Amazing what a few hours will do!!

Shortly after writing the entry last Saturday, I was on the deck transferring diesel from our Jerry cans to our main tanks, Renne' was resting in the stateroom, and Kali was down below in her cozy nest in the main cabin.  I had been watching a 40 foot cabin cruiser, with twin screws, trying to back into a spot five slips down from us.  I walked over to assist in docking the boat, but after 5-6 attempts (looked like he was new at least to twin screws), I gave up waiting and went back to my refueling issues.  I remember thinking SPECIFICALLY, "Thank you for NOT trying to back into the slip next to us!!"

Well, somehow he got perpendicular to the boat line, and ended up in back of us kissing the dinghy on the davits.  He had been trying to avoid hitting another boat when he realized he was hitting ours.  He hits the throttle and turns away to escape the disaster, tangles up the dinghy, strikes the outboard, and kisses the stern!!  Holy Moly!  I realized what was happening and began running aft and shouting (of course not a single curse word was ever uttered), Renne' and Kali, below, came running up to the cockpit (Renne' thinking I had fallen overboard or had been injured and Kali thinking we were being boarded by PIRATES), and not a single witness around to see it happened!

When all was settled down, the guy on the cabin cruiser docked the boat on the the T-Head, properly embarrassed, and stunned at what had happened.  Much less that he had run into and damaged a boat owned by a NAVY CAPTAIN (O-6)!!  Now I normally joke about the fact I am retired navy, but he is active duty, a Warrant Officer (whom I have great respect for), and equivilant in rank to an O-1 or O-2.  He was petrified!!

Fortunately for us, his insurance company is Progressive and after discussing our situation (the fact we need to be out of there as quickly as possible), they sent a very nice young lady over to survey the damage Monday afternoon.  Tuesday afternoon, at high tide, we moved the boat to a nearby boatyard (Sadler Point Marina and Boatyard) but got there too late to haul out, Wednessday, they hauled and blocked us and began inspecting the stern.  Although not severe, the damage to the stern was a 4" x 1" x 3/8" deep gash right next to the back stay chain plate.  This could be very serious as half of the pressure on the mast is absorbed right there at the chainplate.  The inspection indicated nothing more than minor damage, so they got to that immediately!  Beautiful job!! 

Now here is the amazing thing and why we believe this was meant to be!!  When we left Grove Harbor Marina and Boatyard (Coconut Grove, Fl) after being hauled and blocked and the prop and shaft repaired (by Marathon Boat Yard), we have had very disappointing results with the prop!  The boat doesn't back for anything in reverse and we aren't getting much forward performance either.  We had been informed by Marathon Boat Yard (remember how satisfied we were with them?$#@#$%^&^%!!!!!) that our prop was now so efficient we were underpropped now and should have the prop pitch changed to reflect the efficiency gained by their reworking the prop!!

So with two recommendations for a prop shop, we chose the one owned by a Naval Architect.  I believed it was better to go to someone who designed and built custom props for the shipping industry if they would work on a prop this small.  As it turns out, Ellis Custom Props took all of the measurements of the prop, determined it was completely out of shape, and that THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER OF THE PROP!  This senior technician comes out with the prop in his hands and states that the die markings on the prop were his and he had ground this prop down from the original casting - now what are the chances of this????? 

This boat was built in Taiwan, rigged in Houston (possibly under the tutelage of our friend Jerry Moulder), and of all the prop shops in the world to choose from, we are standing in the manufacturing facility with the guy who cut the original prop!!!  Yesterday, we picked up the prop and WOW it even looks like a great prop.  I guarantee, they don't want a bad prop out there with their name on it, so I believe it is the best it could be today.  The measurements Prop Tech had given Marathon Boat Yard were all wrong and the work they did was the pits! 
Today, Saturday, I will reinstall the prop and we will be splashed this afternoon at high tide.  Our delay at this point will be the dinghy.  It will be picked up Monday and returned to us, hopefully, on Wednesday, and we will be out of here next Thursday, July 28th and above Latitude 31 by next Saturday.

Additionally, we had the folks at Martech buff and wax the freeboard, toerail to waterline.  I was very concerned about the soundness of our bottom paint, as we had been out of the water in Grove Harbor for 8 days and out here for three days.  We have 4 coats of Interlux UltraKote painted on two years ago this month, and I was concerned that we had killed the effectiveness of the paint.  I called Interlux, and their comment was the bottom paint will last for 30 days out of the water, but before we splash, we were to thoroughly scrub the bottom to remove all oxidation of the paint.  That was accomplished by using a plastic handled scrubby.  Today she looks brand new!  Thanks, MarTech!

Come on down this evening and catch the sundowners.  We hope our issues will be resolved today with the prop going on and the test run this afternoon.

Thanks family, friends, and fans.  We love you all!

JonNe'

Sadler Point Marina and Boatyard (904) 384-1383; www.sadlerpoint.com
MarTech Industries (904) 465-2346
Ellis Propeller Co, Inc. (904) 354-8233; www.custom-ps.com
Progressive Marine Insurance (800) progressive; www.progressive.com/boat