Here's the problem:
Monday 22 January 2018
Maybe that wasn't my last post before the Bahamas
We have decided that the fix on the engine isn't good enough. We did a few tests today and what had so much promise earlier is now leaking more and more with each minute we run the engine. So, we are keeping the boat in Key Largo and getting it fixed properly.
Here's the problem:
Here's the problem:
Sailing Away to Key Largo
Despite all our problems (including one teensy little almost engine fire) we made it in time for my regatta in Key Largo and got to race:)
We also had a chance to get a proper mechanic to look at this mess:
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| The engine with the alternator and some other things removed. See the dark crack to the right of the belt? That is a crack in the gear case that leaks oil. |
The good news is that the crack is stable (there is a steel plate bolted behind it) and the oil that leaks isn't pressurized (just oil spraying off the gears). The bad news is that we will eventually have to replace the gear case. In the meantime we can keep our eye on it and it should hold up fine so long as we keep the oil level up. I include this link for my friends Ed, Shannon, and Ben: Captain Ron
While getting the engine looked at and waiting for a weather window to cross to the Bahamas we had some time to kill in Key Largo. Sam got the most out of the time by learning to sail a Moth. For the uninitiated, this is a moth:
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| No, this isn't Sam |
Unfortunately for Sam I could only spare one morning to go out and take pictures and there wasn't enough wind to get the boat out of the water so I got lots of photos like this:
He assures me that he did get the boat out of the water on the second day so I think we can just Photoshop him in to the first picture!
I've been keeping myself busy with plotting our course across the Gulf Stream, provisioning the boat, and watching the traffic go back and forth in the canal we are tied up in.
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| It was certainly difficult finding space for this lot: |
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| We have to aim 30 degrees east of our destination to make up for the push north from the Gulf Stream. |
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| The African Queen goes by with tourists several times a day. Yes, that is the one from the movie. |
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| I found this on my camera roll. I don't recall where I took it. Wish I'd stopped - who doesn't love monkeys? |
Monday 8 January 2018
Life is a Marathon, not a sprint
We left Fort Myers on December 30th in the afternoon to do a non-stop run to Marathon in the Florida Keys. We got to sail a little and motor a little and the whole trip was pretty uneventful but the peace didn't last long.
We arrived about 15 minutes after the harbour had closed for New Year so we couldn't get a mooring ball assigned to us. After hum-ing and ha-ing and consulting with some locals online we decided to pick up a free ball and check in with the office when it opened on the 2nd. Boy did we get an earful at check-in! Apparently the mooring we were on was damaged in hurricane Irma and the woman at the office was surprised it had held for the 2 nights we had been there. Oops! Speaking of Irma, there has been an impressive amount of rebuilding in the Keys over the past few months but there are signs of damage everywhere.
x
Our first stop in Marathon was at West Marine to pick up the kayaks my parents had bought us for Christmas. West Marine is a mile west of Boot Key Harbor and without a car it was a long walk with 3 people and 2 kayaks through a construction zone! Riley missed out on this adventure because the cold he has had since before Christmas was really taking the stuffing out of him.
Day 2 in the Keys saw Riley and I at the hospital as his cold had turned into some pretty severe breathing problems. The local hospital looked straight out of M*A*S*H* as the main building has been condemned since Irma and replaced with trailers and tents. Riley was diagnosed with Bronchitis and released with a stack of prescriptions to be filled the next day when the local pharmacy reopened.
Day 3 involved walking to the grocery store for provisions and prescriptions. The store is a mile east of the harbour which a few locals had told us is much too far to walk! We did quite a large shop and learned the meaning of "island time" when we called a taxi to go home and the 5 minute wait became and hour. Island time sounds so great when you are imagining lazy days at the beach with a margarita but it isn't so much fun when you are sitting on the sidewalk outside Walgreen's.
By day 4 we figured we were going to be in Marathon for a while. Day after day of strong NE winds were forecast which is precisely the direction we want to go. After all this time on a mooring ball we were beginning to realize that with all the alternator troubles we were having we just aren't comfortable idling the engine to recharge the batteries. What we really need is a generator. Have you ever tried to source a generator in a town devastated by a hurricane? We decided to rent a car and drive 2 hours to Homestead to get one at Northern Tool (the US version of Princess Auto).
On day 5 we booked a car only to find out that just because you have a confirmation in the Keys doesn't mean there is actually a car waiting for you. We were able to get one on day 6 and head out (after waiting an hour for a taxi, we are on island time after all).
Day 7 and 8 - with the new generator working we had a happy crew waiting for a weather window to head to Key Largo for the Dead Dog and Tin Whistles sailing regatta which I attend every year (http://www.upperkeyssailingclub.com/).
On day 9 we finally had the window we were looking for. We could leave for Key Largo and get some much needed engine work done (mainly pulling out our 100 amp alternator and putting the original 50 amp back in). It was going to be a long day so we set off just before dawn. We got about a mile and a half down the harbour when we noticed a burning smell from the engine. Opened the lid to see a sparking and smoking alternator. We were very lucky that we were next to a fuel dock and could drift into it without power. A few hours later we were towed to a restaurant dock where we can stay for $3.50/ft (!!) and be seen by a mechanic only a few hundred feet away. As I type this, two lovely men are reinstalling the old alternator and hopefully we can be on our way tomorrow. There is still a chance that a full repair can't be done without pulling the whole engine which would be a delay of God-knows how long.
On the bright side this marina has a cat called Buddy who is happy to visit on all the boats.
Cross your fingers for our good engine health!
We arrived about 15 minutes after the harbour had closed for New Year so we couldn't get a mooring ball assigned to us. After hum-ing and ha-ing and consulting with some locals online we decided to pick up a free ball and check in with the office when it opened on the 2nd. Boy did we get an earful at check-in! Apparently the mooring we were on was damaged in hurricane Irma and the woman at the office was surprised it had held for the 2 nights we had been there. Oops! Speaking of Irma, there has been an impressive amount of rebuilding in the Keys over the past few months but there are signs of damage everywhere.
 |
| A boat from the mooring field, now in the parking lot thanks to Irma |
Our first stop in Marathon was at West Marine to pick up the kayaks my parents had bought us for Christmas. West Marine is a mile west of Boot Key Harbor and without a car it was a long walk with 3 people and 2 kayaks through a construction zone! Riley missed out on this adventure because the cold he has had since before Christmas was really taking the stuffing out of him.
Day 2 in the Keys saw Riley and I at the hospital as his cold had turned into some pretty severe breathing problems. The local hospital looked straight out of M*A*S*H* as the main building has been condemned since Irma and replaced with trailers and tents. Riley was diagnosed with Bronchitis and released with a stack of prescriptions to be filled the next day when the local pharmacy reopened.
Day 3 involved walking to the grocery store for provisions and prescriptions. The store is a mile east of the harbour which a few locals had told us is much too far to walk! We did quite a large shop and learned the meaning of "island time" when we called a taxi to go home and the 5 minute wait became and hour. Island time sounds so great when you are imagining lazy days at the beach with a margarita but it isn't so much fun when you are sitting on the sidewalk outside Walgreen's.
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| Spotted at Publix |
On day 5 we booked a car only to find out that just because you have a confirmation in the Keys doesn't mean there is actually a car waiting for you. We were able to get one on day 6 and head out (after waiting an hour for a taxi, we are on island time after all).
 |
| I feel like a bit of a sell out. Surely running a generator at anchorage is something only annoying power boaters do! |
On day 9 we finally had the window we were looking for. We could leave for Key Largo and get some much needed engine work done (mainly pulling out our 100 amp alternator and putting the original 50 amp back in). It was going to be a long day so we set off just before dawn. We got about a mile and a half down the harbour when we noticed a burning smell from the engine. Opened the lid to see a sparking and smoking alternator. We were very lucky that we were next to a fuel dock and could drift into it without power. A few hours later we were towed to a restaurant dock where we can stay for $3.50/ft (!!) and be seen by a mechanic only a few hundred feet away. As I type this, two lovely men are reinstalling the old alternator and hopefully we can be on our way tomorrow. There is still a chance that a full repair can't be done without pulling the whole engine which would be a delay of God-knows how long.
On the bright side this marina has a cat called Buddy who is happy to visit on all the boats.
Cross your fingers for our good engine health!
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