On our way to Port Canaveral

Yesterday, June 6th, Renne', Ginger, and I met up with our friends, Dennis Franklin and Paul Barber, at Marathon Boat Yard for breakfast.  A short walk down Hwy 1 (Overseas Highway) to the restaraunt and enjoyed a nice breakfast at an open air table - granted it wasn't water side, but it was nice to be outside anyway.  I had to get back to the boat yard before the others to supervise the oil change and engine inspection.  At the same time, we decided to have one of the fuel tanks cleaned out.  We were glad we did that, as we had abit of difficulty with it on the way from Clearwater, before we got to Key West, and on the way out of the marina at Boca Chica.  Another $600 later we settled down for the rest of yesterday enjoying being in a new port.  Renne' got Ginger on the bus back to Boca Chica and we started getting ready for our departure.

Last night we had dinner with Dennis and Paul at our favorite Marathon restaraunt, Castaway's, and hit bed about 7pm.

We were up this morning at 0615 to be ready to pull out of the boat yard by 0730.  We were close - we were out by 0745.  Kent Brownhill and I had put 4 Gerry cans of fuel (24gal) on the deck before we left Clear Lake in February, and this morning, I added that fuel to the starboard tank for additional fuel for the trip to Port Canaveral.  I felt it would be easier adding the fuel in calm water rather than doing in 4-6 foot waves offshore.  Glad I did it.

It is 1325 right now, we still have another 4-1/2 hours to do today.  We are driving up Hawk Channel, motoring, as the wind is directly on our nose.  You know the old addage for cruising in a sailboat:  No matter which direction you choose to leave in, the wind will ALWAYS be directly off your bow!!  And that is the truth!

We are going to anchor out tonite on the back side of Rodriguez Key, adjacent to Key Largo, then leave at sunrise tomorrow.  We are retired, and just don't see a reason to be in a real hurry.  We hope to be in Port Canaveral on Friday.  We will be in the Gulf Stream tomorrow afternoon giving us a 2 knot advantage and 4 knot advantage over the current today. 

So come out to the key tonite and enjoy sundowners with us on the hook!

JonNe'

We are in Marathon

After a morning of getting ready and breakfast at Pepe's, we left NAS Boca Chica for NAS Jacksonville yesterday (Sunday).  Pepe's has been open continuously since 1909 and the food was fabulous.  It is located right across the street from Schooner's Warf and we highly recommend it!  Anyway, we have a warranty on the new engine and one of the requirements is a 10, 50, and 100 hour oil change and inspection of the engine by a qualified Yanmar dealer.  So we are back in Marathon at the Boat Yard today, hoping to get the oil change this morning so we can be on our way this afternoon for Jacksonville.  We are scheduling a stop in Port Canaveral where we will see Renne's dad and mom.  So we are on the first of three legs on this trip.  We are headed to breakfast this morning, so -
give us a day or so, and we will have sundowners with you in Port Canaveral!

Best,

JonNe'

http://pepescafe.net/
marathonboatyard.com

Woke up this morning

to the flash of lightning and a clap of thunder.  Tuesday at noon was the first rain Renne' and I have seen since we pulled into Key West on March 1st.  Even then, the rain at that time lasted only a few minutes.  Tuesday, it was a deluge for about 15 minutes.  People around here were ecstatic!  They have needed rain very badly. But JonNe' did get a bath, and that was important.  We thought Alan would be able to join us for a sail on Tuesday, but he had to beg out until Wednesday.  Renne' and I had spent the better part of 2-1/2 hours cleaning the boat for his visit.  As it turned out with the rain and winds, it was really better he had put it off until yesterday. 

Alan Rhody arrived at the gate about 11:15 yesterday morning.  What a glorious day for a sail.  We needed to get her out anyway to exercise her before we leave, so it was a great opportunity to leave the slip.  We got underway about 12:15 and sailed east on Hawk Channel.  The winds were out of the Northeast (060 at about 18-20 knots).  We only hoisted the jib and staysail though, as we didn't want our new passenger sick.  Waves in the channel were 1-2 feet and the sun was out the entire afternoon.  The engine purred as we exited the entry channel to Boca Chica.  Wow, I just can't believe the difference between this engine and the old one.  This one is quieter, faster, more balanced, did I mention quieter and faster?  What a joy!

We got Alan back in about 4pm.  He is headed for Merritt Island to play a concert Friday and Saturday night, and needed to leave.  We have really enjoyed meeting and talking with he and his wife this week.

After checking weather, it looks like we will leave here on Sunday for Marathon.  Hopefully, the boat yard will be able to fit us in - I have to call today - for an oil change and we will be on our way Tuesday - or even Monday afternoon for Miami. 

We will miss the friends we have made here.  Everyone has been really great.  I enjoy the prospects of meeting people along the way.  Renne' is torn between missing her friends at home and being on this cruise.  She wouldn't miss this for the world, but struggles with how much her friends at home mean to her.

So we should be in Marathon the next time you hear from us, so meet us on the dock tonite for sundowners -

JonNe'

We are in the mood to be leavin'

We are now waiting on a weather window to head up-coast to Jacksonville!  The weather is great here right now, but just offshore on the weather side of the reef, the seas are building at 4-6' and winds for the next week will be off our nose at 15-20.  Individually, those are not a problem, but together, they make for a wet and wooly ride.  So at this moment, and taking into consideration the up-north-coast, from Georgia to Maine, has had bad weather this past week, it looks like we will hold tight here in Boca Chica for another week.  We keep looking at the extended forecast and it is not improving.

Recent Picture of Renne'

While driving cross country heading East, Renne' and I enjoy stopping by Perdido Beach, Florida to see our friends Loretta Revis and Charlie Baucom.  Charlie is involved with the Frank Brown Songwriter's Festival every year, bringing in 200 or so nationally-ranked and local songwriters from around the country to share their latest and greatest songs either available for recording or recorded by country artists.  Two of those songwriters, Alan Rhody and CW Colt, were at Cowboy Bill's on Duvall street last night.  Renne' had met Alan in Perdido Beach a few months ago while out with Charlie and Loretta at Silver Moon Cafe' across from the Florabama on the Florida/Alabama border.  Alan's songs have been recorded by:  The Oakridge Boys (their first #1 hit of their career was Alan Rhody's, I'll Be True To You), Tanya Tucker, Lorrie Morgan, Billie "Crash" Craddick, Ricky Van Shelton (his first #1 hit and also the name of his first album were Alan's song) and a host of others out there.  CW is a local KW'er who has his own following here and has some incredible songs of his own.  We thoroughly enjoyed the intimate environment last night with only 20-30 people attending the Gunslinger Songwriter's festival here.  It is new this year and I am sure will begin to draw a large number of songwriters soon.

Alan Rhody at Cowboy Bill's

Today, Memorial Day, we have been lazin' around the boat.  I finished putting in the rough coordinates for the trip up-coast.  Jacksonville is our first destination, then heading for North Carolina and the Beaufort Inlet.  Co-incidentally, the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeards ship that sunk in the main channel and was only just recently discovered, sits within yards of where we will pass entering the channel.  Ya'll might have seen the articles lately of raising her anchor.  Pretty exciting history from a wannabe Pirate's point of view. In a few minutes we will head over to the Key West Harbor Yacht Club for a couple of hours in the pool, then off to our favorite sand bar for sundowners, Cowboy Bill's this evening for Alan and CW again, then over to watch the sun set at a secluded bar with our friends, Rebecca and Lou (Lou is captain aboard the Glass Bottom Boat of Key West.

We stay pretty busy, but we are antsy to be leaving.  You might check out the following internet sites:

Alan Rhody - www.alanrhody.com
Frank Brown Songwriter's Festival at the Florabama - www.florabama.com
CW Colt - www.piratetreasures.com
Lorrie Morgan/Alan Rhodys Trainwreck of Emotion - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2wrfU3xj2o

All for now, see you at Cowboy Bill's tonite for sundowners,

JonNe'

This Morning

I was just reviewing the weather links and the links of other boaters out there.  I added an additional weather site for the Atlantic Coast.  I also removed the link for m/v Summertime with Ron and Karen Parsons.  They sold their yacht while they sat in Stuart, Florida, and they are back in Kemah/Houston looking at what events will shape their lives now. 

I also have caught up on the circumnavigation of Mark and Judy Handley aboard s/v Windbird at www.handleysail.com.  This is a six-year jaunt around the globe about which Judy has kept the world informed on a daily basis.  They have just returned to North Carolina, before leaving for Wood's Hole, Mass for home.  Their trip has been a real inspiration for me.  They are aboard a Tayana 42 very close in design as ours, and it was communication with them that convinced me the Yanmar 54hp engine was the engine to put in this boat. Their arrival back in the U.S. was both exciting to read and sad to realize the end of a wonderful journey I have been following is finally coming to an end.  Mark and Judy, you are an inspiration.  Thank you!

www.handleysail.com

Ya'll come on down to the docks for sundowners!

JonNe'

We are back in Boca

This afternoon when we pulled into the slip at NAS Boca Chica, we both took a deep breath, threw the last line over the cleats, put the steps on the dock at the bow, and felt like we were back in familiar territory.  We have a lot to do in the coming days to bring JonNe' back to fit condition.  We have been in a disarray for so long, we can't remember where we normally put things.  But we are getting back to normal slowly.

Had dinner with friends here on the dock, Maury and Ginger.  They are intimately familiar with the trip up north, and we began looking at great places to stay.  I am beginning to look at the weather patterns for this time of year and we will begin our trek in the next week or so to Jacksonville and above.

So thanks to those of you who are still following us.  We have found that life onboard isn't always Rum Runners and sunshine - although we have had an unbelievable amount of both of those!

We will see you for sundowners at the dock tonite!!

JonNe'

We are heading back to Boca - AT LAST!

Yes Sports Fans, s/v JonNe' is feeling her oats and moving out very sprightly!  All we can say is:  WOW! WOW! WOW! Right at this moment, we are heading due west on the south side of the Florida Keys, enroute from Marathon back to NAS Boca Chica. Total distance is about 45nm.  We are flying.  Folks with the other engine, 4.5 was pretty much what we got!  We have been running about 6.2nmph and feel like we are liberated!  Was it worth $23,000, I have no idea, but as we HAD to do it, we feel great about what we are getting!

We spent Saturday and Sunday with Bill Berg and Lizette Schindler.  Picked them up at the airport on Saturday afternoon, took them for happy hour and sunset at Mallory Square.  Then drove back to Marathon.  Had a wonderful evening and both were excited about being on board the boat.  Sunday, we went snorkeling with Looe Key Dive Center.  Poor Lizzie was feeling a bit under the weather while we were offshore, but perked right up when we got back to shore.  Drinks and outdoor pool when we got back at the Looe Key Tiki Bar, then drinks, dinner, music and outdoor pool at the Sunset Bar and Grill in Marathon, then drinks, appetizers and music at Sparky's Tiki Bar down from the Boat Yard!  We had a GREAT evening there!

Yesterday, Monday, I spent on the boat with the yard mechanics.  Renne' ran to KW with Bill and Lizzie.  I met up with them for sunset at Mallory Square again, more drinks and dinner, and spent the night in there hotel room.  We were out this morning before the got up to get back to Marathon with our friend Rebecca, who graciously drove us back up to Marathon on her way to work.

So here we are, already planning our summer and fall schedule.  We will probably leave Boca on Thursday, next week, then on up to NAS Jacksonville, Florida.  We will be there about two weeks, then up to New River North Carolina, before heading up the Great Dismal Swamp to the Chesapeake.  We will head back down in October, to be in Jacksonville by December to see Renne's son, Erik and his family for his 30th birthday.

That's all folks, we will see you for sundowners this evening at Boca Chica!

JonNe

We Have Friends Coming Today

We are excited to have our friend, Bill Berg, coming to visit KW for a week.  He is bringing a long-time friend with him, whom we don't get to see very often.  The challenge is, we are still here in Marathon, tied to the bulkhead while we finish straightening things out on the engine.  More about that later when we finally get everything completed!  Just had a bit of a time getting the engine started on Thursday and hopefully we will figure it out by Monday!!  In the meantime, we will finish cleaning up the boat today and go pick up Bill and his friend from the airport this afternoon!

The New Engine Is IN and we are making our NEW travel plans

I can't believe it has been 3 days shy of a month since my last entry.  To be honest, unless it is for the cruise, I tend to consider most of our life on land to be rather mundane.  But here it goes.

Renne' and I left immediately while they were pulling the engine out of the boat.  I realized it was going to get awfully crowded and the smell of diesel is not Renne's favorite aroma.  We had a week to blow off while we were waiting to get Renne's '55 Chevy Belair over to the Concours De Elegance' Keels and Wheels Car and Boat Show at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, Texas.  Our lovely friend, Karen Tisdel took pity on our plight and allowed us to stay with her while we were in Houston.  What a wonderful time!  Thanks Karen, you are a jewel.

While Renne' and Karen were able to really get to know each other again, I spent the best part of that week getting the two storage units, the '55 Chevy, and the Chevy's trailer moved from one side of Kemah to the other.  While we have been gone, our friend Mike Womack closed in half of the carport area under the house for a garage and storage area so we could move out of the units and save that $350 per month!

With that finally done, we spent the weekend showing the car. As Renne' is still sleeping as I write this, I will either try to get the pictures loaded in the next blog entry or get them up on facebook later.  We didn't win this year.  We were very disappointed, but such is life.  The frame-off  (complete nut and screw reconstruction of the car) on the Chevy was done in 1994.  The car that won was completed in 2011.  So Renne' made the decision to not sell the car, but to keep it and drive it while we are in the Clear Lake area from here on in.  I will try my darndest NOT to been there when it is HOT or COLD!  There is no air conditioning and the heater has not been used in 2 decades!!  LOL!

After leaving Houston, we headed for Columbia, SC to see Shannon and Renne's Mom and Brother and his family.  We were able to mooch (stay with) my friend Keith Davis (award winning violin maker, famous author, Professional bag piper, and all around nice guy) and his lovely wife, Diane at their home in Hammond, Louisianna.

Got back to Key West a week ago, when our friend Yvonne Guy, arrived.  Now we are in the Gateway Inn at NAS Boca Chica, Florida Keys while the boat is completed.  Today is Thursday. The engine was virtually completed on Tuesday, but we discovered that the throttle cable on the old engine and the throttle cable on the new engine require opposite approaches.  Again, for the uninitiated, now, when you push the throttle forward from the normal idle position, the engine goes from full speed to idle - not idle to full speed.  So yesterday and this morning we are waiting on a mounting plate, either to arrive or be fabricated today.  I will be leaving shortly to go back to Marathon (which I have done each day) to finish cleaning up the boat.  We hope we will have a test run today.  After that we hope to leave for Boca Chica and bring the boat back.  We have more guests coming in this weekend!!

We are also beginning to research our plans for June through November, and it looks like we will be leaving early in June for the Chesapeake.  So perhaps you can catch up with us there!!  We will be giving up our slip here at Boca Chica and will reapply for a slip for two years from now.

www.keels-wheels.com/

We will meet you out on the docks for sundowners

Jon and Renne'

They Yanked The Engine Yesterday

Let's see, today is Thursday.  Time goes by so quickly!

Tuesday, I pulled the Genset out of the engine room.  For the uninitiated, the engine on this boat weighs about 475 lbs.  The genset is about 225lbs.  The engine room is 32" long, 25" wide and about 48' high.  The engine compartment was divided into upper 1/3rd and lower 2/3rd.  I had to remove just a ton of tools and spares from the upper compartment, remove all of the flooring to the upper compartment, remove the bulkhead - fortunately all of this was designed to be removed - and then stuffed it all into half of the cabin!  What a disaster!  Renne' is not happy with me.  Then I had to disconnect all of the hoses and electrical connections, unbolt the genset, attach a block and tackle to the roof of the compartment and lift the genset out onto the floor.  Then I transferred the block and tackle to the boom and lifted the genset out to the cockpit, then readjusted the position and lifted and transferred it over to the dock. 

The engine is another story.  I let them do it.  It took 6 hours for them to pull the engine out of the engine compartment.  We left about that time, headed for Houston.  So they would have pulled it out of the cabin using a cherry picker crane.  Their instructions are to mount the engine, remove the head and the oil pan, then call the marine surveyor to come do his inspection to determine if the problem occurred because of my inactions or the engines failure.  We will find out more before the end of the week we hope.  The engine will be delivered by the middle of next week and we hope they will continue working today on replacing the exhaust system.

We are exhausted from this.  But as the saying goes:  This too will pass!!

Hey, See you on the docks this week for sundowners

JonNe'

Boca Chica to Marathon

Saturday morning about 0700 our friend, Jermann from the marina, came by in his fishing boat to lend us a hand in getting out of the the marina, through the channel and out in to deeper water.  Thanks Jermann and Ruth!!  Mike and Deb, we were thankful for your offer, but feel with the winds, a power boat vs a dinghy was the better part of valor. Thanks to you also!  We then sailed out over the reef, 5-1/2 miles out, and up to Marathon.

We were beginning to experience what Lin and Larry Pardy feel!  For those of you unfamiliar with the Pardy's, they are the patron saints of cruising in a sailboat.  They have been cruising for 35 years, around the world several times, all without an engine.  We picked up Tow Boat US about 7 miles out of Marathon at 4:30pm and they towed us into Marathon Boat Yard, arriving into the slip about 6:30pm.

By the time we got into the boat yard, we had time to do the paperwork with TowBoatUS and enjoy a beer in the cockpit.  As we passed a boat of 10 young college age guys coming into Marathon - they saw Renne' in the cockpit at the helm, and yelled over to her to come to a party at Hurricane's at 9pm - of course then I popped my head up from securing some lines on the deck - we both yelled thanks!  LOL!  We actually debated going, but that would have entailed a taxi both ways.  Instead we walked to Castaway's for dinner and had a wonderful meal of boneless Prime Rib, new potatoes, mixed veggies, and wonderful bread.  The two guys who helped dock us at the boat yard were there sitting at the bar.  The manager told us they were out there.  We walked by and thanked them for assisting us.  Guess we picked the place the locals go.  That was good.  We will go back soon.  Then left and walked back to the boat.  Fortunately, we caught the shuttle out to Highway One and saved half the walk back.  But there are no sidewalks on the highway, so we had to be very alert. 

Our challenge today is getting back to Boca Chica to pick up the car - searching for bus schedules to Key West while I write this.  HMMMM!

More later, see ya out on the docks for sundowners!!

Jon and Renne' (JonNe')

Leaving for Marathon tomorrow morning

Renne' is sewing new curtain covers for the shelves in the main cabin and has three of the four of them completed.  She has spent several days trying to get her Singer 604 (circa 1962) sewing machine to thread a bobbin.  Luckily, there is a former Pararigger here in the marina who sewed flight material for Navy aircrewmen for 25 years.  For a six-pack of Bud, he came over, showed us how go align the bobbin ring, found a spring that had become disconnected, and she is up and running.  It is good to see her occupied on a new hobby.  She has been writing, and as long as we are in port, she is hoping to spend an hour a day writing on her new book, The King's Payload.

I had to file for an automatic extension on income tax today.  We were a Sub-Chapter S corporation, and when I closed the business in January, I also closed my checking account.  I didn't realize I was not going to be able to get into my accounting data for taxes.  So I also had to send a formal request to reopen that information today.  Hopefully, by the time we get back to Houston at the end of this month, we can get both personal and corporate taxes done in a semblance of reasonable time.

I am reading a book that R received the other day. A Cruising Woman's Advisor, by Diana Jesse.  Always the inquirer into how to keep our marriage ticking along, I wanted to read something on a woman's point of view regarding this adventure.  We are both fortunate to look upon this as a great adventure and we look forward to exploration and new discoveries.  If it is a year or 10 years we plan to take it one day at a time.  Our frustration regarding this current engine and the cost of replacing it has been daunting for the past two weeks.  We were not expecting this type of expense at all, let alone a month into our cruising.  We realize we were late getting started this year and want to be someplace safe for hurricane season.  We think probably somewhere north of Florida will put us somewhere covered by insurance, but we also want JonNe' safe.  We really enjoy meeting people here in Key West and will miss it when we leave.  We will be in Marathon for about three weeks, but will come back down here until sometime in June.  Marathon has things to do and places to go snorkeling. 

I packed up the bicycles this morning, put them on the boat deck.  I have to secure the forward V-Berth as it has gotten rather haphazard in the past few weeks.  Renne' just called me in to see the results of her project, and I am delighted with the results.  They cover the shelves, so they fill Renne's requirements to have cupboard and locker doors always closed, and they are a great matching color.

Oh the exciting thing - we have several dock neighbors who have wireless battery operated door chimes - button on a post on the dock and the chime on the boat.  As we are pointed bow into the dock, it is neigh impossible to hear anyone beating on the boat to gain our attention.  So yesterday, R and I went in to Home Depot and bought one.  I installed it and drilled holes for screws in our boarding steps and cut an arrow out of some adhesive backed material (black) so someone will see the button as they approach the steps.  We also received a second door bell button from a neighbor which I will install in the cockpit.  Kent, Renne' and I found when we were offshore, it is almost impossible to hear someone shouting from the cockpit.  So now we can ring the door chime and occupants below should be able to hear it and come top-side.  Great idea if I do say so myself!!

So much for the rambling today.  See ya out on the docks

JonNe'

We have COMMITTED!!

Today we signed the agreement to purchase and replace the Perkins 4-108 engine and replace it with a new Yanmar 4JH5E - 54hp diesel engine.  I have been monitoring a couple who are finishing up the last 1,000 miles of a six-year circumnavigation in their Tayana 42 Center Cockpit sailboat (exactly like ours).  One week after departing Long Island Sound at the beginning of their circumnavigation, they had to pull into port in Virginia and chose to replace their tired Perkins 4-108 the same Yanmar engine.  I emailed them about the engine and received a glowing report regarding this engine - 5000 engine hours later, zero difficulties - change oil every 150-200 hours and they have not had one single episode with their engine.  Given that and the fact that Yanmar is the preferred engine being installed in most new sailboats today, we decided this was the decision that was correct for us too.  Thanks Handley's and the rest of you who have been so good to us in making this decision!!

We will move the boat to Marathon Key probably over this next weekend, April 16-17, so it will be there while we return to Houston for the Concours de Elegance Keels and Wheels Classic Auto/Boat Show at Lakewood Yacht Club in Kemah, TX.  I have a bit of work to do once we get the boat up there, but I can accomplish that in the slip there as well as here.  The challenge will be getting JonNe' out of the slip and moved to open water where we can sail her to Marathon Key.  At that time, I will probably set anchor and decide how to pull her into the Boat Yard from there.  I have some research to do at this point.  Our dinghy may come in real handy at this point!!

Until then there is a lot to do.  We will keep you up to date as we go along.  After the initial shock of what this will cost, we are both excited about getting through this and moving on with our cruising plans.  We will be back in Key West for the balance of May and possibly into June.  We have to figure that out at this point.

Mark and Judy Handley, http://www.handleysail.com/
Marathon Boat Yard, 230-20th Street, Marathon, FL, 33050  305-743-6341 - Bruce
Yanmar America Corporation, http://www.yanmar.com/




Renne' and I will see you out on the dock for sundowners!

JonNe'

Sunset Last Night

We really are lucky to be in a place where you can watch a sunset this beautiful.  Our docks are just off to the right beyond the scope of the picture.  I am standing on the beach here at the Naval Air Station.  Renne' and I were at the bar last night with new friends.  I finally relented and got my guitar out about 8pm.  We sang all my old favorites - mostly folk songs - until we closed the bar down at about 11:00.  We were singing in loud voices, enjoying ourselves, and drinking a lot more than we should have for folks who are trying to lose weight!!!!

Yesterday and Today

We finally took the time to get my new phone.  Here in the Florida Keys, K-Mart has a lock on the market.  The arrangement with the local city council is that WalMart is NOT allowed in the Keys as long as K-Mart is here.  Now I will tell you, K-Mart is NOT WalMart!!  By any stretch of the imagination.  The problem is, our phone service is with Family Mobile.  Who would have thunk that the nearest Walmart would be 100 miles away.  So we had to drive north to Florida City, just south of Miami, to get the simcard and new phone.  For those of you who have not heard, my new phone number is 281-301-9592.  Renne's stays the same.  So we were also looking for new wheel covers for the Camry.  Would you believe these are 16-1/2" wheel rims and you can't buy those even at Wally World!!  So we will have to order a set.  Looks kinda funky running around with only 3 on the car.  Who knows where the 4th fell off.

TRES BLONDES

Renne' and I met up with two other couples at Sunset Pier, just off Mallory Square.  As one of the guys is the Captain for the Glass Bottomed Boat, we all met about 9:30pm.  Renne' had a minor surgical procedure yesterday so she was a bit uncomfortable, but we all had a great time.  We are getting to know people around here, but it is really different for Renne' as she doesn't really know anyone here.  In the pic, Renne' is on the left, Rebecca center, and Cindy on the right.  We were supposed to join Rebecca and her guy friend Lou on a sail to the Dry Tortugas, but with the engine in sad shape now, we had to inform them we were going to be unable to go.  So they invited us to join them on their boat, so we will be going to Marathon tomorrow (Sunday) to help get the boat ready and we will leave this coming Thursday (I believe).  Back on the 23rd.  By the way, nothing I like better than having drinks with 3 lovely ladies!!

TODAY

Have I said ARGGGGHHHHH yet today??  After talking with the Perkins dealer, the Yanmar dealer and all of our friends new and old, I decided today I was going to have to make this engine work. So back down to Sears this morning to pick up a 1-1/2" socket to turn the crankshaft over with, over to Home Depot for some Acetone to dilute the transmission fluid in the cylinders to help get through the corrosion, and back to the base.  I filled the cylinders again with a mixture of trans fluid and Acetone, poured them liberally into the cylinders, disconnected the starter battery again, removed the starter, and loosened the alternator so the fan belt wouldn't provide resistance to turning the crankshaft.  Then the socket in place, I grabbed the 30" ratchet handle and proceeded to carefully turn the engine through.  This took every bit of strength I had.   When I had one full revolution of the crankshaft, I called Warren and we discussed the next evolution.  He was elated, encouraged me to turn it through two more times, and felt I would be close to home - reverse everything I had just loosened or removed and try to turn the engine over electrically.  So with much enthusiasm, I got on the crankshaft again and promptly broke the bolt off the crankshaft.  When I called Warren back, he couldn't hide his disappointment when he told me I was done.  The engine will have to be pulled completely and rebuilt again.  So Renne' and I have decided (again) we will replace the engine, repowering with a new Yanmar 54hp engine!  we are disappointed to say the least, but we should be back up and running by the middle of May.  We will probably cut our trip back to Houston short this time and leave shortly after Keels and Wheels.

All for now, we will see you on the docks.

JonNe'

Our new friends Doug and Susan Henderson

We were out on the sandbar having sundowners, when we introduced ourselves to this couple.  Thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and hated to seem them leave just 3 days later.  I know we will get together with them again sometime!  Thanks Doug and Susan!!

A week ago with new friends

Renne' and I were out on the sandbar about a mile from the marina and 1/4 mile off shore having sundowners with our new friends from Cleveland, Doug and Susan Henderson.  This is the video of our return on the dinghy!!  It was great fun.  Pics in the next segment

Very Challenged today

Renne' and I went to bed last night exhausted!

While I was taking a shower yesterday morning, I noticed the shower drain pump was not working properly.  It was dragging really badly and pumping water out really slowly.  I was concerned as it is only 1-1/2 years old.  My old friend, Gary Hoyle, of Lenire Yacht Services, installed it when he helped me finish out the shower in the aft stateroom.  By the way, Gary did a fabulous job on the shower and save my lovely shipmate from moving into an apartment!!  I figured the issue was electrical and the dc motor was burning out.  Renne' thought it might be a clog.

I called the company, Jabsco, a division of ITT International and consulted with them about the issue.  After discussing the issue with their engineers, they called me back an hour later with the conclusion it was a clog in the line.  Not sure how that happened as the drain in the pan was clean, but to ensure both ideas were taken care of, I pulled the unit off the FAR engine room wall, disconnected the inlet and outlet hoses and cut the wiring for the unit.  Thank goodness for the internet and the ability to track down the operating instructions, as I was able to tear the unit apart and clean it (although there appeared to be NOTHING blocking the diaphragm).  When the hoses were disconnected, most of the water in the shower collection tub drained into the bilge - didn't see hairballs or sludge from that.

So I filled a bucket (oh, by the way, this all took place between 9pm and midnight), attached a hose to the inlet of the pump, ran a jumper cable from the battery to the pump and, voile', the pump worked normally!!!  At that point, I got out the shop vac and sucked what was in the collection tub out and then, reversing the vacuum hose, blew out the remaining water in the drain hose.  Then I reattached the pump to the FAR bulkhead wall, reconnected the hoses with new clamps, and reconnected the power lines.  I then took another shower!!  The pump worked.  So either both of us were right or one of us was wrong, but all told, both issues were checked and now the pump works again!  VICTORY!  One for the day!


The engine room, when it is completely assembled has an upper compartment we use for storing most of our tools and spares.   So, in order to get into the engine room, around the engine exhaust, the generator mounting plate, the generator exhaust and all of the rest of the stuff (hoses, prop shaft, wiring, fuel selector valves) I have about two feet vertically and 18" horizontally to squeeze my upper torso through.  The bilge is three feet deep in the engine room and losing my glasses (so have I told you how much I HATE wearing glasses??), screws, screwdriver, clamp, etc caused a bit of a challenge.

So, to put the pump back in, I unscrewed and began removing the bulkhead. I failed to remember the floor to the tool room is supported by the bulkhead (have I told you previously I was frustrated already with water in the engine cylinders). So I almost lost all of my tools into the bilge!!  Now that would have topped the day.  So Renne' and I spent a rather tense few minutes unloading the upper tool room of all the tools and spares remaining there.  Even with the extra room, it was like being a contortionist getting the pump back into place.

So another double shot of Captain Morgans Special Reserve Rum and three Motrin at 1am, I was able to get to sleep.  Up this morning at 4:45 on the computer searching for more advice on removing injectors on the engine.

Today I am only a BIT Pissy!!

Thanks for all of your positive comments,

JonNe'

Gary Hoyle, Lenire Yacht Restoration,  1405 Bayport Blvd (Hwy 146), Seabrook, TX  77586, Tel: (281) 474-2653
Jabsco, ITT Flow Control, 1 Kondelin Road, Cape Ann Industrial Park, Gloucester, MA 01930, Tel: 978 281-0440

Well, today is a different day!!

I reinstalled the starter today, cut off the terminal end of the negative (black) battery cable as it was corroded and replaced it, reinstalled all of the cables, and hit the ignition switch!!  Nothing!  After many calls to Diesel Parts and Service in Houston, speaking with Randall; speaking with my father-in-law; and then to our friend Warren Gloss of the Iron Maiden, I discovered the anti-siphon valve in the exhaust water system had jammed shut.  Consequently, the engine has water in the cylinders!  Have I said I want to cry at this moment!!

So tomorrow, I will have to remove the generator (that I so lovingly installed) - we're talking 5-6 hours of work to get it all done.  Then I have to start working on the engine.  This is work I have never done before, and I am not comfortable at this moment!! So this evening as I am contemplating my navel and trying to figure this problem out, I am drowning my sorrows in some Captain Morgan Special Reserve Rum and having dinner.

So there is my latest issue.  We were so happy with the trip.  We NEVER expected to be doing this!!

Best for now.  Call us some time.  We love to hear from our friends.  We miss you all!!

JonNe'

Sunset this evening

This is our view from the boat at Boca Chica Marina at the Naval Air Station in Key West.  What beautiful sunsets we have.  We have been going off shore to a little sand bar in the dinghy for sundowners several afternoons a week.  We have met some great folks! But we always make it back to JonNe' in time to watch this scene develop.  The other afternoons we aren't out there usually find us at the Southernmost Beach Cafe' for sushi grade tuna sliders and a beer for me and a glass of Cabernet for Renne'.  We followed that with Beer Boiled Shrimp at A&B Lobster House for Happy Hour and a cup of their Conch Chowder.  Great Stuff!!

Now all of this was a follow on to removing the starter on JonNe's engine!!!  It took us about 2.5 hours to get one bolt out, and I am NOT looking forward to getting that bolt back in place.  But the ulitmate result was, the starter is good.  So tomorrow, my challenge is to isolate the actual problem.  Best case is corrosion in one of the battery cables - hopefully the negative line.  The worst case would be water in a cylinder - but we are NOT putting much thought into that one!!  We will know more tomorrow.

On the 16th the 3 of us - Renne', me, and JonNe' are leaving for the Dry Tortugas.  We will be back what the dock on the 23rd.  We are really looking forward to do this.  It has been one of our goals while we are here.  We will be going out with two other boats from here.  Once back, we will begin packing for the drive back to Houston for the Keels and Wheels Classic Auto and Boat Show, where we will show Renne's Classic '55 Chevy.

Until we see you again, call us on Skype - Jon Siewers.  We would love to talk to you live!!

Jon and Renne' (JonNe')

Southernmost Beach Cafe' - 1405 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040,(305) 295-6550,www.southernmostbeachcafe.com

 

A&B Lobster House -700 Front St,Key West, FL 33040,(305) 294-5880