BITS & PIECES - March 18-27

A very small sampling of the many bandoned boats we saw along the ICW - hurricanes and economy are two enemies.
                                           

MARCH 18 - Eau Gallie:  Visiting ashore - Peter has 'the whole world in his hands'...our vessel in the background at anchor

                                   Peter - Bilge Babe....working on the float switch and shower pump....

MARCH 24 - Palm Coast 
We stayed at the Palm Coast Marina, a very inexpensive $50 including electricity and water.  Clean and convenient showers, inexpensive laundry facilities, excellent client service delivery...and amazing bike trails, shopping close by.  A definite 'go back' and visit location!

Typical ICW northbound view from the upper helm

MARCH 26 - we were held up at Palm Beach Marina for 5 days, waiting for the Bridge of Lions to re-open. The nite before opening, we anchored out south of the bridge in the Mantanzas River. Before arriving there however; the US Coast Guard had been issuing many securitie memos regarding severe shoaling through-out the Mantanzas Inlet. We listened in on VHF channel 16 and heard many captains calling for tow assistance, having grounded out at mile marker 743. 

So how were we going to ensure we got through this area?

1. 
   
   do not follow your magenta line on your chart plotter....
2. 
   
   do not stay in the middle of the channel....and
3. 
   
   do not go anywhere near the green buoys
4. 
   
   you DO want to hug the reds so tight that you can 'scratch the red paint off as you pass'

Yikes!  And this was absolutely true.  As we approached thee critical area, hugging the reds also meant aiming the bow of the boat directly to the shoreline for an uncomfortably long time....and then following the contour of the shore no more than 20 feet from dry land.  Not the usual boating experience...but certainly nerve-wracking! 

                                   south of the old Bridge of Lions - boats waiting for the opening

MARCH 27 - Jacksonville Beach - note the calm waters and sunny skies - indicative of the HIGH winds, STRONG current and STORMS coming in.  We stayed at the renovated Beach Marine - fabulous brand new docks...but little else.  Although we did arrive for the month end freebie-party for boaters.  We brought a potluck item and stuffed ourselves with loads of goodies others provided:  bbq burgers, salads, desserts...and FREE BEER AND WINE!  Not a bad deal for a potluck item.

ST PADDY'S DAY @ VERO BEACH

We took the local bus into town to WEST MARINE (I swear, all boat owners should also own shares!)  Waiting for the bus to take us back to the marina, we start a chat with two fellow boaters who are also waiting to go back to the marina.  They become our first official guests on our boat.  Captain Jesse and Ginny Price of 'WindDust' a 44 Nauticat.

LOST - ONE BOAT HOOK - VICINITY OF STEWART, FLORIDA

Have you seen a boat hook floating in the water at Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage, Stewart, Florida?  Reward offered for it's safe return.
Yesterday we made our way across Lake Okeechobee with very strong winds hitting us broadside and following seas.  Three very long hours we were happy to see over, as we entered the east side of the OWW and our 4th lock. This was particularly treacherous, as the lock is 'right there' with no breakwall from the choppy water and winds.

 Quite the challenge and Peter admits to his knees feeling like jello after we were safely tucked inside the closed walls.  We enjoyed a beautiful cruise down the remaining 'ditch'...much different to the west side canal.  We did our last lock, Saint Lucie and arrived at our intended destination, Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage, Stewart, Florida.  89 mooring balls...and we got the 2nd last ball....but not without incident/s!  30MPH+ winds howling as I tried to grab the line with our only hook.  The line was a very thick, heavy rope that went on forever...and by the time I was anywhere close to the 'eye' to pull our line through, the boat was drifting quickly away....with me holding onto the pole for dear life (BIG mistake!)....but the boat and the pole eventually won out.  Kersplash....the pole was gone.  Peter was doing circles trying to get it (easy in the sailboat....a waste of time in the big trawler and these winds and choppy seas)  Eventually I flagged down a passing dinghy and the man was able to grab the mooring line for me and I got it hooked on.  At the very moment I was passing the line through, the bow bounced up and I got slammed in the mouth...didn't lose a single tooth either!  But what a lip.  Angelina Jolie eat your heart out!
The waves slammed against the hull with very loud banging all night long and we bounced all over the place.  I barely slept a wink, from bed to couch to .... let's watch satellite tv!  Peter....slept like a baby. 
So, if you see that boat hook anywhere.......

BAILING IN CLEWISTON

With all the rain falling yesterday, Peter discoverd the portside scupper was blocked. He spent a few hours fighting with 'something' down the hole (I warned him it could be a snake) and he finally pulled out a 2 1/2 foot long piece of plastic/rubber hose. It didn't seem to need to be there, so we aren't sure how it got there...but there it was. We thought the blockage was now cured. Not so fast. This is a boat afterall! Still blocked. Try as he did, from outside the hull, to the cockpit, to inside the aft compartments, it is blocked up solid. No one had a wire or anything to try to force the blockage out and pressurizing with the dock hose was not doing a thing. The rains became torrential and non-stop, and began flooding the aft cockpit. We took shifts all nite long to bail so that the surplus water did not go into the bilge with the electricals and generator etc. (the only flaw we see to the Mainship design). Peter stayed up until 2am, then I took the shift up to 7am. All was fairly quiet for my shift....until 7am and all hell broke loose. We are using a gallon water jug that is very flexible and which Peter cut the bottom off to use as a bailer. The rain poured down so hard and constant, we could barely keep up with bailing/flooding the aft cockpit. Just unbelievable. We both looked like drowned rats.
Peter was finally, today, able to locate some appropriate wire and he got into the dinghy (mindful of any touring aligators) and managed to shove the wire in/out of the outside of the scupper on the hull....SUCCESS!  We finally restored drainage...and just in time as the rains have picked up in intensity and we have almost no dry clothing left onboard.  There is no laundry facility here unfortunately. 
Peter just came in from the cold.....the fuel tank in the dinghy (which, alas, was launched) was FLOATING in the dinghy there is so much rainwater!  Apparently the cold freezing cold weather (pre-yesterday) in Florida is a 50 year record (since we arrived!)  Yesterday was brutally humid..today...back to cold..and rain...and thunderstorms. 

GETTING TO KNOW YOU - GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU.....

We've have little luck in accessing the internet and my 'new' laptop doesn't seem to like blogger and won't let me update our blog...so...I'm on Capt Peter's computer and will make this entry short and sweet, as most of you already know our daily events since first arriving in Punta Gorda.  Suffice to say, it's been an adventure getting to know trawlers in general.  Nothing like monohulls! We love her and both Roland and Julie Daniels (previous owners) have been absolutely amazing, wonderful, delightful people who have helped us make this major adjustment into their Sea Dog.

                                                               THE FOUR AMIGOS!

                                                                                           Roland, Peter, Thai  -  Burnt Store Marina

Thai  Julie  Peter @ Burnt Store Marina

Brief synopsis:

Feb 23 - departed Toronto

Feb 24 - boarded Sea Dog at Gasparilla Marina

Feb 26 - boat is delivered back to the Daniels docks, with Roland, Julie, Thai and Peter onboard, 'Cocktail Hour' drinks around the pool...until 1:30AM

Feb 28 - Capt Wendy delivers trawler lessons, docking, 3-point turns...and how to depart the Daniels docks slipping sideways through the pilings.  ahem.  Watched Canada and US hockey, with Julie cheering on Canada to a win...out for dinner/drinks/laughter

Feb 29 - Trawler lessons from Captain Roland and 1st Mate Julie - fabulous, relaxed day filled with brilliant little snippets of tips and tricks from the Daniels. 

Mar 1 - out for dinner with the Daniels and their friends from the FedEx days (Roland was one of the original 30 pilots for FE)

Mar 2 - Thai/shopping all day  Peter/out galavanting all day with Roland: Muscle Car Museum (a Wal-Mart sized place jam-packed with corvets and the like....both men enjoyed drooling over the vast collections) then off to the airport to visit Rolands plane, a mint twin engine Beechcraft B55, 1974. Stunningly beautiful!  And of course, well-maintained, just like his boat!   Cocktail 'hour' again.....until the wee hours of the nite!  Roland keeps threatening he's not going to come to these one hour cocktails anymore.

Mar 3 - diesel fuel delivered straight to the house for filling the BIG tanks on the trawler.  115.5 gallons/$2.80=$371.04  Great price!

Mar 4 - lots of bits and pieces done on the boat to prepare for departure (wifi installation was a big one!) Steak dinner (YUM!) up at the house and the notorious 'cocktail hour' turns into midnite...again.  :-)

Mar 6 - departure/arrival at Burnt Store Marina. Dinner with R&J at Porto Bella.  As Churchill said 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times'....this is our last day with R&J, and it is their last day with Sea Dog.  They feel just like family to us, and separation anxiety is in the air for a multitude of reasons as we say our fond farewells. 

Mar 7 - depart Burnt Store Marina and head down ICW to Bimini Basin. Big powerboater passes with full wake, just as Thai is in the galley making lunch.....now Thai is wearing lunch, as is the galley floor.  Anchored out for the nite with lots of bedding....it's about 45F....and it's been a 50 year record of really cold weather for Florida.  Lucky us!  :-(

Mar 9 - our first lock going through Okeechobee lock system - Franklin Lock.  We are both nervous, but all goes exceptionally well and the linesmen are excellent. Let's hope that holds true with the location in Stuart...heard some not so pleasant stories about an old buzzard linesman there. Anchored at Tranquility Cove La Belle in 3.5 feet of water.  Think we'll stick ok without the anchor lifting.  A lot of very grubby live-aboards/boats...at least a few are loaded with junk everywhere.  Not the nicest place we've seen. I ensure the cabin door is locked fast before crawling into bed. 

March 10 - One lock today had a family of Manatees, including a baby...right alongside our boat. Very cool!  Arrived in Clewiston at Roland Landing Marina.  700 foot dock at $70US a nite. Little restaurant/bar, diesel and showers...nothing else, and I mean, NOTHING else. No stores, nothing to walk to.  Dinner on the lower aft deck, with an aligator swimming alongside. Peter did NOT have rum tonite...just to be sure he doesn't accidentally fall in and become dinner!

March 11/12...stuck in Clewiston. Very bad weather..high winds, rain and thunderstorms.  The heading to Stewart shows tornadoes on the radar, so best we sit tight. This afternoon, another rain storm so hard that we cannot see past the aft deck. But since nothing lives in the aft scupper any more, the aft deck "she be dry mates".

DEPARTING ST LUCIE LOCK

OURS!!!

It's a done deal!

'Pelican Rose' is officially our new baby as of February 28th, 2010.

And NOW...the fun begins.

Do we send our boatstuff by fedex and fly ourselves to Fort Myers? Or rent a one-way car?

Or will Frank insanely offer to go the distance twice in one week?

Health Insurance. Boat Insurance. Clothes. Supplies.

Condo coverage, mail and bills during our absence...and the dreaded taxman on April 30th.

Do we head south to the BVI's and leave her there, or head north back to Canada?  Hmmmm...right now, winter in the islands every year is sounding

very attractive to these retirees! 

MUCH to do in 28 days.

But....

SHE IS OURS!

FOUND! (?)

Several boats later...and no joy in Florida in finding our trawler. With just 24 hours to our departure from Florida...a new listing is found on yachtworld. A 1999 Mainship named Sea Dog and she's less than an hour away from us in Punta Gorda!
We get an appointment and both love her instantly - this is the one.
But, we have a conditional offer in on another boat two years newer than this and the owner has accepted an offer for $30,000 below asking price... less money than the 1999 list. We leave Fort Myers at midnite to drive 10 hours out of our way to view the 2001 in Pensacola before continuing on back home to Canada.
We promise the broker for the 1999, that we will let him know what happens. We decide to give him a post dated offer 'in case' ....
The Pensacola boat is an instant 'no thanks' for both of us.
We stop in Chattenooga to call the other broker and give him the green light GO on the offer we had previously given to him.
Our offer goes in at 3:30pm....but the owners are leaving the country
in 12 hours for a month in Mexico.
By the time we reach our hotel late evening, the owners had put in a
counter offer to ours. We flipped back an offer higher than our first and went to bed.
We continued our drive back home and were finally able to get a wifi connection at 5:30pm.... I see 'thee' email!
The owners have countered again and as far as we are concerned.....this is a
done deal!!!!!
Next steps:
We have a haulout and survey scheduled for Jan 26th and Peter is flying back to Fort Myers on the 25th. Pending no major issues, the deal closes Feb 28 and we will be in Punta Gorda Florida to take possession. They have agreed to let us stay at their dock behind their home for 2 weeks, and will give us some much needed orientation to this new stranger in our lives.
This will no doubt go down as one of THEE quickest listings/sales in the current
economic market! One half day listed....And 24 hours before we
departed. Fate we ask?

TRAWLER HUNT

We have put our privately listed boat 'on hold' as we are just not 100% certain this is 'thee' one. We are looking at another boat this Friday in Pensacola, 9 hours from Fort Myers and 20 hours from Toronto. This is listed with Yachtworld. The owner is in Asia, apparently selling after owning this 2001 Mainship for 2 years and not having enough time to use her. We have put in an offer (without even seeing it..seems to 'be the way' down here) but it is conditional on our satisfactory inspection, sea trial, survey and haul out. We are currently waiting to see if our offer is accepted. As usual in this search it's 'stay tuned.'

TRAWLER HUNT

We have spent hour after hour, month after month, in search of the boat of our dreams: liquidators, private offerings and brokerage listings.
Now we are in Florida, enjoying a balmy ZERO degrees....an unheard of cold spell that even has the iguanas falling from the trees and going to sleep until it warms up!
We are staying in Fort Myers at the townhome of some wonderful long lost friends, rediscovered...Rudi, Gaby & Esther. (The adults haven't aged a bit bit and the daughter has blossomed into a beautiful young woman!)
*If you are interested in booking a rental at this gated community in a very good area of Fort Myers, please check out this link: http://www.perfectplaces.com/vacation-rentals/13548.htm
We have seen two boats that we feel are 'this' close to completing an offer on a private deal; however, at the time of this update, there has been a mechanical snag that may be a show-stopper.
We did a perfect sea-trial out of Bradenton, Florida. Afterwards, we found small amounts of leaking oil near the turbo and a few other 'new' leaks that had not been present before the sea-trial.
A dolphin swam past the transom as we came into the slip. We were thinking this was a good-luck sign, and maybe it was, as it is better to discover serious issues before you own the boat.
There is a good chance the turbo needs a rebuild.....and given that we also discovered the owner has never done any maintenance on the turbo....but I digress. We also noted water around two of the four bolts for the rudder post. Seems it will have to be dropped out, cleaned, resealed and reinstalled. $$$
Peter and I are becoming so adept at surveying these boats, we could very likely qualify as boat surveyors for the 390 Mainship.
At least it was finally sunny and warm today, so we headed to Captiva and Sanibel Island for the day. Looks like this Mainship is a 'stay tuned' situation for the moment.

This is a picture of the turbo oil leak that surfaced immediately after the sea-trial... which is much better than surfacing after purchase!

TRAWLER HUNT

October 2009
We rented a car and headed out of Toronto, Ontario to Maryland. Our hopes were high that the 390 Mainship photo's we had been sent by the owner, were going to prove this boat to be just as fabulous at the dock as they were in cyberland. The owners were lovely, but the boat was not to be ours. She looked to us as if she has had an unhappy life. Lots of wounds and bandages.

Very disappointing, as we had travelled with cheque book in hand. We went home with our allotted quantity of rum in hand as we crossed back into Canada.

The first picture is inside the engine compartment where you can see the shaft...and the bulkhead separation from hull! Ouch!

The second picture is the portside flybridge... with a lovely wide crack midship.

TRAWLER HUNT

September 2009

Peter had contacted a Mainship dealer in New York quite a few months back. She called today and indicated that she knew someone who was privately selling their 390 Mainship, Year 2000 at $99,000US.

The price was too good to be true, and you know what they say about that! This is her in her slip.

We contacted the owner and spent the month going back and forth with photo's and questions, before finally setting everything into place for a trip to New York.

The day before departing, and having booked a car rental and hotel reservations, Peter contacted the owner for directions and any final matters to be discussed. Well, the final matter was that his wife had decided that she liked the boat after all (hasn't apparently liked it for several years, but has taken a sudden change of heart) and the boat is no longer up for sale. Boat #1 - gone.

And so it begins....the agony and the ecstasy of searching for the boat of your dreams. AAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!