Apalach - back at Anchor what's next?

Here is a short video of The Perkins Engine in testing after the fuel pump repair.  

Note: the paper towels up under the fuel lines, checking for any diesel drips.  No drips!  So today i came back over and anchored across from town.  

The cities Municipal Dock is covered all day by Seagulls.  (where do they go at night?)   It's great to be back out at anchor, now i can clean the boat and not get bombarded  Yesterday i found half an oyster shell they had dropped onto my deck.

Lynn and Tommy B asked questions today:

"I can't see an easy answer to why you were moored at the crappy city dock anyway?"     

Lynn - the question sister

ANSWER:  when you are anchored and you remove your fuel pump you cant maneuver the boat in an emergency.  At the dock you dont have to worry about moving the boat.  (anchor dragging, wind, storm, other vessels)  so you want to be at a marina.  Why that dock?  it was listed as FREE.  

At zero cost it was the most attractive dock in town.

"glad you mentioned dock fees, I was wondering about that."   -Tommy Bonds

Yes, i spent 4 days at the Scipio Creek Marina while working on the packing gland and hydraulic steering.  (steering - see answer above)  Plus i needed the pump out.  

They charged me $1.50 per foot, per day.  46'x$1.50x4days = $276 plus tax  (free is less)

page taken from Active Captain a website - where i got the FREE info

Tonight while i was cooking dinner this other boat came in and anchored near me.  (there goes the neighborhood.) They are up on deck now having cocktails and watching the sunset.  I'm thinking they have their million dollar yacht and i have their million dollar view.  Funny when the moon comes up and i am bathing in the cockpit like a Frenchman, they will have two full moons tonight.

I started to check out my next voyage and then decided to take a nap this afternoon.  I've been working too hard and needed a short rest.  I'm looking now at going straight to Clearwater and avoid the shallow marshy coast east of here.  But i'm not finished planning yet.

 Frenchman

 My new look

It's great to have those things off my worry list and to start making plans for the next voyage.  I hope all your worries are small and easily managed.        -Capn Skip

Wednesday and HECK YES THE PUMP IS IN

There was a massive struggle today but Good took the field. The fuel pump is back, installed on the engine and i ran it for a few hours of testing.  (found one tiny leaky drip and then tracked down the source of it.  It's stopped now and 'leakless.')  This is a great thing!  Four new fuel lines, plus the entire fuel pump out and then reinstalled with new gaskets, new washers (2ea) on all four banjo fittings, plus the new 'broken pipe' replaced.  $61 worth of parts and $72 worth of airfreight.  Still Priceless...

I am very excited to be leaving this city municipal dock in the morning.  my what a crapper this is.  it is listed as Free on Active Captain, but the city changed their policy about 4 months ago and started charging $1.50 per foot, per night, for transients, at EVERY dock in town.  (all the same, everywhere) This city dock is almost directly under the bridge, so it's got the biggest current pulling you sideways at all times.  Plus every shrimp boat, work boat, tourist and jet boat goes flying past you bouncing you all over the place.  There is NO water, NO electric, NO showers, NO laundry, NO swimming pool, NO lights to see at night to get on or off the boat.  None of the things normally found at a dock, but they are all charging $1.50 per foot everywhere in town.  But enough about that.  Did you notice the seagulls on the dock?  (do you think their 'poo' smells fragrant?) 

The seagulls and i have a gentleman's agreement.  They wont touch my boat and i'll not scream at them.  That's the best i can hope for.  So far that's worked out fine.  They leave and go to their seagull hideaways at night, so it's quiet after dark, but all day they are extremely vocal.  (but per our agreement, i let them do bird stuff.  just NOT on my boat.)  

i was walking by the seafood plant yesterday while a guy was outside on his break time.  (hair net, blue jeans and tall white rubber boots)  i asked about the piles of Oyster shells and if they have machines that do that?  'no, we have 5 ppl in there today shucking.  You should see it in November.  We get 25 ppl and they can go through several pallets an hour."  (I ask how many is a pallet?)  "well they're in sacks about 80lb and stacked up to past my belt.  (I dont know what to say, so i respond - 'wow that's a lot.')  "Oh yeah, we get Mexicans to help in November.  Mexican Mexican's from Mexico."  (I assured him i knew what a Mexican was - there's no wall built yet.)  Funny terminology, 'Mexican Mexicans.'

I tried to clean up my act and see if i could give transients a better image.  i got out my hair trimmer and attacked my santa beard.  i'm not pretty, but it's shorter and trimmed.  it also appears to work as people no longer step aside and let me walk down the sidewalk.  they treat me normal and stand in my way...

A couple of people commented that they like the 'new look' of the Blog.  it's a living thing and changing.  Actually a BIG SHOUT OUT - to Jeff LaGrone for helping with the format.  Jeff volunteered to help me get my stuff into this century.  Thanks Jeff!

That's all the energy i have left today.  I need to climb up into the cockpit and shower like a Frenchman!  Look out for Pirates, but dont look over at my boat right now!     -Capn Skip