Norfolk, VA
To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.
Started Hospital Point 36°50.61′N 076°17.93′W
Docked Deltaville Marina C Dock 37°32.95′N 076°19.78′W
Log about 42 nm. Time 9 hrs. Engine 6 hrs.
We had a sail that was simply amazing. I credit two things.
We started at …
Our hard dodger has two tiny gaps at the for'rd corners.
It looks good, but, there's a path for rain to drip on the bench.
If the bimini cover went down low enough to prevent all dripping, it would be right difficult to get out of the cockpit …
Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news?
The good news is we're launched and back into the A&C canal.
The bad news is that the propane system failed again.
The worse news is that the Tides Marine Sure Seal isn't a sure seal …
Maybe we'll be done with the shaft and seal on Monday. Then we can put the rig back together, top off the fuel and start heading south.
We've talked with Baloo, Sojourner, Puff, and Zephyrus who have passed through and are heading south from Deltaville
Without us.
In addition …
The travelift here at AYB isn't really setup for ketch-rigged sailboats. One of the two lifting straps cannot be moved.
Red Ranger needs a strap essentially under each mast. The straps can be pushed a foot or two forward of the mast, but never aft.
Since one of the …
We're not so much waiting for parts as waiting for help. But it's the same kind of delay. Waiting and Hoping. And thinking and praying and planing and dreaming.
Today we drove a few hundred yards from the dock to the repair slip.
The shaft fitting leaked so badly …
Started: Portsmouth North Landing 36°50.30′N 076°17.77′W
Docked: ICW Mile 12 Atlantic Yacht Basin 36°43.20′N 076°14.03′W
Log: 12.0 nm. Time 3 hr. Engine Hours 3.
We don't want to overplan our travels this winter.
And — considering the repairs …
Started: Hampton City River 37°01.38′N 076°20.45′W
Docked: Portsmouth North Landing 36°50.30′N 076°17.77′W
Log: 11.5 nm. Time 3 hr. Engine Hours 3.
We're never really done. We thought we had things ship-shape.
Yesterday, we changed the oil and …
Oil cooler no longer drips into the bilge.
All of the fittings are drip-free!
W00t w00t. It almost makes me feel like someday, I might know what I'm doing.
We have a ton of cleanup to do. A ton. We have old oil and old antifreeze to drop off …
Check out this Picasa album: https://plus.google.com/photos/101418904686202842633/albums/5934218627424385361?banner=pwa
CA took a bunch of interior pictures of Red Ranger. Several weeks ago. Before the engine cooling system rebuild.
Right now, there are tools and parts everywhere.
Yesterday, we did OS and software upgrades …
Calling it quits.
The two high-pressure heat exchangers for oil and transmission fluid have been replaced.
The old main engine cooler has been removed and is ready to be replaced with the new one.
Also, the essence of the cooling hoses …
Box came from UPS. We have parts.
Time to get to work.
Step 1 was to drain the block as best as possible. This is a tedious exercise because the coolant just trickles out.
We can easily drain about 3 or 4 gallons out of the six gallons that …
Waiting For Parts.
Today we tweaked the bimini cover. CA sewed leather patches on the spots where the bimini would flutter up and touch the corners of the solar panels.
And also play quietly with fabrics and book proposals.
And organize our beer cozie collection. Yes, we have …
Started: Hampton City Marina 37°01.48′N 076°20.44′W
Anchored: Hampton River 37°01.38′N 076°20.45′W
We moved about 150 yards from dock into the river.
Today's agenda:
American Diesel Parts Order.
Bank.
Maybe take a bus ride to West Marine.
I'd like …
Breakfast. Round-Table Conversations. Lunch.
Talked about tools and saw the coolest device for accurately measuring specific gravity optically. But a drop of battery acid onto the glass and look through the eyepiece and get a precise measurement of specific gravity. Very cool.
Talked about electronics and electronic charting. I …
Breakfast. Presentations. Lunch. Presentations. Dinner.
ICW Overview. Budgeting (and prioritizing). Cheap Docks. Free Anchorages. Radio and Communications. Weather.
Plus.
Conversations with other boaters about their ICW experience and their plans. Perhaps more valuable than some of the scheduled speakers.
We ran into Utopia again. We met them in St. Augustine …
Started: Poquoson River 37°09.51′N 076°24.60′W
Docked: Hampton City Marina 37°01.48′N 076°20.44′W
Distance Run: 35.5 nm. Time 6¼ hr. Engine Hours 3.
Great sail down the bay. Until 13:00 when the wind died. We were just 2 …
Started: Dymer Creek 37°40.30′N 076°21.20′W
Anchored: Poquoson River 37°09.51′N 076°24.60′W
Distance Run: 48.0 nm. Time 7½ hr.
Today actually became a relatively flat motor-sail down the bay. Unlike yesterday where there were surprises. Today there were no …
Started: Mill Creek (Solomon's Island) 38°19.71′N 076°27.07′W
Anchored: Dymer Creek 37°40.30′N 076°21.20′W
Distance Run: 53.6 nm. Time 7½ hr.
Almost a flat, calm motor down the bay to a totally new anchorage. Almost a quiet night an …
Started: Annapolis. 38°58.53′N 076°28.43′W
Anchored: Mill Creek (Solomon's Island) 38°19.71′N 076°27.07′W
Distance Run: 45.2 nm. Time 9 hr. Engine Hours: 4.
A pretty good sail down the bay in 10-12 kt of N breeze.
We did tolerably …