" When Pigs Fly"

It’s been a while since we last posted. The reason is simple, a lot has happened just not too much interesting enough to write about. At our last update we were at Snook Blight Marina in Ft. Myers, FL.  Bob Miller and I spent a couple of days getting the autopilot installed on the Pig.  While the boat was docked at Miller’s Landing, at mile-marker 28.5 at Lake of the Ozarks, Bob had done a lot of work on her including installation of the original Garmin system, A/C units and the inverter. He knows that rat’s nest of wires within the Pig’s innards better than anybody.  We felt so lucky Bob was willing to give up some of his time in Ft. Myers to get the autopilot installed. 

Lynne, Frank and Bob

Lexie

Lynne got back from her visit home to Missouri Friday night, just about the time the work on the autopilot got finished, and we all spent Saturday enjoying the sunshine and good company.  Millers took us out on their new 420 SeaRay Express Cruiser.  It was a great afternoon to be out for a cruise! As much fun as we were having in Ft. Myers we were still anxious to get to Marathon so we headed out Monday morning, next stop Marco Island. 

Once we got in to the open water of the Gulf we started the sea trial process to calibrate the new auto-pilot. We were able to perform the first step, which consisted of turning three circles at a speed determined by Mr. Otto Pilot. The computer accepted these turns.

Next were a series of zigzag moves. Otto was to take over the wheel to do these zigzag turns. Problem was he never showed up and the zigzag program could not be completed. We tried several times to get the zigzag programmed, finally I called Garmin for help. The tech at Garmin suggested the gyro ball, which is the brains to the auto-pilot, may be too close the stereo. I argued there was no magnet in the stereo, but elected to test the point. Anna drove while I ripped out the stereo. Unfortunately this didn’t quite accomplish what I hoped. Now along with not having a working auto-pilot, we didn’t have a stereo either.

A second call to Garmin was equally unsuccessful. I have to admit this is the only time I have called with a problem that they were not able solve it. We finally came to the realization that we needed a tech on board to figure this out and knew we would be in Marathon before that could happen.  This was quite a disappointment for the both of us since we had really looked forward to having the autopilot for the 100 mile crossing from Marco Island to Marathon. However, we have steered thousands of miles over the past several months, what was another 100?  So we settled back, stopped tinkering with Otto and got in to Marco Island. 

Entering the inlet at Marco Island we transversed the two backward “S” curves to get into the bay. Anna was reading me the instructions from the Active Captain site that Rose Marina posted for their marina, which were somewhat contrary to normal navigation standards. The instructions had us outside the ATON’s with the greens on our port side but we were in deep water so we felt safe.

Our issue began with the small boat in front of us whose pilot didn’t seem to know the path in.  There was an extremely shallow spot on the sailing line in the channel, we knew from our instructions that we needed to hug the shoreline at this point. This small boat seemed to get flustered with the shallow water plus seeing this huge white boat on his ass and they just stopped. Now I can’t fault them for stopping. My number one rule is when in doubt slow down, or stop, but you just can’t do it with another boat creeping up on your stern. We had to come to a full complete stop while he decided which way to go. This only took a few seconds but with no forward motion and the wind and current being what they were, we were pushed right onto the shallows. We ended up soft aground in 3’-3” of water, and we draw 3’-9”.

From the flybridge I could see the bottom. It was sand and scary shallow. I could also see the deep water just about 10’ from where we were. Your first thought may be to use the power of those two big blocks 454’s and plow your way through the sand. That’s a bad idea, since all the sand you’re stirring up is now finding its way into your engines’ cooling system. The water intakes for the engines are on the bottom of the boat.  By doing a series of forward and reverse rocking moves we got the boat pointed in the right direction towards the deep water. Then it was just little short bursts forward and the depth increased slowly by inches, then a foot, then 2 feet, then 18 feet. Once back in the deep water we were able to make it down to Rose Marina without much more excitement. We gassed up upon our arrival. The next day would be an early start.

Next morning we were up at 6:00 AM with the power cords, water hose and lines all secured. We departed Rose Marina at idle speed in the early morning glow of a new rising sun. Being sure to hold those green markers far away on our starboard side, we slipped past the shallow water. It would take us an hour to get to the open water of the gulf from the marina and we wanted to be at the green #1 buoy by official sunrise. We needed all the sunlight this day would offer. We also needed to ask the Pig to step up a bit.  She had to run no slower than 11.5 MPH to make our goal of Harbour Cay by 4:00 PM.

The morning water was smooth.  Anna was driving while I was looking at the charts as we were approaching our first way point 18 miles out of Marco Island. After studying our various options I asked the genius to set a course to Fanny Key and shazam! Quite surprisingly, the genius gave us an auto guidance magenta line on the screen the whole way. You have to love computers when they work well.

After I confirmed the water depth was satisfactory we headed for our new destination 75 miles away. This new course diverted us farther out into the Gulf, a course which I thought may be better than dodging lobster pots near shore, but we were out smarted on that one. There were just as many lobster pots out there as nearer the shore. It just goes to show the value of these little critters, if a crew can drive out 30 miles and back 30 miles to run their traps with the cost of fuel and still make money, it’s amazing.

Anyway we dodged the pots for the next 75 miles. Later in the morning the wind and waves began to pick up a bit. Driving the boat became more of a chore than fun. Where is that auto pilot now? The waves were on our stern, and the wind was on our port bow. At least it was daytime and we could see the sky and water. The waves eventually calmed down to a slow roll, later the wind too subsided and then disappeared totally. Our last 90 minutes of the crossing were smooth sailing right up to Fanny Key. We arrived at 4:15 PM, only 15 minutes behind our planned scheduled time. Not bad for 101 mile crossing.

Harbour Cay Club is just ¼ mile past Fanny Key so once past the two islands we were right in front of the marina. As we approached Fanny Key we had been trying to contact Jim, the harbor master, but we couldn’t raise him by phone, so we didn’t know where to park.  This is a 24 slip private marina operated by the slip owners.  We could soon tell it’s a close little community. 

When the boat owners who were at the marina realized we were looking for a spot they came out to help. There must have been six folks on the dock to help catch lines.  I might comment that the spot they gave me would have made a lesser captain shudder. I had to parallel park the boat between 3 pilings, the pier and a sail boat, but I slid it in just like I knew what I was doing. I think I may have even impressed the docking committee. Good thing the wind had died down.

First sunset in Marathon

We got secured for the night and walked down the street to a tiki bar for a nice grouper sandwich and cold beer as we celebrated our first sunset in paradise together. We were supposed to be in Marathon before Christmas and this destination had been our first major goal so this was a pretty special celebration. 

The Captain at the Chiki Tiki Bar

The next couple of days were filled exploring the general vicinity within bike range. Jim, the harbor master turned us on to a great place to sit outside and enjoy some of the best French fries in the world.  It’s a cute little place called the Chikitiki Bar where you can watch the water and enjoy the warm weather and sea breeze.  They make a pretty mean cheeseburger too! 

 Relaxing at Harbour Cay Club

As lovely as the weather was in Marathon, we headed home on Friday. I stayed for just a few days and have returned to the boat.  Anna is staying in Missouri for awhile, she needed a grandkid fix.  As usual, I have a few projects to keep me busy in between enjoying life in paradise.  I have a Garmin tech coming this week and I need to fix that back head.  That’s the immediate list and I’m sure there will be more.  It’s a boat, after all.  But right now, I’ll just sit here on the back deck and enjoy the warm breeze and the great view.

See ya on the water.