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3/28/2008
This morning, I arose early to beat the morning rush hour traffic. With four hours to put on the motor, I wanted to get started early so as to be home before the afternoon rush on the freeway. As I drive down the entrance road to Buford Dam, ramp number one, the pink of dawn is just showing over the lake. The water is still and beautiful with a smoke like haze rising in the damp stillness of the early morning air.
The boat launches easily despite the extremely low water level. The motor starts immediately and strongly. I put the boat in reverse and twist the handle for power. The cockpit immediately floods with water, while the boat stands still. What can the matter be? I peer into the motor well. Suddenly, it is clear what the problem is. The prop is way to high in the well. Obviously, the previous motor is a 25 inch motor. Drat it! I didn’t bother to measure it. No wonder the motor mount has an extra five inches added to its height. I always wondered why this boat has a piece of timber added compared to Rhiannon’s lower mount height.
Inch by inch, I finally back out with water flooding through from the well into the cockpit. As I shift into forward the boat surges forward. Clearly, the motor is down far enough to manage a good cut forward on the water.
My first mission is to calibrate the autopilot. Out in the main lake just above Buford Dam, I cut a lazy circle and a half as the revolving hatch marks circulate on the Autohelm screen. Then a set of course numbers pop up, a compass heading and error variance numbers alternate on the screen. I use the up and down keys to adjust the flickering number to match the ship’s compass. One second on the Auto key immortalizes the numbers.
My second job is to check for NMEA communication between the gps mapping unit and the Autohelm. As I come on course with my preset way points, I switch on the “follow route” and confirm. Then, I press the +10 -10 buttons simultaneously--viola-- the numbers for the course and way point come up for conformation. I press again, and we are off with the autopilot running the boat taking instructions from the Garmin. At first we are 0.06 nautical miles off course. Slowly but surely, we gain control of the boat and eventually we are dead on course with no correction going on. It’s pure magic!
As the morning wears on, we up the rpms and increase the speed. At the end we try wide open. 6.6 knots! wow. I am able to sustain 6.4 knots with 3/4 throttle. This is pure power. And the motor runs smooth as silk.
As I make my way down the lake back to the launch ramp a cold wind comes up, and spits of rain drop from the leaden sky. I add a yellow slicker top to my layers and stand in the companionway with my eyes peering over the hatch to watch for traffic. I roar past a lone hunter 30 drifting down wind on Genoa and main. A sailors wave and smile shows our mutual recognition.
I glide into the ramp area. There are four ramps side by side making this the largest ramp on the lake. Two ramps are closed, but the two remaining ramps have been lengthened and are more than adequate for the current water level.
I run up the hill to retrieve the truck and trailer. With the tailgate down, backing is a synch. I bury the bunk boards under water and clamber back on Belle and back her out--more successfully-- this time. A steady approach helps me nail the keel guides. This is going too well. I winch the bow home. Crunch. I look up to see the mast break the hydraulic door control arms away from their attachments points. The struts are all mangled. Such much for the smooth ride. “The masts are down, you dummy,” I remind myself. “Think ahead!”
A little while latter and a bit chastened, I drive off with everything lashed in place. Really, it was a very successful day. Everything works well--especially this wonderful Nissan 18 hp monster. All I have to do is remove the motor mount riser, lowering the motor placement, change the oil and remount.
The shopping is mostly done for my food supplies. I will make an inventory list of everything for future reference. Three more weeks to show time! Stay tuned. See above.
4/22/2008
Time has gone by fast. This is the last week to get ready for two trips. I can offer this, don’t try to do two trips in a row. The work is overwhelming.
Cadenza is packed and ready for Cedar Key. I’m finishing up Belle. Last minute snafu: a broken foot pump. I ordered a new one. But for my money, the electric pump works just fine. The addition of the foot pump in parallel with a one way valve is just too complicated. I think I will skip it this trip.
Regarding the head: regulations in the Dry Tortugas require a marine certified head. I have installed the porta potty in full working order. Nevertheless, the compost potty is the one I really going to use. I will report on how well this works.
Point of departure: I called Port of the Islands and there is good news. For $125 I can park for two weeks. Launching is included. It’s a deal. I am leaving from POI. So I will redo the routes and only include the one I am really going to follow. I have the interface for the Etrex now as well as the Garmin 72. I will upload the finalized routes to the Garmin 198C, Etrex and 72 from Sea Clear. That way I have a backup and a backup with tons of batteries. I have a hardwire connection for the 72. I am going to leave it on all the time to collect track data. This will be useful in creating a track on Google Earth.
Today I obtained offshore insurance for Belle. It’s only $175 for two weeks. Seems fair to me.
I still feel like I don’t have it together. I think it is because of trying to visualize two trips at once. As I said, never again. Stay tuned for my final preps. D-day is Monday, April 28 when I hook up to Cadenza and head for Cedar Key. Just three more days of work--hurray!!
4/23/2008
Well, it’s all done. Both boats are ready. The last minute and last remembered things, like meat tenderizer for Jelly Fish stings and extra bandages and tape as well as a non-stinging disinfectant are on board.
As for the chart work, all routes are entered and uploaded. Anchorage’s are noted and chartlets are printed. I swear, I thought it would never come to be, but I am done---stick a fork in it---done. I’m picking up a new dive flag on the way. Other than that, the wet suit, fins, mask and snorkel are on board.
All motors are tested. Gas has been treated and boated. The good news for Belle is that the cabin is wide open with no clutter. I am quite happy about making arrangements that are well organized. Makes me wonder what’s missing. Enough obsessing, it’s time to enjoy.
4/24/08 Or, so I thought. Today I really polished off all the tasks. I installed the galley foot pump but didn’t connect it. It is ready to hook up and I have all the hoses to swap over, should anything happen to the electric pump. Shopping includded a visit to REI for a couple of clear dry bags and some underwear. I stopped at the dive shop and picked up a floating dive flag and a weight belt with some 2 lb shot weight packs so I can snorkel at a little deeper with the camera and not fight to stay down. I got three micro fiber towels and a funnel at the auto store. I got another small bucket and a lock for the big trailer so I can secure it while it is at the Port of the Islands. The bed linen is washed and packed away. I topped off the water tanks and checked for leaks. All is well. That makes 28 gallons in divided tanks, 7 gallons in a Jerry can and about 24 bottles of water. There are three bottles of wine on board. The liquor will be added at the last. I have three binocular sets, a pair of reading glasses in case I loose my glasses. I also have two polarized Fitover glasses and two other pairs of sun glasses. There are 2 new NoAd spf 30 lotion, 2 Deep Woods off, and a spray bottle of Permethrin to treat the screens for noseeums. 8 rolls of toilet tissue, two rolls of paper towels, lots of garbage bags, lots of 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon zipper lock bags, brushes, sponges, spray cleaner and more completes my inventory. As for spare parts, I have a complete inventory of stainless screws and fittings, a sail repair kit, duck tape and much more I can’t remember right now. I have spare fuses and bulbs and a multi meter and a full set of tools along. Me thinks it is enough. We’ll see.
As for stowage, I placed all the books except the bird books on the port bookshelf. These include a couple to read and books about Florida Birds and tropical fish. Charts include Maptecks Florida West Coast and Keys, Coastal Charts for Western Florida by Claiborne S. Young, Cruising guides to Western Florida and the Keys by Claiborne S. Young, A Gunkholer's Cruising Guide to Florida’s West Coast by Tom Lenfestey, Managing the Waterway Biscayne Bay, Fl to Dry Tortugas by Mark and Diana Doyle. I have a GPS map 198C by Garmin, a Garmin 72, and a Garmin Etrex Summit all programed with all the routes and anchorages. I have parallel rule and dividers and four compasses. The compasses are, the ships compass, a siting compass, a flux gate compass, the compass in the Etrex and lastly a compass in the binoculars. Route and course correction data is sent to the Autohelm so cross correction is always at play. I tested this on the lake as previously related.
I will be carrying the 6’6 inch inflatable dingy and a Tohatsu 2.5 dingy motor. I will also have the inflatable Kayak which is a handy way to get around without the gas and clumsy motor.
Then I remember the coarse ground coffee and the press. I also pick up a folding vanity mirror ( to shave and comb hair. Forgot it last time and it was a pain). Stock all replacement fuse types. Two lighters and two gallons stove alcohol. Rail mount grill and two canisters of propane are on board. Aye, I’m sick of it. I hope that’s all!
Yes, I’m ready for Cedar Key and for the Tortugas. Stay tuned for the reports.
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