Timing IS EVERYTHING!!!!

We left Rodriguez Key yesterday morning at 0645.  We were both very proud of ourselves.  Great communication between the two of us, no screaming, yelling, tantrums, etc. as we lifted the anchor and departed.  The new anchor windlass worked exactly as described by the manufacturer.  what a great device!  We got everything packed away and headed for our offshore route to Port Canaveral.  Now that required picking our way across the Key Largo Marine Sanctuary where the reef raises to the surface in various places and lies under the surface for unsuspecting, unprepared maritime travelers.  Oh, and the Parks and Wildlife Department wait for the unsuspecting, unprepared to smack into their reef so they can levy a HEFTY FINE!!  So we gently made our way through, zig/zagging to find the path with a depth of more than 6 feet (the depth of our keel).  We hit the currant about 10am offshore and turned East to finally get around the Keys.  By 2pm we were flying up the currant at an incredible speed of 7.8 kts sometimes.  As slow as 3.5 at other times, but in general things were going great.  We were motor sailing to make increased time as we wanted to pass the Miami and Fort Lauderdale Ship Channels prior to dark.

About 2pm, I began to pick up vibrations in the new engine and began thinking about stopping someplace to have a Yanmar dealer check the engine.  As I continued to check, by 3pm, Renne' and I decided it was the better part of Valor was to break off and head to Miami to see what was going on.  The vibrations began to increase, we were battling 7-8 foot seas and 30+kts of winds, both from the East, so we were getting pretty worn down.  By the time we motored through the ridge rising from 500' to 20' in a matter of 1/2 mile at the shore entrance to the Miami Ship Channel (believe me we were delighted not to have crashing waves to welcome us there), we had already received permission from the Coast Guard to make our way up the Main Ship Channel (the shortest route to an anchorage).  I mentioned to Renne' that the vibrations had gotten worse as we transited the ship channel.  As we made the final two turns into the anchorage at the Miami Yacht Club, we were preparing to set the anchor when Renne' lost control of the boat.  Fortunately, I was able to drop the anchor immediately (at Renne's request).  I ran below to check the engine to find a hole through which water was pouring, where the prop shaft had been previously!  The PROP SHAFT HAD DISAPPEARED!

Well a quick look above the engine room (in the spare parts garage), I located a tapered wooden plug and my hammer and jammed the plug in the prop shaft opening in the packing gland.  The water stopped gushing in and the leak was contained.  Renne' in the meantime had contacted TowBoatUS who showed up in 5 minutes with two boats, salivating over the idea of a full blown boat salvage!  Believe me, you don't want that to happen.  Boat salvage in Maritime Law is one of the oldest laws in history.  They take the boat and it's contents and you pray insurance will cover the cost.  That is how Key West became the richest community in the country per capita during the 1800's.  Ship Salvage!!  Needless to say, they TowBoatUS folks were a bit disappointed when I told them the leak had been stopped and we weren't sinking!  On the other hand, we were in 7 feet of water with a six foot keel, but if we hadn't been prudent, the water would have overwhelmed the bilge pump and we would have had a real mess on our hands!

A bit later, a gentleman from a neighboring boat came by in his dinghy to help us by informing us the spot we had chosen to anchor in was a bad bottom and it would be more prudent to move over to another area in the anchorage - we couldn't get a word in edgewise to tell him we didn't have a prop and we were stuck there - at least til the end of his sililoque (or however you spell it!).  Last night we slept in A/C as we ran the genset again last night.  We were not in the mood to sweat!

So now what to do.  I will be calling Marathon Boat Yard this morning to discuss the fact that THEY replaced the coupler on the prop shaft and the coupler itself is still attached to the engine.  The prop shaft is gone (and the prop).  So we will discuss what their responsibility is on this.

So this morning is better, we are still afloat, the plug remains intact, we can't move, but we have a lot to do this morning.

So you missed the sundowners with us last night - I was not in a sociable mood AT ALL!  I had a few rum and cokes then went to bed!

But perhaps you can meet us over at the Hurricane Boat Yard tonite for sundowners.

JonNe'