Engine Room Pics

The Preparations Begin

OK, here we are in September of 2009 and I am starting to get ready for another southern journey. While I did not start early enough, I did however, start at the end of August, so hopefully we can be ready. The problem is: I have a lot of plans for this cruise. So here is what is going on:

Maintenance:

• I had a mechanic do a routine checkup on my main motors and here is what we found so far:
  
• The turbines need rebuilding – In Progress
  
• The Impellers need to be replaced – Done
  
• The Valves need adjusting – Done
  
• The Starboard Motor needs a new exhaust Gasket – Done
  
• Starboard Motor after-cooler to be cleaned – Done
  
• Both Oil Pan Gaskets need replacing – Done
  
• Major Field Day in the Bilge – In Progress
  
• All Engine Hoses need replacing – Done
  
• Generator Starter needs replaced – In Progress
  
• Generator has heavy smoke under load – In Progress
  

  
  

Modifications/Improvements:

• Bilge Area
  
  • Install Mirrors on outboard sides of the engines – Material bought, In progress
    
  • Update Bilge lighting – Not started
    
  • Relocate Oil Changer (which requires relocation of Generator Sea Strainer – In progress
    
  • Design and install Water Maker – Research only. There will be more posts on this one.
    
  • Design and install Scuba Tank compressor
    
  • Fix water intrusion from the transom locker
    
  • Organize poles in transom locker
    
  • Hook up STBD tank to generator
    
  • Organize storage
    
• Salon and Interior
  
  • Replace Carpet – Not started
    
  • Replace wood flooring – not started
    
  • Mount TV/DVD in Master Stateroom
    
  • Install TV in Guest Stateroom
    
  • Design and install phone system
    
  • Possibly design/install cabinetry in "L" room
    
• Cockpit Area
  
  • Relocate Water bib
    
  • Permanently install Water filter/softener
    
  • Install Tackle box
    
  • Create permanent line storage
    
  • Create Scuba Tank Holders (4)
    
  • Install subwoofer and amp
    
  • Design and have cockpit canopy installed
    
  • Teak flooring (as money allows)
    
• Bridge/Helm
  
  • Redo fiberglass for helm
    
  • Design new CPU based navigation system
    
  • Install TV
    
  • Install SAT Data/VOX
    
  • Replace all speakers
    
  • Possible replacement of forward isinglass
    
  • Teak flooring (As money allows)
    

I am sure there are a lot more items but I thought I would start with a list now. As I complete each job, I will post articles and pictures to describe each trial and tribulation. I am starting the blog early to ensure that I have all the tools necessary to post. That way there should be no delay once we start. More to come later.

briman

 

Swimming with the Fishes

We are still here at Bimini Big Game Marina. We have been around the island a little and found a lot of our old friends. We saw Sandra and Nikia as well as some other friends. BJ got a ride from Stevie S, the Plain Jane of Bimini and he has a new album out that I guess I will have to buy. She was returning from a long walk with Simba; who just discovered her first goat. She was very curious and so was the goat. We have laid pretty low since we got here and have been doing a lot of cleaning on the boat and trying to figure out all of my electronics. Luckily the Satellite TV has been great, we just don’t have local channels. That is yet another project I have to work on. We have, however successfully watched Shrek 3 on Pay-per-view. BJ has figured out the Washer/dryer combo on the boat, so we can now change clothes. At least I can, as BJ brought one swim suit per day for this entire voyage.

Yesterday, we had lunch up at the Big Game restaurant, when someone asked if that was out dog roaming the docks. Normally she does not leave the boat without us there, but we left the super-duper-Brian-enhanced dog ramp from the boat to the dock. She must have the extra confidence now that I have made it more stable and less abrasive to the boat, since she used it. We put her back on the boat and continued to eat and have a couple of Kaliks in the afternoon. All of the sudden someone asked again if that was our dog. I searched the docks with my eyes as fast as I could, but I could not see Simba. Then I saw her: swimming in the marina. She was swimming in the water pictured below while we were dining up in the balcony shown.

She must have tried to get off the boat again without the ramp and fell in. Luckily she is a great swimmer. She swam over to a ladder that I climbed down, but it was too awkward to balance and lift her about 6 feet from the water to the dock. We spotted a small fishing boat on another dock, so I went to the boat’s swim platform and Simba smoothly and with great speed swam over to me, where I could lift her up and over to the dock. Needless to say she had a great day with her walk, swim and a bath.

Tonight we will be grilling out on the boat. We have already paid off the security guard so it should be ok. Hopefully Arthur brings us some lobsters and a conch shell for BJ so she can blow it at sundown; a Bahamas tradition.

Herb Update:
For those of you that don’t know we decided to grow some of our own herbs so we can cook with them on this trip. It is a hydroponic system and BJ gets really excited when she sees significant growth. The chives are really growing fast as is the parsley and basil. My only complaint, is that the grow light is so bright is looks like a nuclear power plant in the cabin at night, so now I cover it at night.

Bimini

Well, last night we received our first visitors, albeit it was not really planned. Mac McComb and Brian Steffes (Canada Brian) are on a quick boondoggle to Florida and had no real schedule so they stopped by to see us in Ft. Lauderdale. We had Rock Star parking at the New River downtown marina. We were basically parked at the Riverwalk shopping complex which is also about 2 blocks from the downtown party district and quite close to the Las Olas shopping and eating district. We spent a little too much time at the Coyote Ugly bar after spending too much time the Briney Waterfront, which did not make this morning the most pleasant morning.

After the fellow continued on with their journey to the Keys (they think), we headed to Peterson’s fuel barge. It is a great concept as the barge holds 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel and can park in any water 20 feet or less, or just tie up to another boat. We took on about 340 gallons which is a far cry less than the 3000 gallons going into the 100+ boat on the other side of the barge.

We left Port Everglades around 12:00 noon. The seas were around 2-3 feet, which is a lot more than the 5 previous forecasts but a lot less than our previous experience so we took it and ran. We only ran at 18 knots since the boat has been under major stress with the trips we have taken so far. I tightened up every nut, bolt and screw that I could find, and it seemed to keep everything together much better. The seas never laid down so it was a bumpy three hour run to Bimini.

As we started in between South and North Bimini, the water got smoother and the scene became familiar. We saw Sara’s End of the World bar with the worlds best Lobster pizza; the bar that Stevie S. plays live music after the Compleat Angler burned down; the Customs house and finally the Big Game Marina which is where we are staying. We liked this marina last year because of the location. It used to be the place to be here in Bimini until a new resort went up at the very north end of North Bimini. It is really nice with great docks and facilities, but a little “yachty” and as far as you can get from the End of the World (bar that is).

We are now checked into customs and immigration. Yes, Simba is checked in too. Even though this is the big Saturday night, we are laying low trying to recover from last night, and catch up on a lot of little things, like the blog.

Happy New Year!!!

Today we slept in. Last night was a blast. We spent the day doing a little spot cleaning and I spent the day writing and updating the website and blog. The website still needs work, but I will work on it as we go. We will be here for the next 3 days due to predicted high winds. We are trying to get to Del Ray Beach by this weekend to visit BJ’s friend Mac. It is close enough to Ft. Lauderdale that we can hopefully pick up the rest of our necessary supplies.

Simba is still not up to par and has not eaten that much since we started this trip. Hopefully she does not have an aversion to the flavor of her favorite food, since we have a lot of it on the boat.

We tried to find a gypsy restaurant for lunch today, but turned around before we reached it. We will try find the gypsies again tomorrow. We did, however, find a really nice restaurant here on Anastasia Island called Zhanra. It is a play on words for Genre. They have tapas and art. BJ’s Chicken quesadilla was reportedly better than the Banana Cabana on the Island Of Palms, SC. The food was excellent and we plan to go back tomorrow night for a Chicago blues band.

Not much to report today as we are just taking it easy.