This little drawing and all the "stuff" attached to the board is the hardware for the filter system, without the two filters yet attached. It's amazing what Steve has designed and built. In the south, algae grows even in "good" fuel if it is left untreated and sits for a while in the tanks. We apparently inherited some old fuel when we bought the boat. The "scuz" produced from the algae settles into the bottom of the tank and when rough seas are encountered, the scuz is stirred up, clogs the fuel filters, and can stall the engine. With our new system, Steve can "polish" the fuel at the dock, or if this happens while we are running, he can isolate each filter, running on one, while working on the other. Up north, the cold winters do not allow the algae to grow, but in the warm climate it's very common. With our old tanks, there was no access to get the fuel polished, and we had 30 years worth of scuz sitting in the bottom of our tanks ... looks like this.
No more scuz for Shingebiss.
While Steve works on the fuel system, I take care of activities of daily living and continue interior varnishing ... 3 coats Satin and 2 coats Gloss MinWax Helmsman Spar Urethane. Our Roughwater interior has white walls, but all 33 doors and 27 drawers are solid teak, and all need to be stripped to bare wood and refinished, so I've got no shortage of material to work with. There must have been some incredible teak forests in Taiwan 30 years ago as even the drawer sides, supports and wood in the engine room is teak. The room divider that I tackled earlier this year turned out pretty good.
The weather so far has been darn near perfect and we have fun occasionally too. Harbortown Marina is a great place to hang out and we like little Fort Pierce, a very non touristy Florida town. There's over 300 slips here and it's a very busy place. We've learned that the marina is owned by an investor from Minnesota, he is pouring money into improvements, and we suppose will eventually sell it ... and then the price will go up. For now it's a reasonable place to stay and work on the boat. The marina had it's 15 minutes of fame this past summer when AARRR Booty, a treasure hunting boat docked right across from us, hauled up $350,000 of gold treasure right outside the Fort Pierce Inlet. The find included 80 feet of gold chain and coins from Peru dated from the 1700's. This part of Florida is called the Treasure Coast, true for them. You can google the boat name to see some of the treasure.
Alot of the cruisers we met last year are here again gathering each afternoon for happy hour and sunset.
The Marina, with affiliated boat repair company, throws a party once a month. In November they served steak and shrimp to 150 of us, along with the pot luck dishes brought by the boaters it was quite a feast.
For Thanksgiving, we had a traditional dinner in the shelter you see above and will do the same for Christmas. Bill Esch, long time friend from MN who has lived in Fort Lauderdale for many years drives his Harley up to see us occasionally and we are always glad to see him.
On Saturdays we go to the wonderful Fort Pierce Farmers Market downtown on the waterfront for produce, seafood, bakery, breakfast, music and browse the great art fair.
When the wind blows we often head out to the inlet to check out the waves and marvel at the skilled kite boarders. I caught this one about 30 feet in the air, upside down. It's mesmerizing to watch them and it looks like so much fun. I don't think either of us is going to try it, however.
We enjoy having friends over for dinner (and cards or dominoes). Jerry and Marty are a cruising couple we met on the Great Loop who cruise Florida each winter. They stopped by Harbortown for a couple of nights and we served Bang Bang Shrimp. Marty is an accomplished cruising writer and has had her articles published in Lakeland Boating, Southern Boating, BOAT US magazine and Passagemaker. Google Marty Richardson.
Our son, Dan, came down to visit in early December, so we took some time off from working and played a little. He is a disc golfer and we found a great course where he played 18 holes and I walked and took pics.
We got out for a dinghy ride.
Swam in the ocean, even I went in, the water was pretty warm for this time of year.
and in the pool...
... ate seafood at the Harborview, marina restaurant.
Heathcote Gardens is a small botanical garden in Fort Pierce, so we thought we'd have a visit. The garden was lovely, but the real gem is the world class display of over 50 bonsai plants, most of them have been in training since the 1970's and 80's. I took a picture of just about everyone of them, because each one is so unique. Here's a couple of them.
One of our 70 gallon aluminum water tanks sprung a leak. The water tanks are under our two aft stateroom beds, easy to pull out.
Steve took it up to a local metal fabricator, who told him that it was likely not the original tank, appeared to be a "backyard" weld job, and though they could try to patch it up, there were no guarantees. So ... it couldn't be fixed. We opted to go with plastic as a replacement. We hoped we could find one at Marine Liquidators, an amazing place down the road, 2 huge rooms where they "liquidate" excess boat parts that they have purchased from boat manufacturers who no longer need them. It's always a first stop when shopping for boat parts. The wall on the right is all plastic tanks, alas, none of them the right size. The left wall is all bimini tops.
We ordered a new tank off the internet and Steve is going to add a site gauge, so we will know when the water is about to run out. I am now offically calling this boat a "restoration" project". We know, we know, all boats are alot of work, BOAT (Break Out Another Thousand), hole in the water into which one throws money, etc.etc. It does require a heck of alot of determination and dedication to "live the dream". We have our moments of doubt and pain, but can't see ourselves doing anything but this ... thank goodness Steve can do all the work, otherwise we could never afford this. We still have our eyes on the Abacos (in the Bahamas) this season, targeting mid January as departure and that will make it all worthwhile.
Well, this was a long narration, thanks for sticking with it. I'm enjoying writing it, just wish I had travels, not repairs to report. Thanks to all of ya that encouraged me to start it up again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all !!!
