "Party Hat" - the jury is still out on the winner of this year's contest - comment your winning vote please...!!! My dive flag (should have taken this picture a week ago when it was fresh....) or Jonathan's shark hat.......
Our last day of diving....!! Each year, we have a game to see who can come up with the best "Party Hat" - the jury is still out on the winner of this year's contest - comment your winning vote please...!!! My dive flag (should have taken this picture a week ago when it was fresh....) or Jonathan's shark hat.......
We took Bruce's Regal 2860 "Neverland" out this time to see how she would handle 4 divers and their gear...... she's a great boat - but a dive boat she will never be unfortunately.... she got us to our dive sites just fine, but struggled with all the weight unfortunately. Not much for bugs today, but at least Jonathan caught a few more hogfish!
Another night of grilling burgers and bratts on the pier - seemingly a total success until Will dropped his Chef's knife. Luckily, it landed on a rock about 4' down and we could just barely see it! Will HAD TO HAVE IT BACK - so he went in after it....... what could go wrong?
Another perfect ending here at Faro Blanco!!!
Tomorrow we cast off lines from Faro Blanco for the last time and begin our journey home. Bruce will be tailoring Neverland back home to Melbourne and Jonathan and I will be motoring back up to Clearwater. For now, we sit and enjoy the sea breeze from our transoms one last time, watching a distant lightning storm - CHEERS!!
Captain's Blog: 8-10-16
Well this trip is nothing short of surprises....!! We decided to make our way 10 miles out to the Thunderbolt - a wreck defined as "The Jewel of Marathon". Well, this particular jewel has buoys for mooring (as many wrecks do), only come to find out they are submerged 15' underwater.... WTF is that all about.....!!??!! After an hour of back and forth, trolling, searching with the sonar, and someone on the bow - no luck in finding either the buoy or any indication that the ship even exists - sonar was FLAT!
We finally decide that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome, and that it is time to scrub this effort and go elsewhere. We make our way to "The Gap", a nearby reef formation that drops from 60' depth to 80' depth. Jonathan and Will make the dive. They return with 1 bug and a few hogfish to add to Jonathan's collection. All in all, not a total loss. Bruce and I decide we aren't feeling it and we make our way inward to "Coffins Patch" reef - a shallow and picturesque dive. Bruce and I gear up and prepare to dive. With perfect weather conditions, Jonathan decides to launch the drone - expecting some great shots of us under water. Well - that was the idea at least. About 30 seconds into his flight, he lost control of one of the attitude rotors and the drone ran off on him. He attempted his best to regain control, but unfortunately we were all witnesses to an unfortunate catastrophe as she continued to walk out on him until he lost all control and she dropped sideways into the ocean. I ripped off my gear, threw it onto the swim platform and scurried to the bridge to fire up the engines and raise the anchor. Bruce remained on the platfrom (gear fully dawned). We motored to the approx location we thought she dropped in (approx 100 yards off our stern) - commence rescue operations!!! Bruce dove in. I set my anchor, chucked my gear in the water and was putting it on while going down.... Bruce tracked East, I tracked west, and Will snorkeled the radius of the boat..... Bruce successfully recovered the drone - no CLUE how he managed that one!!!!!!!?????!!!!!
Back to the dock - "let's not press our luck" and end this day before something else happens.....
Well this trip is nothing short of surprises....!! We decided to make our way 10 miles out to the Thunderbolt - a wreck defined as "The Jewel of Marathon". Well, this particular jewel has buoys for mooring (as many wrecks do), only come to find out they are submerged 15' underwater.... WTF is that all about.....!!??!! After an hour of back and forth, trolling, searching with the sonar, and someone on the bow - no luck in finding either the buoy or any indication that the ship even exists - sonar was FLAT!
A BEAUTIFUL RUN OUT!!!...
Operation "Drone Recovery"
Back to the dock - "let's not press our luck" and end this day before something else happens.....
Spaghetti Dinner on the dock and another beautiful Sunset at Faro Blanco
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Captain's Blog: 8-9-16
Weather report called for thunderstorms in the morning, clearing into the afternoon..... Well, weather is probably the only job in the world where you can be wrong 99.9% of the time and still be considered good at what you do..... woke up to 89 degrees and nary a cloud in the sky! Quick - let's dive! Given the weather was so ideal, we decided to make the trek west down by Cudjoe Key to dive the Adolphus Busch - about a 25 mile run south. Adolphus is a wreck situated at 110' on the bottom. Beautiful dive! The ship is still intact - you can actually tell it is a boat still....!!! Great dive - clear water, 30-50' visibility, perfect temp (even at that depth). When finished, we ran back north to a couple of our "Friends in Low Places" coordinates. Nope - they still haven't come back in....!!
At 1700, Bruce got a call from Faro Blanco telling us we have to move our boats tonight. New slip assignments due to piling work being done the rest of the week.....WTF!!!!????!!!! Fine, we will accommodate and move - what an annoying PITA, having to move our lines, dock box, bumpers, power and water cables, dock chairs, etc. So we move to the new location - which doesn't have a wall ro protect the boats from the beach sand which constantly blows up onto the dock and into the boat. And the worst of it all - the slips they put us into, all the power was already being used. The boats to the left and right of us were consuming all outlets on each pedestal. Called up Faro and due to the hour, all dock personnel had already left for the day. So of course, we get screwed with no power. Their solution, "run an extension cord from another pedestal..." That shit doesn't fly with me..... you are going to inconvenience me like this, then put me into a slip that has no power available. Straight up unacceptable! Bitching will be had....!!
After 1.5 hours of moving everything and making the boats secure, time to cleaned the gear..... now dark, time to clean fish and lobster..... PITA!!! Time to finally make our way to the pool.
While at the pool, out of no where a squall blows in!! Back to the boats to make sure everything is secure!!! Our lines pulled taught and we were pushing hard into the dock - luckily we stayed inches off the rocks and clear! A few boats snapped lines and others got pushed into the rocks..... We tightened our lines and secured our glass - by the time we were done, the storm had passed, OF COURSE!
Weather report called for thunderstorms in the morning, clearing into the afternoon..... Well, weather is probably the only job in the world where you can be wrong 99.9% of the time and still be considered good at what you do..... woke up to 89 degrees and nary a cloud in the sky! Quick - let's dive! Given the weather was so ideal, we decided to make the trek west down by Cudjoe Key to dive the Adolphus Busch - about a 25 mile run south. Adolphus is a wreck situated at 110' on the bottom. Beautiful dive! The ship is still intact - you can actually tell it is a boat still....!!! Great dive - clear water, 30-50' visibility, perfect temp (even at that depth). When finished, we ran back north to a couple of our "Friends in Low Places" coordinates. Nope - they still haven't come back in....!!
At 1700, Bruce got a call from Faro Blanco telling us we have to move our boats tonight. New slip assignments due to piling work being done the rest of the week.....WTF!!!!????!!!! Fine, we will accommodate and move - what an annoying PITA, having to move our lines, dock box, bumpers, power and water cables, dock chairs, etc. So we move to the new location - which doesn't have a wall ro protect the boats from the beach sand which constantly blows up onto the dock and into the boat. And the worst of it all - the slips they put us into, all the power was already being used. The boats to the left and right of us were consuming all outlets on each pedestal. Called up Faro and due to the hour, all dock personnel had already left for the day. So of course, we get screwed with no power. Their solution, "run an extension cord from another pedestal..." That shit doesn't fly with me..... you are going to inconvenience me like this, then put me into a slip that has no power available. Straight up unacceptable! Bitching will be had....!!
After 1.5 hours of moving everything and making the boats secure, time to cleaned the gear..... now dark, time to clean fish and lobster..... PITA!!! Time to finally make our way to the pool.
While at the pool, out of no where a squall blows in!! Back to the boats to make sure everything is secure!!! Our lines pulled taught and we were pushing hard into the dock - luckily we stayed inches off the rocks and clear! A few boats snapped lines and others got pushed into the rocks..... We tightened our lines and secured our glass - by the time we were done, the storm had passed, OF COURSE!
Monday, August 8, 2016
Captain's Log: 8-8-16 Supplemental
We decided that due to the rocky nature of today's dive site that it would be a good idea to change out the plow anchor for my backup danforth anchor. This was (in theory) a good idea..... all the way up until we bent the living crap out of it somehow......
On this plus side - we did better with bugs today. Caught 12 - far better than yesterday's 2!!!
Now, bring on the Crown and the pool!
We decided that due to the rocky nature of today's dive site that it would be a good idea to change out the plow anchor for my backup danforth anchor. This was (in theory) a good idea..... all the way up until we bent the living crap out of it somehow......
Pulling off the Plow Anchor
WTF how did we do that.....???!!!???
Enjoying a day on the water - keep covered up!!
On this plus side - we did better with bugs today. Caught 12 - far better than yesterday's 2!!!
Now, bring on the Crown and the pool!
Captain's Blog: 8-8-16
Well isn't that just great..... Jonathan misjudged the tides action on the lobster traps... he did a good job keeping it off our bow to the stbd. But failed to connect that shallow waters and a current pushing port to stbd would put the rope right underneath us..... UGH....!!! Bruce dawned his dive gear to cut the rope free FROM BOTH PROPS!
Well isn't that just great..... Jonathan misjudged the tides action on the lobster traps... he did a good job keeping it off our bow to the stbd. But failed to connect that shallow waters and a current pushing port to stbd would put the rope right underneath us..... UGH....!!! Bruce dawned his dive gear to cut the rope free FROM BOTH PROPS!
Enough of this - let's get some lunch. After reading several recommendations on Club Searay to hit up Burdines on the west side of Marathon we decide to make it a thing! I only have one issue.... HOW HAVE WE BEEN COMING TO MARATHON FOR OVER 10 YEARS and NEVER HEARD OF THIS PLACE.....!!!??? Good food!!! Great Burger!!
Captain's Blog: 8-7-16
Late wake-up today. Late start to our day. Oh well, "No Hurries... No Worries..."
Over to the fuel dock to fill up from yesterday's run. Ugh - that was a rough bill to swallow! My fuel gauges I now know are not quite accurate.... My port gauge read damn near E and my stbd guage was just under 1/4. I put in 78 gallons into the stbd tank (just under 3/4) and 87 gallons in the port. So 2 things learned - my port is burning a little more than my stbd. And my port tank definitely reads low by about 1/4 as I pass the 1/2 tank point, which has always been expected - I now have (near) full tank proof...
So for those in doubt - myself included..... a 340 Dancer WILL make a more than adequate dive boat! We got 4 divers' gear (complete with 8 tanks), all our hunting gear, and live-well - quite comfortably. I don't quite know that we could have fit a 5th diver really...... well, not as leisurely that is. :)
Finally - time to commence dive operations in search for our "friends in low places"..... unfortunately, this season is proving to be QUITE slim. Even a handful of of commercial fishermen we are talking with are having a tough time of it - and they are getting a nice premium at the dock for their catch. As I understand it - there has been unseasonably low rainfall this year. So the waters are warmer than typical, which keeps the little buggers out to sea farther..... or so goes the local talk.....
Late wake-up today. Late start to our day. Oh well, "No Hurries... No Worries..."
Over to the fuel dock to fill up from yesterday's run. Ugh - that was a rough bill to swallow! My fuel gauges I now know are not quite accurate.... My port gauge read damn near E and my stbd guage was just under 1/4. I put in 78 gallons into the stbd tank (just under 3/4) and 87 gallons in the port. So 2 things learned - my port is burning a little more than my stbd. And my port tank definitely reads low by about 1/4 as I pass the 1/2 tank point, which has always been expected - I now have (near) full tank proof...
So for those in doubt - myself included..... a 340 Dancer WILL make a more than adequate dive boat! We got 4 divers' gear (complete with 8 tanks), all our hunting gear, and live-well - quite comfortably. I don't quite know that we could have fit a 5th diver really...... well, not as leisurely that is. :)
Storage for 4 tanks. and while we were under way to get here - the bed still pulled out and cleared. We were able to store 4 tanks and 2 complete sets of gear with no loss of space!!!
Took out the rear bench to create a LARGE working deck for gear prep. Make shift live-well affixed to the swim platform was perfect for storage of our "new friends" - too bad it's empty still!!!
Finally - time to commence dive operations in search for our "friends in low places"..... unfortunately, this season is proving to be QUITE slim. Even a handful of of commercial fishermen we are talking with are having a tough time of it - and they are getting a nice premium at the dock for their catch. As I understand it - there has been unseasonably low rainfall this year. So the waters are warmer than typical, which keeps the little buggers out to sea farther..... or so goes the local talk.....
Pops took the opportunity to not captain his boat and took a 5-min cat nap on our run back home.
So we did manage to find ourselves a whole 2 lobsters.....
Steak and lobster tonight boys!!!
Tomorrow's another day..... maybe we will have better luck. in the mean time, bring on the crown!
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Captain's Blog: 8-6-16
To quote John Lennon (and my father-in-law), "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans". This sentiment could be NO TRUER of boating. The schedule is, what it is, and forever will be. We will get there when we get there - now sit back, shut up, and enjoy the ride..... I decided to start this blog as a fun way to log our boating trips - more for friends and family who want to follow our adventures beyond snipets on facebook. I figured it would be boring and have little content with just a few random pics here and there of what we did. But this trip has really given me something to write about. I truly hope that from here on out the blog/trip is somewhat uneventful and take a turn to the dull side. It has been a blast - but a week here in the keys and a return ~250 are still on our horizon. To coin a phrase, his trip has truly been a once in a lifetime experience. To that, let me be clear, I hope to make this trip MANY more times in my future, I truly do - but nothing will ever surpass the humility and elation of making this FIRST BIG TRIP....
....muffins and a newspaper delivered to the boat at 0730 - AWESOME JOB Sanibel Marina! We should have told them there were 6 of us aboard instead of two....
At about 9am we finished our fuel up and pulled out of Sanibel Island onto Naples for a quick top-off before the crossing (better to be safe than sorry on fuel). As we were approaching Naples a looming squall finally opened up on our position. The seas remained 2-3' with 12 sec interval so we kept her on plane at about 22mph. As we prepared to make the turn and enter Gordon Pass to enter Naples, I noticed on the radar that the squall had moved inland and was now pissing all over Naples, yet was clearing out in the gulf. So I pulled a Captain's Prerogative and redirected us to Marco Island for the top-off.
Marco Island - now there is an interesting story.... nothing like two days ago interesting, but still interesting none the less. Pulling into Big Marco Pass is an idle speed zone...not minimum wake, but IDLE....the ENTIRE WAY - ugh! We find a marina on the charts and motor our way to it, through some sort of channel - marked (I suppose you would call it marked)..... 1 marker (red coming in and green on the other side heading out) in between some mangroves - figured out the secret, HUG the marker. :) We make our way to the marina, only to find out they have fuel but are a high and dry and don't have the proper licensing to fuel on the water - well crap - back into the inlet and across to the south side to find a different marina. We stop off at Rose Marina, which after our top off gave us a temp slip so we could go to the restaurant next door and get some food before the run. During our transit though, we come across this little gem of a house...... quite an eclectic collection of McDonald's memorabilia.....
It is now noon - weather reports are showing that the seas are 1-2' with 10mph winds, calming to 0' seas with 5mph winds in he afternoon. With a bit of weather getting ready to roll in, perfect timing to take a break and "wait it out". We find a little marina restaurant next door to Rose Marina with a fantastic fried Grouper basket. We also ordered up conch fritters which I think were pretty darn good too!
After lunch, we collect our vessel and motor out of Big Marco Pass - "Make your heading one-eight-zero degrees for the Keys!". We begin our run and quickly find that our required heading takes us right into the waves, approx 2-3' seas with 5 sec intervals. Jonathan happens to be at the helm as we are exiting the inlet (his first time piloting my boat). We left the inlet, brought her up on plane and as he was handling her just fine and was enjoying himself, he stayed in command. I expected him to handle her well, which he did. But with a bit of a learning curve - V-drives don't maneuver quite as quickly out drives. Our intended bearing was approx 160deg, but he had to constantly tack between 130deg and 220deg to keep us from getting pounded. The occasional rogue wave would build up right in front of us, and Jonathan would attempt a quick response maneuver, to which my big girl would gradually follow... he quickly learned that patience is the key when maneuvering bigger boats!
About 20 miles out of Marco, the seas layed down. We picked up our true bearing. Ran her at 4000RPM's, getting 22-25mph at 36-38gph all the way into Marathon.
With all that said, WE MADE IT!!! About 1730 we cleared Bullard Bank, onwards to John Sawyer Bank and into Faro Blanco. Pulled into port about 1830. With a beer in the hand, we celebrate.
Will and Bruce made a quick run out to meet us on our final approach and escort us home to Faro.
My brother/First Mate put together a collage of our run down:
https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.b.clarke.5/videos/10207317142194682/
To quote John Lennon (and my father-in-law), "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans". This sentiment could be NO TRUER of boating. The schedule is, what it is, and forever will be. We will get there when we get there - now sit back, shut up, and enjoy the ride..... I decided to start this blog as a fun way to log our boating trips - more for friends and family who want to follow our adventures beyond snipets on facebook. I figured it would be boring and have little content with just a few random pics here and there of what we did. But this trip has really given me something to write about. I truly hope that from here on out the blog/trip is somewhat uneventful and take a turn to the dull side. It has been a blast - but a week here in the keys and a return ~250 are still on our horizon. To coin a phrase, his trip has truly been a once in a lifetime experience. To that, let me be clear, I hope to make this trip MANY more times in my future, I truly do - but nothing will ever surpass the humility and elation of making this FIRST BIG TRIP....
Nothing says marina driveway like a pair of nav lights on pillars. Score a big win for Sanibel Marina!
At about 9am we finished our fuel up and pulled out of Sanibel Island onto Naples for a quick top-off before the crossing (better to be safe than sorry on fuel). As we were approaching Naples a looming squall finally opened up on our position. The seas remained 2-3' with 12 sec interval so we kept her on plane at about 22mph. As we prepared to make the turn and enter Gordon Pass to enter Naples, I noticed on the radar that the squall had moved inland and was now pissing all over Naples, yet was clearing out in the gulf. So I pulled a Captain's Prerogative and redirected us to Marco Island for the top-off.
Marco Island - now there is an interesting story.... nothing like two days ago interesting, but still interesting none the less. Pulling into Big Marco Pass is an idle speed zone...not minimum wake, but IDLE....the ENTIRE WAY - ugh! We find a marina on the charts and motor our way to it, through some sort of channel - marked (I suppose you would call it marked)..... 1 marker (red coming in and green on the other side heading out) in between some mangroves - figured out the secret, HUG the marker. :) We make our way to the marina, only to find out they have fuel but are a high and dry and don't have the proper licensing to fuel on the water - well crap - back into the inlet and across to the south side to find a different marina. We stop off at Rose Marina, which after our top off gave us a temp slip so we could go to the restaurant next door and get some food before the run. During our transit though, we come across this little gem of a house...... quite an eclectic collection of McDonald's memorabilia.....
It is now noon - weather reports are showing that the seas are 1-2' with 10mph winds, calming to 0' seas with 5mph winds in he afternoon. With a bit of weather getting ready to roll in, perfect timing to take a break and "wait it out". We find a little marina restaurant next door to Rose Marina with a fantastic fried Grouper basket. We also ordered up conch fritters which I think were pretty darn good too!
After lunch, we collect our vessel and motor out of Big Marco Pass - "Make your heading one-eight-zero degrees for the Keys!". We begin our run and quickly find that our required heading takes us right into the waves, approx 2-3' seas with 5 sec intervals. Jonathan happens to be at the helm as we are exiting the inlet (his first time piloting my boat). We left the inlet, brought her up on plane and as he was handling her just fine and was enjoying himself, he stayed in command. I expected him to handle her well, which he did. But with a bit of a learning curve - V-drives don't maneuver quite as quickly out drives. Our intended bearing was approx 160deg, but he had to constantly tack between 130deg and 220deg to keep us from getting pounded. The occasional rogue wave would build up right in front of us, and Jonathan would attempt a quick response maneuver, to which my big girl would gradually follow... he quickly learned that patience is the key when maneuvering bigger boats!
About 20 miles out of Marco, the seas layed down. We picked up our true bearing. Ran her at 4000RPM's, getting 22-25mph at 36-38gph all the way into Marathon.
With all that said, WE MADE IT!!! About 1730 we cleared Bullard Bank, onwards to John Sawyer Bank and into Faro Blanco. Pulled into port about 1830. With a beer in the hand, we celebrate.
Will cooking up some burgers and bratts
MMMMmmmmmm - Excellent burgers there Will!!!
A couple of pretty sisters sitting side by side.
My brother/First Mate put together a collage of our run down:
https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.b.clarke.5/videos/10207317142194682/
Friday, August 5, 2016
Captain's Blog: 8-5-16
Well it isn't saying much - but today was definitely an improvement over yesterday..... :)
Suspect of a fuel issue, and having no replacement fuel filters or fuel pumps aboard I figured it best to get a mechanic on board - knowing they could honestly troubleshoot and find any problem in likely half the time it would take for me to simply identify the fuel pump.... lol. Unfortunately, both the mechanics shops on premises at Maximo were booked solid and couldn't spare a guy to even step foot on the boat. Lucky for me, they were a fountain of knowledge as we troubleshot the issue!!! Also got telephone assistance from my regular mechanic and telephone assistance from a local mobile marine mechanic I was referred too - both were unfortunately booked up and couldn't come over....
So MASSIVE thanks to:
*The guys at Maximo Marina
*Jeff and his crew at Latitude 27 Marine Services
*CJ at Coastal Wave
*Raul at Hard Wave Boats
Jonathan and I started with pulling the fuel filter to test for water - unfortunately we didn't have a strap wrench on board and everything we attempted to improvise failed miserably. To our good fortune, the guys here at the marina didn't mind us borrowing one - success! Unfortunately, no water....!! Still thinking this to be a fuel issue and not electrical....????
We pop the cap to the schrader valve to see if we have fuel pressure.... dribble... yup, definitely fuel issue, no pressure.... To validate, we check psi on the port engine, to find that, yes we have psi, but that the pump sounds CONSIDERABLY stronger..... hmmmmm....!! This ultimately led us to discovering that the high PSI pump, conveniently tucked up under neath the engine wasn't running.
LUCKILY Jonathan found that one of the wires had come disconnected at the butt crimp. As a quick check, he held the wire into place while I moved the stbd engine to ACC and the pump kicked on - HUZZAH!!! He made quick work of the repair and with a brief stop for a top off on gas, we were off at about 1330. 1-2' seas in the gulf is the report - ok, let's see how this goes.....! Well, in short, it didn't go. The run west and out was fine. But as soon as we turned south, the beating commenced!! We had to bring her off plane and were trudging along at 12mph @ 24gph, and still taking a beating.....ugh!
With that we were ICW bound by Anna Maria Island - a far superior choice I must say....!!
The run down the ICW wasn't fast by any means.... but it was quite pleasurable. Not too many slow zones, and of the ones that were in place, only 1 or 2 were extraordinarily long IMHO. Trip down from St Petersburg took us about 6.5 hours port to port. At 2015 we pulled into Sanibel Island Marina at the tip of Sanibel Island. Only 25 miles off of our target of Naples. And given the....let's say, experiences....this trip has racked up, I can't complain. Time to order us up some pizza....!!!
Well it isn't saying much - but today was definitely an improvement over yesterday..... :)
Suspect of a fuel issue, and having no replacement fuel filters or fuel pumps aboard I figured it best to get a mechanic on board - knowing they could honestly troubleshoot and find any problem in likely half the time it would take for me to simply identify the fuel pump.... lol. Unfortunately, both the mechanics shops on premises at Maximo were booked solid and couldn't spare a guy to even step foot on the boat. Lucky for me, they were a fountain of knowledge as we troubleshot the issue!!! Also got telephone assistance from my regular mechanic and telephone assistance from a local mobile marine mechanic I was referred too - both were unfortunately booked up and couldn't come over....
So MASSIVE thanks to:
*The guys at Maximo Marina
*Jeff and his crew at Latitude 27 Marine Services
*CJ at Coastal Wave
*Raul at Hard Wave Boats
Jonathan and I started with pulling the fuel filter to test for water - unfortunately we didn't have a strap wrench on board and everything we attempted to improvise failed miserably. To our good fortune, the guys here at the marina didn't mind us borrowing one - success! Unfortunately, no water....!! Still thinking this to be a fuel issue and not electrical....????
We pop the cap to the schrader valve to see if we have fuel pressure.... dribble... yup, definitely fuel issue, no pressure.... To validate, we check psi on the port engine, to find that, yes we have psi, but that the pump sounds CONSIDERABLY stronger..... hmmmmm....!! This ultimately led us to discovering that the high PSI pump, conveniently tucked up under neath the engine wasn't running.
LUCKILY Jonathan found that one of the wires had come disconnected at the butt crimp. As a quick check, he held the wire into place while I moved the stbd engine to ACC and the pump kicked on - HUZZAH!!! He made quick work of the repair and with a brief stop for a top off on gas, we were off at about 1330. 1-2' seas in the gulf is the report - ok, let's see how this goes.....! Well, in short, it didn't go. The run west and out was fine. But as soon as we turned south, the beating commenced!! We had to bring her off plane and were trudging along at 12mph @ 24gph, and still taking a beating.....ugh!
With that we were ICW bound by Anna Maria Island - a far superior choice I must say....!!
The run down the ICW wasn't fast by any means.... but it was quite pleasurable. Not too many slow zones, and of the ones that were in place, only 1 or 2 were extraordinarily long IMHO. Trip down from St Petersburg took us about 6.5 hours port to port. At 2015 we pulled into Sanibel Island Marina at the tip of Sanibel Island. Only 25 miles off of our target of Naples. And given the....let's say, experiences....this trip has racked up, I can't complain. Time to order us up some pizza....!!!
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Captain's Blog: 8-4-16
OMG - where to begin..... As you may know, our boat's name is Positive Lattitude - and our motto aboard is "No Hurries - No Worries". Well today is the epitome of that phrase.
Wed 8-3-16 Jonathan and I arrived at Positive Lattitude to make her ready for the trip the next morning. Unfortunately due to various circumstances we were of course behind schedule and didn't make it to the fuel dock in time to top off - oh well we figured, that'll only put us 30 mins behind schedule anyways as they open at 0730, "No Hurries, No Worries". We continued with final preparations into the night which included groceries, storing of dive gear, and flushing the fresh water system with a cleaner solution - what could go wrong....!? During the flushing process my pump (cira 1999) up and quit on me. After much searching on Clubsearay (and hitting the damn thing with a wrench) we gave up and decided that given our timetable was already pushed back, another 30 mins wouldn't hurt and we could wait until 0800 the next morning to call around for a pump for install when we get to the next marina. Called it a night!
OMG - where to begin..... As you may know, our boat's name is Positive Lattitude - and our motto aboard is "No Hurries - No Worries". Well today is the epitome of that phrase.
Wed 8-3-16 Jonathan and I arrived at Positive Lattitude to make her ready for the trip the next morning. Unfortunately due to various circumstances we were of course behind schedule and didn't make it to the fuel dock in time to top off - oh well we figured, that'll only put us 30 mins behind schedule anyways as they open at 0730, "No Hurries, No Worries". We continued with final preparations into the night which included groceries, storing of dive gear, and flushing the fresh water system with a cleaner solution - what could go wrong....!? During the flushing process my pump (cira 1999) up and quit on me. After much searching on Clubsearay (and hitting the damn thing with a wrench) we gave up and decided that given our timetable was already pushed back, another 30 mins wouldn't hurt and we could wait until 0800 the next morning to call around for a pump for install when we get to the next marina. Called it a night!
Flash forward to 0800 Thursday 8-4-16. Breakfast! OH YEAH!
CRAP - it's raining....drizzling really.... oh well. After a few calls we find a local shop with a suitable replacement pump. Conveniently enough, it is on the way and near marina, so we decide to motor down and pick it up en-route. We cast the lines and proceed to the fuel dock. As soon as we left the protected realm of our covered slip - the sky opened up and a light drizzle turned into a full on deluge. Back into the slip we went - scrambling to secure eisenglass as we went.... It was a sight!
Seeing as we were in a holding pattern for at least 30 mins (add another 15+ for fuelup), I sent 1st mate Jonathan to collect said pump from the shop. Well as Florida does - the weather cleared and I commenced out of my slip onwards to the fuel dock - SNAP!!!! "WTF!!!!" could be heard all around I am quite certain..... well - as luck would have it, the rain and whatever front was pushing through had caused an unusually high tide - and my antenna (lowered to about 45 degrees) struck the roof of my slip and snapped. Thank god it was only that - and in truth - I am not sure how my nav light or radar survived....!!!! Called up Jonathan and told him to add an antenna to his shopping list. DAMN this trip is getting expensive - and we haven't even left the marina....!!!!!!
Well isn't that just great! Installed the damn thing only just 2 weeks ago....!!
I stand at 6' - this beam is normally 3-4' above my head.....or more on a low tide!
High and dry forklift driveway is usually a good 3-4' above the waterline!
A quick radio check proved that the antenna internals were still good and I felt confident that we could motor for the day and attach the new antenna overnight at our next stoppage. I grabbed a wrench and some electrical tape and proceeded to splint the antenna so as to not lose the top half ENTIRELY during our run. Let's GO!!!!
Don't judge me....LOL
We are OFF!!! Only 6 hours behind schedule....!! Hey, No Hurries, No Worries, right!?
Time for lunch - motor up drive through anybody?
Full on fuel - both of the human and boating variety - let's get this show on the road and get out in the gulf..... Well stupid me missed the channel to exit the ICW into the gulf at John's Pass. No worries, we will just carry further south to Pass-A-Grille and go out there..... HAH!!!!!
We continue towards Pass-A-Grille inlet, the stbd engine suddenly cuts out. No alarms. No temperature or RPM variations prior.... just dead. Attempted to restart - she turns over but will not crank. Pop the engine hatch to look for anything suspect - all good as I can tell. Realizing where I am and knowing there is a nearby marina with mechanics I make a call to Maximo Marina in St Petersburg. Of course, all their mechanics have already left for the day - but at least they have transient slips and I can moor up overnight and try to get her in at 0730 tomorrow. So we limp our way back over to Maximo under 1 engine.
Safely secured at Maximo, Jonathan and I make quick work of installing the new water pump and antenna - 100% operational I might add!!!! Now onto the stbd engine. Further examination reveals nothing obvious, still, as if something would magically become apparent.... On suggestion from my father, I try to start her up again, but this time with a bit of throttle - she actually runs for a second or 2 and sputters out. I repeat and she runs longer before sputtering on return to 0 throttle. Third times a charm - she starts right up (0 throttle) and continues to run. Idle seems a bit rough - but no apparent problems. THANK GOD!!!! Seemingly just a fuel issue (my original suspicion). Tomorrow when the mechanic gets on-board will look at having both fuel filters replaced (and maybe fuel pumps for good measure....)
Tally for the day - $400+ in parts. $500 in fuel. Rode 30 miles of our intended 130 miles. This trip is DEFINITELY proving to be about the journey rather than the destination....!!!
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