The official "Stray Current II" thread. '07 260DA

[Stray Current]

Thought you might be interested in this about " the boat graveyard" (marina) you posted pictures of in posts #168 & #170 it is up Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda:

Ownership battle stalls cleanup at Riviera Marina in Punta Gorda

PUNTA GORDA — Sinking boats and polluted water have area boaters calling for action at Riviera Marina in Punta Gorda. But a legal dispute over ownership has stalled major cleanup at the property, 5600 Deltona Drive, outside of the Punta Gorda city limits.

Boaters like Debbie Tait and Michael Williams have both filed water pollution notices with the Florida Department of Environment Protection against the marina, which has been in operation since the 1980s. “I’ve never filed a complaint before but I thought it was necessary to do.” said Williams, who filed the complaint Monday. “The diesel smell is just overwhelming and the amount of sunken boats there is unbelievable. “It’s just ridiculous how much fuel has to be going into the water.” “I was just taking a dinghy ride over there (Sunday) to get out and the smell of diesel fuel (and more) was just horrible,” said Tait, who also filed a complaint Monday. “The Riviera Marina has always had a reputation for being a little decrepit, but it’s gotten worse.”

Charlotte County Code Enforcement issued notices at the property in June for multiple violations, including storage of inoperable boats, people living on boats, and the presence of an unpermitted mobile home. “There are numerous other outstanding issues being investigated by both the FDEP and U.S. Coast Guard for some of these issues and environmental issues,” said county zoning official Shaun Cullinan at a Charlotte County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing Wednesday. The purpose of the special magistrate is to hear code cases presented by county code officers and to issue disciplinary actions. “There is a dispute about ownership of the property,” Cullinan said. “Per statute, however, we always go by the owner of record pursuant to the deed property appraiser and tax rules.

“That’s why we notified Riviera Marina Holdings Company but also notified the Estate of Barry Batchin as they showed us they had potentially legal ownership.” Special Magistrate Derek Rooney ruled the property was in violation of county code and Riviera Marina Holdings is subject to disciplinary action. Rooney gave Riviera 180 days to come into compliance or face a $250-per-day fine.

“What I’m asking for is six months to see what happens (between the two parties as far as ownership),” Rooney said, “but I’m going to try to keep the pressure up on everyone to get things moving forward.” Riviera representative Bob Carr told Rooney they haven’t had access to the property since the Batchin Estate took it back over in June. “We are not in possession of the marina so can’t help to fix this,” Carr said. “We are worried about the pollution problem (but that) had only begun since the Batchin Estate resumed control of the property.”

Barry Batchin, who died in April 2019, had owned the property before Riviera Marina Holdings took it over in 2015. Elias Mahshie, an attorney representing the Barry Batchin Estate, told Rooney they are rightfully in possession of the property currently; however, that ownership is being disputed in appeals court. “There is kind of a long runway out ahead of us before there is any real, final answer of who is the owner and, ultimately, the person responsible for the violations that the county is alleging exist on the property,” Mahshie said. “Optimistically, it would be at least 90 to 120 days before we know where we stand.”

Since taking it back over, Mahshie said they have been trying to clean up the property but estate representatives are hesitant to fully invest in the cleanup until ownership is no longer in question. Code Enforcement Officer David Santimauro, who has been handling the Riviera Marina case, confirmed that the Batchin Estate has been making some efforts to clean up the property. “No cleanup was started at Riviera Marina until the Batchin Estate took over,” Santimauro said. “The estate has done all of the initial clean up that we have now. Nothing was done prior while Riviera Marina Holdings had possession.”

good read, thank you


I figured that place was in some sort of legal limbo.

 

[Nater Potater]

Thank you @Stroh for the background.

 

[Nater Potater]

@Stray Current, thinking back a few posts, how're you doing with the property decision? (just being nosey). I'd like to see you be able to stay in Florida.

 

[Stray Current]

@Stray Current, thinking back a few posts, how're you doing with the property decision? (just being nosey). I'd like to see you be able to stay in Florida.

who knows? Gotta see what the market does. Not going to put myself in debt to my eyeballs for a home that’s going to crash in value. I’m rather enjoying my debt free existence at the moment. Considering maybe a nicer duplex not on the water and let the tenant pay my mortgage and investing in another as income but worried about future eviction moratoriums for non payment. Occasionally a waterfront duplex pops up as well. Having trouble deciding, decided not to make a decision until January

Mrs current isn’t particularly enamored with Florida

 

[Chip S]

You really have to have commitment to the lifestyle or mental illness to own a boat, because it never ends

I may have both

As a friend of mine says, "Boating, it's almost worth it."

 

[Pirate Lady]

The fog's just lifting. Throw off your bow line; throw off your stern. You head out to South channel, past Rocky Neck, Ten Pound Island. Past Niles Pond where I skated as a kid. Blow your air-horn and throw a wave to the lighthouse keeper's kid on Thatcher Island. Then the birds show up: black backs, herring gulls, big dump ducks. The sun hits ya - head North. Open up to 12 - steamin' now. The guys are busy; you're in charge. Ya know what? You're a goddam swordboat captain! Is there any thing better in the world?

 

[Pirate Lady]

THAT is why we piss away vast amounts of money do to this. Those that dont do it will never know the feeling.

 

[Stray Current]

THAT is why we piss away vast amounts of money do to this. Those that dont do it will never know the feeling.

Oh yeah. I'm 33 now and I'm pretty sure I could have been retired already if not for boats and stand up jet skis.

 

[HawkX66]

The fog's just lifting. Throw off your bow line; throw off your stern. You head out to South channel, past Rocky Neck, Ten Pound Island. Past Niles Pond where I skated as a kid. Blow your air-horn and throw a wave to the lighthouse keeper's kid on Thatcher Island. Then the birds show up: black backs, herring gulls, big dump ducks. The sun hits ya - head North. Open up to 12 - steamin' now. The guys are busy; you're in charge. Ya know what? You're a goddam swordboat captain! Is there any thing better in the world?

They did a pretty decent depiction of Gloucester and the life in that movie. I lived there for a while.
I was 60 Miles off the NH/ME coast on an overnighter fishing as a mate when hurricane Gloria hit back in the 80s. Felt alot like what I imagined them to be going through. None of us thought we were going home.
Still love every minute I'm on the water and in a boat...

 

[Stray Current]

Resealed my holding tank thru hull. The knob at the factory that installed it had the smaller cup on the outside and it barely covered the hole. Once the minimal sealant that was in there blew through that was it. I flipped it around so the larger cup lip completely covers the hole and I must have injected an entire tube of Life seal between the two because it squeezed out inside outside and around the nut on the stem.
All the other through hulls look good!

Made myself a quick drain valve with a Barb fitting to attach my oil evacuator to the drain hose. I'm changing the oil about once a month give or take. Makes it much easier and faster!

 

[Stray Current]

And of course my neverending quest for "dry bilge" continues


At least I have proper supervision

 

[Pirate Lady]

View attachment 113196 View attachment 113197 View attachment 113198 View attachment 113199 View attachment 113200 View attachment 113201 View attachment 113202 View attachment 113203 View attachment 113204
And of course my neverending quest for "dry bilge" continues


At least I have proper supervision

You are fighting a losing battle. Boat on land half the summer, drain plug out. Bone dry bilge. Sealed every possible leak, every one. All new outdrive stuff. Yeah, after second trip across the Bay, guess what, bilge water. Not enough to pump but enough to notice. What Phil Collins sing? I dont care any more.

 

[Stray Current]

It worked! The Bilge is dry!

 

[Stray Current]

So, time to chase rainwater leaks now! The freshwater in the bilge doesn’t aggravate me nearly as much though.

I opened her up after an afternoon monsoon today and there was some obvious water in the bilge that had ran down along the now totally sealed bond flange to the platform and down.

Shop vacced everything and we ran about 80 miles and it was still dry on returning.

thinking it’s the vent louvers. That can wait for the next short haul.

hauling mid November for zincs and to strip the tabs/props/shower and repaint them as the primer didn’t adhere to the stainless properly. I’ll also coat the drive and get her detailed at that time. Should be in the dry season all the way then

 

[Stray Current]

Simrek drive shower moves a massive amount of water

there was a green flash but they never show up in the camera

all in all a pretty good weekend. We caught the bridge for the Seminole gulf railway murder mystery dinner train coming back from running up the caloosahatchee

The boat demon

 

[Stray Current]

Maybe someday I’ll go back to posting pictures of actual boat work being performed instead of sunsets and dock and dine restaurants...

...but I hope not

 

[HawkX66]

View attachment 113780 View attachment 113781 View attachment 113782 View attachment 113783
Maybe someday I’ll go back to posting pictures of actual boat work being performed instead of sunsets and dock and dine restaurants...

...but I hope not

That green flash you're talking about is only seen when you're good and lost first lol
Glad to see you out and about enjoying the boat. It's nice when you're at that point instead of having to work on it. I enjoy the work part, but not because I have to.
Curious... When you pull up to a dock like the one you're at in the last pic, do you bother with bumpers or just let the rub rail do it's job on the pilings? I just use the rub rail.

 

[Sicktght311]

Been following this, and i have to say, your attention and detail to a totally dry bilge is both inspiring, and maddening lol. Unless my boat was brand new out of the factory, i just pretty much assume water is going to be in the bilge, to varying degrees. Rain water, aging seals, phantom drips, etc etc. Its just part of used boat ownership. I dont get mad that my car looses that "new car door shutting sound" after a number of months, because its a used car, things age, things flex.

Keep at it, but dont lose sight of why we have these boats. For the time out there on the water. The amount of water in the bilge doesnt change that love. Plenty of people out there with way more water in their bilge than is reasonable, but they're out there enjoying every single minute of that boat life

 

[OllieC]

Unless my boat was brand new out of the factory, i just pretty much assume water is going to be in the bilge, to varying degrees. Rain water, aging seals, phantom drips, etc etc. Its just part of used boat ownership. I dont get mad that my car looses that "new car door shutting sound" after a number of months, because its a used car, things age, things flex.

Keep at it, but dont lose sight of why we have these boats. For the time out there on the water. The amount of water in the bilge doesnt change that love. Plenty of people out there with way more water in their bilge than is reasonable, but they're out there enjoying every single minute of that boat life

If there is any water in the bilge, and you plan on keeping your boat, it should be identified and fixed. Your bilge should be bone dry. The water is suppose to be on the outside of the boat.
Would you be concerned after every oil change you were down a couple quarts of oil? A door slam doesn't affect performance or in this case, rot and sinking.

 

[Stray Current]

That green flash you're talking about is only seen when you're good and lost first lol
Glad to see you out and about enjoying the boat. It's nice when you're at that point instead of having to work on it. I enjoy the work part, but not because I have to.
Curious... When you pull up to a dock like the one you're at in the last pic, do you bother with bumpers or just let the rub rail do it's job on the pilings? I just use the rub rail.

We weren't lost at that point, but man if there's a spot to get lost I can't pick a better one...'

It's situational. That particular dock has the nice heavy duty black urethane d-shaped cushions that are like 6 in thick down the whole length of the pilings. That was the first time docking there, but a three line set up two and a spring works just fine. Way back up in a lagoon so it's very calm.

I always try to lay it against 3+ pilings so it can't get under the dock with the platform or the rub rail.

When we go anywhere that has end-in slips I'll generally do criss-cross stern lines, two bow lines and a spring so it can't touch the dock.

Floating docks I have three polyform A3 fender balls that I hang between the dock and the boat. Just have to be careful of placements they don't impede the generator water and exhaust or air conditioning water discharge.

I have aborted using certain docks at different restaurants because they weren't up to what I consider safe for my boat based on the boat traffic or condition. I do keep 8 25 foot dock lines and four additional fenders on board. I'm usually able to make most things work

I know this may come as a surprise to some of you but I'm a little OCD about things

Been following this, and i have to say, your attention and detail to a totally dry bilge is both inspiring, and maddening lol. Unless my boat was brand new out of the factory, i just pretty much assume water is going to be in the bilge, to varying degrees. Rain water, aging seals, phantom drips, etc etc. Its just part of used boat ownership. I dont get mad that my car looses that "new car door shutting sound" after a number of months, because its a used car, things age, things flex.

Keep at it, but dont lose sight of why we have these boats. For the time out there on the water. The amount of water in the bilge doesnt change that love. Plenty of people out there with way more water in their bilge than is reasonable, but they're out there enjoying every single minute of that boat life

The nice thing about having a watertight boat that doesn't leak any fluids is the fact that it makes it very easy to find the source if they start leaking suddenly. The hull in this boat is all composite but the transom still has wood so the idea of water pooling in the low spots is not great. Fortunately the wood starts several inches above the water level in the transom. Also keeping everything dry reduces humidity which is less corrosive. We do use it more than most people. Last season I put about 200 hours on between May and December. This year I've only got about 90 on it but it went in in July and there is no winter ever again. It's been a little slow with the hectic move but we're picking up. I used to do 3 to 400 hours a year on my center console and I hope to top that here shortly.

The OCD may get a little ahead of me at times and piss me off, but my whole concept is that I will schedule the time for maintenance and repairs as opposed to letting the vessel schedule it for me unexpectedly.

If there is any water in the bilge, and you plan on keeping your boat, it should be identified and fixed. Your bilge should be bone dry. The water is suppose to be on the outside of the boat.
Would you be concerned after every oil change you were down a couple quarts of oil? A door slam doesn't affect performance or in this case, rot and sinking.

Exactly this. Keep everything in check and you'll know if anything changes right away.

I've made peace with the oil consumption.
A pint every 20-25 hours isn't such a big deal when you cruise at 3800-4000. Just getting sucked through the PCV and keeping those valves lubricated