Night Vision Camera

Repair of Smokestack Chase

Journey's End: Church Creek to Naples 2014

Day #27: Bligh was right, the crew did indeed jump ship (ok, so what if Ken and Pat did have non refundable airline tickets back to LA). In their two weeks aboard, Nellie covered 600nm and most of 3 states. Pat's meals kept the crew happy and Ken's helmsmanship kept us off the bottom (mostly). Even though Bligh only scowls when asked, they were good shipmates.

As the trip began, so it ended with John rejoining Nellie and me. Departing the mooring ball John cast off as I took the helm. It's not a difficult departure. A little left rudder and a little power should swing the bow clear. It didn't. I added more left rudder, confirmed that it was hard over with the rudder angle indicator, and again goosed the power. Nothing happened. I quickly switch to a mental diagnostic mode. What's the problem? Transmission linkage; hydraulic failure; prop shaft decoupled; then again, maybe the helmsman simply forgot to engage the transmission... This boating stuff can be so humbling.

It was a bumpy but uneventful 30nm from Ft Myers Beach to Naples. Fortunately the 20kt winds and 3-4' waves were astern and so pushed us along. Nellie was rewarded for her good behavior over the past 27 days with a new home in a covered slip. The total for this trip was 1153nm and 182 engine hours. DBH.

Captain Bligh Gives Crew Rest

Day #26: For the first time since St. Augustine the crew doesn't rise at dawn. In fact Nellie bobbed on her mooring, lifeless, until well after 8am. Breakfast out, a walk around the peninsula, a swim in the gulf, and a night cap ashore highlighted the days activities. Bligh scowled at the crew's frivolity and was heard muttering to himself, "Mark my words, no good will come from this."

Holding at 1123nm in Ft Myers Beach, FL. DBH

More Fuel Fun

Day #25: At dawn and with much trepidation we stuck our heads out of the saloon. With relief we realized last night's bug fest had abated and that the little critters were sleeping in this morning. Still we wasted no time casting off and heading back to the safety of the fully screened pilothouse. Two more locks saw us safely into the Caloosahatchee River. With noses to the grindstone and a sense of accomplishment that comes from having successfully navigated 600nm in the last 12 days, we motored on.

Yesterday at 1300 hours the Floscan, which measures the fuel consumed by the engine, told us we had 38 gallons or about 19 hours of run time left. Just to be safe, the fuel from the aft tanks was transferred into the port forward tank. Since after the transfer the two forward tanks had vastly different amounts of fuel in them, this was a perfect opportunity to test the theory that the tanks are self-leveling, i.e. more fuel should be drawn from the fuller tank. After 18 hours of running the theory was proved correct: 73% of the fuel consumed was taken from the fuller tank.

It was 58nm from Everglades hell to the vacation land that is Ft. Myers Beach. Ahh, no bugs. Total to date is 1123nm. DBH

Into the Locks

Day #24: Today is all about luck. How far we get depends completely on the locks. We hope to make it through the two on the east side of Lake Okeechobee and then one more on the west side of the lake. Running at 1750 rpm would put us at the final lock after its 1830 closing time. The rpm is increased to 1900. Nellie jumps to life, well, at least her speed increases from 7.2 to 7.4 knots. Fuel consumption goes up even faster, from 2.0 gph to 2.4 gph of diesel. The first lock took an hour to get through. Not good. The second lock only took 15 minutes. Nellie made it to the third lock with 10 minutes to spare. The lock master had the doors open and green-lighted Nellie through. Forty five minutes before sunset she'd made it through the three locks. Our plan to anchor in the river went badly awry. Our little fortress wouldn't grab. As darkness descended, and the insects of the night made themselves felt, we found ourselves still underway. ActiveCaptain (think a group sourced cruising guide) to the rescue. About an hour ahead was a small marina. The bugs were so bad our low light, forward looking camera was useless. We drew lots to see who'd have to sacrifice themselves by going outside to handle the dock lines. Welcome to the Everglades!

Another 69nm under keel today upping the total to 1065nm. At the Glades RV Park and Marina in the middle of Mosquito Land Florida. DBH

Incredible

Day #23: We're off before dawn and what a beautiful dawn it was. It's only a short run to Stuart, FL, but there's much to do before we sleep: take a mooring; dinghy ashore; rent a car; drive 90 miles to Ft. Lauderdale; inspect a 55' Bering that a friend of the Smiths is thinking of buying; poke around Sailorman (a great used boat-junk superstore); walk three miles on the beach; eat dinner in an Italian Bistro; drive another 90 miles back to Stuart; drop the rental car off; walk 1-1/2 miles back to the boat; and, hit the sack around midnight. Whew!

A short 26nm day brings our total to 996nm. On Sunset Marina's mooring #5 in Stuart, FL. DBH.