Final repositioning - with a new crew

Really the only major issue that we had was this
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Wound up being a $1300 fuse by the time the MAN tech gave us a clean bill of health....

Sounds like a great trip! That fuse is a new one to me. I’d love it if you’d share any details on where it’s located, what it’s function is (other than killing the whole motor!), etc. As I mentioned several posts up, I knew about the red plunger switches but never anything about the fuse you reference as the culprit.

** UPDATE**Ok now I just read Capt. Rusty’s post and know exactly where that fuse is. Always wondered what it was for - now I know!!

Great adventure guys! Thanks for sharing it all with us!
 
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Great reports and pics!! I’m with TC410. I could use a little more on the 15 amp fuse and location. I’ll double check my spares for a couple of them. How did you figure out it was even thete? Rusty’s “MAN man”?
 
Great reports and pics!! I’m with TC410. I could use a little more on the 15 amp fuse and location. I’ll double check my spares for a couple of them. How did you figure out it was even thete? Rusty’s “MAN man”?

Yes, the MAN rep mentioned that the fuse was in the power circuit and if it had blown would blank the panel and not provide the closed loop in the control circuit.
Bone head me didn’t have a multi meter (or spare fuses) and the fuse did not allow to see if the continuity was in tact so it was a replace and hope strategy
I was one happy camper when the port engine roared back to life on Tuesday morning.
 
OK, let me see how I start the chronicle of events -
Monday morning 11/4 we headed off from Lighthouse Point, FL bound for Farro Blanco marina in Marathon, FL. No, we didn’t have a reservation but who in the heck needs one when you’re excited about the first leg of a journey?
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The weather was to be great and it should have been a short run to Marathon and we’d be all set for a late lunch - until the dad blame fuse sent us scrambling shortly after entering Hawks Channel.
So Rusty gets to diagnosing and calling technical support. Then starts calling folks that he knows will be in Marathon and we scrap plans for Farro Blanco (after begging for a slip that they didn’t want to give up).
Then the local support that we got was phenomenal and provided great comfort and assistance to get things worked out. Thanks again Tim and Lisa aka Converse
 
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Then Tuesday rolls around and I walked up to West Marine to buy all the 15A and 25A fuses that they had and tried to be a better Boy Scout and not disappoint Capt Rusty on that note. Well, word got out and Lisa came to give us a ride back to the dock disappointed that we didn’t ask for a ride there as well.
Then the MAN tech arrived from Pompano and did his diagnostic run up and gave us the all clear.
OFF TO THE RACES!!
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We made a mad dash as far as we could and got to the South Seas Resort in Captiva. It’s a great stop and we had a fantastic meal along with a couple bottles of smuggled in wine since I was feeling much better about the adventure at this stage.
 
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Then Wednesday comes and we’re trying to stretch our distance and see what we can make happen. We knew that we could make Clearwater but wanted to get a bit further so we topped off fuel in Clearwater and the Capt made a call for some more local knowledge and came up with a gem of a place - Steinhatchee, FL - Turned out to be a great stop and we again had a great meal and entertained ourselves till late in the evening. Who knew that there are still marinas depending on 55 gallon drums for flotation!!
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You’ll notice a consistent theme here. All the shots are at night because the Warden ummm I mean the Captain runs from wee dark thirty to O dark thirty every damn day pretty much.
 
Now come Thursday and our opportunity to cut what’s left of the corner.
Now since Frank wasn’t going to be available to meet / join the parade we bypassed Panama City and made it to Pensacola and the Palafox marina (another great place).
As we were coming through the bay we had an awesome chamber of commerce welcome by the Blue Angels practicing for an upcoming air show. My pictures here do no justice to the show we were treated to right over top of the boat.
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Rusty your pre-dawn to after-dark runs would be tough to do on the Columbia. Boat travel is pretty much controlled by the dams. There are 4 between here and Portland and it takes 2.5 days to make that run.

We may be doing that next June so if you're interested just let me know. That will be the pre-trip to our 4 month trip from South Puget Sound up into Canada and back.
 
Rusty your pre-dawn to after-dark runs would be tough to do on the Columbia. Boat travel is pretty much controlled by the dams. There are 4 between here and Portland and it takes 2.5 days to make that run.

We may be doing that next June so if you're interested just let me know. That will be the pre-trip to our 4 month trip from South Puget Sound up into Canada and back.

Hi Mike, you'll have to let me know when you get into the Sound...
 
Great write up and pics. Thank you for providing. I think all of us are in two stages - either learning from the trip - or just relishing the journey remotely - or both.

Area that I am interested in, is west of New Orleans.

I have never taken a boat any further along the gulf coast than Tarpon Springs (where my haul-out yard is). So zero personal knowledge.

Rusty, you will probably recognize the area known as Big Lake - south of Lake Charles. This goes back to before I met the better part of my life, I lived in a fish camp down in Big Lake when I was 20 something old. If you came inshore at Cameron, then headed up the ship channel to Lake Charles you came through Big Lake.

In the log - looks like you spent the night in Morgan City and went outside from there to Houston Ship channel.

When I lived in Big Lake, I remember that I had to cross a swing bridge that was on the ICW to get home every night. (this was years ago, not going so say how many decades) I was not a boater then, but I remember vividly the barge tows that would come throw that section of the ICW.

Rusty you touched on this in your post, about dealing with barge tows in limited maneuvering.

Anything that you can add? To me this seems very scary, narrow channel, barges coming towards me - knowing the wake they push is substantial. What's your insight on navigating that environment.

What do you do in these situations?

I perceive as very similar after you leave Norfolk area, and get past the Great Bridge Bridge (not a typo, that's the name on the chart) and start down headed towards Coinjock. If I am wrong - I stand corrected. Met a construction barge in that area with all the stumps on the sides.

Sorry if I am hijacking. Have been wondering if you went through that area on this trip - or was able to get outside. But guessing as many trips that you have made, there was probably a time you were forced inside due to weather.

I may make this trip one day - interested in your perspective Rusty.

Anyway, just idle sidelines questions and comments.

Thank you for all the details both of you have shared.
 

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