engine hours

Unlike a car, where you perform maintenance by how many miles you have gone. IE: oil changes, tires, etc. On a boat you use an engine hour meter that shows how many hours that you’ve run the engine.

Right after I started using the Snow Goose back in the late 1990’s the original hour meter went bad. Now, 15+ years later, it's replacement has started to add 100 hours every so often. So, we now have a replacement for the replacement! The best thing is… I can proudly tell guests that our boat’s engine has only been used for 1 hour! Why, the engine is brand new!!!!!! See, just look at the hour meter!!   : )

 

 

(It's a shame that it's not April 1st)

A quite boat

 

For the first time in forever, Anna and I are apart for the holiday season. We have a family emergency back in Michigan and she has flown back home to take care of it. It makes a lonesome boat especially with the resent loss of Edie. Never fear though, I (as always) have the “LIST” for company! Oh, you say… what list? The never ending maintenance list that magically grows even as you finish items off from it. It’s like trying to walk up a sand dune, two steps forward and one step backwards.

I also have the osprey’s, one juvenile bald eagle, lots of different kinds of birds, an occasional dolphin and manatee and (as always) the other cruisers to watch and talk to. We have friends on shore and my trusty bike to take me exploring (when I tire of the “list”). Still, I wish that Anna were here.

On Anna’s and my behalf, I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and joyous holidays!

Manatee Pockets

After a medium day of motoring into the current and the wind we arrived at our next anchorage, Manatee Pockets, which is just SE of Stuart, Fl. We enjoy stopping here. The Manatee Pocket’s are a nice, well protected anchorage that has a free dock with access to many shops, stores and friends! The old channel was dredged a few years back and now boosts 9 ft of water with a generous area for transients to anchor in. It’s only 10 minutes from the ICW and services are within a long walking distance, though, having a bike would be a better idea here. That’s why the first thing that I did was I spent several hours doing the annual repair work on our two folding bikes.

A busted spoke and a frozen cable later, the bikes were ready for the road

Friends of ours took us to the “Marine Liquidators”. It’s a marine store that's filled from floor to ceiling with racks of boat parts that they buy at liquidation sales. It was like being in a toy store for boaters! Outside were several anchors and stuff on display (both old and new) so, Walt and I decided that the Snow goose needed an upgrade to her armament…. So we stole their cannon! (It was a bit heavy to carry back to the boat but, we have been working out lately). 

                                                    : )

 

I think that it will look good on the bow!

 

on the right it's nothing but propellers.

Just for a bit of fun, we treated ourselves and went to the movies and saw......

WHAT FUN!

Wrecks

This year it’s suprising the number of wrecks that we have found along the way here in Fl. There must have been a good size storm that blew threw the anchorages down here to have sent so many boats onto the shallows. Here’s just a few  in the Titusville area that I took the time to go and check out.

 

 

 

It's very sad to see these. Each one, no mater how junky, was someone's dream and now it's just a hazard to navigation waiting for someone to pony up enough money to raise them and cart them away.

A little maintenance

As they say (and I’ve said before) “Cruising is the art of doing repairs in exotic locations”.

By the time we got to Titusville, Fl. the engine was due for a bit of routine maintenance. Oil and filter change, the 500 hr. valve clearance check, a new fan belt for the Alternator along with a host of other small periodic checks that I do on a 100 hr. basis.

 

The engine compartment, my home away from home.



 Checking valve clearances. Old technology but easy to adjust.

Oh, and of course, my annual tear down of the outboard motor. Sometimes I think that it is far more trouble to have an outboard that they are worth… that is until I think ablut the ¼ mile row that I’d have to do to get to the dock. 

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We Left Titusville and sailed (instead of motored) down the Indian river. It took us two leisurely days of sailing to make it to Vero Beach where we planed to stop for a night... which has become 5 days! We ran into many old friends here so,our short stop just keeps getting longer every day. No wonder they call it Velcro Beach instead of Vero Beach... (once you stop here your stuck!)

Running under spinnaker down the Indian River.
Delightful!

 

Heading south

We had a sleigh ride after we left Beaufort Nc. The first 1 ½ days were spent under reduced Genoa and mizzen as we headed south before a 25/30 kts breeze that ran us along at 7 kts + (sometimes hitting high 8 kts while surfing down big waves). In other words it was NO FUN. But, we made 180+ miles in that run from Beaufort to Winyah Bay running the Frying Pan shoals in the dark with 5-7 foot seas. YAHOO! In reality it was a long miserable night of wild sailing. The inside of the boat was so violent and noisy that you couldn’t sleep so the next night we stopped in a Winyah Bay for a much needed rest.

After a day on the intercostal we will left Charleston harbor and head south again. This time the waves and wind were tolerable and after two 1/2 days we headed into Ponce Deleon inlet at 4:30AM (translate this to scary) and dropped a hook. During the last night at sea there was a large swell right on the beam that would violently roll the boat every 14 sec. So, again not much sleep. Over all we had one of our fastest passages but paid for the speed with rough conditions. The happy ending is that it’s 75 deg during the day down here and sailing down the Indian river (a wide, 100+ mile long sound behind the space center) is just delightful… no waves and soft, warm breezes.

Under spinnaker heading south on the Indian River

 (OK, I must like this picture since I used it in back to back posts... It was a great sail though!)

New dinghy

 

As the date for our departure loomed brightly in front of us I was troubled by the choice of a dinghy that we were taking with us. Last year Anna had purchased a Walker Bay 10. Which in subsequent use had turned out to be a bit "tender" (if you'll pardon the pun) and I didn't want to take it. 2 days before we were to leave we had a used dinghy offered to us. 



the ropes are holding the glue job together

OK, it’s not new. In fact the first thing that I had to do was repair it. (So, what’s new?) It’s a cast off from a boat that I did a lot of work on at Deaton’s and the owner gave it to us. (Thank you Fordyce!) Just in time too since I had just cut up our old inflatable and tossed it into the trash. I guess that God looks out for fools and sailors, I just don’t know which category I fall into… maybe both!

old dinghy and good riddance!

On another note, on the way down from the Chesapeake we were using the mizzen staysail and it ripped apart. I tried to repair it but the tear was to extensive and the fabric was just to old. I called and checked many sites on the internet that sell used sails and no one had any mizzen staysails. Then the next day we got a call back from a place in Fl. They just had a person bring in a used mizzen staysail that was about the right size! So, the Goose now has a new (used) sail. Just hope that it lasts as long as the old one did.

Notice the date on the old sail ? It was built in 1958!

 We're headed off shore for the next bit. Should be in Fl. in 6 days or so. See ya there!

And the work begins

The next day after we arrived at Deaton’s we were hauled out and found this. We had a total failure of our boats bottom paint. It took us an hour of scraping, powerwashing and more scraping to clean them off. Then a few weeks later I had to rough sand the entire bottom to remove the round pads that they leave behind.

thousands of barnacles

They set us in the side lot and that's when the real work began. I removed the transmission and sent it in for rebuilding. It sounds like such an easy thing… just remove the transmission. NOT!

To  remove the transmission you have to disassemble the sound box around the engine, and remove the exhaust system, but to do that you have to remove the: house batteries, battery box, battery box frame, and then exhaust which is 30 lbs. of steel! Then you have to remove the turbo charger from the engine (only to find that the heat exchanger has been leaking and the engine, rear mount, etc. are is rusty). In this process I also found that the raw water pump is leaking and the front mount, etc. is rusty also. Now, disconnect the propeller shaft, remove the coupler, remove the PSS rotary seal on the shaft. These items are (of course) very hard to reach no less work on. Then grind the side of the rudder away (so that the shaft can slide out of the boat), remove the propeller and slid the propeller shaft out of the way. Finally, you can disconnect the transmission and rig up a 3 part tackle to lift it out of the bottom of the boat. Oh and in the process of cleaning the exhaust (previously removed) you also discover that it has rusted thru and needs to be replaced. Now, you have major clean/repair to do to the bilge area too. Other than that, it’s just another day on a boat.



6 of our 8 house batteries. Each one weights about 60lbs 

While grinding I discovered... 

So, I hit it with a screwdriver and this hole appeared!



One month later, the transmission was back, everything was rebuilt, replaced, sandblasted and repainted, and ready to go. It was a scary yet satisfying day when we put the Snow Goose back in the water and had her running along under her own power. Now for the next job, and the next and the next…..

Binoculars

We were motoring along the intercostal when I knocked the binoculars onto the floor. Of course, they broke. Well, don’t let the thought of “precision optics” ever trouble you. Just unscrew the suckers and find out what is wrong! One of the prisms had moved out of it’s place. I gave it a push and ‘click’ it dropped back into place. While apart, I had also cleaned the inside of the lenses (how they got dirty I’ll never know). All while motoring along… it was a boring day.

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Back on the Goose

10/23/2015

We got back to the Snow Goose and found NO cockroaches, mold, or other critters crawling around the boat…YEA!!!

What we did find was a bumper crop of barnacles. We tried to motor over to the gas docks at buzzards Bay Marina and the boat would hardly move. I put on 3 wetsuits (the water is really cold) and jumped in. The prop looked 80% covered with barnacles and the hull was about the same. Some of them were the size of quarters!

The next morning we were off before dawn heading south on the Chesapeake to Norfolk and the intercostal waterway. We should be in Deaton’s marina by Tuesday.

The Chesapeake in the early morning... That's a fishing boat

 

We met this container ship as we approached Norfolk. We were under sail but gave way to this big boy

That's the harbor police escorting the cruise ship out of the Norfolk harbor...
we had to almost get out of the channel to let it go by. 



This is an interesting old guy. At 68 yrs. old he sailed across the Atlantic!
 Now at 78 he and his dog are still going strong.

 While sailing 2 days later on another high wind day (25 gusting to 35) on the Pamlico Sound We came upon the Brant Island shoal. It's a tricky "S" turn that you have to make to avoid the shoal. This 65 ft. power yacht didn't make the turn and ran full speed up onto the shoal. While watching this happen Anna shouted at me "hey! it's getting shallow!!!" We almost joined them on the shoal. A mad scramble and a 180 deg. turn saved us but not them. They had to sit there for 2 days while 3 tow boats tried to get them off. The boat was declared a salvage and the final bill might be as high as $100,000+ between the salvage cost and the repairs. All because they didn't read the chart correctly.
(Click on the pictures to make them larger.)

Sitting in 3 foot waves as the boat is pounding on top of the shoal.

Back home

9/22/2015

Well, I’ve gotten some harassment from people for not keeping up the blog. I’ve in turn given it to Anna for not updating the website. What can I say but it’s been a busy summer. Now, though it’s fall and I should get on with it.

This summer’s trip to Maine turned out to be a 3 week trip to NY City, which was good, but not Maine.

After returning to Michigan I took up a heavy load of contracting and rebuilding of our house. Both went well except for the fact it proved that I’m not 35 any more and at times I felt more like 75!

The lake house had the roof collapsed from the snow load 2 years ago and after a year long fight with the Ins. Co. we won and they wrote us a big check and I got to work.

One of the major things that we did was to remove the entire roof structure from the front of our house. This is the new inside of our living room. Now trussed roof with a vaulted celling too!

I'd like to give a shout out to all of the grown ups and grand kids that helped with the roof job. You all did a fantastic job! Thanks!

Taking the old roof off

 

New trusses. This was open sky yesterday!

 

Not only a new roof but all 5 of the roofs were striped and re-roofed

We also had a visit from the grand daughter of the builder of the house and she brought along a picture of our house taken in the mid 60's before the pole barn was added. The trees sure are a lot smaller! (If you 'click' on the pictures they expand larger)

 

The only truly 'fun' thing that I did this summer was to go for an airplane ride with my friend Ralph up to Beaver Island for the day. A great trip, Thanks Ralph!

 

 

 

Then Just as we were ready to leave a family crises arose and we had to stay for another 2 weeks to watch grand kids… Storms, hurricanes and boat breakdowns are nothing compared to a rambunctious 2 year old!

 

Carter with his mom's shoes (were working on left and right!)

 

Heading home

7/23/2015

Heading home

Well, the trip to Maine has been cut short. The transmission is starting to slip so we decieded to call Maine off this year and turn back south and to Reedville.

New York City was a blast and we ran the legs off the grand kids. Maybe Maine next year.
Here's a few Pictures from the trip



NY city as we sailed in

My loyal crew

The girls on the bow as we sailed by the statue of Liberty

Over looking central park

Silly hats! (she bought it!)

Meg and I at Times square just before dark

Laundry day!

In the crown of the statue of liberty... this is the temp.

On the way to Maine

 

We arrived at Snow Goose in the evening in HOT weather, 93 degs. Not too bad only the boat had been shut up for weeks and it was about 110 degs inside of her. Even with everything open it was a long, hot night.

Out for repairs again.

 

Do you notice something wrong with this dinghy? 4 years ago we bought a cheep dinghy at the Annapolis boat show and we got everything that we paid for. It’s now falling apart and we will have to be shopping for another one come the fall… that is, if I can keep this old one working for another 6 weeks! Lesson learned, spend the money and buy the good stuff. It’s a shame too, for I like all of the features of this boat and it's shape too. It's just a shame the quality of the construction is for sh*t.

Bottom line... don't buy Big Dog Boats or anything cheep from China!

I've had to put 5200 around the aft seam to stop the leaks.

 

Same here on the air floor. Lots of 5200 to seal up the leaks.

York Town

 

Of all the times that we have been up and down this coast we have never stopped in at York Town on the York River, which is the site of the definitive battle of the American revolution. Now, that we have been there, I would recommend it to any boater passing through the area. The city has built a strong, series of floating docks into the river and you can tie to them for an amazing $5.00 for 4 hours or stay overnight for a bit more. Right across the river is Sara creek which has plenty of room to anchor in and the marina there allows you to land a dinghy in for a nominal fee where you can use the facilities. Also, this bridge was erected in 10 days! Every span was prebuilt barged up the river and set into place in under 2 weeks.

the bridge just up stream from the marina

York Town, was the last major east coast battle with the British during the revolutionary war. General Cornwallis became surrounded by Gen. Washington's forces and had to surrendered his army of 7000+ men to the Americans. There is a nice museum at the site of the battlefield and many different types of cannons located about the battlefield.

Mortars ready to fire on Yorktown 

A museum guide walks you through the battle field and gives you a true sense of what took place during the 3 week siege at York Town.

York Town itself is very touristy and many of the original houses in the old section have been well preserved. The main street still look as they did back in 1750...only with cars instead of horses. It was a pleasant day of walking through history for the two of us. http://www.nps.gov/york/index.htm

Upon news of the defeat of Cornwallis, the continental Congress voted to erect a great monument in York Town… then, it only took them another 100 years to actually fund it! But what a monument it's 98 feet tall and made of Connecticut granite topped with a statue named “liberty”. I was impressed.

 





 excellent stone work on the statues

The "Liberty" statue has a lighting rod on her helmet because the original statue was destroyed by lightning!

Well the trip is almost done and in two days we will be in Reedville. The Goose is staying there for a while until we return with Grand kids for a cruise up to Maine a little later in the summer.