Final repositioning - with a new crew

Keep us updated! Love experiencing your trip through pictures. Tell Rusty I’m sad we won’t be around to buy him a drink when you get home.
 
I couldn't make the logistics for this trip work, so I'm not along for the ride.

I did, however, speak with Rusty as they were up and running on 2 engines again and on the way to Clearwater this morning. The MAN problem turned out to be a simple fix and only caused Fred and company to lose 1/2 a day.
 
I'll let Fred or Rusty post the nitty gritty, but they arrived in Houston and tied up late Sunday afternoon.....without a scratch.
 
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I’m just jealous I couldn’t visit with the captain when he got home!

thanks for the pic Fred!

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Ok folks ... sorry for the delay on the trip progress.
Lots of things to get caught up on here at home I have plenty of pictures and a few stories about the trip, stay tuned for further details

With the weather shift in Texas down to the low 20's overnight, maybe you should have rethought your move! :p
 
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
It was a community effort -
Capt Rusty on the phone with his MAN buddies trying to diagnose while limping along on one engine
Tim and his awesome wife Lisa (previous CSR contributor “Converse”) helped us into our slip in Marathon and let us borrow a multi meter
We had the engine running by the time the tech arrived but the wise Capt convinced me to get the proper engine diagnostic before spending the next 6 days in the gulf

more to come, it was a hoot of a ride
 
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SITREP......

Knowing that the boss probably has social networking low on his to-do list right now after taking at least a week off with me. I will take liberty of borrowing the All's Well thread as a follow up to the request of others.


I gotta tell ya, as I get older I see my log book turning into a library. And as can imagine, the paper version is not nearly as memorable as each of the experiences encountered. The behavior and attitudes of folks on the water is unlike any compared to land locked humans, on all water fronts. And not just the mates on the boat, to me the people who survive and surround themselves with marinas, are what make the trips unique and adventurist with every stop. The people at the Mom & Pop's two slip marina, to the fanciest of the resorts and yacht clubs. When I call places to make reservations, I more times than not, know the name of the person answering the phone, and that's humbling. I have been following HavannaShamrock’s thread for his trip south, and see Joe talking about the same environment, and same cool a__ people no matter what marina, or wherever you land.


On this trip we called for friend’s help as well, no doubt, but in the end that translated into not a lost ten minutes at the end of a seven day quest. A venture taking us from the east coast of Florida, around the Keys, back up the entire west coast of the Sunshine State, crossing the Gulf borders due west. Our first day was hit with a set-back which had us concerned for sure. While heading south in Hawk's Channel, with no warning, we lost the port engine, and engine display to boot. Pursuing a possible short we made calls to those mo' smarter than I. My bud from MAN took my call and had me do this, that and the other, and finally, after docking where we could look deeper, he suggested it could be the 15amp fuse sitting on top of a 900HP engine. Accessed the fuse bus, under some metal coverage, replaced the 15 amper and fired the damn thing right up. Our concern and conciseness, then shifted to what, and why the failure at all? The MAN outfit in Pompano had already been summoned long before we reached the marina, so they were coming in the early am to Marathon, where we docked. Jest of that story is we fixed it ourselves before dark fall, but waited till mid-morning to give a nice tech more than a nice wage to tell us...we fixed it ourselves! Half day lost right off, dadgummit!...To end that story, we never had another issue the rest of the trip, and did like that the tech checked a bunch of other stuff for us while there since he didn't have to fix an engine. He gave us a thumbs up and we boogied.


Next day was spent practicing our slalom course maneuvers dodging the ever-loving, and never ending bug traps. 30 miles from shore and still hollering “look-out for that trap”. The Florida Keys in lobster season, Lordy ! Stayed at South Seas Resort that evening, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and fine wine. Great place to stay in the lap of luxury, but we had to go! Next day headed up the coast where we had to make a daylight decision on whether to stay in Clearwater before crossing the Gulf, or go for it with marginal weather out of the east and darkest hitting before land fall. Staying increases the half-day loss...not good. Topped of in Clearwater, checked on "Mersea" (FootBall Fan's Marquis) tied up next to fuel dock and decided to head north. Made an adjustment to the plan and headed up the coastline before it bends west. We hugged the coast for calm water nearest the land on the leeward side of the state, and made up that half day. Not hard to do when riding in one of the baddest, meanest machines Sea Ray ever built, the 580 Sundancer w/ MAN 900's....the waves were begging not to be hit so hard I tell ya. Docked in Steinhatchie FL, where we were by far the biggest thing that dock has handled... look it up and see our accommodations at the SeaHag Fish Camp....coolest place, nicest people....waitress at the restaurant we walked to, even gave us a ride back to the boat in her personal car after we ate. A good southern meal, enjoyed with some more good wine.


Waked up to a sailors blessing the next morning, slight wind from the east on our backside, and seas 1 foot or less, let her rip! Gained the half a day back after shooting way past our intended Panama City destination, and docked in Pensacola that evening. Pulling into Harbor we had the Blue Angles flying low-level over our heads doing practicing maneuvers. Formations of four buzzing us like toys, incredible! We're looking good now, but not so fast, bad winds ah comin'. Winds out of the north next morning so maybe we can still hug the panhandle for calmer seas. First two hours we are cruising nicely, then Mother-Mother Ocean said, time to head in boys, with seas going from 1-2's to 4-6's with nasty haste. We shot in Mobile Bay and navigated the ICW all the way to the sweet sound of New Orleans. Docked at Seabrook Campground, no kidding. Took advantage of the time zone change, and hit the Big Easy for some wining and dining like we were some kind of cool cats...unreal! Got to dance with my date in the middle of the street while the man tuned "Tennessee Whiskey" on a Telecaster...doesn't get much better than that fellers. But we have places to go, so off the next morning knowing we were traveling through one the most industrial waterways in the country, if not the world. The Mississippi Waterway is moving, and moving with big stuff. Six huge barges pushed by a single tug in the rear, being driven by guys who miss walls and others by inches. We traversed all required locks and headed west as far as possible, with hopes of hitting Houston from our departure point the next day. We docked in Morgan City LA, where again, you had better be on your game, and understand your surroundings. There are vessels who can't see you, nor can stop for you even if they did....and probably wouldn’t even feel you under them while rolling over you.


We topped off at a commercial dock, and tied up at the city dock by ourselves, with no attendant. Talked with the dude on the phone, and he provided the bath house and gate codes, and then probably went back to bed. Never saw the boy. Day #7 and winds are back to being a blessing. Feeling sorry for delaying us the day before, Mother Ocean puts the wind at our back, and waves of no concern. And now we're mov’in and groov’in..... Crossed the mighty Gulf from Louisiana to Galveston TX in one shot. Entered Galveston, fueled up and eased All's Well up the Houston Ship Channel to her new covered dock, too cool.


My entry is to this thread is not about taking one of the best trips I’ve had, no sir. It is about the people I encounter along the water way, and the ones riding with me on the boat. I brag about knowing people all along the way and consider them a constant relief, and safety net in my travels. I talk about those people more, because the owners I ride with are not so constant. I have taken a many a trip where the boat got real small after a day or two, due to mixed personalities or method of driving a boat. It has been more than once where I would have preferred jumping off the transom than staying on the boat….This trip was just the opposite. The owners of All’s Well are the most courteous and gracious folks I have had the pleasure riding with. Never a dull moment and a crew energy that involved us all, from start to finish. Capt. Fred plotted his course each morning and the Admiral ensured coffee was available before departure each day. I learned so much, about so much that I could fill another thread. I am also thinking that I only drove the boat for a total of ten minutes the entire trip. The boat was docked and departed every day without incident or concern, and this is a big boat. Capt took to it like he has driven it a thousand times. I suggested on the dock in Houston, that he didn’t me for this trip at all, but so glad I was asked to come along. So humbling to be in company like these folks, that I leave at the end of the trip knowing how lucky I am. I won’t go on with the accolades as Fred does not need or require them, he is the Captain and handles that position just fine.


A memory which cannot be captured in a log book, for sure. Bucket List stuff…probably so! A week I won’t forget.


Rusty

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Dang, now I gotta plan a long trip so's I can invite Rusty along as crew.

Rusty, every been on the Columbia River?
 

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