I hope you do not mind my starting a thread about your journey, I hope you receive this as encouragement :)
When are you planning to go?> What goals do you have? What have you studied?
PLEASE share your thoughts on the trip. ;D
What a thoughtful thing to do! Thank you for starting this thread for me. This is my first time to join a forum and I really appreciate the encouragement.
My wife and I just returned from our trip to Peoria yesterday, but as soon as we rest up a bit I'll work on finishing the preparations to launch Puff. I hope to have her in the water by this weekend, just in time for the coming cool weather that is forecast. The plan for now is to start sailing the Blackwater Bay and Pensacola Bay area for the next few weeks to work out the kinks in the on-board systems and practice our sailing skills. This will also give us some time to resolve some medical issues that have served as a warning that we should not delay our departure too long. I'll be looking for a safe anchorage or perhaps a place to tie up to a dock overnight in the Pensacola area if anyone has a suggestion. With any luck we'll be on our way Eastward on the first leg of our Great Loop trip by the end of this month.
Safe anchorages- Mosquito Cove (Ft McRae), Little Sabine Bay.
Can't say about marinas- we've always stayed at PSMC up Bayou Chico and found it nice.
Do you have a photograph of your boat?
Maybe when you are sailing on the bay I could take one for your? (maybe we could even swap cameras).
Let me know as your plans progress, I would very much like to hear of your progress.
(http://sailboatdata.com/imagehelper.asp?FILE_id=6001)
Same here...always interested in sailor's adventures. Charlie & Laura's was extremely informative. (Especially since I'm the same age as CJ :-X)
BobL
It's raining. I'll just practice my computer skills today.
Wow, the picture upload really works! Here's one that solves the rudder riddle of the outboard version of the Snapdragon 26.
Appreciate the photo of the Snapdragon outboard well and rudder mystery solved. Good to see that the rudder skeg is so robust.
I can see that having a 25" extra-longshaft outboard could be a problem if the clearance is designed for a 20" longshaft one.
I'm curious about whether your outboard (shown in the photo) is a 20" longshaft one, or one of the extra-longshaft ones.
Also glad to see the photo of your boat on its trailer, with the keels fitting nicely within the wheels/fenders. I suspected that this would be the case, but had not actually seen a photo of one on a standard trailer.
The reason that I had asked about the keels width is that I will be hauling out and moving one soon, and wanted to be reasonably sure that it would fit on my trailer.
I have to confess that I was not familiar with the Great Loop route. Locally, I have heard of the loop from the Hudson River to Erie Canal to St Lawrence River to Lake Champlain and back to Hudson River. Or occasionally a loop including out the St Lawrence and around Nova Scotia and back to New York City and the Hudson.
I found this map of the "Great Loop"
http://cruisingthegreatloop.com/map.jpg
so assume that this is the one you are doing...
I will be interested to follow your voyage, and wish you all the best.
-Jim
Jim,
Yes, that's the Great Loop I'm talking about. I know it's pretty ambitious for an old man, but it's just too tempting to pass up.
The motor in the picture is supposed to be a 25" extra long shaft Nissan 9.8 hp. I just went out and measured it to be sure, and it measured 25" from the top of the transom plate to the top of the gearcase flange. It measures 32" from the top of the transom plate to the horizontal plane of the prop shaft. The motor is mounted on a sliding transom plate so that it can be raised out of the water when under sail. The keels are set completely vertical and centered 5 feet apart. they are approximately 4 inches thick at the bottom and 5'6" measured fore and aft. The trailer is also used to haul cars on occasion. It has an extra long tongue to accommodate the length of the boat, and you might want to consider that if you are planning to use a standard car hauler to move your boat. Also, make sure that your trailer can handle the weight of the boat - about 5,500 lbs.
Snapdragons are pretty rare in this part of the world. Where is yours located?
Bruce
Ambitious for an old man??
Just how old is that?
Better be older than me ;D ;D
Bruce, Thank you for the information on the Snapdragon keels and outboard.
I'm located in Southern Maine. I have seen one other Snapdragon listed for sale on Cape Cod, MA, and possibly a second one in the MA classifieds.
I like these twin keel designs and also have a Centaur project. They draw 3'-0" and the keels are splayed out considerably, I believe the dimension across the outside of the keels is just under 8', which doesn't work so well with standard tandem trailers, since that is where the wheels are. Also over a ton heavier, and this makes them less convenient to trailer.
I was going to write that it seemed like quite an ambitious cruise (as is Charlie and Laura's).
Seems like you may want to take your time in the Florida area for the winter. Craig, Charlie, and others have great sailing blogs here (no doubt you've already found them) of their cruises to the Bahamas. I read an account of a fellow that cruised out to and around the Bahamas in his Alacrity 19 twin keel sailboat with his family.
My dream is to trailer a sailboat down to the Keys for some time during a winter. I recently got a (older 1-ton) diesel pickup and pickup camper with this in mind. On rainy cold days like today it seems like an especially good idea.
Charlie: In deference to your seniority, my apologies - and thanks for making me feel like a kid again (I'm only 65)
Jim: I've always admired the design of the Westerly Centaur but I've never had an opportunity to see one up close.
I do plan to take my time heading north. I live near Pensacola FL, so I should be able to while away a few months traveling down the west coast of the state. My present plans are to cut through Lake Okeechobee and wander up to the Jacksonville FL area by early March.
I'm trying to keep my itinerary very flexable in order to accommodate the needs of family and crew. Even now my departure schedule is being affected by some minor medical issues, but i think it will all work out well.
Oh-and I've got five years on you
Bruce, I'm glad that I asked about the outboard, since I had assumed that the 20" longshaft would work, but looking at your photo and the waterline mark, it seems like it needs that extra-longshaft. Thanks again for that information, and a grog to you.
My trailer is an older large Triad stinkpot trailer with tandem 6k axles, and I have just removed the old made some level planked pad areas, and added a bow stop/winch stand--but it is considerably heavier and higher than yours. Those low crossmembers that you keels sit on, and the boat sitting so low seems ideal for towing and floating off/on with a tongue extension.
I'll be interested to hear how your local cruises on the Snapdragon go. I have not sailed a twin keel yet, but was told by a previous owner that under some conditions the belly of the hull can pound and that it can be disconcerting when you aren't used to it. In this area, the more exposed prop makes avoiding the all the lobster pots that much more important.
This time of year, I sure do envy you folks that are down South. You're just launching yours and it's past haul out time here...
Had a long post all typed up on this IPhone (using thumbs ya know) but lost it some how.
I'm not retyping it!!
But- be sure to visit Bradenton Beach. Good anchorage, clean 24 hour restrooms and showers on municipal pier, city run dinghy dock, one block walk to ice, two blocks to beach.. Free trolley service to groceries, hardware, West Marine, etc.
DON'T bother with Cortez, right across the river. Crusing guides build it up but it isn't cruiser friendly.
Too bad about loosing the message you worked so hard on Charlie, but thanks for the effort. I know it would have been well worth reading!
Thanks for the info on Bradenton Beach. It sounds like a nice place to visit and I'll be sure to put it on my "must see" list.
I'd like to share with everyone a little poem that my Father In Law likes to recite when our discussion turns to my upcoming trip. He learned it in school when he was just a youngster. He celebrated his 95th birthday last month.
WINDS OF FATE
One ship drives East and another drives West,
While the selfsame breezes blow;
It's the set of the sails and not the gales,
That bids them where to go.
Like the winds of the seas are the ways of the fates,
As we voyage along through life;
It's the set of the soul that decides the goal,
And not the storms or the strife.
(by Elia Wheeler Wilcox)
Today we launched the S/V "Puff" in preparation for our Great Loop Cruise. We should be able to weigh anchor sometime this week, depending on wind and tides
This is the first time I've raised the mast while the boat was afloat. The lifting system works really well and can be easily managed singlehanded.
Glad the raising went well. Have fun out there and keep us "posted"
Congrats!
Something just right about getting them back in the water, and getting the stick back up where it belongs!
Look forward to future updates!
Bruce, Good to see Puff heading down the ramp and then in the water. Nice photo of your bipod mast-raising setup. Thanks for sharing the poem, too.
Congratulations, and I too look forward to reading about your cruise.
-Jim
Friday, November 19, 2010
On Sunday, November 14th, after over six months of part-time tinkering and refitting, Puff was launched at Marquis Basin to begin our Great Loop cruise.
She waited at her mooring until Wednesday the 17th when Nancy and I set sail for Pensacola on the first leg or our journey. We departed Marquis Basin at 9:00 am with a gentle north wind and made our way down the Blackwater River. Because the winds were so light and our departure time so late, we chose to use the engine to speed our trip to Pensacola in order to reach our destination at Berkins Marina before dark. Although the weather was quite cool the trip was pleasant, with a favorable wind which made a downwind run of it the whole trip, changing from North to Northeast to East as we progressed. I have decided that I need a genniker pole or a spinnaker for such downwind runs due to the difficulty of keeping the jib full without having to gibe. The little ship hardly rolled or pitched at all in the gentle waves even in the most exposed parts of the bay, and we completed the 24 mile trip in about eight hours, arriving at Berkins Marina at about 5:00 pm. Secured the boat and enjoyed the rest of the evening aboard while we waited for Mendy to come and pick us up after work at 8:00 pm.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Drove the truck over to Berkins Marina late in the afternoon and began preparing ?Puff? for the next leg of our journey. This part would be solo as Nancy is not feeling well enough to accompany me. I decided not to take the dingy motor along after tinkering with it around the marina docks. It just doesn?t run reliably enough to depend on, so right now it?s not worth sacrificing the space required to stow it. The dingy has a perfectly good pair of oars, and I can use the exercise. After stowing my gear and setting up my bed I retired early and got a pretty good night?s sleep.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Woke up at daylight and prepared to get underway. Cast off the lines at 06:50 and motored out through the Bayou Chico channel under a bright sky with an ESE wind of about 10 kts. Set sail at the outer marker and held a course to clear the west end of Gulf Breeze peninsula. Rounded the south point of Gulf Breeze at 08:05 and began motoring due east against the wind up the ICW towards the Bob Sikes Bridge. Under the bridge at 09:15 and continued on to Range Point at 10:30. It was a long slow slog dead against a 20 kt wind with lowering clouds and moderate to heavy chop until I reached Navarre Bridge at 13:40. I made a right turn just after the last buoy before the bridge and stayed close to the causeway as I felt my way across the bar and into deeper water leading to the anchorage at the south end of the causeway. This was my first time to use the new CQR anchor and electric windlass, and I?m really impressed with how well they work. I rounded up into the wind, flipped the switch, and voila! After letting the anchor set for a few minutes, I ran out a bit more chain just to be sure then clipped on the mooring bridle and slacked the chain to the windlass. Anchored at Navarre Beach (Sound side) at 14:00. I?m anxious to see if it comes up as well as it went down! I spent the rest of the evening tidying up, resting, and planning my next move. Went to bed early and slept well.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The thought occurred to me as I woke up that to push on to Fort Walton today might not be the best thing to do. This anchorage seems pretty well protected and it?s free, so why not go home for Thanksgiving and see the Grandchildren then resume my voyage in a few days. After all, there?s no hurry and if Nancy is feeling better she will want to do the next leg with me. I called Nancy to come pick me up, and by noon we were back at the farm waiting for the Grandchildren to arrive.
Bruce, Good to read your first cruise entries, and to know that you are on your way. I'm going to search these places on GoogleMaps so that I can follow along. Hope that Nancy feels better soon.
I hauled out my Sd26 today, with the help of a couple friends. Long overdue, and glad that we haven't received snow yet. Here's a photo of the bow stop I made for the old p*werboat trailer, and a removable 10-foot extension tongue that fits into a receiver that I welded under the original hitch coupler.
-Jim
Jim - - and everyone else; I have started posting navionics charts with my routes and tracks marked on them to my facebook profile. Just look up the account of Bruce A Cupit Sr. Monday's track was started about two hours after I left the dock due to my error- - I'm still learning which buttons to push and when. I've tried to find a way to post it on this site, but so far no luck. I'm using an ipad with the Navionics app.
Quote from: Snapdragon on November 25, 2010, 01:02:32 AM
Jim - - and everyone else; I have started posting navionics charts with my routes and tracks marked on them to my facebook profile. Just look up the account of Bruce A Cupit Sr. Monday's track was started about two hours after I left the dock due to my error- - I'm still learning which buttons to push and when. I've tried to find a way to post it on this site, but so far no luck. I'm using an ipad with the Navionics app.
Wow,
Thanks for the update. I sure hope you will continue to post them here. Some of us are not like you 'kids' with your Mybook / Facespace things. ;D
Congrats on getting underway! Look forward to reading more.
Bruce - congrats on getting underway! I'm sure adventure lies ahead for you. :) We'll see what we can do about making those route images post-able here. It's got to be possible... I'll take a look at that app, see what i can find out, and get back to you via PM.
Happy Turkey Day! ;)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
I?m feeling guilty about leaving Puff anchored in this fairly open cove ( Navarre Beach ) for over a week. I?ve driven down here twice to check on her - on Nov. 27th I spent about two hours aboard just checking things out, then on Nov 29th there was a northwest wind blowing about 20 kts that I couldn?t row the dingy against to get aboard. She looked to be riding the chop very well and was not dragging anchor, so I felt satisfied. Today the wind has subsided and come around more from the north, so I was able to get aboard with little trouble even though there is still a bit of wave action to contend with. There is a 23 ft sloop just to the west of me that has dragged anchor to within about fifty feet of me, but it looks like it will hold for now. I was going to move a little further to the north, but when I tried to raise anchor I found it stuck fast on something. I?ll be spending the night on the boat, so I?m putting out fenders and hoping for the best. I?m going to have another minor surgery on Friday, and if it goes well I?ll be out of this anchorage Saturday morning.
Friday, December 3, 2010
I?m feeling very relieved that my little visit with the surgeon is over. I packed my bag and was aboard Puff just as the sun was setting. I spent a pleasant evening making ready for tomorrow?s trip to Ft Walton Beach, but made no attempt to break the anchor free. It will have to wait until tomorrow morning.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
By 6:00 am I had devised a plan of attack on the stuck anchor. First, I led the anchor chain aft to the port winch, cushioned the winch drum with a wet towel, wrapped the chain around it and cranked it tight with the winch handle. Several hundred pounds of vertical lift over the next hour failed to budge the anchor at all. Time for some redneck tactics. I got out the ratchet come-along that I use to lift the outboard motor out of the motor well, chained it to the top of that awful looking gallous I put across the stern of the boat, hooked on the anchor chain and tightened up until the cable hit a note that sounded like the fifth string on a banjo. I had to retune several times over the next fifteen minutes, but the anchor finally came free and I took down my rigging quick before anyone noticed. During the strong winds and chop, that little CQR anchor must have dug itself pretty deep under the mud layer that makes up this part of the anchorage. At 7:45 I was under way, motoring out to the channel through some very skinny water. With a hazy early morning sky I couldn?t see the color changes in the water ahead that indicated where the shoals are, but I could see straight down and it was a strange feeling to be suspended above a bottom that looked to be only a foot away. I saw the depth gauge go to less than three feet, but the keels never touched.
Entering the channel I turned East towards Ft. Walton and motored across a glass-smooth surface for the next three hours. At last, at 10:45 the wind came up from astern and the noisemaker was replaced by sails. Over the next two hours the wind gradually increased to about 20 kts (forecast 5 to 10) and I was running with just the main sail and holding over 4 kts (according to GPS) dead downwind against almost a 1 knot tide. I think the grin might have torn one of the stitches loose from the incision on my cheek.
Upon reaching the Ft Walton Beach City Park anchorage I rounded up, dropped anchor and rode out the rest of the blow throughout the night, checking frequently to see if the anchor would drag. It didn?t!
Sunday, December 05, 2010
I?ll have to keep Puff here for a few days while this cold snap has its way with us. It?s supposed to get down below freezing for several nights and I don?t want to risk getting sick. It?s probably wiser to wait for warmer weather in order to get further south to warmer weather?.?
Thanks for the update!
pretty clever use of a come-a-long. ;D Glad you got the anchor up, it is a bit cool to be diving an anchor this time of year. :)
Funny how much harder it can be to leave our 'girls' on the hook outside of their regular waters. I know how sweet that feeling of relief is when you get back to her and see she is right were you left her.
Sure hope the cold front passes quickly. Looking at the forecast, you should be able to make some pretty good headway next week.
Very nice stretch of the ICW between where you are and Apalachicola. Enjoy!
Bruce, Enjoyed your cruise blog for the week. I also had that same feeling of apprehension about my SD26 on anchor(s) for a week or more at a time between checking on it, with the heavier fall weather here. There was a interesting thread about this (anchoring for periods of time and the varying comfort levels individuals have) here.
Its good to have a incentive to look at the chart online and Google maps and to explore this area online including the many coastal state parks--and even checking out the menu at the Crab Shack restaurant there in Walton Beach. Creole Shrimp & Grits is something we don't have on the menu around here.
We're getting that cold front dipping down from Canada here, and it's forecast to be down into the teens tonight and into single digits on Thursday night. Ugh...winter has arrived. I'm afraid that it's going to be a longer wait here for the cold to pass.
I too wish for the best for you weather wise, and for the next leg of the cruise. (Looking forward to seeing some photos, if possible, too.)
-Jim
I couldn't stand it any longer. Nancy and I drove down to Ft Walton Beach to see how Puff had fared during yesterdays wind and last nights cold. Everything was fine aboard, so I retrieved a fuel tank for refilling, checked the thermometer in the cabin ( 62 deg. F ) and mentally berated myself for not just staying aboard and drifting along for a few more miles eastward. Oh well, I guess it won't kill me to wait another day or two.
Hey Bruce,
Glad to hear things are going well. I'm wondering how heavy your CQR is?
Sounds like quite a hook.
Good luck on your journey. I'll be waiting to hear how things continue.
jake in denver
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
That ?day or two? wait has turned into a solid month of shoreside distractions. I finally got back to the boat yesterday afternoon and prepared to get under way this morning. The forecast was for cold, dreary weather with a good chance of afternoon showers, with west winds 10 to 15 kts becoming northerly after noon. Feeling confident that I could handle that, I weighed anchor at about 08:45 and motored into the ICW channel headed East. A few minutes later, as I passed under the Brooks Bridge, it began to sprinkle rain. As I slipped into my rain gear I checked for traffic behind me and was startled to see what at first looked like a bright patch of sky to the west. It took a few seconds to comprehend that the brightness was the result of the weak morning sunlight reflecting off of the curtain of water falling from one of the most well defined squall lines I?ve seen in years. It took just over a minute for the blast of wind and water to catch up with me. Fortunately the mainsail was still flaked on the boom and the ?Dutchman? stringers kept it from deploying, but the bimini caught enough of the wind to slew Puff around sideways. I kept just enough power on the engine to let her drift sideways down the narrow channel and stay clear of the shoal areas until the wind slacked a bit and I was able to power around and head into the wind. At this point I was considerably wetter than I wanted to be, and concluded that my best option was to seek shelter. As I began to make headway against the slackening wind I came abreast of a short canal with a protected seawall at the south end of it. I entered the canal and tied up at the seawall of a small city park on the lee side of a huge dry storage building of the adjacent marina. I?ve only covered about a half mile of distance from where I was anchored this morning, but I think I?ll just rest here for the night.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
It was colder this morning than I find comfortable, but after coffee and another layer of dry clothes I got under way again at 08:00. The forecast was a little more cheerful for today, and true to its promise there was a 15 kt wind from the northwest and even a bit of sunshine and dryer air to go with it. This made for fine sailing down the channel towards Destin Pass, then northeast across the western end of Choctawhatchee Bay, and eastward to the entrance of Hogtown Bayou at Santa Rosa Beach. I was a little concerned about the chart warning of ?numerous submerged iron pilings? in that area, but placed my bet that they were cut off deeper than my 2? 6? draft and proceeded to follow the deepest charted areas until I got to the anchorage near the low bridge at Cessna Park. Dropped anchor at 13:30 in about 3 ? feet of water with a clay bottom. The 25 lb CQR anchor dug right in and seems to be holding well even though the bottom is a bit harder than I like.
Since today?s sailing went so well, compared to yesterday, I decided to bike back to Ft Walton Beach and get the truck this afternoon instead of tomorrow, since tomorrow?s forecast gives me strong headwinds to pedal against. By 14:20 I was on my way with only a gentle cool breeze in my face. Only 23.6 miles to go. Three hours and fifteen minutes later, about fifteen minutes after dark, I was kinda glad to get to the truck. Yes I was pretty tired and my legs were a little sore, not to mention that I was sure that I was bleeding where my body made contact with the bicycle seat, but my biggest need was FOOD. My body was simply running out of fuel. A quick stop by a local Waffle House and I was good to go. After driving back to the landing, loading the bike into the dingy, and rowing out to the boat I went to bed and slept pretty well
Friday, January 07, 2011
I woke up well refreshed and with hardly any soreness from the bike ride. After breakfast, hoisted the bicycle out of the dingy and back into place on the stern gallows. The rest of the morning was spent cleaning up the boat, stowing gear, and getting ready to go back home for a while. I may have to leave Puff here while I resolve some issues that keep me from getting too far from home.
Tuesday, January 12, 2011
Today I made a trip to Santa Rosa Beach towing the trailer, with the intention of bringing Puff home for a while. I knew that the water around the launch ramp was shallow, but due to very low winter tides its just a little too shallow to get Puff into the deeper water at the bottom of the ramp. After several attempts, and waiting for an incoming tide that was being defeated by a steady north wind, I returned Puff to her anchorage and resigned myself to leaving her there for a while longer.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Two and a half weeks with Puff anchored so far away is hard to endure. Nancy and I drove the seventy two miles down to Santa Rosa Beach just to check on her for an hour or two. It?s always a great relief to see her safely riding at anchor right where I left her. Going aboard, I found everything exactly as I left it, and the bilges almost dry in spite of the severe wind and heavy rain over the last few days. Although it is a physical challenge for her, Nancy was able to climb aboard with me and we spent a pleasant couple of hours fishing and tinkering about the boat. We decided that it would be best to leave Puff where she is for now, and take the first opportunity to transition to live aboard / cruise mode. After a pleasant ride around the anchorage area in the dinghy, we loaded up and headed home.
Friday, February 25, 2011
It looks like it?s time to hit the reset button on my Great Loop trip. Warmer weather is approaching and summer will soon be here. Sailing through south Florida in the heat of summer is something I would like to avoid. Considering that, and some family health issues that will require my attention over the next month or two, I?ve decided to postpone my adventure until the Autumn season. Nancy dropped me off at the anchorage in Santa Rosa Beach today, and after making the boat ready, I?ll sail Puff back to Fort Walton Beach where there is a suitable launch ramp to get her back on the trailer.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Up at the first sign of light this morning after spending a rather cool night bundled in some nice thick blankets. Proceeded out of Hogtown Bayou with a gentle East wind and had a nice sail down Choctawhatchee Bay to near the Destin Pass, then motored West up the ICW channel to Ft Walton Beach. Nancy picked me up at about 15:00 and took me home to get the truck and trailer. I?ll return and spend the night aboard Puff in order to get an early start on getting her back on the trailer.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Woke up to a heavy fog. After a light breakfast and coffee I began to fold down the bimini top, remove the main sail and boom, and prepare the standing rigging for lowering the mast. Using the main sheet blocks and the bipod it was amazingly easy to lower the mast onto the stern gallows, install the tabernacle crutch, and slide the mast forward until it was safely centered over the boat.
After lashing everything down for transport I motored around to the launch ramp and backed the trailer into the water. By this time there was a stiff breeze blowing from the southeast, so help with the dock lines from a friendly bystander was much appreciated. After winching the boat onto the trailer I discovered that I had backed the wheels of the trailer past the edge of the concrete ramp onto the sand bottom, and there was just enough of a ledge to keep me from pulling it out. Fortunately, more newfound friends arrived to launch their stinkpot and were happy to give me a tow with their truck. This sort of thing goes a long way toward elevating my estimation of the human condition.
It was an uneventful 45 mile drive back to the farm. Although I?m not happy about having to interrupt my Great Loop trip, It will at least give me the opportunity to make some improvements and upgrades to Puff, and let me practice what I?ve learned in more familiar waters in anticipation of my next departure opportunity.
Bruce, Good to read your update. Sorry that your family is having some health issues. Best wishes as you deal with those.
Hope that you will be able to get some local sailing in for now, as you say.
One of my ambitions is that I can eventually trailer a boat down to Florida in winter, and enjoy the Keys, some of Western Florida, and perhaps up to your area. I have an old friend who works in the New Orleans area. In moments of hyper-ambition, I imagine getting over to the Bahamas as Charlie & Laura, Craig & Rose, and some other SailFars have.
At the moment, I'm thrilled that the temperature is above freezing enough to start to melt all that snow. Spring is coming, and I'm looking forward to working on the boat(s) soon and having a better season of local sailing than last year.
Baby steps for now...
-Jim
Oh Poo!!! Well, I guess if you're going to break an axle, 20 feet from the shop is about as good a place as any.
I'd say that is the best possible place. :)
My equipment seems to like to wait until I'm headed onto the the George Washington Bridge and Cross-Bronx Expressway. :(
Good luck with the repair and getting trailer-sailable again.
Thanks Jim.
The old axle and spindles are just too far gone to repair, but I happened across a pretty good deal on a whole new setup. Only a little more work and it'll be back on the ground. The front axle should hold until I can get Puff back in the water, then I'll see about replacing the rest of the undercarriage. It would break my heart to drop my baby in the middle of the road!
Nothing says "love" like fresh bottom paint!
Added a "custom" aluminum arch --- and yes, that IS a PVC lawn chair bolted above the motor well. The cabin top is too high to see over when seated in the cockpit, so....why not a "catbird" seat. I guess I've been living on the farm too long.
Launched "Puff" today in Marquis Basin. She should be ready to start again on the Great Loop cruise .... as soon as I'm ready!
Good luck Bruce. Keep in touch as you do the loop.
Tehani should transit the Mississippi River locks tomorrow. We're ( Tehani and I) 34 miles from Harvey Lock tonight. Harvey is Mile 0 of the Gulf ICW. Increases both ways from there- east and west.
Maybe two weeks from the home Marina ;D I'll be glad to get there. This cold weather iis wearing. 29 yesterday AM and 34 this AM. I've had long johns on!!!
Have a great trip!
An epic voyage Charlie. You have certainly attained HERO status in my book. Grog to ya!
Great photo of Charlie on Tehani.
Good to see the trailer repaired, modifications, and Puff back in the water. It will be interesting to read your entries as you cruise the Great Loop.
Fair winds,
-Jim
bruce thanks again! we really enjoyed our time with you and nancy.
the epoxy repair we did to the dingy is holding up great
fair winds on your trip...i look forward to reading your posts
Finally got around to moving Puff out of Marquis Basin and over to Destiny Marina on Escambia Bay. Nancy and I got a late start Thursday evening and spent the night anchored in one of our favorite spots at Bay Point on Blackwater Bay. The night was chilly and the thick morning fog didn't lift until noon. There was absolutely no wind, so we had to just motor along on glass-smooth water all the way. The fog suddenly rolled in again just as we were entering the marina. We had just enough time to make it in safely. :)
Quote from: Snapdragon on January 08, 2012, 11:26:33 PM
Finally got around to moving Puff out of Marquis Basin and over to Destiny Marina on Escambia Bay. Nancy and I got a late start Thursday evening and spent the night anchored in one of our favorite spots at Bay Point on Blackwater Bay. The night was chilly and the thick morning fog didn't lift until noon. There was absolutely no wind, so we had to just motor along on glass-smooth water all the way. The fog suddenly rolled in again just as we were entering the marina. We had just enough time to make it in safely. :)
We are so happy to have Puff,Nancy and You here.. Glad to be part of your Great Loop Adventure... :)
Nice reading. will follow this thread. Do like the name "puff" ;)
Thanks ntica.
Two stories about naming our boat "Puff".
"Jakeindenver" and I acquired our Snapdragon 26 sailboats at about the same time. Unknown to each other, we both decided to name our boats "Puff". When he discovered that we had chosen the same name, during a telephone conversation with me he offered to use a different name to avoid confusion even though we would be sailing on different coasts. A true gentleman!
When Johnnie, Morgan, and Max (of WoolyBahBah fame) were invited to stop over with us for a few days during their cruise south, they accepted our invitation with some trepidation. We had never met. Only knowing from our sailfar posts that Nancy and I are from the "flower power" generation and lived in a rural setting gave then pause to consider whether the word puff was used as a noun or a verb (as in "to smoke"). I think that they were somewhat relieved to find that we were not ageing hippies growing our own medicinal herbs. Naming ones boat can be an adventure!
Quote from: Snapdragon on March 03, 2012, 06:12:12 PM
whether the word puff was used as a noun or a verb (as in "to smoke"). I think that they were somewhat relieved to find that we were not ageing hippies growing our own medicinal herbs.
Hey Snapdragon,
Guess I'm showing my age ... I had the same thought. ;D
"Puff" is a great name for a smallish sailboat, whatever the derivation.
--Joe
My good luck is still holding in spite of my lack of intelligence. I broke the rear axle on Puff's trailer about six months ago about 20 ft from the barn - very convenient for repairs. Logic would dictate that the front axle, being the same age and subject to the same abuse, would soon suffer the same fate, but would I listen? Yesterday when I made the turn onto the road in front of my house on my way to launch, the fates gently reminded me of my neglectful ways. Fortunately I was only about 100 yards from the barn and it was no real problem to trailer the needed timbers and tools out to the road. Unfortunately, it's going to mean a delay of several days while a new axle is ordered and installed. A small price to pay. It could have been much, much worse!
Oh man....were you out of the road?
I can't imagine that with all the traffic on your road!!!! :o
ok, just kidding.
Stinks but at least you were close to the barn!
And twice!!!!
The gods must be smiling on your because off all the good will you show to passing cruisers ;)
It's beautifull little ship!
Well now you have both axles redone so you should be good to go for a long while.
Nice to see a twin keel boat sitting so low on a trailer. It gives one the impression that the entire trailer could disintegrate to dust and the boat would sit happily upright on her keels on the ground... :)
At the risk of being declared the official wimp of the Sailfar crowd, I admit to being a slacker this summer because of the weather. It doesn't seem to affect some (unnamed) heroes over inTexas that are my senior by some years, and I marvel at their toughness.
It's been a long hot summer, and here on the Florida Gulf Coast we've had plenty of rain showers on an almost daily basis. The humidity has been high enough to meet the requirements for the "chunky style" definition of air. The oppressive heat and weeks of windless conditions make one question the wisdom of committing to a particular date for another try at the "Great Loop".
In spite of the weather, i've been able to do a few improvements to Puff to get her ready. I've installed two 50 watt solar panels on the new aluminum arch connected to a 15 amp charge controller and AGM deep cycle battery. A 1000 watt inverter supplies power to the cabin 110 volt outlets.
I've done a few clean-up, tighten, reinforce, simplify projects that should make life on board a little easier. And now, i wait for a break in the weather.
Today's picture of Puff, ready to go. I can post text from my ipad, but I haven't learned how to post pictures from it yet.
And which Texans would that be??
Heat index today 104 and I was mowing up at the farm. A long neglected job it seems cause it was two feet tall :'(
Your work sounds great. What solar panels did you choose? Need one for Necessity.
Hi Bruce, Congrats on getting
Puff in the water.
Quote from: Snapdragon on August 09, 2012, 03:59:12 PM
It's been a long hot summer, and here on the Florida Gulf Coast we've had plenty of rain showers on an almost daily basis. The humidity has been high enough to meet the requirements for the "chunky style" definition of air. The oppressive heat and weeks of windless conditions make one question the wisdom of committing to a particular date for another try at the "Great Loop".
Since you already have a trailer, have you considered trailering
Puff North to a cooler place to sail--say to Chesapeake Bay or even the Coast of Maine?
-Jim
C J, I ordered the two 50 watt solar panels through Amazon.com. Name-brand is HQRP, but i really think any of the fine Chinese made products would work as well, and have the same razor sharp corners. The monocrystalline cells do look good and seem to perform well so far.
Jim, I've never been one to do things the sensible, easy way. If I can't do this thing by sailing (or motoring) all the way, then maybe I should just get an RV. I just feel the need to meet this challenge.
On Thursday (Aug 9th) afternoon, after a particularly heavy rain shower brought some welcome relief from the heat, I packed a few things and had Nancy drop me off at Marquis Basin where Puff was anchored. My intent was to spend a few days sailing the local area to see if I could tolerate the heat. Getting under way, I motored down the Blackwater River until I began to catch a little breeze. I set sail and had a delightful, slow ride down to one of my favorite anchorages at Bay Point. Anchoring for the night, I was encouraged by a relatively cool breeze that continued through the night, with only occasional light rain.
Friday morning brought partly cloudy skies with a forecast of light variable winds and a chance of local thundershowers. Raising anchor at 7:00 am, I motored into Blackwater Bay expecting flat calm and no wind for the run to Pensacola. As I proceeded south down Blackwater Bay I began to encounter the forecast light and variable, which turned to a steady southwest at 5 to 10 as I rounded Garcon Point. Right on the nose of course. Already half way into the run to Pensacola, I decided to continue on in spite of the threatening sky. By the time I passed under the Garcon Point bridge My progress was being slowed to little more than two kts by surprisingly strong headwinds and waves as large as i've ever seen on Escambia Bay. The warm rain driving across the water seemed to help flatten the breaking crests and provided a refreshing rinse for the salty spray coming over the bow. Progress was slow, even though I increased the throttle setting on the little 9.8 Nissan to about 75 percent, running it much harder than ever before. Approaching the Pensacola Bay bridge gave some relief from the waves while in its lee, but after passing under I began to encounter more confused wave patterns echoing from the port facility jetties and downtown seawalls. While still a safe distance from a lee shore I took the opportunity to switch to a full fuel tank. The wind and wave conditions continued to build as I became exposed to the increased fetch around the west end of Gulf Breeze. By the time I reached the Bayou Chico channel I was glad to make the turn north, even though it meant taking the waves on the beam. Of course the engine assumed an "automatic rough" sound as soon as it's failure would guarantee total destruction of the boat, but understanding the psychology of such things, I continued on. Upon entering the smooth waters of Bayou Chico I refrained from reducing power because I could see that I was in a race with an oncoming squall line as to which of us would reach the anchorage at the head of the bayou first. Just as it was turning into a dead heat, I turned out of the channel, aimed for my intended anchoring spot, and reduced throttle. The little engine instantly stalled, and refused to restart. While still in the edge of the channel, I flipped the switch on the electric anchor windlass and let out forty feet of chain just as the squall hit. Thirty minutes later the wind was down to almost zero and I was able to row the last hundred yards to my destination.
Saturday morning, I'm anchored near Pensacola Shipyard trying to figure out what happened to the motor. I can get it to start on a high throttle setting, but as soon as I slow it down any it stalls. Running at a very high idle it has an unpleasant ragged sound with a pronounced vibration. Checking the electrical system, I find that the alternator/start circuit fuse is blown and the resistance of the alternator coil is zero ohms. I'm not sure if this is one problem, or two. Does a blown alternator cause the engine to run rough?
This is not the place or time to delve into the mysteries of things under the flywheel, so I unship the motor and lower it into the dinghy. Nancy will drive over in the truck to pick me up, and I'll Try to get professional help with this thing on Monday.
I'd bet two problems.
Tehani's engine had the "wouldn't run at idle" syndrome and it was a bit of trash (water I think) in the idle jet. Washed that out with carb cleaner and ended that trouble.
Wouldn't even conjecture on the other.
Looks like I'm not going to get much help with the motor problem today. Local dealers won't even talk to me without an appointment in three weeks. Local shadetree guy didn't know they made such a machine.
Frustrating.
Just completed ordering a new Tohatsu 6 hp extra-long shaft four stroke single cylinder,front shift, manual start with alternator and remote tank. End of problem.
It should be here in about three days. I'll just flush the salt out of the Nissan and put it in the barn until I run out of something to do.
You may have this already but could I suggest adding at least a in-line fuel filter before running your new motor. One of the glass ones with a changeable cartridge is what I use. I also use strictly non ethanol gas but that would be hard to find on a cruise. I wold use one of the larger bulkhead mounted fuel/water separators with the spin on cartrage but am not sure in a small outboard could create enough vacuum for it. Any way what Charlie said about the water is true and caused me no end of trouble with a 5hp Tohatsu. I now have a 5hp Honda and am babying it when it comes to bad gas.
My Tohatsu Had the same problem, would not run at idle and it was water. Trouble was you could clean the carb but next batch of gas with a little water and you had same problem again.
Thanks, sounds like very good advice. I've tried to be very careful to have clean plastic tanks with suction filters, fresh non ethanol gas, and clean engine fuel filters. Before I run the new motor I'll install a large spin on cartrage filter, clean out the fuel tanks again, and refill with fresh non ethanol gas with a shot of Seafoam fuel additive. I haven't tried it yet, but the Seafoam was recommended by the people who are selling me the motor. I should think that the added restriction of the extra filter would not be too much for the fuel pump to overcome since the fuel tanks are at almost the same level as the engine and very little vertical lift is required. It's worth a try at least.
I'm not having any luck with the 9.8 Nissan. I flushed out the carb with fresh gas treated with Seafoam from a new tank and new hose and put in new sparkplugs, but it still doesn't run right. I'm pretty sure that it's only running on one cylinder. I do have one solution to the problem though.......
The new Tohatsu 6 hp arrived yesterday. I've spent the morning checking, servicing, and tank testing it. It goes on the boat tomorrow afternoon and I'll spend a few days breaking it in around the Pensacola area, weather permitting.
Made the run down to Navarre today, motorsailing to break in the new motor. Very light winds for most of the way, then one heckuva thunderstorm about two hours after anchoring. 40 kt gusts in a poorly protected anchorage makes me really love all chain rode and CQR anchors!
Go for Little Sabine Bay if it's iffy- just west ofQuietwater, under bridge, south side, and well protected.
Also Sand Island at Ft McRae- good holding, easy to the beach.
After that, Pirates Cove (well, Roberts Bayou) But you know that place.
Good sailing. Hope your engine troubles are done.
Or are you heading SE? Then Ft Walton has free dock, and pumpout.
After a calm night, woke up to threatening skies and almost no wind. By 07:30 the thunderstorms began to come ashore from the gulf. Plenty of gusty winds from all directions, but mostly from the south, which is the best direction for this anchorage. Much better than yesterdays three ft chop from the west. Steady rain set in at 08:30, but still storm cells on all sides.
About 10:00 the rain passed and the sun came out a little. The thunderstorms seem to be holding a few miles offshore and moving East parallel to the ICW. I had made up my mind to stay put for the day, but i don't like this anchorage and the break in the weather was too tempting. Anchor up at 10:15 and made best speed with sail and motor towards Fort Walton Beach and a better anchorage.
About 13:30 i spotted just what i was looking for. A little nook just off the channel in the lee of a sand dune in "the narrows" a half mile West of all the condos. The water was a little deeper than i expected... 9 ft within spitting distance of the shore... but i'll take it!
Monday, 8/20/12
Rain, starting at 03:30. It slacked off to a light mist by08:30 and looked like it might be clearing, so i bailed out the dingy and used the rainwater to do a bucket of laundry. Turned out that there was plenty of water to rinse with, there must have been 30 gallons of water in that little Zodiac. By 09:45 it stopped raining, so i decided to leave this nice anchorage and move a little further East. Anchor up just after 10:00 and motored toward Choctawhatchee Bay against a pretty stiff incoming tide. Thirty minutes under way and it began raining. By the time i got to the Fort Walton Beach town docks, it was a steady downpour. Anchored just off the town dock to wait out the rain. Amazing.... Rained all day to the point of white-out conditions. Fortunately, the rain has kept the temperature down to the pleasant mid seventies, but it's going to take a while for my laundry to dry.
Town docks are free, and it's a very short walk to stores. The Indian Mound is really close by too. If it rains too much, be worth a day exploring. I liked it there.
Tuesday, 8/21/12
Up at 06:00 and the rain has stopped. Looks like the weather is improving. Anchor up at 06:45 and motored out into Choctawhatchee Bay. Spent most of the day tacking against an east wind, but by afternoon the wind had shifted to southeast and I was able to make some progress for a little while. As I approached the east end of the bay it shifted back to the east, and I motored the rest of the way to the canal that connects to West Bay. Pulled into a shallow side creek (Tucker Bayou) far enough to get away from passing boat wakes. Anchored in three feet of water - depth sounder showing 2.5 feet. My tide chart shows I should be able to get out if I leave before 08:00 tomorrow.
Wednesday, 8/22/12
Had a pleasantly cool night, and woke refreshed and ready to go. Navigated the shallows back into the ICW with no problems, and motored the ditch to West Bay, arriving at noon.
There are no services at the east end of the ditch. Just a restaurant that opens after 16:30 and an airboat alligator tour/tourist trap business. Not a very friendly place.
Back in the boat, and continued toward Panama City, motoring all the way. I really hadn't intended to travel so far in one day, but I think learning to pace myself will come with experience. Anchored in Massalina Bayou at the back steps of the County Courthouse. About 32miles today.
Thursday, 8/23/12
Secured the boat for hurricane Isaac. I've got a lot of things to do ashore in preparation for the storm, so I'll be back and forth for the next few days.
I've taken a two week break from my travels to attend to hurricane issues and visit with family. I'll post a few pictures of the trip through the ditch to Panama City before I return to Puff tomorrow.
Here's the reason water flows outward into the bays from both ends of the ditch.
The bridge at West Bay.
Alligator crossing ahead of me in the ditch.
Puff survived the storm in Panama City.
Wednesday, 9/5/12
Back to the boat, and it looks like she survived the weather just fine in my absence. It rained on me almost the whole way on my drive back to Panama City, and continued to rain until I finished ferrying everything out in the dingy. Then the sun came out to warm things up in the late afternoon. Almost finished re-rigging before dark. Spent a quiet night in the anchorage.
Thursday, 9/6/12
Finished up the detail items for getting under way about mid-morning, then took some time to explore an anchorage across the bay from Panama City Marina. Finally decided to make some miles about 11:00 am and set sail for the east end of the bay. Arrived at the entrance to Walker Bayou just before 16:00 and anchored for the night. Got to watch some Dolphins slowly feeding in the wide, shallow mouth of the bayou.
Friday, 9/7/12
Got an early start to make the run part way through the canal from Walker Bayou to White City. Motored all the way, against the wind and current, but at least there was very little traffic. Took advantage of the water and public restrooms available at the park next to the bridge, but didn't stay long due to the busy launch ramp and lack of stores in the area. Motored east for about five miles to Horseshoe Creek, which is identified on my chart by the description "impenetrable swamp". A very restful anchorage.
Saturday, 9/8/12
Woke at 05:30 to the sound of rain. Daylight showed a heavy overcast, with locally heavy showers, but very little thunder and almost no wind. Settled in for a long wet day. The rain was quite warm, about the same temperature as the air, and the most pleasant way to pass the day was to get out in it and scrub down the topsides. Being out in a cypress swamp with the warm rain pouring down kinda reminds me of when I was a kid.
Sunday, 9/9/12
Weather is considerably improved this morning. Watched the sun rise to a beautiful clear sky and a cool breeze. Got Puff under way about 08:00and motored the few miles to lake Wimico. By the time I entered the lake the sky had become completely overcast again, but it made for a very pleasant sail on a broad reach for the entire length of the lake. Entering the Jackson River I again motored, this time With the current, all the way to Apalachicola. Anchored in a tiny tidal basin on Scipio Creek. It's a nice spot just across the creek from "marina row" where a lot of trawlers are docked. I only have to share it with two alligators, the usual turtles, two semi-derelict sailboats, and a half sunken crane barge.
Gotta love going "with" the current. Great updates...post a pic or 4 if you can. Have fun.
Monday, 9/10/12
Pleasantly cool, clear morning. Up at about 07:00, and after tinkering about a bit, moved Puff out of the basin and down the creek to the city dock. It's the off season, and Puff had the entire place to herself. Took several walks through the town finding stores to reprovision, and met several people who were helpful and friendly. Kinda strange, they were all about my age and dressed very much like I do. Spent the last hour of daylight chatting with strollers on the dock, then motored back up to the basin for the night. I think I'll hang out here for another day or so.
Quote from: Snapdragon on September 10, 2012, 09:25:02 PM
Monday, 9/10/12
Pleasantly cool, clear morning. Up at about 07:00, and after tinkering about a bit, moved Puff out of the basin and down the creek to the city dock. It's the off season, and Puff had the entire place to herself. Took several walks through the town finding stores to reprovision, and met several people who were helpful and friendly. Kinda strange, they were all about my age and dressed very much like I do. Spent the last hour of daylight chatting with strollers on the dock, then motored back up to the basin for the night. I think I'll hang out here for another day or so.
I felt the same way when we were in Oriental, NC. We were lucky enough to stay there 3 nights. Enjoy!
How are the twin keels handling the trip?
Oh yeah, we need pictures! :P
Tuesday, 9/11/12
Moved back to city dock at about 09:00. It sure is nice to be able to slip in and out of these tiny, shallow basins and creeks with little concern for running aground. Each time i've found the bottom, it's been a simple matter of shifting to reverse, swing the tiller a few times, and she backs right off. I'm really beginning to appreciate the advantages of the twin keel design for a cruising boat. Although slower than a fin keel, it's very stiff under sail and directionally stable when motored. Kinda like having training wheels.
Did another walk about through town, then stopped by to chat with a fellow I met yesterday as he was working on his boat. Spent several hours talking with him and his wife under the shade of the cedar trees in their front yard, then gave him a tour of my boat. Very nice people. He insisted that I use one of his bikes to explore with until I decide to move on.
There's been a steady twenty knot East wind since about 11:00 today, which has churned Apalachicola Bay to a muddy froth and it's forecast to continue for several days. Puff was pinned against the dock by it, but I was able to turn the motor and back down at full throttle, and slowly crab away from the dock without causing any embarrassment. Back to the basin for the night.
Wednesday, 9/12/12
Dingied down to the city dock, Then took the bike on another tour of the town. Spent a very pleasant day meeting some of the locals and learning a bit about the culture here.
It looks like I'll have to make a trip home tomorrow. I've put out three anchors, and arranged for someone to keep an eye on her, so Puff should be ok until I get back. I hope this doesn't take too long!
Here's Puff at the Apalachicola City Dock
Note the broad expanse of sawgrass and open water. The wind can really howl across here.
One of my neighbors. Fishing and tourism are the only industries in Apalachicola.
Yeah, I'm parked in the low rent district.
It's a small town, but friendly and not too touristy.
I like it.
There's a pretty nice marine resale shop there too.
I've spent several days there in Appalach on two different occasions. Both up at the hotel/marina or anchored out. I've had a dinghy tied to that same dock,
Great little town. Thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the waterfront.
Where bound from there? Around via St Marks and Steinhatchee Rivers, Cedar Key. Or across to Tarpon? I've done both, With your draft you'd have no problems going around- interesting stuff to see that way.
It's about 30 hours across to Tarpon. I've made that jump twice- once with crew and once singlehand.
Charlie, I should have time to browse the local shops before I move on. "The Tin Shed" is supposed to be an interesting place, and there seems to be a few watering holes I haven't visited yet. And then, of course, there's the museum. My plan is to keep my jumps as short as possible, and my next stops will be Carabelle, Alagator Point, St Marks, Steinhatchee, providing that the cooler weather doesn't push me south too quickly. I'll be keeping an eye out for crew along the way for the jump to Cedar Key or Tarpon Springs.
Steinhatchee to Cedar Key, to Tarpon should be pretty easy one day shots. Years ago, did it the other way, and made Tarpon to Cedar Key by early afternoon.
Also did Steinhatchee to Carrabelle by late afternoon.
I WAS in a faster boat than Tehani though- I could run 7 Kts under power.
I have read through all the entries of "Puff's" voyage of the Great Loop.
It has been a great journey to read about and I am excited to read still more.
I am looking at a Snapdragon 26 I found stranded here in Massachusetts. She needs work
but is so strongly built I am not at all discouraged to take on the work. She is in need of
several important items, however, sails, stanchions, lazarette cover for the outboard engine, etc.
In your travels and improvements to both Puff and Tahani have you found a good supplier?
Have you had any luck finding bits from England?
Charlie, how can we find more about your boat? Would love to see more photos and what you have done to her.
Many thanks,
Mike
Mike- go to "Sailfar Gallery" up above, click on that, then "Members Galleries". On page 2 is a gallery for Charliej... Then look at Tehani (same place) Quite a few pics there.....
Or- here's links
CharlieJ-
http://sailfar.net/gallery/index.php?cat=10069
and Tehani-
http://sailfar.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=20
But she isn't mine anymore- now belongs to Laura
OK, time to do what by now has become my annual ?retreat?. Things have not gone well at the farm, and once again I have to postpone my Great Loop Cruise till next year. This is the third consecutive year that I have had to do this.
After several adventures at home during the past month ( hospitalization, wrecked car, another hospitalization, tending family issues, etc ) I finally just pulled the trailer down to Apalachicola, loaded up Puff, and brought her back to the barn. Therapy for that trauma includes sitting on the back porch admiring the perfect weather while consuming large quantities of coffee and other adult beverages, and pouting a lot.
I would really be able to feel sorry for myself in grand style if it wasn't for the knowledge that there are a lot of people in the northeastern states that have some real problems to contend with in the aftermath of a storm called Sandy. They have real needs. Mine are just selfish ?wants?.
Well, it looks like I'm going to have a little extra time to work on the Nissan 9.8 that failed me at the beginning of the trip. Hey, life is good.
Plans gone awry, is things that happen. At least you still have the plans, and that matters. As long as you don't quit.
Hope things improve, and maybe NEXT year, it'll happen.
I know I'm planning to be out again next spring. Maybe we'll anchor next to one another one day ;)
Is puff sitting at the marina at bayou grande?
I was down checking on Faith and thought I saw her sitting in the lot near the seaplane ramp.
No Craig, at this time Puff is sitting on her trailer here at home. I tried to brighten up her demeanor by installing a new set of tires on the trailer, but it's not working. Neither of us will be happy until she's back in the water.
While I'm waiting, I've done a little tinkering with the old 9.8 Nissan that let me down.
I found that the rectifier/regulator on the charging system was shorted to ground and the fuse that protects it and the starter solenoid was blown. I disconnected the rectifier/regulator hot wire and replaced the fuse, and the electric starter now works. I can get by without a battery charging system for a while.
The crankcase oil smelled of gasoline, so I put a rebuild kit in the fuel pump which was leaking gasoline into the crankcase. After changing the oil I started the engine and it still would not idle. I then checked to make sure that both cylinders were getting fire, then pulled the carburetor and blew out the jets with compressed air. That did it! She now runs like a new motor, and idles perfectly.
I think I'll put a jack plate on an old aluminum boat I haven't used in years and see if I can use this extra-long shaft motor on it to play in the Blackwater River. It ain't sailing, but it's close to home.