We've been back here about 2 weeks now and we've both been really busy. Lesley getting setup and taking care of the new puppy and me taking care of a few boat projects on other peoples boats. Water pump and windshield wipers on a Mainship. Watermaker and electrical work on a new Leopard 44. Hydraulic RAM/Autopilot on a Caliber. Overhead hatches and roll shades/screens on an IP-32. Planning on two reefer rebuilds this summer and going to help friend Randy replace the oil pan and engine mounts on his 350.
More work also planned on an IP-38.
We've serviced our Yanmar and genset and pickled the watermaker since arriving here in Cape Coral. Also completed installation of Sirius/XM with our new Alpine Stereo and installed a new TV antenna and a Digital to Analog TV converter.
Also plan to do SOME work on our 350 at some point.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Puppy on board
We drove up to Lakeland on Sunday to pick up our new boat buddy, Lewis. On the way up we stopped and had breakfast with Kate and Greg and Lesley got to meet the Doods for the first time.
After bringing Lewis home he has really enjoyed exploring the boat and today was his first day meeting folks on shore. He's a great puppy and we both love him to death.
These pictures were taken this morning while I was enjoying my first cup of coffee.
After bringing Lewis home he has really enjoyed exploring the boat and today was his first day meeting folks on shore. He's a great puppy and we both love him to death.
These pictures were taken this morning while I was enjoying my first cup of coffee.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Cape Coral
We arrived Cape Coral on Saturday after traveling through heavy early morning fog in Marco Island. Visibility was less than 1/4 mile and the weather was more like Maine than SW Florida.
As we entered Punta Rassa pass and the Sanibel Island Bridge a large power boat heading right at us at high speed veered right across our bow and gave us a monstrous wake. I called him names on CH-16 and asked him to slow down and he did! I was actually surprised that he did slow down.
We are settled in now and have completed a few small projects on the boat - new digital TV antenna and Digital to analog converter for our 12volt TV and installation of our Sirius/XM radio with our new AM/FM stereo receiver.
Lesley has been busy getting things ready for our new puppy - only 2 more days now. We are planning on stopping to visit with Greg and Kate on our way to pick up the puppy on Sunday.
We had a new neighbor move in next door to us while we were away yesterday. Not sure if he is renting or buying.
There goes the neighborhood
As we entered Punta Rassa pass and the Sanibel Island Bridge a large power boat heading right at us at high speed veered right across our bow and gave us a monstrous wake. I called him names on CH-16 and asked him to slow down and he did! I was actually surprised that he did slow down.
We are settled in now and have completed a few small projects on the boat - new digital TV antenna and Digital to analog converter for our 12volt TV and installation of our Sirius/XM radio with our new AM/FM stereo receiver.
Lesley has been busy getting things ready for our new puppy - only 2 more days now. We are planning on stopping to visit with Greg and Kate on our way to pick up the puppy on Sunday.
We had a new neighbor move in next door to us while we were away yesterday. Not sure if he is renting or buying.
There goes the neighborhood
Friday, February 7, 2014
Battery melt down!
We had a very scary thing happen this morning at about 0500 as we continue our return trip from the Caribbean. We were anchored just North of the Shark River (should be called bug river).
I got up this morning and checked out stuff on the boat before making coffee. Checked the bilge, checked fuel and water, checked batteries- yikes. Even though we only use 35 AH's of 12 volt power overnight our house bank was down to an unheard of 12.1vdc! Normally the house voltage drops to 12.55 or so overnight.
I started to check the batteries and noticed that the cushion over the battery compartment was unusually warm to the touch. Opened the compartment and one of the 4 house batteries was bulging near the positive terminal and was very very hot to the touch. Busted ass to get the one battery disconnected and off the boat before it ruptured. Luckily no hydrogen sulfide gas had vented but I was really afraid that the battery was going to explode!
Battery is gone and everything is back to normal (except house bank capacity).
I have to note that the battery that failed was one of 4 Deka AGMs. Never had this happen before when I was using Lifelines - hope I never have it happen again, period. Will not use the Deka batteries again.
I got up this morning and checked out stuff on the boat before making coffee. Checked the bilge, checked fuel and water, checked batteries- yikes. Even though we only use 35 AH's of 12 volt power overnight our house bank was down to an unheard of 12.1vdc! Normally the house voltage drops to 12.55 or so overnight.
I started to check the batteries and noticed that the cushion over the battery compartment was unusually warm to the touch. Opened the compartment and one of the 4 house batteries was bulging near the positive terminal and was very very hot to the touch. Busted ass to get the one battery disconnected and off the boat before it ruptured. Luckily no hydrogen sulfide gas had vented but I was really afraid that the battery was going to explode!
Battery is gone and everything is back to normal (except house bank capacity).
I have to note that the battery that failed was one of 4 Deka AGMs. Never had this happen before when I was using Lifelines - hope I never have it happen again, period. Will not use the Deka batteries again.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Florida Keys
We left dinner Key at 0900 this morning and had a nice trip down the inside route heading for the Keys. We ended up stopping for the night just past Jewfish Creek tucked up in about 7 feet of water. Some wind but almost no chop so should be a good night for sleeping!
We made sloppy joes from scratch for dinner and watched another episode of Breaking Bad. Tomorrow will be a short day as we only have to go about 35 miles for the day and then stop just before Yacht Channel near Channel 5 Bridge (South of Islamorada). Dinner tomorrow will be grilled strip steaks, cauliflower with Lesley's serrano cheese sauce, and basmati rice. What, I just had dinner now I'm talking about tomorrow's dinner!
Good night!
We made sloppy joes from scratch for dinner and watched another episode of Breaking Bad. Tomorrow will be a short day as we only have to go about 35 miles for the day and then stop just before Yacht Channel near Channel 5 Bridge (South of Islamorada). Dinner tomorrow will be grilled strip steaks, cauliflower with Lesley's serrano cheese sauce, and basmati rice. What, I just had dinner now I'm talking about tomorrow's dinner!
Good night!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Miami
We arrived Miami yesterday via the Dodge Island Cut heading for Dinner Key Marina. As we were coming in we heard "CatsPaw" on the VHF so hailed him. After a few tries we were able to connect and had a nice discussion. Ironic in that Carey helped me move the boat to the Caribbean 8 years ago and he was the first person we spoke to on our return!.
As we moved South on the ICW also saw and spoke with Island Spirit and waved to another IP owner who was traveling with them.
We used the Local Boater Option with a twist on our arrival as there is still something wrong with Lesley's profile in the system. If I enter our float plan and list Lesley as crew there is a problem and we have to physically travel to US Customs and Immigration. If Lesley uses her profile and lists me as crew then everything works the way it is supposed to. Have tried to fix this remotely with no success so will attempt to fix once we are back in Punta Gorda.
This morning is for laundry then out to get a rental car and will run more errands.
As we moved South on the ICW also saw and spoke with Island Spirit and waved to another IP owner who was traveling with them.
We used the Local Boater Option with a twist on our arrival as there is still something wrong with Lesley's profile in the system. If I enter our float plan and list Lesley as crew there is a problem and we have to physically travel to US Customs and Immigration. If Lesley uses her profile and lists me as crew then everything works the way it is supposed to. Have tried to fix this remotely with no success so will attempt to fix once we are back in Punta Gorda.
This morning is for laundry then out to get a rental car and will run more errands.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Eleuthera, Berry Islands, Great Bahama Bank
We left Hawks Nest Marina on Cat Island and headed North and then around to Egg Island on the West Side of Eleuthera. On the way up near Little San Salvador we had a close approach with a cruise ship. You could smell the cafeteria food for about an hour afterward!
The overnight trip was very calm and really damp and without any moon visibility was near zero. We came up into Egg Island to anchor just after sunrise and another Island Packet, a 38 was already anchored there, Tintean (sp). We spoke with them on the radio and had a nice chat.
We left Eleuthera the following morning before sunrise headed for Chub Cay. Trip was uneventful and as we entered the Chub Cay channel we say another IP - this one a 35 Vanilla. Exchanged emails with the owners. We fueled up on the way to our slip the cleaned us and the boat up and had a cold beverage before heading to the restaurant. We stopped here in 2004 on our way to the Exumas and had great cracked conch so I jokingly asked the waiter it was still as good and he same damn right, same cook even. So we had cracked conch, peas and rice, and more cold beverages. Conch was superb.
We left Chub Cay early yesterday heading for Miami via Great Bahamas Bank and South Riding Rock. After years in deep water we spent most of yesterday and last night in 12 - 15ft of water over a white sand bottom. Water was a beautiful blue and considtions we so calm we stopped, anchored, had dinner then snoozed for 4 hours before continuing on our way.
The overnight trip was very calm and really damp and without any moon visibility was near zero. We came up into Egg Island to anchor just after sunrise and another Island Packet, a 38 was already anchored there, Tintean (sp). We spoke with them on the radio and had a nice chat.
We left Eleuthera the following morning before sunrise headed for Chub Cay. Trip was uneventful and as we entered the Chub Cay channel we say another IP - this one a 35 Vanilla. Exchanged emails with the owners. We fueled up on the way to our slip the cleaned us and the boat up and had a cold beverage before heading to the restaurant. We stopped here in 2004 on our way to the Exumas and had great cracked conch so I jokingly asked the waiter it was still as good and he same damn right, same cook even. So we had cracked conch, peas and rice, and more cold beverages. Conch was superb.
We left Chub Cay early yesterday heading for Miami via Great Bahamas Bank and South Riding Rock. After years in deep water we spent most of yesterday and last night in 12 - 15ft of water over a white sand bottom. Water was a beautiful blue and considtions we so calm we stopped, anchored, had dinner then snoozed for 4 hours before continuing on our way.
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