The Wiper Finally Wipes Again



It was just about a year ago that the starboard windscreen wiper broke. Of course this is the helmsman’s wiper just to be extra inconvenient. Now, we have not had need for it so far this season but it really bugs me when something doesn’t work right on the boat. Well, finally, when temperatures cooled down a bit I set to work to try to fix this once and for all. To recap, I had figured out that the access was through the electrical panel and the wiper system was visible and even touchable but the attachment method was a mystery. So, armed with a nice bright trouble light and George’s new inspection camera with the flexible camera wand and light we had a better look Our first look with this did show a hidden screw from the bracket into the wooden block. It was very difficult to get at. After much musing and a beer or 2, occurred to us that there may be better access through the day head, going in above the head-liner.

So, like most panels on this boat, the fasteners for the headliner are hidden. A few tugs showed me that there seemed to be on the aft edge. Assuming they were the plastic “Christmas tree” plastic fasteners, I set to work trying to pry the headliner down without damaging the vinyl. Finally, with a good pull it was down and low and behold, it was held with hidden screws. Really?? Is that how every headliner panel is held in place? They have a small ‘flap’ of the vinyl that you can pull back to access the screw. Then you have to tuck the flap into the edge gap and presto – hidden. Anyway, with the panel down and the AC ducting disconnected I set to work to cut away the forward fiberglass panel above the headliner (so the hole would be hidden). Once that was removed it was pretty clear that I was not going to gain access the wiper this way. So, I put it all back together and considered it a learning exercise. Back into the electrical panel with the camera we figured the screw had to come out, regardless of how hard it was to get at. So, taking turns we finally had the screw removed. Then up on deck we removed the nuts holding the shaft housing in place. Back into the electrical panel again and getting tired and scraped up contorting to use screwdrivers, we finally removed the 2 screws through the angle bracket at the end of the wood block. Low and behold, the wiper motor came out. The wiper shaft had separated from the arm linkage. A quick trip to a local machine shop we use at work that following week had the shaft welded back in place. The following weekend, knowing how it was actually held in place, we had it re-installed in about 40 minutes. Hmm, a year to remove and 40 mins to reinstall. But in summary, it is fixed and working great and the total cost was $0.00. That has to be a first for boat repair!

By the way, I did finally locate the supplier of these wiper systems and while I was able to repair ours, the small linkages and parts are not too bad a price.

http://store.amequipment.com/

This sort of shows the extent of the access challenge. The silver blob is the wiper motor and bracket. The screws are in behind it and not visible from this side.

The wiper motor and bracket when finally removed for repair.

The A/C ducting and wiring disconnected in the ill-fated attempt to access the wiper from the day head.

With the motor removed. The 'white' hole is daylight where the shaft housing passes through the deck

One of the surprise screws holding the headliner in place. Good to know if I ever have to remove more head-liners but identifying the location is a challenge.

The flap of vinyl that pulls away to magically reveal the screw head.

Screwed back in place with the flap of vinyl showing

With the flap tucked back in place the fastening method is invisible.

Fuel Pumps and Blinds

The fuel pump was dying – This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. (apologies to Charles Dickens).

OK – that is a bit dramatic but…….. When we got back from Mac Ray I noticed a small pool of oil below the pump in the bilge of the starboard engine. Since the bilge is clean and dry it was quite easy to trace down. A quick dab with the finger and the smell test and I deduced it was gear oil – not crank case oil or ATF. I put a call in to Sean at Rivers Bend Marina. He suggested the fuel pump would need replacing but I should at least top up the gear oil and if I undid the top screw on the side of the housing the pump sits on (he thought there should be a fill and drain screw) then I could add oil. So, armed with newly purchased gear oil and pump I descended into the engine room to do battle. After all, how difficult can it be to add some oil??? Of course it was not that straight forward – what was I thinking – it’s a boat. First off, there was one screw, not two. So back to my trusty on line service manuals and indeed there was a version with the 2 screws and one with a single screw in the side. Back into the engine room I decided to remove the screw and see what happened. As the screw loosened a little bit of the blue/green gear oil ran out followed by a flood of gasoline. Oh, crap, now I have gas everywhere. I put the screw back pronto and set about cleaning up. I was pretty confident that gas should not flow out of there. This can’t be good. I got in touch with JD, our Bridgeview mechanic and he confirmed the pump was gone – likely the seal between the oil chamber and the fuel chamber. So, a new pump was ordered. He also strongly suggested not to run the boat until this was fixed. He located one in Toronto at the Mercruiser parts distributor and we had it installed. Done. Then I thought it best to check the port engine although there was no sign of oil dripping. So once more into the bilge armed with a rag and screwdriver. Once more removing the screw in the reservoir housing and……..once more an oil / gasoline mix. Oh crap – both pumps had gone. Off I went to track down JD and I learn he is on vacation. Hmmmm – that means he will likely have no time get a part and install it before our vacation. Luckily there are 2 mechanical service shops on site. So I tracked down Ron Lake as Bridgeview services. After explaining the situation and convincing him that yes, we needed to order a new pump and no, I don’t think we need to wait for him to get a mechanic onto the boat to verify that, we went through the manual and sorted the pump based on the engine serial numbers and my description of the set-up. Ron thought it an odd arrangement how the pump worked on these engines and vowed to research this with his Mercruiser technician. This was on Saturday July 28th. By Thursday Aug 2nd it was installed. Interesting point – Ron charged $50 less for the pump than JD did……

Interesting little geeky fact here (well, I thought it was interesting anyway but maybe that is the engineer in me). Apparently the 454 blocks (from Chevy) used to be cast with a feature to mount a cam driven fuel pump – all very normal for an overhead valve configuration. Then around 1997 they started supplying the blocks without this feature. Mercruiser had to find a way to mount / actuate the fuel pump. They hit upon the idea of running it off the raw water pump shaft and thus the configuration we have. Then they realized it was prone to having gas leak into the oil reservoir and cause both a fuel pump and water pump bearing failure. The single fill hole design was impossible to drain for maintenance. So they revised the reservoir to have a fill and drain screw (the configuration Sean though we would have). They eventually went to electric fuel pumps which did away with this configuration all together.

OK – there will be a quiz later in the blog so I hope you didn’t doze off.

Anyway, moving on.

I finally got back to work with the blinds in the master cabin. I had gotten started the end of last year but with the move etc the project had languished. So I finally got on with the install. Starting with the port side which is the shorter area, I built a frame to mount the blind to and also the valance to. Once I had this I could get the exact length of the blind and purchase that. These are the same as the ones in the main salon that I went on about several blogs ago last year. Having made the frame I could use the standard blind mounting gear supplied which for once made my life easier. For the valance I purchased some oak which is the same as the rest of the trim wood Sea Ray used (well, it may be ash but they are basically interchangeable with the grain type). I stained it with my much loved gel stain and varnished it and presto – it perfectly matched the rest of the cabin trim. If I say so myself I think the effect works nice and really updates the cabin.

Before picture of our cabin

Withe the new blinds and valance in place

Blinds closed - it helps with light coming in at night from the big street lights visible right through the port side.

2012 so far - a quick update

Wow, we are past the Canada Day long weekend already and I have not posted anything….


So, I guess a bit of catch-up is in order. We have been using the boat quite a lot although the schedule tends to be fluid with William’s cycle racing / training schedule. Someone is up virtually every week-end although both Sea Ray girl and I are not necessarily there together the entire week-end.

William has competed at the Pan-American Championships in Guatemala and then the Canadian Road nationals in Quebec and next up are the World Championships for the U19 track – held in New Zealand in August. So between all those events and the training and his work schedule it is hectic in the Simonds household.

We took the whole family – including Mary’s boyfriend Austin across to Port Huron for lunch back in June. We all have Nexus which allows us to call ahead and clear customs. Austin only has a passport. So when we called in we were told that we had to land in Port Huron and then call in and a CBP officer would come down to the boat. So we went across, tied up at the fuel dock being careful not to step off the boat and called in and waited, and waited. Luckily it was a nice day so we chatted in the cockpit and half hour later 2 CBP officers arrived. One came on board and searched the boat; the other reviewed all the paperwork – passport and Nexus cards. We got the all clear to move the 200 yards up the river and on the other side to tie up by the Quay Street Pub where we were planning to have lunch. So, no issue but hardly the most convenient way to get cleared into the States. We are all anxious for Austin to get a Nexus card. Mary said no way she is doing that again so we will see if she pressures him to apply. For now he got a summer job in Ottawa so is living back at home.


For the July long weekend we planned a few days away with George and Jen on Iron Jenny – adults only. Then the week before Mary announced she had the long weekend off and was looking forward to being on the boat. OK – adults only + one offspring. The girls wanted to go back to Mac Ray so I called  to make reservations and sent in the required paperwork. Both George and I had gotten the Friday off as well as the Monday so we were up at the boat Thursday afternoon. Really the only bit of prep other than engine checks was to get the dingy ready. Last time Sea Ray girl and I went down to Mac Ray we did not take the dingy. This time we planned to explore. So Liddy and I hauled the dingy out of the water and scrubbed the bottom so it would be clean on the davits.






Friday morning Iron Jenny cast off at 9:00 AM. We took our time to get the dingy loaded and were leaving the dock at 10AM. The trip down was sunny, calm and quiet with little boat traffic on the river. We took the same route as last time, taking the North Channel route past Algonac and Harsens Island and then the snaking buoyed channel out into Anchor Bay. We caught up with Iron Jenny by the no-wake zone just before entering Anchor Bay. George preferred to follow us so once past the no wake area we passed Iron Jenny and then throttled back to 15 knots. With a bit of trim tab work we can stay on plane at that speed and Iron Jenny can keep up. So we followed the channel out and then set the course to the waypoint off Mac Ray. Having done this before we were at least ready for the shallow water but still – traveling at speed in 5 ft of water is un-nerving. But we made it and got into Mac Ray without touching although we sure stirred the sand up in the approach channel. We tied up by the fuel docks and went in to sort out our transient slips. Hmmmm, no record of us. Apparently the lady I had e-mailed the papers to was off with a family emergency and no one could access her e-mails. Well, we are here so…….


They did get right on it. All the large transient slips were full so they asked if we were OK in a 42 ft slip. Fine by me as long as they don’t mind our bow sticking out a bit since with the dingy on we are over 46 ft long. The dock hands were super helpful and we were soon docked and hooked up. We were right next to the pool and restaurant – excellent since it was over 30 degrees every day.

We had an excellent couple of days at Mac Ray – lots of swimming and dingy rides exploring the marina, the adjacent canals and Belle Mar marina next door. Saturday afternoon Sea Ray Girl mixed a couple of killer batches of Pina Coladas which we enjoyed on Iron Jenny. We had a couple of great dinners at Mac and Rays – including one in the Sea Ray room – ah how fitting. And speaking of Sea Rays, I know I wrote this last time we visited but wow – there are so many Sea Rays here – there must be 8 Sea Rays for any other brand. And there are a lot of big ones. Liddy said it was like the mother ship calling Plan B home!

Sunday we cast off about noon and both boats made a bee line to the fuel dock for some go-juice and free pump-out. With it being the week-end before the July 4th (Wednesday) events it was BUSY. Iron Jenny got tied upon the fuel dock wall and there was a Tierra on the dock where the pump-out was. So that left a gap between them. The dock attendant suggested we try to squeeze in that gap. OK – let's have a go. I basically came alongside the Tierra and then reversed in – parallel parked in effect. Our bow swung over their swim platform as I slowly edged Plan B in. We fit smoothly with no touching but with about 3 ft to spare. Wow – tight maneuvering.

The amount of boat traffic was staggering. There are 5 fuel dock fingers plus the area on the wall to get boats in and everything was full. The guy looking after us said they carry 27,000 gallons of gasoline and last year sold it all in one week-end………that is a staggering amount of fuel. The really big activity down there is to go just outside the north wall into Anchor Bay where the water is 3 – 4 ft deep and drop the hook and 10 ft of chain, stand in the water, crank the tunes and relax. Most seem to give the waterline a quick wash also. And hundreds of boats do this – way cool.



The trip back was uneventful although a lot more traffic and wakes than there was on the way down. Sunday evening back in Sarnia we went out on Scott’s trawler to watch the Canada Day fireworks from Sarnia Bay – great view and impressive display. Monday afternoon it was back home to then go and pick up Will – coming back from Road Nationals in Quebec.



Plan B - Dingy loaded and ready to go.

Sea Ray Girl at the helm. I am not sure if the hat holding is because it was going to blow off or more likely part of her "get that camera away from me"  response!

Liddy relaxing

Sea Ray puppy - she loves sitting by your feet when we are under way.

Whats not to smile about - family, sun, water and a Sea Ray doing 20 knots!!

Fair being set up at Marine City - I am sure part of thier 4th July celebrations

No wake zone on the North Channel approaching Anchor bay. Iron Jenny is ahead with the tan canvas

Transiant slips in Mac Ray

George and Sea Ray Girl. The building behind is the resteraunt and pool - very convenient.

A group of poker run boats coming in for dinner - very loud.

One of the canals we explored by dingy.

Belle Mar Marina - another huge marina with thousands of boats.

This is the view Suinday from the fuel dock. It is just a line of boats heading our of the marina - most to anchor.

Hundreds of boats anchored in the shallow water.

On the way back home. Traffic in the North Channel.



Launch Day

Launch Day – May 9th 2012

Let me just check the forecast to make sure Wednesday is still sunny. Hmmm…..60% chance of rain and thunder showers now. Oh joy. That was the forecast on Monday and Tuesday. But Wednesday dawned sunny with clear skies. Knowing it wouldn’t last we (Sea Ray Girl, Liddy and myself along with Sea Ray Puppy) set off early for Riverside Marina. We arrived at around 9:00 and there was Plan B sitting in the slings already. How is that for being prepared? Realizing that I had completely forgotten to bring some bottom paint for any touch up around the pads………the yard staff set to work splashing Plan B for the 2012 season. Once afloat Sean fired up the big boys (ah, what a sweet sound) and checked for water leaks, oil leaks and anything untoward. Shutting them down we topped up the oil – needed since we had all the oil cooler lines replaced and re-tensioned the V –belts.


Then a quick load of our stuff and we were out of the slip while Sea Ray Girl drove back to Sarnia to meet us at our slip. Liddy and I idled down Pine River and stopped at St Claire marina for some much loved US fuel – at $4.55/gal ($1.19.7/litre) which is pretty close to last years prices. Adding $300 worth brought the tanks up to about ¾ full. A quick call to the bridge had us ready for the 11:00 opening.






Out into the river the sun was still shinning. Letting her run for a few minutes at around 1500RPM we brought Plan B on plane and settled in for the run up river at just over 20 knots over ground. Half hour later Sarnia Bay and Bridgeview were in site – as were the dark clouds to the NW. The temperature was also noticeably colder the closer we got to Lake Huron and the wind was picking up.






We got docked – the first real docking maneuver of the year with no issues despite having not used the boat for 6 months. As we sat in the cockpit grabbing a bite to eat the dark clouds were building up. I had just commented on the look or rain coming when there was a loud clap of thunder and down came the rain. Well, at least we were at the dock and not on the river. Plan B had run smooth and fast up the river with no issues. She needs a good wash since the accumulation of dust in the sheds over the winter got wet last night and just mad a mess on the decks. Nothing soap and water wont cure. Hopefully the water in on at the docks on the week-end because it was off Wednesday to fix a leak.






The 2012 Season is underway for us.




Plan B waiting in the slings when we arrive at Rivers Bend.

View of the lift bridge from the cockpit as we wait fo rthe 11:00am opening to get out

onto the St Clair River.

Mary (Liddy) helming us up to Sarnia.

Sea Ray Puppy decided my foul weather jacket is the only place to sit



Ready to Launch

April 29th


A day finally dawns sunny but cold – 3 degrees. This is wax day and it has taken some time to coordinate schedules so Mary-Liz and Sea-Ray girl can come down to “wax on, wax off” Plan B while old “gimpy” here does the bottom paint. William, my usual helper is still in South America racing. We got to the marina about 9:30 and got the big doors opened up to let the sunlight in. We gathered up a ladder, steps and brought a picnic table in as work platforms. The girls got to work applying the wax with a power buffer and removing it with a second power buffer and a final hand polish. I set to work underneath using a garage creeper to role around under the boat. Thank goodness we are on a smooth cement floor as this was a great way to move around under the boat and paint. It was certainly time for a full-on bottom painting rather than touch up. A lot of the antifouling had worn away to gel coat so we got good value out of that paint and we know it is not on too thick. The wax took a bit of time to dry at first but as the morning warmed up it dried quicker to be buffed off. By about 1:00PM we were done and had lunch on the grass before packing up.


Sean got all the oil cooler lines replaced so she is ready to splash and be re-commissioned. Launch was to be the 3rd but the forecast for the last week has stubbornly indicated rain and now has rain and thunderstorms. So we moved the launch out to May 9th which so far looks a lot better. I know we can boat in rain but I just don’t want to start the season cold and wet so hopefully we picked a better day.

You can just see my legs under the boat on the creeper painting away. Note the smooth cement floor.

That puts the size of the wax job in perspective!

"right now I wish she was 18 ft long"

Lookin' good.

Sea Ray Puppy helping......no...wait - lying in the sun. Thats the way to do it.

Trying to get ready to launch.

 The prep for launch continues. I got up to the boat April 21st to start on the bottom paint. I figured that if I can at least get the areas by the waterline masked and painted. That way, when the crew come up to wax I can paint the rest of the bottom, safe in the knowledge there is no wet paint near the buffers.

At the Marina Ed and the crew moved Plan B away from the side of the shed as promised so I had 360 degree access. Then I masked the water line which is usually quick and simple unless you have a foot in a cast that you can’t put weight on. There was much hopping around as I applied the tape but it was eventually done and the antifouling applied down to the chine and the bow sections. I have to say that as I walk into the shed Plan B just seems so big - I am still amazed by her size. She towers over me and the car. And then when we are launched and tied up next to a 50 footer………

I should also note that it was balmy 3 degrees C when I got to the marina with a cold strong north wind. Thank goodness we ar estill inside where it was at least tolerable to work.  This is starting to sound a lot lik elast year - just col dan dwindy and miserable day after day.

                                
 

Plan B with the bottom paint work started - in spite of the crutches. Tape has already been removed.

 
 

                              

She seems to tower over the car

Another treat at the marina was that Ed and Sean had the race boat out and fired it up for the first time. Oh wow – what sound as those beasts burst into life. Ed told me they are the 1000hp units in her right now. I think they are either turbo charged or super charged. He also has 850hp naturally aspirated engines to run in a different class.

Ed and Sean's Offshore racer roars to life for the 2012 season - all 2000 HP.

Good News and Bad News

So, our 2012 launch date is set - May 3rd. I think that is the earliest we have ever splashed. It is a bit tight with the house move taking up so much time. I have gotten to the boat once this spring. That time I did get all the V belts changed out and also started to look into the wiper motor repair. Finding it was a challenge in itself. As I continue to find out, access for servicing items like this wiper motor was not high on the priority list when Plan B was designed. I finally found out how to access the wiper motor – behind the electrical panel. Ah, simple enough you say. Well, simple if all you want to do is stare at the thing with a flash light. I could even manage to touch the motor with my finger tips although I scraped my arm up pretty bad in the process. But to remove it………there is no way to even figure out what fasteners actually hold it is place. Let alone get a tool on them. I have decided to leave this till we are launched and get George to give me a hand. But I am figuring I have to create an access panel or hole to get at it. Now, I like Sea Rays but that is really poor designing when the part is nigh on impossible to remove to repair or replace. I am sure one way or another we will get it but what a pain.



I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that the V belt removal was difficult. Well, I finally figured out the trick is to remove the 4 bolts on the circulating water pump pulley, spray a little WD40 on the shaft poking through and then tap at the pulley with a rubber mallet …and presto, it comes off, allowing the easy removal of the belts. Easy when you know how!


So, the good news – we have completed our house move and all went well with no hick-ups. The movers showed up on time and none of the items got broken – the lawyers did their thing at huge expense and a snails pace but nonetheless we are now in the new place.


Now the bad news – on the Saturday we moved, after the movers had finished and left I tool Sea Ray puppy across the road for a pee (we don’t have grass yet around us). So mindlessly walking along as she picks the perfect blade of grass to pee on I stepped too close to the edge of the curb and my foot slipped off and twisted 90 degrees at the side of my foot contacted the road. I just new it was bad as I fell like a wet bag of cement. But I got up and hobbled home and continued to hobble Sunday and Monday. Monday evening it was obvious even to a person in denial that this was not good so off to ER. We timed it right at University hospital (5 mins away) and were in and out in about an hour. Out with a boot cast, crutches and a diagnosis of a broken foot and strict instructions to not put weight on it. Sounds simple enough but how debilitating. Work at home unpacking and organizing ground to a halt. Work on the boat looked grim.



The current situation. I see the orthopedic surgeon on the 24th April and we will see what he says. I have gotten a bit used to crutches and am managing but it is still so frustrating. Wayne came by last Saturday afternoon and helped organize the garage so we can now get the cars in.


Boat update: April 14th - Will and I got to the boat (yes, with the crutches) with plans to ensure it was ready to come outside some time the following week. We met Ed (marina owner) and he asked if we minded staying in the shed for a bit longer. Most of the boats have been moved out already in preparation for launch when the weather was summer-like in March. Then April came and the weather was crappy so no one wants to splash. So he has boats all over the place and really no where to put a boat our size right now. He offered to move the boat away from the wall so we have 360 degree access to polish inside the shed and we can have the big doors open for light. Sounds good to me – don’t have to rely on decent weather to get her ready. I think the cripple (me) can take care of the bottom painting. Sea Ray girl and Mary-Liz have offered to wax since Will is away competing for Canada at the 2012 Pan-American Championships – will have to add a note on that once he gets back.

Sailboats Everywhere

Every year there are 2 huge sail boat racing events on the great lakes – the Chicago – Mackinaw race and the Port Huron Mackinaw race. They are run back to back and alternate which runs first each year. They attract boats from around the world. We have seen Bob Segar compete and Roy Disney (son of Walt). The boats assemble on the Black River in Port Huron a week or so before the race start – every boat has to be inspected for compliance to its class rules and compliance with the safety equipment. One boat that has completed the last few years and used Bridgeview Marina as its base is Wind Quest. 2011 was no exception. The marina sets up a special barge moored off the fuel dock that Wind Quest ties to. The barge is there to keep the boat in deep water – she draws almost 15 ft!! Wind Quest is owned by Dick Devos, son of billionaire Amway founder Richard Devos and president of the Orland Magic amongst other endeavors. I am not sure if he personally sails on the boat or just collects the hardware at the end. Many of these boats are campaigned by a full time fully paid crew just so the owner can have the bragging rights and hardware. Regardless it is a stunning sailboat that looks fast standing still. By the way, Wind Quest took line honors this year – first boat to finish.

Here is a short video of Wind Quest last summer in our marina and also the start. The day was unfortunatly dull and pretty wind-less but it is still quite a sight to see all trhe racers.

Key West or Bust or - the best way to spend Christmas

We spent Christmas in Key West this year. We were there in 2008 as well. Last year we did not go away at all and there was no way we were going do that this year – winter is just too miserable. We flew into Miami International and rented a car to travel down the keys.

We got to our condo and settled in to a week of fun, sun, palm trees and blue skies. Now palm trees are my favorite – they are so pretty and they just signify warmth. And most people who know me know I hate winter and cold. The weather was typically great – sunny and in the 80’s. Now, the Keys in general seem to have more boats than cars and Key West is a real boating place. The harbour is one of our favorite places – with its combination of tours boats, luxury mega-yachts, deep sea fishing boats and pleasure crafts there is always something to see and lots going on. Not to mention the bars and restaurants that line the harbour.

We (Nat, Will and I) rented a 17 ft Hobi-cat and had a blast sailing in a decent breeze. We tried real hard to fly a hull but the wind was just not quite strong enough with 3 on board. But it was a fast wet ride and the water is so warm.

We took a Jet Ski tour of the island. That worked out real good. We took the first tour in the morning and it ended up we were the only customers to show up (too much partying for the others?). So we got a personal guided tour. It took a bit to get sorted as to who should be driving and who should be hanging on. We ended up doing the majority of the tour with Willy Full Throttle driving and Nat hanging on for dear life and me driving with Mary-Liz as passenger. It was a blast. At one point in a calm channel we were hitting 55 mph. Now I know there are faster machines out there but that is still moving on water. The tour took us out to the Atlantic side which was really rough that day (at least for Sea-Doo’s). So we changed riders – Nat came with me and Mary went with Will and we cut back through the mangroves. We came around one mangrove island in very shallow water (following the guide and Will I might add). As we rounded there was a group of kayakers on a mangrove eco-tour. Off the throttle to not swamp them and guess what – these things DO NOT steer. So we basically stopped turning and went straight into the adjacent mangrove island – all within about 20 ft of the eco tour. We could just hear them snickering and cursing the Sea Doo’s. Our guide came back to check we were OK and not stuck in the mud. We had drifted clear and thumbs up – no issues. We started to motor away and gee – we were stuck on the bottom. So Nat has to slide off the back and push. The bottom was apparently a slimy gooey mud that she sank into up to her knees. So there were squeals of disgust – again more entertainment for the eco-tour tree huggers. Anyway – we were finally on our way back to the harbour. It was almost a 2 hour tour and a blast. Personally I have to say that was enough sea-doo for me but Will says he would never tire of one of them.

The day we had to leave we left early for the airport to take some time to explore a bit of the other keys. We stopped at a marina on Key Largo that was beautiful. Not a big marina but really nicely maintained with wide docks, and great facilities. And it’s in the keys so you can boat all year. Did I mention by the way that I hate winter…..? As we walked the docks we saw a Carver with a 16E registration and with a closer look I glimpsed a Canadian flat on the stern (she was bow in). The skipper was on the bridge so we shouted up “are you from Canada”. He looked up and said yes and then noticed my Put-In-Bay t-shirt and came down to chat. Imagine our surprise when we realized it was Paul and Paddi who we had met when we visited Boblo Island on Vacation in 2010. They had just arrived a few days before and were doing some repairs before heading off for Cuba, parts of South America and then through the Panama Canal. Now – that is the way to retire. They had done a 9000 mile trip a few years before in this same boat down to Venezuela. What a small world. They asked if were down with our boat too …..I wish! Apparently he burns about 4 GPH at 6 knots and at that has about a 2000 mile range (he carries around 1400 gals). Unfortunately we (I) didn’t bring the camera on the marina walk-about.

I have to say I love the Keys but my hope is when we retire we can spend winters around Naples area. I think you would get a bit stir crazy on the Keys. Keep our fingers crossed the condo is a good investment.

We had just finished 2 hours on jet skis when this was taken - right after the "mangrove incident of 2011" as it is now known

Nice Hatteras at anchor. What a playground for boats!



Bahia Honda State Park

View from the dock at our condo as the sun goes down in paridise

I just love the LED lights. Back-lighting the name is cool and I really want some blue underwater lights for PLAN B now. This is in Key West Harbour.

Sea Ray Girl and Lid (Mary) at Schooner Warf Bar.

Will and Mary on the front Veranda. You just have to love that view every morning

View of anchored boats and of course my favourite palm trees from the screened porche.

Now that is what I call a dingy dock!

Console boats are so popoular down here. This one is about 32 ft and sports 3 - 350 HP outboards. We saw a couple with 4 - 350's hung on the back. Those transoms must be massive. I guess there is no substitute for power!!!

This stunning toy must have been in 80 - 90 ft range.

Nice 52 Sedan Bridge. There were quite a few Sea Rays but there are a lot of the real mega sport fishing boats down there.

Nice "little" 48 Sundancer.

This is a video I put together from our 2008 trip down to Key West. The reference to Sir Paul is Paul MacCartney and the 150 footer was called Lady Linda. Oh and by the way. "Lid" is Mary;s nickname - long story but we never call her Mary!!