Friday, Oct 24, 2014, about 9am I moved my boat across the channel to the mooring balls for the rest of this day and for the following night. I wanted to spend some time in St. Augustine, Fl, the oldest city in America, circa 1565 or something like that. The dingy dock cost $10.00 for me to row a couple of miles each way or for $20.00 they would pick me up at my boat and deliver me back several times during the day, I chose for the water taxi. I really wanted/needed a shower and enjoyed it more than almost any shower I have had in a long time.
I walked the old town and enjoyed the historical buildings and took some awesome pictures. Spent some time at the fort and have some great pictures of that also.
Tonight I will spend a relaxing evening on the mooring ball and tomorrow move on down the river to Daytona Beach where the famous Dayton 500 race takes place. If there are races going on, you can hear them from the waterway.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Hi again, it's a little after 8 pm on October 27,2014 and I'm in Titusville Florida, home of NASA. There was a scheduled launch tonight but I didn't see a thing, don't know if it got postponed or what.
I scheduled myself to be here this afternoon to anchor out and watch the shuttle launch but things changed.
My drive shaft broke on the boat in the middle of mosquito marsh and I had to be towed in. Well I got here but not on my own power!
Tomorrow I have to try and get parts for the shaft so I can get of this dock. It's a city marina and the first night is free so I'm taking advantage of showers and laundry facilities tonight and will spend tomorrow getting parts and repairing the boat and hopefully I can get it done in one day.....Well I can dream can't I?
I scheduled myself to be here this afternoon to anchor out and watch the shuttle launch but things changed.
My drive shaft broke on the boat in the middle of mosquito marsh and I had to be towed in. Well I got here but not on my own power!
Tomorrow I have to try and get parts for the shaft so I can get of this dock. It's a city marina and the first night is free so I'm taking advantage of showers and laundry facilities tonight and will spend tomorrow getting parts and repairing the boat and hopefully I can get it done in one day.....Well I can dream can't I?
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Jared, Linkoln and I went out that evening for a few hrs and on Friday all afternoon. We docked at the back side of Jacksonville Zoo where anyone who comes by boat gets in free. Awesome!
Spent the rest of the day sailing and anchoring the boat so Linkoln could experience all of it.
It's hard to describe how much fun and enjoyment it was to have Jared and Linkoln come and visit and watch Linkoln experience so much on the boat, even fixing the boat, link had so much fun doing it with grandpa and dad.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014, regarding Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 & 16 2014
After a long day heading down the ICW, I was getting ready to pull my boat into an anchorage for the night and my engine died. I had no idea what was happening but it was still early and I spent the next 4 or 5 hours working on everything I would imagine could be wrong and finally went to bed about 11pm in frustration. Wondering how I was going to get to Jacksonville by tomorrow noon to meet Jared and Linkoln and talked with my daughter Tami on the phone and she asked if I had something like AAA automotive towing for boats. I had forgotten that I had bough the insurance before I left for the trip and went to bed feeling much better.
In the morning of the 16th, I called Tow Boat USA and they came and got me and my boat and towed me about 30 miles into Jacksonville. We arrived there about 1:30pm and met Jared and Linkoln.
I asked the tow captain how much this tow would cost if I had not had the insurance, he said approximately $1,300.00. Wow, thank goodness for tow insurance both on land and water!
I was disappointed that the boat was not running since that is the reason Jared had come was to spend time with Linkoln and me on the boat....that is what we did however it was tied up at a dock and we were working on it. We got a car and traced the problem to the alternator not working and not charging the batteries so they were dead enough the engine would not run at all.
Now I look back in amazement and thankfulness to my Father in Heaven that he preserved me through all the past days experiences in the intense storm, had the engine stopped during that ordeal, I would have had very little hope of not going aground or even out further in the deep waters I didn't need to be in.
More about that later.
After a long day heading down the ICW, I was getting ready to pull my boat into an anchorage for the night and my engine died. I had no idea what was happening but it was still early and I spent the next 4 or 5 hours working on everything I would imagine could be wrong and finally went to bed about 11pm in frustration. Wondering how I was going to get to Jacksonville by tomorrow noon to meet Jared and Linkoln and talked with my daughter Tami on the phone and she asked if I had something like AAA automotive towing for boats. I had forgotten that I had bough the insurance before I left for the trip and went to bed feeling much better.
In the morning of the 16th, I called Tow Boat USA and they came and got me and my boat and towed me about 30 miles into Jacksonville. We arrived there about 1:30pm and met Jared and Linkoln.
I asked the tow captain how much this tow would cost if I had not had the insurance, he said approximately $1,300.00. Wow, thank goodness for tow insurance both on land and water!
I was disappointed that the boat was not running since that is the reason Jared had come was to spend time with Linkoln and me on the boat....that is what we did however it was tied up at a dock and we were working on it. We got a car and traced the problem to the alternator not working and not charging the batteries so they were dead enough the engine would not run at all.
Now I look back in amazement and thankfulness to my Father in Heaven that he preserved me through all the past days experiences in the intense storm, had the engine stopped during that ordeal, I would have had very little hope of not going aground or even out further in the deep waters I didn't need to be in.
More about that later.
This is Tuesday, October 21, 2014.
It's been awhile since I have done any writing so I thought it would be good to update on some of the events that have happened in the past week or so.
I have been spending a lot of time during the daylight hours heading to Jacksonville, Florida since my son Jared and my grandson, Linkoln were planning on flying to Jacksonville to meet me and we would do some sailing/boating for a few days. That being said, I needed to average approximately 50 miles per day to get there in time to meet them on Thursday the 16th of October.
Tuesday morning the 14th, I set sail towards my goal of Jacksonville. There had been some weather predictions of foul weather coming and I woke to find it quite pleasant and decided I needed to get going and get as far as possible before the foul weather hit.
I crossed the St. Catherine's sound and it was pretty choppy and I was getting quite a bit of spray from the bow of the boat from the waves coming over the bow. It was looking like I might like to find a place to anchor then I decided to keep going to the Jeckyll Creek which by the way is much wider than any river we have in Utah including the Green and Colorado rivers however not as deep or fast running for the most part. It was fairly easy going down the creek and I stopped at the Jeckyll Island Marina to get fuel since I decided I didn't want to go far with an unknown amount of fuel in my tank. I was planning on finding an anchorage nearby to spend the afternoon and night since I knew the storm was coming and I didn't want to cross the Jeckyll Sound in the storm.
In talking with one of the marina employees who has spent most of his life on the water, he said I had plenty of time to get across the sound before the storm and before dark. He convinced me it would be ok for me to head out and get to the next river past the sound where I could anchor for the night.
I headed out and within the hour I was in some of the worst waves I have ever been, 5 and 6 foot waves and a lot of wind. I started to lose my way and with all of the ocean spray coming over the bow, I could not see my charts and soon was lost heading towards the ocean in a storm. I was able to get a glance at my tablet maps and saw I was in the breakers near the land being tossed about and did a 180 degree turnaround but by then I was completely disoriented and didn't know where I was. I kind of followed the shore as best as I could see and decided I would turn around and return to the previous anchorage.
As the storm intensified, it got darker and waves higher and I finally had to abandon my phone and tablet as I threw them inside the cabin to keep them out of the salt water which I knew would destroy them. I was continuing to head towards the direction I thought might be where I wanted to return to but couldn't see enough to know for sure I was concerned the boat may be taking on water and I knew I needed to get the bilge pump running to make sure it wasn't collecting water inside. I made a very quick and scary move to leave the wheel and run down the ladder to turn on the pump and couldn't see a think. I felt around and pushed a button and not knowing until later that it was the correct one for the pump.
Well when it couldn't get any worse, THE storm came across the sky with a vengeance, and it became as dark as night and the wind got worse, the temperature dropped 20 degrees, the waves got worse and I couldn't see much of anything. To top it off, it started raining with a vengeance and at that point, nothing was going to be dry including my log book and other things and fortunately my phone and tablet were safe and dry as possible. I called for help but didn't know where I was and was just hanging of the wheel when a white boat came towards me from behind and didn't call on the radio but yelled at me, "Follow Me". I did just that, not knowing anything else to do but do so but soon I lost my visual of his boat but did see a light and then the harbor master called on my radio and directed me in to his harbor on the radio. That mysterious person and boat kept going and never stopped, they said he just kept going up the river. The harbor master helped me tie up, I was as wet as if I'd been in the ocean and he just said, get inside your boat and get dry and relax after he made sure I was ok. I asked how long I could stay and he said as long as I wanted, all night or longer if need be. What a relief it was to be in a sheltered area, safe and the boat tied up securely. No one knew who that man in the white boat was or where he went after he passed the dock but he was my "savior" for that night.
The next morning the storm had mostly passed over after raining all night and even thought I was still a bit shaken, I headed south across the Jeckyll Sound in relative calm waters on my way. The bad thing about that sound is that the route actually takes you into the Atlantic ocean just to get to the next part of the waterway and in a storm, you are in the ocean storm where the waves and winds are greatly exacerbated.
I spent a quiet evening and night in an anchorage down the waterway getting closer to my goal of Jacksonville.
No pictures to show, too busy keeping the boat afloat!
It's been awhile since I have done any writing so I thought it would be good to update on some of the events that have happened in the past week or so.
I have been spending a lot of time during the daylight hours heading to Jacksonville, Florida since my son Jared and my grandson, Linkoln were planning on flying to Jacksonville to meet me and we would do some sailing/boating for a few days. That being said, I needed to average approximately 50 miles per day to get there in time to meet them on Thursday the 16th of October.
Tuesday morning the 14th, I set sail towards my goal of Jacksonville. There had been some weather predictions of foul weather coming and I woke to find it quite pleasant and decided I needed to get going and get as far as possible before the foul weather hit.
I crossed the St. Catherine's sound and it was pretty choppy and I was getting quite a bit of spray from the bow of the boat from the waves coming over the bow. It was looking like I might like to find a place to anchor then I decided to keep going to the Jeckyll Creek which by the way is much wider than any river we have in Utah including the Green and Colorado rivers however not as deep or fast running for the most part. It was fairly easy going down the creek and I stopped at the Jeckyll Island Marina to get fuel since I decided I didn't want to go far with an unknown amount of fuel in my tank. I was planning on finding an anchorage nearby to spend the afternoon and night since I knew the storm was coming and I didn't want to cross the Jeckyll Sound in the storm.
In talking with one of the marina employees who has spent most of his life on the water, he said I had plenty of time to get across the sound before the storm and before dark. He convinced me it would be ok for me to head out and get to the next river past the sound where I could anchor for the night.
I headed out and within the hour I was in some of the worst waves I have ever been, 5 and 6 foot waves and a lot of wind. I started to lose my way and with all of the ocean spray coming over the bow, I could not see my charts and soon was lost heading towards the ocean in a storm. I was able to get a glance at my tablet maps and saw I was in the breakers near the land being tossed about and did a 180 degree turnaround but by then I was completely disoriented and didn't know where I was. I kind of followed the shore as best as I could see and decided I would turn around and return to the previous anchorage.
As the storm intensified, it got darker and waves higher and I finally had to abandon my phone and tablet as I threw them inside the cabin to keep them out of the salt water which I knew would destroy them. I was continuing to head towards the direction I thought might be where I wanted to return to but couldn't see enough to know for sure I was concerned the boat may be taking on water and I knew I needed to get the bilge pump running to make sure it wasn't collecting water inside. I made a very quick and scary move to leave the wheel and run down the ladder to turn on the pump and couldn't see a think. I felt around and pushed a button and not knowing until later that it was the correct one for the pump.
Well when it couldn't get any worse, THE storm came across the sky with a vengeance, and it became as dark as night and the wind got worse, the temperature dropped 20 degrees, the waves got worse and I couldn't see much of anything. To top it off, it started raining with a vengeance and at that point, nothing was going to be dry including my log book and other things and fortunately my phone and tablet were safe and dry as possible. I called for help but didn't know where I was and was just hanging of the wheel when a white boat came towards me from behind and didn't call on the radio but yelled at me, "Follow Me". I did just that, not knowing anything else to do but do so but soon I lost my visual of his boat but did see a light and then the harbor master called on my radio and directed me in to his harbor on the radio. That mysterious person and boat kept going and never stopped, they said he just kept going up the river. The harbor master helped me tie up, I was as wet as if I'd been in the ocean and he just said, get inside your boat and get dry and relax after he made sure I was ok. I asked how long I could stay and he said as long as I wanted, all night or longer if need be. What a relief it was to be in a sheltered area, safe and the boat tied up securely. No one knew who that man in the white boat was or where he went after he passed the dock but he was my "savior" for that night.
The next morning the storm had mostly passed over after raining all night and even thought I was still a bit shaken, I headed south across the Jeckyll Sound in relative calm waters on my way. The bad thing about that sound is that the route actually takes you into the Atlantic ocean just to get to the next part of the waterway and in a storm, you are in the ocean storm where the waves and winds are greatly exacerbated.
I spent a quiet evening and night in an anchorage down the waterway getting closer to my goal of Jacksonville.
No pictures to show, too busy keeping the boat afloat!
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Sunday night the 12th of October.
I am anchored in a river a little past Savanna Georgia. The current was quite strong so I am hoping my anchor holds during the night and I don't wake up on a bank somewhere or heaven forbid into someone's dock or boat across the river. I will set my anchor alarm that wakes me up if the boat drifts beyond set limits and then I have to hurry and figure out how to remedy the problem. I don't think that will happen but it has happened in the past just a couple of times and since then I have added a new anchor that is nearly twice the size and weight of the original anchor and haven't had even a thought of anchor dragging since so I'm very hopeful.
I am relaxing since I have spent a 12 hour day piloting the boat nearly 60 miles down the ICW. I know 60 miles doesn't seem like much but in a sail boat, they are normally designed to go the high speeds of 5 to 8 miles per hour either sailing or motoring or a combination of both. The design of the boat is not speed since it has so much resistance in the water to keep it upright with a nearly 3000 pound keel (on mine) that allows her to lean over almost horizontal to the water and still self right back up to vertical in an instant. It is an amazing design that makes them work running in the water with the weight and resistance and pushed by the wind or a small engine if there is no wind.
I have been listening to some good music that makes me smile and have also been reading a great book by my good friend Ken Gallacher called "Moving Faster Than the Speed of Doubt". Thank you Ken for the book and your friendship and I am loving what I am learning in your book as I sit on my boat on anchor near the Savanna River in Georgia. I have 2 other books from you that I will be reading also.
I am anchored in a river a little past Savanna Georgia. The current was quite strong so I am hoping my anchor holds during the night and I don't wake up on a bank somewhere or heaven forbid into someone's dock or boat across the river. I will set my anchor alarm that wakes me up if the boat drifts beyond set limits and then I have to hurry and figure out how to remedy the problem. I don't think that will happen but it has happened in the past just a couple of times and since then I have added a new anchor that is nearly twice the size and weight of the original anchor and haven't had even a thought of anchor dragging since so I'm very hopeful.
I am relaxing since I have spent a 12 hour day piloting the boat nearly 60 miles down the ICW. I know 60 miles doesn't seem like much but in a sail boat, they are normally designed to go the high speeds of 5 to 8 miles per hour either sailing or motoring or a combination of both. The design of the boat is not speed since it has so much resistance in the water to keep it upright with a nearly 3000 pound keel (on mine) that allows her to lean over almost horizontal to the water and still self right back up to vertical in an instant. It is an amazing design that makes them work running in the water with the weight and resistance and pushed by the wind or a small engine if there is no wind.
I have been listening to some good music that makes me smile and have also been reading a great book by my good friend Ken Gallacher called "Moving Faster Than the Speed of Doubt". Thank you Ken for the book and your friendship and I am loving what I am learning in your book as I sit on my boat on anchor near the Savanna River in Georgia. I have 2 other books from you that I will be reading also.
I stopped for fuel this morning about 10:30 and came upon this "big brother" of my boat, pretty impressive!
This vessel is higher than the marina building that is on a raised platform. She is from New Zealand and come in each year. She is 185 ft long and I have no idea the value but she holds at least 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Amazing, maybe mine will grow up like her sometime!
I moved along on my sailing trip for a couple more days and knowing that there are things that come up that take work or learning, they finally came home to roost.
Friday night I came into the town of Beaufort, South Carolina about 6:30 pm just before sunset and I was reading my book on the details of the waterway and read of this 65 foot high bridge and knowing I was only 36 ft high and knowing I would easily pass under the bridge I proceeded on. However I kept looking closer as I approached and realized this was a swing bridge and there was no way it was 65 feet high or it would have been a fixed bridge. I saw the sign just as I was entering the runway that the bridge height was about 28 ft and I knew I was in trouble since I was moving too fast to stop. I did the only other thing possible to try to avert the catastrophe, I just turned the boat all the way left as I could and prayed! This sweet boat can turn on a dime I found out at that instant and I turned back without no incident except to be totally embarrassed but no damage to my boat or the bridge. I called the bridge tender and asked if they would open and they said of course and I think with the conversation that she had not seen what just had or almost happened to her bridge and my boat and pride.
Well that was the beginning of experiences in Beaufort. They have a free wall to tie up to but I found that it was at least 6 feet up to the top where I could get off my boat and to add to it, the wall was totally encrusted with sea life attached to the wall that would destroy a boats exterior or the fenders used to protect the boat. I did bump the wall as I was deciding I couldn't tie up there and went to the main city dock and as I was approaching, I was too fast and as I was preparing to jump off the boat and tie her up, she hit the dock and I went flying and fortunately nothing else but the wooden dock was in my way of the fall. Again, no one hurt (much) but pride which took another bath that night.
I couldn't find anyone to check in with and pay a dock fee so I went out the gated area and still couldn't fine anyone so since my phone battery was dying, went back to the boat to retrieve a spare battery only to realize I was locked out of the dock slips where my boat was, my boat on the dock, me unable to get to her and my phone dead!
I finally had to wait until someone else was going through and they kindly gave me the code. I could never find anyone to talk to about the docking fee so I went on my way dealing with another problem, I needed new batteries for my boat. I finally got a cab and got the batteries from Auto Zone and put them in the boat. Since I was there, I took advantage of showers and laundry mat to get a real shower and clean clothes. How refreshing!
I got up early for an early start on Sunday morning, got all ready and pulled in the lines and proceeded to turn the boat off the dock and leave when to my chagrin, the boat didn't turn but only ran into the bow of the next boat to mine. Woke up the people in that boat, they helped me untangle the two boats from each other and come to find, the current coming on the rising tide pushed me against the dock and it would have needed to be a different maneuver to get off the dock and I hadn't looked at the tide so didn't know. Again, another learning experience but I think I had my share of them in this town and since so many things were happening, I neglected to take any pictures!
Oh this one of the sun rise as I left Beaufort.
Never mind, I cannot find it but you all know what a sunrise looks like I think.
Friday night I came into the town of Beaufort, South Carolina about 6:30 pm just before sunset and I was reading my book on the details of the waterway and read of this 65 foot high bridge and knowing I was only 36 ft high and knowing I would easily pass under the bridge I proceeded on. However I kept looking closer as I approached and realized this was a swing bridge and there was no way it was 65 feet high or it would have been a fixed bridge. I saw the sign just as I was entering the runway that the bridge height was about 28 ft and I knew I was in trouble since I was moving too fast to stop. I did the only other thing possible to try to avert the catastrophe, I just turned the boat all the way left as I could and prayed! This sweet boat can turn on a dime I found out at that instant and I turned back without no incident except to be totally embarrassed but no damage to my boat or the bridge. I called the bridge tender and asked if they would open and they said of course and I think with the conversation that she had not seen what just had or almost happened to her bridge and my boat and pride.
Well that was the beginning of experiences in Beaufort. They have a free wall to tie up to but I found that it was at least 6 feet up to the top where I could get off my boat and to add to it, the wall was totally encrusted with sea life attached to the wall that would destroy a boats exterior or the fenders used to protect the boat. I did bump the wall as I was deciding I couldn't tie up there and went to the main city dock and as I was approaching, I was too fast and as I was preparing to jump off the boat and tie her up, she hit the dock and I went flying and fortunately nothing else but the wooden dock was in my way of the fall. Again, no one hurt (much) but pride which took another bath that night.
I couldn't find anyone to check in with and pay a dock fee so I went out the gated area and still couldn't fine anyone so since my phone battery was dying, went back to the boat to retrieve a spare battery only to realize I was locked out of the dock slips where my boat was, my boat on the dock, me unable to get to her and my phone dead!
I finally had to wait until someone else was going through and they kindly gave me the code. I could never find anyone to talk to about the docking fee so I went on my way dealing with another problem, I needed new batteries for my boat. I finally got a cab and got the batteries from Auto Zone and put them in the boat. Since I was there, I took advantage of showers and laundry mat to get a real shower and clean clothes. How refreshing!
I got up early for an early start on Sunday morning, got all ready and pulled in the lines and proceeded to turn the boat off the dock and leave when to my chagrin, the boat didn't turn but only ran into the bow of the next boat to mine. Woke up the people in that boat, they helped me untangle the two boats from each other and come to find, the current coming on the rising tide pushed me against the dock and it would have needed to be a different maneuver to get off the dock and I hadn't looked at the tide so didn't know. Again, another learning experience but I think I had my share of them in this town and since so many things were happening, I neglected to take any pictures!
Oh this one of the sun rise as I left Beaufort.
Never mind, I cannot find it but you all know what a sunrise looks like I think.
I wanted to post some pictures that might be of interest.
Some great people I met in Georgetown SC before I left.
This last picture at the Hospital in Myrtle Beach was taken when I left after getting X-rays and MRI since I thought or wished I could die and come to find out I was having kidney stones that were trying to move themselves across my body and trying to get out. Well with many meds and a couple days later, all things were fine and I was on my way.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
I was reminded by my son David that I possibly need to update some of my experiences as I have been so busy either motor-sailing or repairing something that needs to be fixed to get along the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway).
Just to bring things to a little more current, I left from Georgetown, Winyah Bay on Wednesday the 8th of October around noon since the current was so strong pushing inland from the ocean it would have been futile to leave until the tide changed and moved the current back to the ocean.
Well, along the way, around 3 pm the same day, I misjudged my area and ran aground (soft landing) unlike in an airplane where there are no soft landings. I was stuck in the mud with my keel and to top it off, my engine also quit. I knew that since it was almost low tide that within 2 or 3 hours the tide would pick my boat up out of the mud and I could get moving along again.
Well, I was correct in the the tide picking up the boat however the second part of that assumption was incorrect in that I could not get along on my down the ICW since the engine would not start. I worked on many things that I could imagine including cleaning the carburetor twice, the water separator, the fuel bowl all had some dirt and water in them so I thought that would solve the problem. Well, not so fast! After many attempt to start and nothing happening, I got further in detail and found that there was no spark getting to the spark plugs. Now what?
Well after several hours and considerable frustration all of which I had to set my anchor in the side of the waterway and knowing that soon again the tide would go out again and I would be aground again.
I finally came to the conclusion that I didn't know what to do next and I decided to go to bed and await the inevitable tide lowering and the boat laying on her side waiting for the next tide to come in. Well fortunately I wasn't as close to the shore as I thought and I never touched ground again but the engine still wouldn't start in the morning.
My son, John kept talking with me on the phone since he has spent considerable time working on thie boat with me and knows a lot of what has happened. He suggested that I get back to basics and check the points, condenser, coil and etc. I mentioned it would be very difficult to check the point without another person to watch them while I cranked the engine but I also knew I had no other choice so I spent the next 20 trips up the ladder and back down cranking the engine and coming down and seeing what position the points were in only to discover after all of those trips, the points never opened at all. Somehow the screw had allowed them to slip and the engine would have never run again without re-setting the points. This I did and in an instant, the engine started right up and on my way I was by noon the next day a little late but very happy things were working again.
THEY SAY THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SAILORS, THOSE WHO HAVE RUN AGROUND AND LIARS!
I am here to admit I have run aground on my first day down the waterway so I hope I have done my turn and it won't happen again.... knock on wood!
More to come.
I was reminded by my son David that I possibly need to update some of my experiences as I have been so busy either motor-sailing or repairing something that needs to be fixed to get along the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway).
Just to bring things to a little more current, I left from Georgetown, Winyah Bay on Wednesday the 8th of October around noon since the current was so strong pushing inland from the ocean it would have been futile to leave until the tide changed and moved the current back to the ocean.
Well, along the way, around 3 pm the same day, I misjudged my area and ran aground (soft landing) unlike in an airplane where there are no soft landings. I was stuck in the mud with my keel and to top it off, my engine also quit. I knew that since it was almost low tide that within 2 or 3 hours the tide would pick my boat up out of the mud and I could get moving along again.
Well, I was correct in the the tide picking up the boat however the second part of that assumption was incorrect in that I could not get along on my down the ICW since the engine would not start. I worked on many things that I could imagine including cleaning the carburetor twice, the water separator, the fuel bowl all had some dirt and water in them so I thought that would solve the problem. Well, not so fast! After many attempt to start and nothing happening, I got further in detail and found that there was no spark getting to the spark plugs. Now what?
Well after several hours and considerable frustration all of which I had to set my anchor in the side of the waterway and knowing that soon again the tide would go out again and I would be aground again.
I finally came to the conclusion that I didn't know what to do next and I decided to go to bed and await the inevitable tide lowering and the boat laying on her side waiting for the next tide to come in. Well fortunately I wasn't as close to the shore as I thought and I never touched ground again but the engine still wouldn't start in the morning.
My son, John kept talking with me on the phone since he has spent considerable time working on thie boat with me and knows a lot of what has happened. He suggested that I get back to basics and check the points, condenser, coil and etc. I mentioned it would be very difficult to check the point without another person to watch them while I cranked the engine but I also knew I had no other choice so I spent the next 20 trips up the ladder and back down cranking the engine and coming down and seeing what position the points were in only to discover after all of those trips, the points never opened at all. Somehow the screw had allowed them to slip and the engine would have never run again without re-setting the points. This I did and in an instant, the engine started right up and on my way I was by noon the next day a little late but very happy things were working again.
THEY SAY THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SAILORS, THOSE WHO HAVE RUN AGROUND AND LIARS!
I am here to admit I have run aground on my first day down the waterway so I hope I have done my turn and it won't happen again.... knock on wood!
More to come.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
October 1, 2014.
I started my day feeling a bit queezy in my lower stomach. In a little while, I realized I wasn't going on the boat to launch because I couldn't do much else but curl up and writhe in pain. After some time, trying several things to relieve the pain that was getting worse by the minute I finally realized that I had to do something so had the friends we have been staying with while I've been getting the boat ready, I asked Andrea to take me to the hospital, I was really worried, possibly appendix or worse. By the time I arrived at the hospital, I could not even talk I was in so much pain. Finally after much too much time, they finally give me a pain killer shot and I came around thinking that maybe I overreacted and didn't need to be here....such a short memory when the pain goes away completely. Well they did some tests and came back that I had 2 kidney stones that were trying to pass and would do so within a couple of days but I had to have continuous pain meds or I would have to shoot myself. Well that took a complete day out of my schedule but how wonderful this all happened before I set sail and was alone on the boat with no ground transportation or other basic needs to get myself to some medical facility.
As a side note, I went to the hospital that my grandson, Tyson was born in 7 years ago in Myrtle Beach.
I started my day feeling a bit queezy in my lower stomach. In a little while, I realized I wasn't going on the boat to launch because I couldn't do much else but curl up and writhe in pain. After some time, trying several things to relieve the pain that was getting worse by the minute I finally realized that I had to do something so had the friends we have been staying with while I've been getting the boat ready, I asked Andrea to take me to the hospital, I was really worried, possibly appendix or worse. By the time I arrived at the hospital, I could not even talk I was in so much pain. Finally after much too much time, they finally give me a pain killer shot and I came around thinking that maybe I overreacted and didn't need to be here....such a short memory when the pain goes away completely. Well they did some tests and came back that I had 2 kidney stones that were trying to pass and would do so within a couple of days but I had to have continuous pain meds or I would have to shoot myself. Well that took a complete day out of my schedule but how wonderful this all happened before I set sail and was alone on the boat with no ground transportation or other basic needs to get myself to some medical facility.
As a side note, I went to the hospital that my grandson, Tyson was born in 7 years ago in Myrtle Beach.
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