Ponce Inlet (Daytona) to Merritt
Island
We
were launched about 10:30 on the 5th after paying the big repair
bill at Lighthouse Boat Yard and we backed away from the boat hoist about 10:45
into swift incoming current. After
navigating the makeshift channel of PVC markers we throttled up and experienced
strong vibrations in the drive train.
The port cutlass bearing on that driveshaft had been replaced so we
suspected that the vibrations were coming from there. We placed the port shifter in neutral to
isolate it and the vibrations continued.
Then the starboard engine was put in neutral and the vibrations ceased. Now what????
Why was the starboard drive system vibrating? No work was done there. The most likely assumption was that something must be entangled in the port
propeller. We
continued forward and turned into the ICW as we were thinking what our options
were. Suddenly an alarm went off for who
knows what reason. We checked
all instruments and realized that the port engine was overheated so we
shut it down. We quickly agreed that
there was no way that we could get back to the marina and dock safely against
the strong incoming current on one engine. So..we
proceeded toward Merritt Island on one engine while we considered our
situation.
Near the spot where
our boat was launched there was a boat being painted. There was tattered visqueen being blown by
the winds all week. We can only imagine
that a large piece of this plastic fell into the water, was pulled into our starboard propeller
as we backed away from the lift and was sucked over our water intake causing the pump impeller to run dry and disintegrate. Where is the pump and how do we repair it? We would need to wait until we arrived at our marina destination in Merritt Island and the engine cooled so that we could trace the problem.
 |
| I think the raw water pump is here. |
Here is the result of the water-deprived raw water pump impeller.
 |
| On the left is the damaged impeller. Look how badly it was chewed up compared to a new impeller! This impeller was not pumping a drop of water to the motor. |
We only found debris enough for 7 of the 12 blades. The rest is lodged in the heat exchanger or the motor somewhere. Let's hope that passes out the water cooled exhaust and causes no problems later.
 |
| After cleaning the debris from the pump body |
The
bright side of the situation is that we gained vast trust in our ability to
manage our boat on just one engine and with limited maneuverability. We also found that our ideal hull speed on
just one engine is 7mph. That is slower
than we thought. At 7 mph we produced
very little wake and the fuel gauge barely moved. Very good news.
We
gauged our travel speed and reviewed our charts as we knew that we could not
make it the 50 or so miles to Merritt Island in the daylight we had remaining at this lower speed.
We had several GO / No GO destinations to consider. Once we passed one anchorage in Mosquito Lagoon within sight
of NASA’s VAB building, we would be committed to another 2 hours of travel to
the next protected anchorage. We proceeded past that spot in calm water but then winds were beginning to increase after we passed through Haulover Canel. We passed up a possible anchorage in Titusville, talking on the radio to George and Debra who had settled down there. About 4:15 we
made it to an anchorage just south and east of the NASA Causeway Bridge, about 40 miles from our morning departure point at Ponce Inlet. (Note: this would have only been less than a one hour trip in a car). Three other boats were thinking
the same and joined us there for the night.
This turned out to be a wonderful anchorage as the winds died down
overnight. Being just 10 miles short
of our marina destination in Merritt Island, we made a leisurely start on
Friday, 12/6, after breakfast of pancakes and bacon aboard the boat. We arrived at Harbortown
Marina around noon, pumped our holding tanks and moved to our assigned
slip. The starboard engine was restarted
briefly for these two dockings with no ill effects, hopefully. |
| NASA's Vehicle Assembly Bldg. viewed from our anchorage at the NASA Causeway the morning of Dec 6th. |
 |
| Our morning view south on the ICW / Indian River just south of Titusville, FL. |
EATING ON BOARD COOL CHANGE
We eat well on the boat, despite the fact that we risk tripping the circuit breaker if certain cooking appliances are turned on at the same time and the electric dishwasher was somehow forgotten at home. For this trip we've been experimenting with an electric rice cooker. For $14.99 at CVS you get a little electric pot gadget that cooks rice to perfection, then turns itself down to a warm setting until you're ready to eat. No boil overs, something I've always seemed to experience when rice is involved. Thanks, Hal and Young, for this suggestion. We've also been trying out several soup recipes and will pass them along to you as we continue on our winter journey. Wayne tells me his favorite so far is Baked Potato Soup. It comes from The Taste of Home Slow Cooker Cookbook and makes up into a thick, delicious soup.
Baked Potato Soup
2 large onions, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups water, divided
4 cups chicken broth
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups mashed potato flakes
1/2 cup sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 teaspoon pepper.
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions, diced
In a large skillet, saute' onions in butter until tender. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in 1 cup water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for two minutes or until thickened. Transfer to five quart slow cooker.
Add the broth, potatoes, potato flakes, bacon, pepper, salt, basil, thyme and remaining water. Cover and cook on low for six to eight hours or until potatoes are tender. Stir in half and half, heat through. Garnish servings with cheese and green onions.
Yield: 10 servings
Should you choose to stop by for a visit, here's our address from now until Jan. 5:
Harbortown Marina, Slip D14
2700 Harbortown Drive
Merritt Island, FL 32952
Yes, we do have a Christmas tree! And lights! On the boat!
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