We Are No Longer in Harbornation!

May 3, 2014

Jensen Beach, Fl
1600

Windy today, skies still ominous from the thunderstorms traveling across the State of Florida.  We have been in the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) all day today.  We had just crossed under the bridge going south to north when we began looking at the skies seriously.  Dark, ugly.  We turned to the weather channel on the VHF only to hear expectations of severe thunderstorms, 25-35knot winds, rain showers which would be down to 1/4 mile visibility and sky-to-ground lightening.  With that we chose to turn around an anchor for the day.  A call to our friends Ed and Claudia to let them know we were not going to make Vero today got us a recommendation to anchor on the south side of the bridge with better water than when we anchored on the north side of the bridge three years ago (we were aground at low tide there).  So off we ran to the south side as winds picked up ferociously.  Rain began to come down, so in foul weather gear, I headed to the bow to put the anchor down.  We were looking at 25kt winds directly down the length of the boat.  Although we are in only 8-9' of water, I wanted to make sure we were secure, so I dropped 75' of 5/16" chain in the water.  We are holding fast.  Renne' handles the helm expertly in these situations. 

So much for today,  when did we leave, where have we been, what's been happening since we left?  Let me reach back and share that with you!

April 25
Friday
We departed NAS Boca Chica around 0700.  Now there are those who are superstitious who say one must never leave to go cruising on a Friday.  Ha!  Such fools!  We headed out the channel and set a course for Maryland Shoals, East of the channel and right at the edge of the reef, 12 miles from the mouth of Boca Chica Channel.  Our friends Doug and Susan jumped in their Sea Hunt and ran out to meet us

and we were excited to see them.  We had left so early from Boca, there was no one to see us off, so we were pleased they made the effort to come out.  As they arrived, we were out taking pictures when the engine died.  Damn!  What now!?!? I knew what to do.  I immediately jumped below to check the toilet paper fuel filter - Say What???  Yes, they do exist.  It is a product from Gulf Coast Filters in Mississippi.  It utilizes a fresh roll of toilet paper to filter all of the bacteria that grows in diesel fuel before it gets to the standard "primary" Racor Fuel Filter. 

I released the clamp, pulled out the dirty roll, threw in a new roll, and while I was pumping the manual squeeze bulb to pump diesel back in to the filter, I discovered the squeeze bulb was plugged with a flax like material that had clogged the line.  I was certain this plug had been in the line for many months, as I had changed out the old fuel line a few weeks ago, and could not find the reason the engine kept shutting down the engine the last time we were in the Bahamas.  Renne' got to talk boat-to-boat with Doug and Susan while I got the engine running again, so I didn't get to see much of them.  We wished the well, and thanked them from coming out.

This picture was taken by them with us dead in the water.

This second one is proof positive I think I know what I am doing as we are off again after changing the filter and unplugging the squeeze bulb.

 

After running three hours against the Gulf Current, we decided to head inshore to Marathon, where we anchored outside Boot Key Harbor, and went in for a walk with the dogs to Home Depot for a couple of things.  After walking a mile, the dogs were completely exhausted!  The guy in the nursery at HD was kind enough to loan us the water hose where we soaked the dogs to cool them off and to give them water.  We then put them in a grocery cart an walked them around the store.  On the way back, we dinghied over to the Dockside Café, owned by the world famous Eric Stone and his lovely wife Kim, and had drinks and an appetizers.

 

 

August 26

Saturday

 

We were underway by 0730.  I had wanted to run the genset to use the watermaker first thing in the morning, however, when I hit the start switch, nothing happened.  I dinghied the dogs over to water them and to pick up ice while Renne' was preparing breakfast.  When I got back and ate, I hit the ignition for the engine and nothing happened.  A bit frustrated, I opened the hatch to the engine department and immediately noticed the squeeze bulb was collapsed.  Too much suction pressure.  Hmmmm!  I removed the bulb from the fuel line, and with a little dental pic I keep with my tools, I was able to pull a bunch of trash that was trapped in the one-way check valve.

I cleaned that out, rebuilt the squeeze bulb, reinstalled it in the fuel line, the genset fired right up, and so did the engine.  With that, we departed for Rodriguez Key.

 

April 27

Sunday

 

We anchored of Rodriguez Key and had an enjoyable ride around the island trying to find a place for the dogs to be watered.  No luck.  We figured they would go in the cockpit or on deck.  Nope!  Dinner and bed. 

 

April 28

Monday

 

Up at the crack of dawn again and headed up Hawk Channel for No Name Harbor in Key Biscayne south of Miami.  Ed and Claudia convinced us the trip would be simple with no issues.  In the past, I have been extremely concerned about the depths of the channel.  As it turned out, we had nothing to worry about.  We were very happy with the trip.  We arrived in No Name Harbor and anchored.  Honestly, we felt in the Minority.  It was very Latin there!!  Probably three dozen boats in the harbor.  Dinner was at the Boaters Grill at No Name Harbor.  We split and enjoyed a wonderful seafood Paella and a pitcher of Sangria. 

 

To be continued - we are not on a dock tonite, but if you can get a dinghy somewhere, come on out and join us for sundowners.  Looks like it will be quiet, calm, but cloudy.  More when we reach Vero!  Good night to those of you not here in the area!

 

JonNe'