- It has been a difficult month due to wet weather, power issues and an injury on Eric's hand which kept him from installing the new head, (We didn't want to risk infection) The injury is still painful but he is able to work again.
- After some very frustrating power issues, a new battery bank was purchased and installed along with a new inverter. What a difference!! It's wonderful to have internal power again! We are still using extension cords to run heaters at night which helps keep the condensation down.
- The first of the three hanging lockers has new shelving along with a protective cover box for the newly installed AM / FM radio. While extra supplies go into deeper lockers, tote-bag storage allows for easy access in this hanging locker. Items such as sandpaper, electrical, plumbing, etc...
- We want to give a very special, grateful thanks to the Lord for giving us strength to remove the old battery banks, put in the new battery banks and also the inverter. We are 60 years old and everything was very heavy!! Each battery weighed just over 100 lbs. The 4 old batteries had to be lifted up and out of a deep storage pocket, carried up the companionway steps, off the boat, along the dock and lifted onto the back of the truck. The new ones followed the same route in the opposite direction. We prayed several times through the ordeal and it was amazing how well we both did. Praise God!!
We've made a dent in the storage unit and are trying to keep as many supplies and tools as possible. Electrical, plumbing, hardware, fasteners, etc... each going in designated areas. Eric has 40 years of tools to sort through, with lots of important 'job specific' tools. Slowly but surely, we are making room.
- The parts have arrived for the new head, installation will happen soon.
- Our original inverter bit the dust! We purchased a new inverter, it should arrive in a few more days. Actually going to be a much better system.
- Eric adjusted the fit on all the floor hatches for better function. Interior doors also need to be adjusted as well as handle replacements. The old ones are very corroded.
- We removed the table. It was beautiful but made access to storage areas extremely difficult and also was not useful for the way we need to use the mission vessel. The settee will now become a large bunk with tool storage underneath the center section where the table was.
- Lots of small repairs go hand-in-hand with projects as they move forward.
Progress moving slowly but always forward. As per usual, we begin a project only to be delayed by
the need to fix something first. In the long run we know it is better to
tackle a problem when it presents itself. Just frustrating to be in a
constant stop and start mode, but we will get through it.
- The three 5x10 storage units have all been consolidated and organized into a 10x20. That was a big job and we are so glad it is finished. Now Eric has much better access to tools and supplies needed for projects.
- Leaks are being repaired as the weather permits and areas in the boat that are wet due to cold weather condensation are being addressed.Winter is difficult on a non-insulated boat but hopefully this will be the last winter for this vessel.
- We have talked again with the individual that rebuilds our particular anchor windlass. Instead of buying a new windlass, he will rebuild it for about half the cost of a new one. This will save the ministry several thousand dollars! Thank you Lord!!
- The new Groco head has arrived! A few installation parts need to be ordered and then Eric can replace the old head.
(HYDROCAP vents for battery bank)
- A big shout out to HYDROCAP Corporation for their generous donation of 12 catalytic battery cap vents! We had an issue with the new boats battery installation.
We were planning on replacing the rather substantial bank with AGM
batteries since the area is unvented, a bad thing with lead acid
batteries.
HYDROCAP supplied us with catalytic vent caps
that convert the vented hydrogen back in to water and then back into
the cell. Thank you!!
- Eric removed the old sump pump for the shower drain and installed a new pump and revised the plumbing system. The old pump wasn't meant to be a sump pump and clogged easily. Also, in eight feet, the old hose changed diameter three times!
- A new upgraded head has been ordered and will be installed soon.
- Mary has started scraping and hand sanding all the outside old varnished areas down to fresh teak. Most of it will not be re-varnished, it will be left to gray out.
- Next week, the 3 storage units will be moved into one larger 10x20 unit. This step will make it much easier to organize, move forward. and help with the chaos (We can't find anything!!) of the transition while we make areas ready on the boat.
We are back!! Thank you so much for praying us through the last several months of moving off the ship, traveling to get the new vessel and delivering it safely home. We appreciate your prayers so much!!
Now we need prayer for the work ahead in preparing the vessel for departure. This includes replacing the batteries, the anchor windlass and both head systems. Interior modifications are not extensive and consists mainly of adding shelving, rebuilding the storage area in the aft cabin and transforming the table area into a lounge/bunk. There will be some painting, minor varnishing, a few plumbing reruns and other small projects. In-between all this work, the three 5x10 storage units need to be sorted.
Thankfully, Mary is able to do a lot of work and this enables Eric to use some of his time on side jobs for our personal support.
(Pelicans at Sarasota Bay)
We are now anchored at St. Petersburg! After leaving Fort Myers early Monday morning, we headed out into the Gulf with beautiful weather. The winds even cooperated for a short while and we were able to fly the Jib for a couple hours. However, the afternoon wind forecast soon turned hard on our nose and forced us to travel inside.
We had a very good trip across both Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay. We also passed some huge ships in Tampa Bay with no problems and were glad to have smooth seas for good maneuvering.
Bridges on the inside are numerous and prove to be very stressful with shallow water, tides, currents and timed openings. Tomorrow we hope to travel outside for the last of the run to Tarpon Springs. If weather cooperates, our jump may finally happen. Please pray for a good 72 hour stretch of fair winds!
(Anchored Freighters off Miami Coast)
After prepping for Hurricane Dorian, we waited out the storm as it churned for three days just off the coast from us in Fort Pierce. Winds never exceeded low, tropical storm force and none of the rains were torrential. It took several more days to ready the boat for departure and we finally left Fort Pierce on Sept. 8th to begin our journey to Louisiana.
Extra care and caution is being taken as we make our way home. We don't want to put undue stress and strain on the vessel until we have worked out any bugs in the systems.
We have traveled ten days so far:
- Day 1: Fort Pierce to Lake Worth where we anchored the first night. More tropical systems were developing in the Atlantic. Hot but good breeze at night.
- Day 2: Lake Worth to Key Biscayne. A very long, sixty mile run in rolling/pitching waves. The boat handled very well and has a comfortable roll, not snappy. The rolling however, caused a water line to come loose in the engine room and we lost water pressure for the onboard systems. Eric repaired it with a solid, temporary fix. The system will be properly dealt with when we get home.
- Days 3-5: Anchored in Key Biscayne waiting for a tropical system to move on. Very hot days, good breeze at night.
- Day 6-7: Key Biscayne to Vaca Key (Marathon). We pushed steadily for 12 hours and reached Marathon just after sunset. The last several hours were spent dodging hundreds of lobster/crab traps. Very stressful end to a day that was for the most part, beautiful weather and calm seas. We spent that night and the next at a dock. This enabled us to get needed rest (electricity means A/C), supplies, fuel and water.
- Day 8: Marathon to Little Shark River. Very remote anchorage on the Everglades Coast. Beautiful but very hot, not much sleep. We have screens for the ports but do not have screens for the main hatches so ventilation is limited at anchor due to wind directions. The Everglades are saturated with mosquitoes!
- Day 9: Little Shark River to Everglade City inlet (Russel Pass). A quiet anchorage just inside the inlet. Beautiful but very hot, not much sleep.
- Day 10: Russel Pass to Moss Marine (Fort Myers). Heavy weather moving in for the next several days. Anchorages are very hard to find along this part of the coast at our size. Very shallow water. We will have to dock till the system moves through. This will allow for much needed good sleep. We will be able to travel inside for a good distance even if the weather in the Gulf prevents us from going along the coast. Eric will spend the next day plotting our next course.
