Little Jumps...

Sunday:

We left Longboat Pass (Jewfish Key) and motored to Marina Jack  in Sarasota where Brad first decided that his throat was sore enough that he needed to get to a clinic.  Looks like strep – although he wasn’t that sick… he tore apart the autohelm, determined to get it working.  The autohelm won.  It still isn’t working.  The doctor sent Brad to Publix for free antibiotics.

Marina Jack

Monday:

From Sarasota we travelled along the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) to Venice and tied up at a free dock called Higel Park.  That’s better than the $96 for one night at Marina Jack.  We are torn, though.  The electrical at the dock provides delicious air conditioning.  You can sleep at night… unlike last night.
Tuesday:

We are headed to Pelican Bay in Charlotte Harbor to jump off the boat and swim.  First time!

Swimming off the boat

Washdown

We travelled through 5 bridges enroute, some opening on a schedule and others that we had to radio for an opening.   Later in the day, Brad completely dismantled the autohelm.  Late into the evening we heard him muttering as he tore the boat apart again. When he leaves we'll have to get all the King's horses and all the kings men to put Autohelm together again.

Autopilot technician

Wednesday:

Up early for a long day.  Pam got this photo...

In a couple of hours the rest of us got up

Glen has been calling Brad, "MacGruber!"  We have the autohelm that came with the boat and the broken one that Paul and Mary gave us for spare parts - all bits and pieces in the cockpit.  But joy... he got it working.  Unbelievable.  We are impressed!  All those years at UBC paid off.  He actually seems to know how it works... something about an "H" bridge of power transistors and getting rid of some corrosion.  So all day today we've had our new crewmember, "Otto," steering the boat.  Look at the lunch Pam made while Otto steered.

Lunch

Dolphins everywhere!

Flipper!

We're off!!!

Captain Chaos here!

We did it! We left Bradenton. We took our time in the morning and packed away all our loose “stuff.” We have no idea where to stow an anchor, 100 feet of chain and 150 feet of rope. The big, starboard lazarette locker looks like a tornado hit it. Almost every good locker - with lots of space, is filled with a compressor, a waste tank or a motor of some kind. So we worry about putting an anchor into a locker with a compressor... God knows what will happen in rough seas when things go crashing around.

We motored way out around Anna Maria Island, between Passage and Egmont Keys. Many disagreements about the correct passage.

Checking our course.

Once we got near the Gulf all heck broke loose. It was like a roller coaster looking straight up at heaven and then plunging down, sticking the bow in the water. Not part of the dream!!! Finally, with a grim look from Pam, we put up a sail and things actually calmed down considerably. We sailed in no more than 25 feet of water for 2 hours.

Headed towards Longboat Pass bridge - only a couple of hours south. Saw dolphins - which we mistakenly believed would bring us good luck. Guess the good luck was seeing the dolphins.

Getting close to the bridge we looked back and saw black, black skies. Really black.

Sky not looking great!

Our timing was close and all we needed to do was to radio to the bridge tender to raise the bridge so we could get into our anchorage. Tried the handheld radio twice and it didn't work. Brad tried the main VHF radio in the cabin and it didn't work. Finally figured it out and the bridge operator opened the drawbridge just in time.

Thanks Mr. Longboat Pass Bridgetender!

Now this crazy storm was on us - Brad was sandblasted with hail and when we looked back at the bridge we couldn't see it through the rain. Did an emergency anchor right inside the bridge - realized it was our first time anchoring the Blue Pearl. After 20 minutes of lightning, a deluge and hail it cleared away... and cooled down.

So, faithful reader... all done and clear, right? Wrong. We upped the anchor, moved to the spot we were aiming for and navigated our way... onto a sandbar.

Helpful Floridians towing us off a sandbar.

They say boating in Florida is one of two things... you're either aground or about to be aground. After fretting about, we were rescued by a nice couple and finally put down the anchor. Champagne and burgers for dinner.

Celebrating our safety. We live to enjoy another adventure.

Our first guest...

Brad flew into Miami and then caught a shuttle to Tampa. We picked him up after spending $300 at Total Wines. Unbelievable! Laphroaig is $35. Seven Deadly Zins is $12. Anyway, back to Brad... We came back to the marina and cooled off. First night was hot, hot, hot for Brad. We think he is moving into the main cabin tonight. Not enough air in the aft cabin.

Took the boat out today. Saw dolphins. Got all systems working, reefed the main, learned about getting out of the Manatee River into the Gulf. Concerned that the electrical system wasn't charging, couldn't get the autohelm working, and the knotmeter still isn't quite right. When we got back, the AC didn't work but the refrigeration guy was scheduled to come by. He bled some air out of the AC water pump and showed Glen what to do in future. He also changed the thermostat in the fridge. We'll see if that works. He also told us our macerator pump is leaking and that's why we have some bad smells from the head. I thought it was Pam.

Pumping out bad stuff

We're sailing!

Brad found a loose wire on the alternator - to the field coil. We connected it and we seem to have battery charging from the main engine.

People have been incredibly helpful and friendly.  We are getting itchy to go but will miss all the assistance.  William has been awesome... even offered to lend us his generator for the trip.  We will miss all the support but we need to get on our way.

Should we leave tomorrow? What if the batteries don't charge. We won't have a fridge. We'll have to make sure we don't drain the starting engine keeping our beer cold.

Lots to learn.

Cheers!

Almost ready to sail...

Sunday:
Rebuilt the forward head today! Very indelicate to talk about but wonderful to experience. Things flush the way they do at home. Very exciting. Glen will tackle the other one tomorrow!!!
Tools are interesting. We are shopping at Sears. The thinking is that Sears is in Canada and the US and usually the Craftsman brand stands up. Got a socket set and a cordless drill/90 degree combo for not too much. Also, some screw drivers and pliers. It is amazing to see how much we need.
The most problematic??? We can’t find any coffee mugs. Every morning we re-use the same old Styrofoam cups… trying to find the perfect mug. Somewhere out there…!
Our friends next door continue to give us their junk/treasures as they get ready to sell. Tonight it was booze. We think we can find a use for that!
Waited for the shuttle launch. Easy to see from here… apparently. Scrubbed for tonight. We will watch tomorrow. Julie (Canada) Payette is on this one!

Evening G&Ts

Monday:
Guys came today to install the windlass (the electric motor that pulls up the anchors) and worked all day without accomplishing much. Glen repaired the aft head so we now have two super flushers. We hope they are finished installing the windlass tomorrow.

Wiring the windlass into the existing system

We are hoping to go sailing on Wednesday! Pam did a major shop at Walmart (they have huge groceries) and got us enough food for a month. She also found mugs at a local “Good Will!” We are supposed to go out for dinner at the local Italian restaurant but we are waiting to watch the shuttle launch. Brad will be joining us on Thursday and then we head off to Marathon… through Venice, Naples, Fort Meyers, etc. Dinner tonight with the Twin Dolphin Marina crew at “Fav’s.” What stories these people have!!!

Tuesday:
Guys continued to work on the windlass. Wow, it’s hot. I’m glad I’m not working outside in this heat. Windlass is almost done. Boat is denamed/renamed. Tonight we are going to share some champagne with Paul and Mary (next door) and King Neptune (the god of the seas.) LOTS of champagne so the boat is comfortable with her new name.
Bought a life-sling arrangement and a new barbeque at West Marine today. The guys were very pleased to see us. We didn’t go in on Monday and they wondered if something was wrong.

Making lists

Things we’ve done so far…
1. Getting windlass installed.
2. Changed fuel filter, getting ready to change secondary fuel filter, oil and oil filter
3. Bought new dinghy/got rid of old one
4. Removed old name/put on new name

Renaming

Sharing champagne with King Neptune

5. Bought new personal flotation devices
6. Searched out all lockers and found treasures (old crappy pumps)
7. Had refrigeration looked at
8. Rebuilt both heads
9. Bought tools
10. Bought a frying pan (and a shipload of other stuff)
11. Provisioned (Walmart has individual filets wrapped in bacon)
12. Bleached water lines so fresh water wouldn’t smell like crap
13. Replaced galley, forward shower and cockpit water nozzles.
14. Pumped out holding tanks!!!
15. Fixed water gauge
16. Met tons of new friends
17. Entertained previous to previous owner
18. Art Richard (Art’s Anchorages) came over for a morning and taught us a ton about the area and the boat. We made his Jambalaya. It was delicious.
19. Helped Sea Otter move off their boat
20. Received tons of welfare from Sea Otter as they get rid (give us) all their treasures.
21. Put memory foam on master bed
22. Installed new sound system
23. Getting fuel “polished” (it has been sitting on the boat for 3 years. The boat has been used almost never by the previous owners. They lived aboard at this marina before buying their house.)
24. Took loads of knick-knacks (like music boxes) to the local Salvation Army Goodwill.

Brad flies down tomorrow.  We'll pick him up in Miami on Thursday; we'll spend Friday here and Saturday we will launch into the Gulf.  Destination... Marathon in the Florida Keys.

The Great Dinghy Caper

Sunday: Met our neighbours, Paul and Mary. They’ve been cruising on their boat, Sea Otter, since ’94 – the last 4 years non stop. They are giving it up for a while, selling everything and moving back to Texas. Their dinghy is VERY attractive. Ours sucks. It’s weird, though, because the previous owner has a strange affinity towards it. On our first night, under the influence of his party, he offered $1000 to buy it back. He even offered to trade the motor for a newish Honda 15 HP 4-stroke. We have dinghy lust.

This is a beauty - only 1 year old

Monday: Had dinner with some of the longtime dock people. They go to the Bahamas in the winter and summer here. Up to an Italian restaurant for spaghetti, pizza, etc. Nice people. They make this whole adventure seem do-able. Good connections.

Tuesday: Took Paul and Mary shopping. Of course we bought nothing… HA! Paul has a Port Buyer discount card at West Marine so our $750 purchases were only $500.

Putting in the new stereo

Wednesday: Took Paul and Mary down to Venice to take their stuff to a marine buy/sell place. He sold some stuff that we will die for later on in our travels… but we don’t know what we are going to need. We’ve bought his dinghy, a hand-held radio, a head pump, and a propeller for the outboard. They’ve given us all kinds of stuff – oil change pumps, little electrical parts, etc. Our previous owner really wants the dinghy, so we have agreed on a price and Glen told him he would get it to his house. Glen pumped it up, dropped it into the water and got ready to run across the river to deliver it. He had to be quick because it was leaking from some significant cracks in the fiberglass bottom.

A piece of sh*t as my dad would say!

The motor quit part way out of the marina and Glen was rescued by Paul, with our dinghy-to-be. We need to get it back to the owner and get our money before it sinks. We are talking about a 10 foot Apex rigid bottom inflatable with patches on the patches. The motor has to be an early 80s vintage Johnson. Our new one–to-be is one year old with a 7 year old Yamaha 15 HP. Quite a step up. The old one is back on our davits and we will deliver it tomorrow.

New dingy=good, old dinghy=bad

We had appies and rum punches down the dock with some folks from the Italian Dinner night and listened to their stories of winter in the Bahamas. None of these people have homes… other than their boats. Different.

Hot, hot, hot!

Hot, hot, hot!
Wednesday:
Before we left we celebrated Dad’s (almost) birthday with cousins Mary, Rick and Rick’s wife, Judy and the kids. We had a terrific time with them. How great is that - coming from Saskatchewan and Victoria to be with Uncle Carl on his (close to) big day? Lots of family were there… Jen and Luke, Carrie and Jesse, and Brad. I think Dad was impressed.


Thursday:
Brad drove us to Seattle to catch our Alaska flight to Orlando. It was going to be hot in Seattle on Friday – 90 degrees.

Our first night - shrimps and champagne!

Friday: So… it was 90 here… and crazy humidity. Nice flight, easy drive to Palmetto (via Walmart) where we found the Blue Pearl waiting for us. So were Douglas and Valerie – the previous owners who were having their own private party and were delighted we could join them. They were so nice and so funny that we had a beer and a chat before we finally excused ourselves and got onto our new boat. Shrimp salad and a toast with a bottle of bubbly. Thanks to Linda for our toasting glasses.
Saturday:
Woke up, had a peanut butter breakfast and then off to Starbucks before meeting with our broker, Alan and his wife Mary-Joe. Back to the boat to move it to Twin Dolphin Marina.

Moving to the marina.

Manatees under our boat! Pam was distracted. No work while she watched for manatee bubbles. Lots of good advice from Alan about our upcoming trip and then… just us! We felt badly about taking up their 4th of July morning but Alan seems almost fatherly about getting us on our way safely.
After they left we gave the credit card a workout at West Marine, Lowes, a sporting goods store and finally, Walmart. The boat is becoming functional.
4th of July fireworks. Woo hoo! Never seen better! It was a good first day on the SV Blue Pearl.

Celebrating our new sailing vessel - the Blue Pearl!

Blue Pearl

Out of the blue, we decided to ask about one in Florida that had been sitting for a while… with quite a considerable price tag.  We put in a stupid bid and the next thing we knew we were in the boat buying business again.  We went to Brad’s grad from Mechanical Engineering at UBC on Tuesday evening and then brought him with us as we flew from Vancouver to Tampa on Wednesday.  We saw the boat on Thursday morning and it was hard not to grin.  As we walked up to it we could see that it had been kept up.  Getting on we noticed several small jobs taking place… fixing the sliders on the hatch and some damage on one of the rub rails.



The sea trials were great; the survey is fine.  There is a long list of things that should be looked at… just like my lists at home.  There is another list of things that we would like to do soon and then another list of things we need to someday.  The surveyor told us three times… cruise it for six months before you decide to do anything.  Get a sense of what is a wish and what is a need.  We think we NEED solar panels so that might be our only extravagance.


We will cruise it this summer – in the Florida blast furnace heat and put it on the hard in Georgia from September to December.  A potential itinerary might include bouncing down the west coast to Sarasota, Port Charlotte, Fort Meyers and Marathon.  Then up the east for a bit – maybe a crossing to Bimini and up to Freeport.  Then back to Florida and up to the Georgia border at St. Marys.  We’ll see.