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Leaving the Big Apple in our wake as we depart Oct 1st and
head out to Sea. |
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New York Harbor is a BUSY place, as you can see from all the
blips on the radar.
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The Verazano Bridge is our final gateway out of the Great Lakes and Hudson
River into the Atlantic Ocean..
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LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!
The weather was reasonable offshore of the New Jersey Coast
for the day. You can see from the map at the right that we head down the
coast offshore, heading for Barnegat Inlet - about 65 miles south of Staten
Island. That would make a reasonable days run (running at 10mph or less) and
get us in by dark. Our tentative plan is to make Cape May in a couple days
which is at the tip of Delaware Bay. We'll then head up Delaware Bay toward
Philadelphia, but cut across the Chesapeake & Delaware (C&D) canal to the
upper Chesapeake Bay and then back down again.
Our excitement started when we lost one engine about 15
miles away from Barnegat Inlet, still out at Sea off the New Jersey Coast.
We put it in neutral and set course for Barnegat Bay on the remaining port
engine - letting the autopilot do most of the work. It seems that the
starboard engine is burning fuel at a much higher rate than the port side,
and we ran out of fuel in the starboard tank (there is no crossover - but
I'll take care of that later). We had enough total fuel, but nothing on the
starboard side! (Now that we know this we can use it in our fuel
calculations).
It got even more interesting. As we approached Barnegat
inlet, which can have strong currents, we put out a Securite call on the VHF
radio (a general warning call to mariners advising them of our limited
maneuverability on one engine and requesting that they yield right of way to
us). The Coast Guard has a station at Barnegat inlet and ended up meeting us
in the channel with a big Cutter. As we entered the inlet we heard a LOT of
screeching coming from the remaining engine (Yes - kind of like the Capn Ron
movie with the engine squealing before it died with the pirates in hot
pursuit!) - one of our belts was burning and broke while we were midchannel, with Coast Guard
behind us. The belt turned the water pump. The engine overheated and smoke
started pouring out of the engine hatch (This was now our ONLY engine). In
preparation for potential problems I had Lisa ready the anchor on the bow
roller. The wind was now blowing quite strong. As smoke poured out of the
engine hatch we shut down our last engine and glided toward a channel buoy
where Lisa quickly deployed the anchor which set securely and saved us from
blowing into the rocks.
The Coast Guard stood by while I checked the engine and
added more water (but couldn't replace the belt yet). After 20 minutes or so
I restarted the engine trying to get a short distance to the nearest dock.
As we re-entered the channel the engine quickly overheated again and the
winds picked up. I pointed the bow toward a commercial fishing dock and did
a "Capt Ron" landing by whipping the bow around at the last minute, wedging
the swim platform against a piling, and letting the wind blow our bow onto
the dock in a "controlled crash". Perfect! We were docked! I got one of the
best compliments I'd ever had that evening from one of the commercial
fishermen who stood by watching this all happen. They had expected a
catastrophe but said it was one of the best crash landings in a boat he'd
ever seen. (I can't take all the credit though - God still watches out for
us).
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Our culprit! The broken belt - which I replaced that
evening. |
Smoke comes pouring out of the engine room from our
overheated engine.
The other engine had already died while at sea.
(Remember Laser Students - Do NOT stare into the laser beam with your one
remaining eye!)
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We managed to crash land just at dark on the fuel dock of
this commercial dock in Barnegat Bay.
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Lighthouse Marina - Commercial Fishing Docks, and friendly
people.
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Some of the fishermen invited us out to the local bar with
them - Kubels.
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Notice the lighted showcase behind these guys at the bar.
Closer up at the right you can see it's a NICE collection of real shark jaws
- great for a commercial fishermen's bar! - and otherwise a nice place &
people anyway.
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Commercial Fishing Boat moored behind us during the night. By
the next morning we had the belt replaced on the port engine, and running
smoothly, and had the fuel topped off on both sides. All was well again.
(Until LATER in the day that is).
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MV Nova on the fuel dock where we crashed. The wind beat us
half to death against the pilings all night. It ripped out a 12' section of
port rub rail and ruined one of our fenders.
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The lighthouse at Barnegat Inlet as we depart the morning of
Oct 2nd.
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The day started not too badly considering the strong winds,
but they were blowing from onshore so we stayed a mile or so off the beaches
to stay in calmer water. That worked for the morning but the afternoon got
pretty rough offshore. |
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Passing offshore close-by Atlantic City and Absecon Inlet.
We're heading for Cape May NJ at the bottom of Delaware Bay, on the Atlantic
Ocean side.
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By the afternoon winds had picked up even more (25-30mp
measured on
the flybridge) and we retreated to the protected main steering station down
below in the saloon. We pretty much let the autopilot and computer steer our
course while we maintained a lookout. Spray was drenching the flybridge each
time we took a wave.
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| Now our NEXT Adventure starts - 20 miles
out from Cape May NJ. Remember that fuel dock up in Troy on the
Hudson River? - where we took only 11 gallons and I had him shut if off
because he said his filter was clogged and they'd run their tank dry that
week? Between the sludge I'm sure he pumped into our starboard tank, and us
running it dry yesterday, our starboard engine began to falter about 20
miles out from Cape May. We were on a race already to beat darkness into
port, and the weather and waves were now getting worse! Initially I could
lower the RPM's on that engine and have it smooth out (that's how I knew it
was a fuel filter). I then increased RPM's on the other engine - we could do
that because I only run them at partial capacity because of fuel economy.
This worked for a while, but I had to progressively lower the RPM's until it
finally just quit. We made the rest of the 20 miles into Cape May on one
engine again, and came in just at dusk. I did have to maneuver once I got
into the harbor (and you need 2 engines in a twin engine boat to do that) so
I waited until the very last minute when I needed the engine to try to start
it - in the hopes that enough fuel would slip by the blockage to run for a
short time at idle. It worked! We got in OK to Utsch's Marina in Cape May on
two engines and docked on their work dock.
So what have I learned from this! ---- I now know the
differential rate of fuel burn between the port and starboard engines and
can now do fuel calculations based on the lowest level. Later I'll try to
figure out why the starboard side burns so much more than port. When I have
the time and money, I'm also going to redesign the fuel system. It needs a
crossover valve to switch back and forth between the two fuel tanks and
engines. It also needs a doubled fuel filter system with a crossover valve
so that if a filter clogs one can open a bypass valve to quickly switch to
the good filter - waiting until we make port to try to change the bad one.
I'm also going to check into a smaller redundant belt for the engine water
pump so that if one fails there is another to keep it going.
Experience is the best teacher - if you can afford the lessons. The problem
with life is that she gives the tests first and the lessons come later!
(Post Script - I got the fuel system crossover valve designed,
fabricated and installed Nov 24th after similar problems again!)
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Entering Cape May Harbor just before sunset.
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Lisa stepping off the boat at Utsch's Marina in Cape May.
We'll make repairs for the fuel filters here.
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Arrgghh Ye Maiteys! - It's back in the engine rooms again!
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 The
fuel filter was so clogged that it looked more like heavy mud than dirty
fuel! I replaced both fuel filters and cleaned the casings.
I'll change them again up in the Chesapeake Bay & see how
much crud is still in there. |
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Utschs has a nice laundry and Lisa got some of our clothes
washed.
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They also have a well stocked ship's store where I managed to
buy new fuel filters, replacement fenders from last nights beating at the
dock, and a few other supplies.
Their high speed wireless internet also helped me get more work done. |
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Ready to go again! Guardian Angels have sent reinforcements.
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..... just as soon as we fuel up. |
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Time to head up Delaware Bay, but it's a CHILLY morning.
Time for turtlenecks, sweaters and coats. |
Heading east on the Cape May Channel takes us into Delaware
Bay. Ahead on the right is the huge Ferry that runs across the mouth of the
Delaware Bay from Lewes DE to Cape May NJ.
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The weather cooperated today for our 58 mile trip up the
Delaware Bay into Delaware City. It started out fairly calm and got better
all day long - we'll take it - especially after yesterday.
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Lots of freighters heading up into Philadelphia and the C&D
canal.
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Note the orange life ship on the stern ready to plummet into
the sea in an emergency.
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The farther North we got in the Bay the flatter the water
became. I even managed to take a leisurely shower below while Lisa manned
the helm.
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We noticed lots of military aircraft starting off the NJ
coast out of New York, and it continued up through Delaware Bay. I know
there are military bases around but these planes were systematically going
up and down the coast, and over the Bay at very low altitudes all day long.
Lisa & I wondered whether it's some sort of new operation to monitor busy
seaways and ports.
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Heading on up into the Delaware River we approach a Nuclear
Power Plant.
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The stink bugs start boarding us! By the time we got down to
Bill Brady's house on the Chesapeake we had stink bugs all over. I
apparently sat on one in the Saloon, and BOY DID THE BOAT STINK for a while!
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Arriving in Delaware City on the old C&D canal.
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It's hard to see here, but when the tide would go out all of
these little crabs would be scurrying around the muck. |
MV Nova tied up at Delaware City Marina on the canal. |
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Lisa cracking crabs on the table at a nearby restaurant. The
owners dog stayed obediently outside the front door, so naturally this is
now one of Lisa's favorite places.
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We of course had to resupply our beer and wine the next
morning before heading into the Chesapeake, but it was Sunday and
nothing opened until noon. We had a leisurely morning strolling around town
and just sightseeing.
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Capn Greg & Admiral Lisa
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This is a preserved portion of the original C&D canal which
was VERY narrow and used locks. The new one accommodates ocean going
freighters and uses no locks.
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| Amazingly - this is a HUGE forged metal bell that was made
in Philadelphia in 1839. It was used by the workers on the canal in the
early 1800's when they had to go underwater to work on lock doors. Just hope
the cable holding it never broke while workers were inside!
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After we get our beer/wine supply we're back down the river a
short way to cut across the approximate 17 mile C&D canal to head into the
Elk River in the Upper Chesapeake Bay.
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Looks like someone wasn't paying attention.
Maybe last night? In the dark? after drinking? James Bond chase scene? |
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Is this the guy who wrecked? - or maybe the water police?
(look at the boots).
this is at about 1pm in the afternoon as we enter the canal.
We stopped close enough to ask if he needed any help, but not close enough
to really talk.
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Here we go! - through the C&D Canal to the Chesapeake Bay.
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We get passed by a sailboat! - Nice Catamaran.
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Kids out for the day with Dad emptying traps.
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Once we got into the Chesapeake, we went a few miles North up
the Elk River and anchored. Lisa seems to be relaxed.
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This is the first time we've anchored out on this entire
trip.
We'll be doing more of this. We like it lots better than Marinas.
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Sunset at anchor on the Elk River in the Upper Chesapeake
Bay.
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We got an early start the next morning at sunrise - weighing
anchor and heading south into the Chesapeake Bay.
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Today we'll be heading partway down the Bay toward the Bay
Bridge area. Our friends Bill & Edie Brady from Marathon FL have a home up
the Chester river on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake. We'll be leaving
our boat there for a while, to wait out October for Hurricanes, and travel
for some work.
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The fishermen are out already this morning pulling their
traps.
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Snowbirds - just like us - heading South before winter. |
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WOW - It's hard to appreciate the real size of this ship from
the picture.
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Entering into the Chester River off Chesapeake Bay.
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It's about 25 miles up the Chester river to Chestertown MD
where Bill Brady's place is.
It's a nice ride up the river.
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Bill - we're bringing Marathon & the Florida Keys back up to you
here in Maryland!
Note the Marathon Sail & Power Squadron burgee on the bow at left,
USPS burgees & ensigns (including past commander of Marathon),
and of course the Key West Conch Republic Flag.
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Chester River Yacht & Country Club - close to Bill's place.
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I think we have Bill's dock in sight!
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There's Bill, waiting for us on his dock!
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MV Nova at it's new "temporary" home on Bill & Edie Brady's
dock on the Chester River.
We'll wait out Hurricanes through October, and get some other work done
(have to pay those fuel bills!) before continuing on later in November.
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Washington University (founded in the late 1700's) is located
here in Chestertown. The college has a sculling team and scores of boats are
out practicing on the river by us each day. |
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Bill, and daughter Sandy.
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Bill has developed the hobby late in life of "day trading"
stocks.
LOOK AT THIS SETUP! He uses eight monitors to monitor stock indicators with
his software, and is connected by Satellite! He does the same thing in
Marathon.
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Bill & Edie Brady at one of our Power Squadron meetings
back in 2003 in Marathon.
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Sunrise on the Chester River at Bill & Edie's dock. |
