A Stormy Laundry Day! (Day 068)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Brief overnight shower; early morning sun gives way to overcast and heavy showers (strong thunderstorms predicted); south wind @ 25 to 35 knots; a blustery, stormy day; high temp near 80, low in the high 50’s

Comment: The big job for the day is laundry. Hopefully, it can be completed before the storms come. We arrived at the marina’s laundry facilities at 0915 hours. Several people were already there. Anna Marie waited her turn and but 1230 hours, all items were washed and most were dry. The handful that needed additional dryer time would be air dried on the boat. The storms had already arrived, but we were able to make our way back to the boat, with five bags of laundry (yes friends, it’s been a while), in light showers and wind. It was only a respite as the wind and rain visited us throughout the rest of the day and is expected to last through the evening.

We spent the rest of the day on the boat, working on some light chores (checking battery fluid), putting away the clothes, installing a door know, and watching a movie.

Reflection reported that they (with tally ho and Honey Wind) had a safe crossing and that they were tied up in a slip in Green Turtle Cay. Check their blogs for details (see the right column of this blog for the link). Today is their Thanksgiving!


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Winding Down (Day 067)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Unique photo of the Moon (near the horizon), Venus (lower star) and Jupiter (upper star)

Weather: Sunny; high near 80, low near 60; south wind picks up to 10 - 15 knots

Comment: It was Capt. Dave’s turn to slip “Canvasback Too’s” lines from SUNSHINE and the mooring ball so he could take on water and fuel and get the holding tank pumped out. I went along for the ride.

As we approached SUNSHINE, having completed the pit stop, I noticed that George had arrived in his kayak. He said it was good to be back on a real boat. He visited for a couple of hours before paddling back so he and Pat could do some provisioning.

Anna Marie went ashore to do get a few things since this is the last opportunity to ride the busses. They don’t run on Sunday and we expect to leave the harbor on Monday.

We grilled chicken and fresh veggies for dinner and watched a movie. The evening ended with reading and log work before we retired for the night.

Our stay in Vero Beach is winding down. We are preparing for our departure which is scheduled for Monday morning. Vero Beach is a great place to visit, but it is time to head south. Stormy weather is prediced for tomorrow. We hope to do the laundry and get to and from the boat between the storms. Before departing on Monday, we must wait for the UPS delivery. The replacement for the defective solar panel charge controller that we recieved last week should arrive on the first UPS truck. We are hoping to be underway before noon.

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Black Friday! (Day 066)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Mid 70s & mid 50s; sunny; light Se wind, If Tally Ho and Reflection have these weather conditions, they will have a most benign crossing.

Comment: After waking up rather late (0820), we skipped breakfast and went directly to the marina to catch the 0900 bus to the Pocahontas Transfer Station, were we boarded the bus that took us to a destination where we could take care of the morning’s business. We then bussed back to the transfew station where we boarded the express bus to the mall and Walmart. The exress is an additional bus to help with the expected Black Friday crowds that wanted to go to the mall, Target and WalMart among a host of other stores along the way. We had lunch at the food court, made a purchase at Brookstone’s and walked to Lowes to buy some hardware for some boat projects.

Before catching the bus back to the marina, we walked through the Farmer’s Market, that is set up on Friday’s in the vicinity of Pocahontas Park. We purchased many fresh vegetables that we’ll enjoy at our evening meals for the next few days. After making our purchases, we took the bus back to the marina and, after a short dinghy ride, we made it back to SUNSHINE where we attacked our boat projects. We installed hinges on four of our hatch screens. They’ll make it much easier to open and close the hatches. We also mounted a second mirror in the head and devised a clever way to make it adjustable.

We still have a list of boat projects that we hope to accomplish before we fly back home for the holidays.

Capt. Dave came over for dinner and, after finding out he has a fondness for acoustic guitar, we introduced him to Tommy Emmanuel. If you aren’t familiar with tommy's work, check out tommyemmanuel.com for a glimpse at his artistry or check the youtube video below:



Chet Atkins announced to the world that Tommy Emmanuel is the world's greatest finger picker! That's some praise coming from Mr. Guitar.

Before hitting the sack, we worked on the logs and the blog and read a bit.

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Happy Thanksgiving! (Day 065)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: High 70’s during the day and high 50’s at night; sunny, light wind

Comment: Happy Thanksgiving! After going to the boaters’ flea market at the Riverhouse, held an hour or so before the boaters Thanksgiving feast, we went back to the boat to get ready for our feast with the Henkels and their friends. If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you know George and Pat Henkel are great friends we first met in the early 70’s.Over the years, we have spent many holidays with them, including a few Thanksgiving feasts that included pancake eating contests usually held on the Saturday after Black Friday. Today, George is picking us up to take us to his RV site for a visit and then to his friends Kurt and Ruby who live a few doors down.

We had a great time visiting the Henkels and getting to know their friends, Kurt and Ruby and Richard, another neighbor who joined in the party. All too soon, it was time to head back to the marina for a cold dinghy ride back to SUNSHINE.

Thanks for the memories George, Pat, Ruby, Kurt and Richard! We enjoyed ourselves more than you can know.

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Bon Voyage Friends! (Day 064)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Sunny, mid 70’s & low 60’s, light north wind

Comment: Bon Voyage Tally Ho and Reflection! They are heading south in anticipation of a two day weather window, beginning on Friday, during which they hope to cross the Gulf Stream on their way to the Bahamas. After Andrew slipped his lines from SUNSHINE, and after the fuel dock was cleared (many boats were leaving the harbor today and several stopped at the fuel dock before departing), we headed to the fuel dock, before the new arrivals (there were 14 of them) entered the harbor. We slipped our lines from Canvasback Too, with Captain Dave aboard SUNSHINE to help with the docking procedures. As we cleared Canvasback Too, I turned the wheel to starboard to get out of the mooring field and into the fairway that leads to the fuel dock. That’s when I discovered a small problem. SUNSHINE wouldn’t answer the helm! Yea Gads, we have no steerage and we’re in a crowded mooring field. Without panic, the crew gathered tools and hydraulic steering fluid while I used the twin engines to good advantage. We managed to keep clear of all the moored boats and fill the hydraulic steering fluid chamber as well. Within about 10 minutes, the steering was revived and we sallied up to the fuel dock, nice as you please. No one but the crew knew we had had a problem.

After reuniting with Canvasback Too on mooring ball 31, Anna Marie and I went to the marina where we caught the bus to West Marine and Publix. I was off to buy another quart of steering fluid and Anna Marie was off to buy some supplies for our Thanksgiving feast with the Henkels and their friends.

We arrived back at the boat for dinner, reading and sack time! Before hitting the sack, I check the condition of the batteries and the numbers of amps the solar panels have collected. Today, we hit 50 amps, a new record! We didn’t need to run the generator at all.

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Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Warm – high in the mid to high 70’s and low in the mid 60’s; wind out of the north at about 10 knots; partly cloudy to mostly cloudy throughout the day.

Comment: Hanging out on the boat for a day seems to have helped my knee. It’s starting to feel better. Lacing the starboard tramp (on the bow of the boat) was our only chore for the day. Once accomplished, we just relaxed for the day. We did go ashore for an hour or so, but that was it.

At 1700 hours, we boarded Tally Ho for a cocktail party. The crew of Canvasback Too, Reflection and Live Wire (a Salene 43 trawler with Corey and Linda aboard) attended as well.


The gin was flowing freely and by the end of the evening I got a photo of Pat with red wine stains in her pants and one of Andrew in his night shirt! He crashed before all of his guests left!

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Chillin' (Day 062)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: mostly sunny; high in the low 70s low in the low 60’s; wind north less than 10 knots

Comment: About a week ago or thereabouts, I must have sprained my right knee. I don’t remember doing it or feeling it, but in the last week, it been getting more and more painful. It doesn’t hurt to walk on it, but at night, it aches to the point where it’s uncomfortable to sleep.

I’m spending the day on the boat while Anna Marie goes to the store (again!) for fixin’s for our Thanksgiving meal.

Anna Marie returned not only with the groceries, but with the Solar Panel Charge Controller. It was a simple matter to disconnect the wires (there are seven of them) from the old unit and reconnecting to the new one. The charge controller was working within minutes before the batteries were receiving the charge from the solar panels. We could tell right away that this unit was working differently than the old one which never worked according to the specifications. All is not perfect however. One of the dip switches (there are five), does not have a nib. In other words, it is next to impossible to change the setting. That’s OK for the current battery configuration, but were I to change to a different kind of battery in the future, I may have to change that switch. Without the nib, no can do!

A quick call to tech support brought a commitment that they’ll ship another controller out immediately. I can’t wait to disconnect and then reconnect the wires again!

Later in the afternoon, Capt. Dave and I helped Ray (Reflection) remove and install new batteries for reflection. I mention this because they are 8D batteries that weigh 160 lbs. a piece. I was grateful that my batteries were only 75 lbs each!

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Sunday Breakfast (Day 061)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Partly cloudy; very brief showers; low near 60 and high near 70; wind NE @ 10 to 15

Comment: Breakfast for nine (Canvasback Too, Tally Ho, Reflection, Duetto and SUNSHINE) at Mulligans on the beach was followed by a delightful beach walk. We played a version of “kick the can (actually it was kick the seed pod) on the way back to the marina.

We chilled on our boats for a while, and then it was back to the picnic table for a gathering of those going to the Abacos. All sorts of information was exchanged. It was particularly interesting to hear the wide variety of tips and do’s and don’ts for crossing the Gulf Stream. It is common knowledge that having an acceptable weather window is the key to a successful crossing. It was most interesting to hear the divergent opinions regarding what is “acceptable.”

We capped the night by watching one-half of the movie “Gettysburg” borrowed from Captain Dave. It was to bed by 2130 – another early night for us.

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Lots to Do! (Day 060)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Partly sunny; low in the mid 60s and high in the high 60’s; north wind @ 10 to 15 knots;

Comment: Our day began with a bagel for breakfast and then a bus ride to Radio Shack and an auto parts store. The employee at Radio shack was unable to identify the plug we need for the new TV. Neither could he provide the proper gauge for the cable nor the cigarette plug for the other end. This part of our mission was a complete failure! We started walking south on US 1 in hopes of finding an auto parts store that would have a hygrometer. We happened upon a K-Mart and were able to secure the supplies we needed to complete today’s boat chores (save fabricating another 12 cable for the TV). We picked up the hygrometer, wood filler to fill some small holes in the main bulkhead and a stain kit to make sure the filer matches to color of the wood. Sole of the holes were there from long ago while others are now exposed because we needed to move our pictures to make room for the bulkhead TV mount.

Before returning to the boat, we lunched at the antique car show and walked through the boat show, both at the Riverside Park. It was an enjoyable event. We bumped into the crew of Duetto while there and shared a picnic table with them. It o happens that Duetto may be getting a new set of batteries, so I told Captain John about the Trojans I purchased at the Indian River Battery Company.

After returning to the boat, we set about cleaning the paneling on the bulkhead and filling all of the holes and moving the pictures. We had a few minutes to relax before going ashore for the 1500 Meet and Greet. We enjoyed some conversation with other boaters, but returned to our vessel before the affair concluded because we were both tired.

The day concluded with a Hornblower double feature and a clams and pasta dinner. After completing the logs and expense report, it was bed time.

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Boat Chores and More (Day 059)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Low in the 50s; high in the upper 60s; winds back to 20 knots out of the north; sunny

Comment: We accomplished some chores today. Anna Marie went shopping for groceries and parts a wall mount for the new TV while I visited West Marine and Radio Shack for parts to make a 12-volt cable to power the new TV directly off DC current.

I failed in my mission! There are too many plugs to know which is appropriate. Apparently there is no standard plug for a DC powered TV and I didn’t take the sample to the store with me. Anna Marie was successful in her mission.

After lunch, we stowed the groceries and mounted the TV on the main bulkhead. It only protrudes about 4 inches from the wall. We then tried to use the power cord from the little TV and, low and behold, it fit! We don’t need to make a cable after all!

After a brief break, Anna Marie set off to do the laundry and I made a water run, filling both 6 gallon tanks, returning to the boat and siphoning the water into the main water tanks. The wind has picked up considerably, causing a wet ride back to the boat.

After picking up Anna Marie and the laundry, we dined aboard with Captain Dave and settled in for a windy night aboard.

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A Night on the Town! (Day 058)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Sunny; wind has diminished to <>Comment: After breakfast, we rode the bus into town, transferred to the Route 2 bus and were off to Target where, among other things, we purchased a 19 inch TV with built in DVD player. This unit will replace the small 9 inch unit we have been using. We still only watch DVD’s as we do not have an antennae that would allow us to watch TV programs. We don’t think we’re missing anything, except perhaps for “Dancing with the Stars.” Besides Mom, a lot of boaters seem to watch that show!

In the evening, the crew of SUNSHINE and Tally Ho met at the dinghy dock for a special evening out. Following a short walk to the Riverside Restaurant, we enjoyed scrumptious meals at ½ off. The discount was provided because we had purchased Theater tickets. We paid for the meal with the “gift” card we purchased when we brunched at the same establishment last Sunday. For $50, we received a gift card in the same amount and vouchers for two theater tickets. The tickets themselves would have cost $40.00. In addition, by showing the theater tickets, we were entitled to one-half off the cost of the meals! What a deal!!

The dinner was delightful and very relaxing. After coffee, we were off to the theater, only a short walk away, to enjoy the opening night production of “Souvenir.” The play chronicled the singing career of Florence Jenkins and her pianist Cosme McMoon and occurs during the early 1900’s. The show was both poignant and funny. Ms. Jenkins had supreme confidence in her singing ability and told her accompanist that music was in the ear of the beholder.

Since it was opening night, and most of the patrons were season ticket holders, there was a champagne reception after the show. What a treat. We sipped champagne and sampled a variety of canapés before heading back to our respective boats.

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Vero Beach (Day 057)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Still cool! Sunny; windy

Comment: New batteries functioning well! The rewire project is a success! When we retired last evening at 0930, the battery voltage was 12.39. When we awoke, the voltage had dropped to 12.35. Refrigeration was the only draw during the sleeping hours.

For over one year, the solar panel charge controller (Morningstar duo charge controller) hasn’t operated according to the instruction manual. Today, with the new batteries in place and at about 67% capacity in bright sunshine, the batteries should have been receiving “significant” charge from the solar panels. The charge meter indicated that they were receiving no charge.

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It was time for a call to the manufacturer located in Washington’s Crossing, PA. After introducing myself and describing the performance of the unit, I was asked for the serial number. It was reported that there was a run of units that were not performing to spec. As luck would have it, my unit was one of that production run. Without further questioning or trouble shooting, the nice lady took my name, number and address and assured me that a replacement unit would be shipped this very day to the Vero Beach Municipal Marina. It might be here by Friday, but Monday for sure. How’s that for service?

We’re looking forward to receiving and installing the new unit. If it operates according to the specs, our solar panels should be able to keep up with our refrigeration needs and some lights and music as well.

Vero Beach - Again (Day 056)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Cool; Sunny Windy

Comment: It is Day 2 of the battery project! Because our batteries are located in two compartments located about five feet from each other, it is necessary for us to get two long cables so we can complete the job. Our task today is to take Bus 1 to the transfer station, board Bus 2, walk about a block to the Indian River Battery Company and wait for them to make the cables for us. After about 45 minutes, we departed with our new cables.

By the time we got the cables, we were too late for the next bus back to the transfer station. We stopped in to the “Blessings Bistro” for a cup of coffee. What a place! It is a restaurant with religious theme. We watched some unusual characters and overheard some unusual conversation before making our exit.

Back at the transfer station, we boarded Bus 1 to return to the marina and our boat. It took the better part of the rest of the day to complete the wiring process. Following our successful installation, Capt. Dave whipped up a delightful meal of Macaroni and Cheese with a touch of Salsa and Chicken. It hit the spot and was very filling.

After clean up, it was time to hit the sack.

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Vero Beach (Day 055)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Cool; Sunny; Windy

Comment: Our task today was to take care of some medical business and find a place with a good deal on Trojan 105 flooded 6-volt batteries. To get there, we needed to take the Route 1 bus. That’s the bus that takes to boaters to the beach or the to Pocahontas Transfer station. Once there, we boarded the Route 3 bus to the medical center area. Indian River Battery is located on 36th street, only a block away from the Palm Gardens bus stop, which seems to be the first of a series of stops along what we call the medical mile. The man behind the counter was knowledgeable and knew just what we wanted to do. The batteries will be delivered to the City Marina at 1530 hours. In the mean time, we’ll remove the old 12-volt sealed batteries which have given up the ghost, give them in when the new ones are delivered.

We are changing our house system to four 6-volt batteries. My research suggests that theses 6-volt golf cart will provide more storage and last longer system than the old batteries.

The battery exchange was made on time and we hurried back to the boat to get them hooked up. As luck would have it, we needed two additional cables, so we hooked up a pair for the night and planned to re-visit the battery store in the morning to secure the additional cables.

We had minor difficulty in wiring the batteries but took an extra long time to run the cables and wires and double check our work.

After completing this first part of what was now to be a two day wiring job, we sauntered over to Hielen’ Lass for a terrific chili dinner with sourdough bread. Once again we reminisced about previous sailing adventures (or misadventures) before bidding good night to our hosts.

We made in back to the boat and in no time, we hit the sack. This is the third consecutive night that we’ve been to bed by 2130 hours. We’re on the boaters’ clock for sure!

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Velcro Beach (Day 054)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Lay Day

Weather: Cool; Sunny Windy

Comment: Our task today was to take care of some medical business and find a place with a good deal on Trojan 105 flooded 6-volt batteries. To get there, we needed to take the Route 1 bus. That’s the bus that takes the boaters to the beach or to the Pocahontas Transfer station. Once there, we boarded the Route 3 bus to the medical center area. Indian River Battery is located on 36th street, only a block away from the Palm Gardens bus stop, which seems to be the first of a series of stops along what we call the medical mile. The man behind the counter was knowledgeable and knew just what we wanted to do. The batteries will be delivered to the City Marina at 1530 hours. In the mean time, we’ll remove the old 12-volt sealed batteries which have given up the ghost, give them in when the new ones are delivered.

We are changing our house system to four 6-volt batteries. My research suggests that theses 6-volt golf cart will provide more storage and last longer system than the old batteries.

The battery exchange was made on time and we hurried back to the boat to get them hooked up. As luck would have it, we needed two additional cables, so we hooked up a pair for the night and planned to re-visit the battery store in the morning to secure the additional cables.

We had minor difficulty in wiring the batteries but took an extra long time to run the cables and wires and double check our work.

After completing this first part of what was now to be a two day wiring job, we sauntered over to Hielen’ Lass for a terrific chili dinner with sourdough bread. Once again we reminisced about previous sailing adventures (or misadventures) before bidding good night to our hosts.

We made in back to the boat and in no time, we hit the sack. This is the third consecutive night that we’ve been to bed by 2130 hours. We’re on the boaters’ clock for sure!

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It's on to Vero Beach! (Day 053)

Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL Mooring Ball 31 MM 951.7
Distance Traveled:67.8 Hours Underway: 10:20 Average Speed: 6.6mph

Weather: Temp range low 70s to high 80s; mostly cloudy to partly cloudy to partly sunny; SW wind 12 – 18 knots; moderate chop on the waterway

Comment: We enjoyed a LONG traveling day! Given the weather forecast for the next several days, the crew of SUNSHINE, Canvasback Too and Tally Ho determined that it would be most comfortable to put in a long day to get to Vero Beach today instead of tomorrow as planned. Fortunately, we were able to unfurl the jib and motor-sail all day.

The day’s highlights included motor-sailing in gusty conditions, making up to 9 mph; seeing another pair of bald eagles (bringing our total to ten for the trip); seeing, waving at and talking to the other PDQ Sunshine. I have traded e-mail with the owners and had hoped to catch up with them in Titusville, but heard that they left the harbor a few days before we passed by.

We arrived in Vero Beach at 1630 hours after being underway for ten hours and twenty minutes. We will probably be here throughout Thanksgiving weekend.

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STS - 126 Launch (Day 052)

Kennedy Space Center MM 885.0
Lay Day

We have ignition!

Weather: Warm (mid 80’s); south wind @ 15+ knots; light chop in the anchorage

Comment: What a great day! We visited with our friends aboard Tally Ho; took a short dinghy ride, then a nap, and then back to Tally Ho for a pre-launch dinner which was wonderful. Lots of good food to eat!

Seconds after launch, Endeavour eclipses the full moon

At 0750, the launch crew (Vanessa, Andrew, Dave, Anna Marie and me) moved to the port rail to get a good view of the launch. A nearly full moon shone brightly and the launch pad itself was lit be incredibly bright flood lights. At 0755, the ground around the Pad 39A began to glow. Seconds later, a ball of fire began to rise upward. The glow was incredible and lit the entire area. Being miles away, it took a while to hear the thunder, but hear it we did, even though we had a 15 knot south wind. Not only did we hear it, but we felt the water shake as well. The whole scene was so incredible; words cannot adequately describe what was taking place. We thought about the astronauts and what they were experiencing; we thought about the engineers and equipment manufacturers and others who played even very small roles in the incredible event we were witnessing. We marveled at the genius that developed rockets, and we thought about the incredible power it takes to get all that weight into outer space.

NASA photo of Endeavour (mission STS-126) at T + 00:00:14

I have always wanted to witness a space launch, especially a shuttle launch. It exceeded my wildest expectations. Shortly after the launch, cars and busses began to leave the island. In a short time, they were lined up, bumper to bumper on the two-lane road for miles. Andrew observed that the crew of the shuttle will have already circled the earth while these folks sit in their cars waiting to go only a few miles away.

By 0930, we were back aboard SUNSHINE contemplating what we had just witnessed. It was spectacular!

NOTE 1: For official photos and video of the launch, visit nasa.gov

NOTE 2: This was the last scheduled night launch for a shuttle.
NOTE 3: We have heard that this was the next to the last shuttle launch and that the shuttle program will end with the next mission. We’ll need to see official confirmation of this from NASA.

Arial view of our anchorage near the Kennedy Space Center

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Getting Ready for the Shuttle Launch (Day 051)

Addison Point Anchorage, near the Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL MM 885.0
Distance Traveled: 46.0 Hours Underway: 7.7 hrs. Average Speed: 6.0

Weather: Temp range 70 degrees to 84 degrees; south wind @ 15-20 knots; Partly cloudy, mostly cloudy and partly sunny as the day progressed

Comment: Fired up at 0745 and underway at 0755. Tally Ho and SUNSHINE passed through the Musson (aka Coronado) Bascule Bridge with a favorable current at 0720. We saluted friends Joe and Dee as we passed New Smyrna Beach. They are on a cruise this week!

It was a long slog down the river and the Mosquito Lagoon and the current turned foul and the south wind increased in strength.

Canvasback Too rejoined the flock as we passed Titusville on the way to our launch anchorage at “White Post.” Capt. Dave reported that the posts are no longer there, but he knew where to turn and what heading to take. As we traversed the Titusville Swing Bridge, the wind increased, making for a lumpy ride to the anchorage. Capt. Dave suggested that we hide behind the NASA Causeway at Addison Point. After a bit of exploration, all three vessels made for the protection of the Causeway. We anchored yards away from the roadway in a slight chop with the wind howling through the rigging.

We have a good view of the launch pads from this anchorage, but if the wind dies down as predicted, we’ll travel back up the Indian River to the open anchorage that is perhaps three and a half miles closer to the launch site. By nightfall, there were a total of ten boats in this anchorage.

Arial view of our anchorage near the Kennedy Space Center


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To the Rock House Creek Anchorage (Day 050)

Rock House Creek near Ponce DeLeon Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, FL MM 842.2
Distance Traveled: 13.5 Hours Underway: 2.9 hrs. Average Speed: 4.7 mph

Weather: Overcast to partly cloudy to partly sunny; temp range – mid 60s to high 70s; east wind 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to 15, clocking to the southeast and then 5 knots late in the evening

Comment: Canvasback Too cast off from SUNSHINE at about 0730. Capt. Dave decided to make tracks to Titusville where he will secure a slip and visit friends. He’ll catch up with us again on Thursday as we proceed to an anchorage about 5 miles from the Shuttle Launch Site. We expect to have front row seats for the Friday night launch (weather permitting).

As for Tally Ho and SUNHSINE, we planned a short day (13 ½ miles) where we’ll anchor in Rock House Creek, overlooking Ponce DeLeon Inlet, near New Smyrna Beach. While underway, we were able to roll out the jib for a bit of motor sailing. The sky was overcast and we had a few (a very few) drops of rain before the clouds began to break up and let some blue sky poke through.

Anna Marie trudges through the moonscape!

Both vessels were anchored by 1030 hours. Andrew launched his dinghy and was gracious enough to ferry us ashore as well. The island we are anchored behind is being filled in with sand dredged from the channel. From the top, it looked like a moonscape.


Ponce DeLeon Light from the moon!



After our walk, we met a bunch of folks who arrived by kayak. There must have been 15 boats on the beach. We had a pleasant discussion with the kayakers who were all seniors out for a day’s paddle. They live about eight miles down stream in Edgewater Landing. Rather than paddling eight miles, they transported their boats to New Smyrna Beach. They paddled for about an hour to get here and they were enjoying some snacks, the scenery and each others company until the current changed and they could ride it back to the launch site.

Kayakers paddling back to their cars

Once we returned to our vessels, it was chore/nap time (chores on Tally HO/naps on SUNSHINE). Later, Andrew and Vanessa visited and between beverages and snacks, we solved the problems of the world.

Double Rainbow caps off the day!

We finished our day with dinner, TV and more relaxing time and… a double rainbow! What a life!

Arial view of the Rock House Creek Anchorage

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Daytona Here We Come (Day 049)

Daytona, FL MM 829.2
Distance Traveled: 38.7 Hours Underway: 6:15 Average Speed: 6.3

We're in a parade of six sailboats

Weather: Partly sunny, temp range mid 60s – low 80s; Wind out of the east @ 12 to 15 knots

Comment: Up anchor before the agreed time (0700 hours) because we planned a fuel stop at Palm Coast Marina. We took the crew of Tally Ho by surprise and as we motored by, we caught a glimpse of the captain in his night shirt! He began barking out orders and was soon underway with Canvasback Too.

One of a pair of Bald Eagles to circle the boat in Daytona

We completed our fuel stop and rejoined the group who had passed the marina only five minutes prior to our leaving the fuel dock. When we re-entered the waterway, we were in a group of six sailboats on our way to the L. B. Knox Bascule Bridge.

This was a good day on the water as we had the current and wind in our favor all day (well at least until we dropped the anchor at 1245 hours. At times, SUNSHINE was making 8.5 miles an hour with the jib unfurled and the motors humming nicely.

Charky the Magic Man shows Vanessa a few tricks

After setting the anchor and rafting Canvasback Too to SUNSHINE’s hip, we enjoyed a quick sandwich followed by a dinghy ride to town where we met the crew of Tally Ho for a walk to Old Daytona. We were surprised to see that almost one-half of the store fronts were closed and up for lease or sale. Apparently the “Old Daytona” idea, although very attractive, never took off. Also surprising is that we passed seven or eight motorcycle shops on our way to Old Daytona. They were all open. We can only assume that bikes are still selling!

Charky's Card

Before returning to our vessels, we enjoyed a few libations at Caribbean Jack’s where we were entertained by an octogenarian gentleman who performed magic tricks. He was most entertaining and even had Vanessa blushing at his “under the blanket with George Clooney” trick.

Arial view of our anchorage in Daytona

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Lay Day at Fort Matanzas (Day 048)

Fort Matanzas, Summer Haven, FL MM 792.4

Weather: Sunny; temp range mid 50s to low 70s (cool on the beach); NE wind 15 -20

The Anchorage at Fort Matanzas

Comment: After breakfast on board, we launched the dinghy and took a ride to the ocean. Actually, we stopped short of the ocean as the current was rushing out and we didn’t want to scoot under the bridge. We went back to the NPS ferry dock area and met Dave, Andrew and Vanessa for a beach walk, a long beach walk. Vanessa is a first class beachcomber. She scored a fishing rod with reel and lure and a piece of an old finger bowl with the letter “S” stamped on it. We presumed that the “S” was the last letter of the Matanzas marking, identifying the bowl as an item from the fort. The park rangers could not discount our assessment.

Dave and the world's greatest interpreter

Back at the dinghies, we used Tally Ho’s cast net, one of Vanessa's finds from a previous beach walk, before we set off on a bivouac to the local restaurant for a late lunch. The restaurant was on the other side of the river, clear across a causeway bridge that spans three miles of dunes, wetlands and river. We ate well for the long walk back to the boats.

Sunset from Fort Matanzas

Between walks, we took the NPS ferry to Fort Matanzas where we listened and questioned the interpreter. This is the second time we have heard this gentleman provide his interpretation of life and events at the fort. He is extremely knowledgeable and gives a most impressive and entertaining presentation. Among all of the interpreters I have ever heard, this guy is the best! He truly makes history come alive. A visit to Fort Matanzas is worth it, just to watch and listen to this person. Unfortunately, we did not get his name, but will look for it when we return in the spring.

Arial view of our anchorage at Fort Matanzas



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Fort Matanzas (Day 047)

Fort Matanzas, Summer Haven, FL MM 792.4
Distance Traveled: 15.0 Hours Underway: 3.0 Average Speed: 5.0 mph

Weather: Sunny and warm, wind out of the west at 10 knots; temp range 50 to 80 degrees (The good weather streak is at 4 consecutive days)

Comment: We up for more chores today. Anna Marie went to the grocery store while I went to the used bookstore in town. We were back at the boat by about 1045 hours with groceries stowed.

We’re leaving the marina today with Tally Ho and Canvasback Too. Reflection is staying for the rest of the week. They’ll catch up with us in Vero Beach.

This manifestation of the Flock has planned a short day. Fort Matanzas is our chosen anchorage and it only 15 miles distant. While underway, we heard Coast Guard reports of a missing woman near Vilano Beach. Boaters were asked to keep a sharp eye out and report any sightings to the Coast Guard. After about an hour and one-half, the vessel “Evening Passage” reported that they found the body female near buoy 2 in the St. Augustine Inlet. The inlet is not far from Vilano Beach and we can only presume it is the missing woman (click here for a link to the news article).

The Coast Guard is also searching for an overdue boat with two fishermen aboard. The drama has not been resolved. Click here for that article.

After three hours underway, we had the anchor down in the Matanzas River, between the US Park Service ferry dock and Fort Matanzas.

We dined aboard, and planned to meet the crew of the other Flockers tomorrow morning. We’re planning to spend the day at the beach which is only a short dinghy ride away.




Arial view of our anchorage at Fort Matanzas

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Lay Day (Day 046)

Lay Day - Oyster Creek Marina, St. Augustine, FL MM 779.9

Weather: The streak is at three! Three days of warm, sunny weather; wind @ 10 – 15 knots

Comment: It’s project day! I changed the oil in both engines while Anna Marie tended to the laundry. Then it was off with Andrew and Vanessa for a walk to the Sailor’s Exchange. I bought four hinges ostensibly to replace the ones in the cockpit. Unfortunately, they turned out to be the wrong size. Too bad, all four cost what one from West Marine would cost. The store closed at 2:00 pm, so I didn’t have a chance to return them.

Anna Marie and I then turned our attention to replacing the lazy jacks. It took a couple of hours to measure, cut and string them. We also ran a line to the new upper shroud cleat. This will be used to raise the radar reflector.

After lunch, Anna Marie hoofed it to the grocery store to pick up a few supplies. We’ll do a full re-provisioning when we get to Vero Beach.

Tonight, it’s tea and crumpets aboard Reflection then dinner aboard SUNSHINE.

My good friends John and Honey aboard Hielan’ Lass have dropped their hook in the anchorage just south of the Bridge of Lions here in St. Augustine. John reported that he reserved a spot in the city marina, but the slip available had a 13’ beam. He needs 13.5.’ They’ll get him in tomorrow. Unfortunately, we’re leaving tomorrow but I’m sure we’ll get together in a few days or so, probably at Vero Beach.


Arial view of the Oyster Creek Marina, Sebastian River, St. Augustine, FL

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Pot Luck Rib Dinner (Day 045)

Oyster Creek Marina, St. Augustine, FL MM 779.9
Distance Traveled: 16.9 Hours Underway: 2:40 Average Speed: 6.3 mph

Weather: Two consecutive days of great weather! Sunny all day; temp range 60 – 77 degrees; light & variable wind

Comment: SUNSHINE was the last vessel of the flock to depart the anchorage. The engines were fired up at 0730. Canvasback Too was cast off and the mud hook was lifted off the bottom and secured to the bow roller. We had a gorgeous run down the waterway, passing through the Bridge of Lions temporary lift bridge at 0930. in another mile, we turned to starboard and headed up the Sebastian River to the Oyster Creek marina. There are several marinas in the St. Augustine area. We like this one because it is very protected from all winds and one can walk two blocks to the St. Augustine historic and shopping districts.

Smokin' Bob smoking the ribs






After tying up, we checked out the marina and prepared for a walk. As luck would have it, Vanessa scored the loan of a boson’s chair. After working on Tally Ho’s deck light, she offered to go up our mast. Our tasks were to run two messengers so we can replace the lazy jack lines that chaffed through and to secure a shroud cleat and line so we have a place to attach the radar reflector. Vanessa had the tasks accomplished in short order. I tried to return the favor, but Andrew and Vanessa had already completed their exhaustive list of projects, except for the fact they couldn’t secure a replacement lamp for their deck light. That project will need to be continued as the lamp was not available at West Marine, the Auto Zone and a really super boating supply store (on the other side of the river).

The Flock enjoying ribs and fixins.'

The dockmaster clued us in to the fact that Smokin’ Bob was doing ribs at 1730 hours. To participate, one need merely bring a dish for everyone to share. Anna Marie made an interesting brownie/nut concoction and brought chips. The ribs were good and there was plenty of food and camaraderie. It reminded us of the gang at Nettles Island Marina.

Tomorrow, we’ll change the oil in each engine and then we’ll chill out and take walk to the old city and chill out some more. It’ll be a nice relaxing day.

Arial view of the Oyster Creek Marina, Sebastian River, St. Augustine, FL

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Bald Eagles (day 044)

Pine Island Anchorage, approximately 20 miles north of St Augustine, FL (MM 765.0)
Distance Traveled: 30.7 Hours Underway: 5:05 Average Speed: 6.0

Weather: Here comes the sun! Here comes the sun, and it’s alright! We’re feeling good! The sun is shinning; wind is 10 knots out of the northeast; the temp is in the high 70’s

Comment: It feels good to see the sun again. We departed the anchorage a few minutes before 0800 hours and motored down the waterway in very pleasant conditions. We were among six vessels to pass through the Sisters Creek Bascule Bridge. We crossed the St. John’s River and continued down the waterway.

The McCormack Bascule Bridge has been disassembled and a new high rise bridge is being constructed adjacent to the new high rise bridge that opened last year. By next year, there will be another superhighway from Jacksonville to Jacksonville Beach.

While traveling through Palm Valley, a vessel radioed that they spotted a manatee. We didn’t see it, but Reflection reported that they did. The water temperature is 68 degrees. That manatee better start swimming faster!

We saw two bald eagles as we approached Pine Island. Tally Ho reported seeing an eagles nest with an eagle in it. The eagles nest on Pine Island is still there as well. It seems that there are now two pair of eagles working the area.

We dropped our hook in the anchorage and Canvasback Too rafted up with us. Tally Ho hosted another party. We are traveling with a great group of folks, sharing stories, telling jokes and making plans is a great part of the cruising experience.

Arial view of the Pine Island Anchorage

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Florida, Here We Come! (Day 043)

White Pelicans! Welcome to Florida!

Fort George River by the Kingsley Plantation, FL MM 735.0
Distance Traveled: 34.1 Hours Underway: 4.9 Average Speed: 7.0 mph

Weather: Overcast; temp range 60 to 70; NW wind <10>

Comment: It was anchors up at 0745, fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed upon time. SUNSHINE led the parade out the south end of the Brickhill River and reported depths readings that bottomed out at 4 feet. Reflection made it through, but Canvasback Too had to plow through the soft mud and Tally Ho and the S/V Serenity, who shared the anchorage with us, had to feel their way out, bumping and backing several times until making it to deeper water.

SUNSHINE anchored in the Fort George River

We traversed Kings Bay, Cumberland Sound and the Amelia River quickly and without incident in the overcast day. Possible anchorages, the Little Alligator and the South Amelia Rivers, were passed before noon. It was too early to stop. The decision was to go for an anchorage three miles up the St. Johns River but, we saw a boat anchored in the Fort George River and decided to give it a try. The cruising guide suggests that the current is swift and two anchors would be needed. Well, the current is swift, but we ignored the advice on setting a second anchor. By the end of the day, ten boats were in the anchorage and all were lying quietly to the current. The wind is down, so we’re expecting a quiet night.

The Kingsley Plantation along the shores of the Fort George River

Sugar Cane - one of the crops grown on the Kingsley Plantation

While navigating the Amelia River, we saw a Bald Eagle on the port bank, eating what appeared to be a fish. About ten minutes later, we saw another Bald Eagle on the oposite bank eating a fish. Apparently the fishing is really good on the river. I wanted to get my fishing pole out of the locker. To date, we have seen four Bald Eagles on our trip, and we expect to see two more tomorrow. Our destination is an anchorage at Pine Island, about 15 miles south of Jacksonville Beach. We have observed a pair of eagles and their nest on the island on our two previous trips.

Anna Marie and I went ashore to the National Park Service’s Kingsley Plantation where freedom and slavery in Plantation-Era Florida are depicted. A more thorough exploration is in order as we only scratched the surface.

The FLOCK is headed for the Pine Island Anchorage tomorrow and then it’s on to St. Augustine for the weekend.

Arial view of our position in the Fort George River Anchorage, adjacent to the Kingsley Plantation National Park.

A Hunting We Will Go! (Day 042)

Brickhill River, Plum Orchard Anchorage, Cumberland Island, GA MM 702.3
Lay Day

George Carnegie's Plum Orchard Cottage

Weather: Overcast; temp in the low to mid 60s; north to northwest wind 15 knots

Comments:

Hunting I

Oh What a Night! I briefly mentioned some problems with this anchorage in yesterday’s blog. Here are the details:

It started yesterday afternoon, probably around 1600 hours. Tally Ho had already re-anchored. Reflection was slowly hunting around her anchor. Both Ray and I noticed that Canvasback Too was hunting from one side of the river to the other at an alarming pace. Tally Ho and SUNSHINE, no foreigners to hunting, were unusually well behaved in this anchorage.

After our evening radio conference, Tally Ho and SUNSHINE switched off their radios. SUNSHINE later switched the radio back on to contact Dave. Reflection had the same thought. We both contacted Dave over the VHF radio to see what he was thinking. Dave reported that Canvasback Too usually lies very quietly at anchor. This behavior was most unusual. It looked like Dave was in for a long night. Both Reflection and SUNSHINE offered to maintain radio watch throughout the night and pledged to offer assistance, should it be needed. Tally Ho had switched off the VHF after our evening radio chat so neither Andrew nor Vanessa was aware of the radio portion of the drama although they certainly saw what was happening.

Fortunately, the wind abated a bit late in the evening. The crew of SUNSHINE hit the sack at 2330 hours with all of the “ducks” lined nicely in a row. Three late night/early morning anchor checks confirmed that all was well. Canvasback Too survived the long night. Dave was even able to get some sleep!

We all met for the prescheduled radio chat at 0800. Everyone sounded tired! This was a typical Cumberland Island experience, sans the bouncing that can be had at the Dungeness Anchorage off the southern end of the island.

At 0900 we met ashore ostensibly for a beach walk.

Hunting II

It's 9 o’clock in the morning; the regular crowd gathers ashore. We walked pass a sign that no one read thinking we’ll be on the beach in a mile. We walked past a house that has been restored; we stayed to look for awhile. Then it’s up the drive to Duck Hill Road and on to the beach with a smile.

The Hunter

So, we’re having a grand time walking and talking our way to the beach. Up ahead appears a gentleman dressed in Camo and a bright orange vest with a riffle strapped to his back. “This areas closed; didn’t see the sign? he asked. “The annual hunt’s going on. You’re better leave or you might get shot; especially you in the green and the brown.”

We turned tails immediately and walked back the trail, matching the hunter stride for stride. He was a nice enough fellow and told us about the hunt (deer and feral pigs), the community cooler where everyone stows their meat, and the hunters. Immediately we realized why there are so many people on the island and why we saw other tents pitched on the northern end of the island as we motored down the river yesterday.

Back on the dock, we observed some hunters turned fishermen. They were pulling in a fair number of whiting. “Good sandwich fish,” declared one. Another guy asked us if we were on the boats and began asking question about our destinations. It was about this time that we read the sign. “Area Closed – Hunt in Progress.” It didn’t mean much before we met the hunter, but now seems to be pretty clear.

Bernie and the Mansion

Instead of returning to our boats, we decided to sit on the porch of the mansion, enjoy the view, and continue to talk about our short term cruising plans. While enjoying the gam, the fellow who had inquired about our cruising destinations walked by. “No,” we answered in unison when asked if we had ever been in the mansion.

Bernie

He introduced himself as Bernie. For five years, he had been a docent, living in the mansion, and giving tours on the second and fourth Sunday’s of the month. “Yes," we replied in unison, when asked if we’d like a tour. He said we were lucky to be here at the time of the specially scheduled tour for boaters who are on their way to the islands or the Keys! Nice guy!!

We were privileged to get a personal tour from a gentleman who obviously knows a lot about the home. We learned that it belonged to George and Margaret Carnegie. George was the son of Thomas Carnegie who was brother to Andrew (Pittsburg Steel). Thomas owned much of Cumberland Island and offered to build mansions for each of his children, free of charge. Four were built.

The Foyer

Ray played a few notes on the piano and Bernie exclaimed that Ray could now brag that he had played Carnegie Hall!

The “cottage” has been restored by the Federal Government to the tune of $6.4 million to date. Our tax dollars at work! The original woodwork is intact as is the original wallpaper in the foyer and dining room. The original woodwork is most impressive. Several original Tiffany lamps were hung in the hunt room, where the guns and ammo were stored.

After leading us through the first floor, Bernie took us down into the huge basement, where the original heating, electrical and refrigeration systems are still located. In the east wing, accessible only via the basement or the exterior, was the indoor squash court (one of only two left in the country) and indoor pool, complete with changing rooms and shower.

We thanked Bernie profusely for allowing us in and sharing his time with us. Thanks, Bernie!

“Did You See the Sign?”

As we were looking at the outdoor tennis court, a white truck pulled up. Out popped a Park Ranger who wondered if we saw the sign. “Some of us did,” I responded. He curtly told us the area is closed. We should have read and obeyed the sign and we should make tracks to the dock and get back on our boats. “Yes sir!” we exclaimed as we walked back to the dinghies thankful for our most fortuitous visit to Carnegie’s Plum Orchard Cottage.

Arial view of the anchorage

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Breakfast Anyone? (Day 041)

Brickhill River, Plum Orchard Anchorage, Cumberland Island, GA MM 702.3
Distance Traveled: 19.4 Hours Underway: 3.1 Average Speed: 6.3

Weather: Mostly cloudy although we saw patches of blue sky on occasion; the temp range was 64 to 77 degrees in the bubble; winds were 15 to 20 knots out of the north; Jekyll Sound presented 3 foot waves and there was moderate chop on the waterway

Breakfast at the Jekyll Island Club

Comment: At 0800 hours, the crew of what S/V Harmony (a passing catamaran) called the “party fleet,” assembled in front of Sea Jays restaurant. The courtesy van from the Jekyll Island Club arrived at the appointed time to whisk us away to breakfast. We enjoyed breakfast in the warm setting of the main dinning room at the club. Breakfast was fine, but the company better. We enjoyed conversation over a leisurely breakfast in very peaceful surroundings.

After breakfast, the courtesy van returned us to the marina where we made preparations to depart. Departure began at 1010 hours. Sunshine led the parade today. We unfurled the jib as we made our way into Jekyll Sound. Three foot waves crashed against our beam making the boat rock a bit. The rocking continued until we turned to starboard. The new course put the waves on our beam and eased the motion considerably. Once behind Little Cumberland Island, there was light chop on the waterway. And so it was as we motor-sailed to the Brickhill River. We rolled the jib in to negotiate the Brickhill River. We traveled about four miles to the anchorage at Plum Orchard.

Tally Ho sailing in the salt marsh

SUNSHINE lay very well to anchor in strong current and 20 knot wind. Canvasback Too, only a few hundred feet to our north, repeatedly circled her anchor. Tally Ho re-anchored after a couple of hours and Reflection showed a bit of movement about her anchor. I can’t explain why SUNSHINE was so well behaved. Later in the evening, as the current lessened before changing direction, SUNSHINE started to swing to the wind.

Luckily for all of us, the wind seemed to diminish perceptibly by 2000 hours. In the earlier hours, it seemed as though it would be a rough evening. Although there was little chop, the hunting and sailing at anchor for all the boats in our group suggested that a good night’s sleep for the crew of each vessel might be hard to come by.

We enjoyed a nice dinner and watched TV before hitting the sack.

Arial view of our anchorage at Plum Orchard on the Brickhill River, Cumberland Island, GA


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A Cruiser's Tale (Day 040)

Jekyll Harbor Marina, Jekyll Island, GA MM 684.3
Distance Traveled: 15.0 Hours Underway: 2:50 Average Speed: 5.8mph

Weather: Partly sunny; temp range – 55 to 66 degrees; north wind @ 5 knots

Comment: Departure procedures from the Fort Frederica anchorage began at 0730, one-half hour before planned. SUNSHINE’S engines were fired up at 0725, the bubble windows were wiped down to remove the dew and condensation, and Canvasback Too was cast off. Next it is up with the kellet, disconnect it from the anchor rode, and then it’s up with the anchor. We did not use a bridle on the anchor rode last night. Once the rode is cleaned (Anna Marie washes it and the chain with the hose from the new pressure pump) and stowed, I motor away from the anchorage. Today, we are the last vessel to leave. Tally Ho had a ten minute head start, followed by Reflection and Canvasback Too.

We motored down the Frederica River to its intersection with the ICW, passed under the St. Simons Island Bridge, and into St. Simons Sound, where we unfurled the jib and motor-sailed on our way to Jekyll Island. Just before reaching Jekyll Creek, we passed Canvasback Too. We negotiated the treacherous creek at full tide. Luckily for Canvasback Too and Tally Ho (they both have 5' drafts), we have traversed all the treacherous shallows at high tide. No worries mates!

At the Jekyll Harbor Marina, we had to tread water until another vessel cleared the fuel dock. In the meantime, Canvasback Too tied up just behind Tally Ho and Reflection. We would take up residence behind them after filling with fuel.

Once on land, Anna Marie and I borrowed a couple of the marina’s loaner bikes and peddled of to the Historic District. We just needed to get a bit of exercise.

We returned to the boat in about an hour, when Ray and Dave happened by to watch me perform surgery on the Nissan dinghy motor. When we were in Bull Creek a couple of days ago, it wouldn’t start. In an attempt to get it going yesterday afternoon, I tried a few tricks and some of Andrew’s carburetor cleaner spray to no avail. I’ll need to disassemble it. I still think the carb must have gummed up.

With the help of Ray and Dave, the carburetor was removed. Only a few parts fell out but we were able to deduce their proper places when we put the carb back. Whew!

We discovered that this engine does not have a needle valve. The carburetor seemed to be very clean. We made sure all the orifices were cleared and put the unit back on the engine, without having removed the bowl. I was afraid small pieces would pop out and that we wouldn’t know where to put them. There's nothing like having left over parts after a project like this. We hoped this cleaning process would allow the engine to fire. The good news is that we learned how to remove the carb and that we could do it in about 5 minutes should we need to remove it again.

As you might have guessed, try as we might, the engine would not start. We could get it to fire, but it would not keep running. By this time, Andrew arrived and he suggested we remove the carburetor and then the bowl. Once off the motor, Andrew removed the bowl from the carburetor. We found a float valve rather than a needle valve. Andrew removed the pivot pin and took out the float valve. A small piece fell off and Andrew asked if any of us noticed the orientation of the piece. It might be important when we put it back together. As it turns out, the orientation did not matter as the piece functioned properly in either of the two possible positions.

With the float removed, Andrew found a gummed up bowl. He cleaned it out and also found what appeared to be a bit of sand. The bowl was cleaned up, reattached to the carb which was reattached to the motor. All the hoses were reconnected. We mounted the engine of the stern rail, put in a thimble full of fuel and pulled on the cord. It started right up and kept running! Success? Seems so!! We lowered the dinghy, attached the motor, started it and allowed it to run for ten minutes before closing the fuel switch. Success indeed!

Once the tools were put away, we all marched up the gang plank to Sea Jays for dinner. The food was good, but paled in comparison to the camaraderie we share. This is cruising!

Arial view of Jekyll Harbor Marina, Jekyll Island, GA



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