Still Waiting ( Sigh!) Patience! Patience! Patience!

SHIP'S LOG:

"to wait" - to stay or be inactive until someone comes or something happens.

It is amazing that no where in this entire land that there was one prop such as I had need of for ABISHAG. Not even putting the members of "BOAT-POKERS", an Internet network of professional marine surveyors, on the case could scare up one, even a used one. I am coming to the conclusion that everything regarding boating has three parts to it and that it is a rare event when all three parts line up just right. In this particular case, the three parts were the 1.) the size 22" diameter; 2.) the pitch 17.5 degrees; and 3.) shaft size and taper- 35mm with a 1-10 taper. We ( the Yard Boss, the Boat-Pokers & I) could find props with 2 out of the three but never all three. So it is that I have had to go with the option of having a prop made. It could take up to three weeks and then it needs to be installed. Once done, we wait for the Insurance to send the check, pay the yard and take off again. It will happen, I am sure of it.

I talked with Chuck the TYC Launch Drive who is also heading south. He left 10 days before I struck grief in New Haven and is currently at SHALLOTTE Inlet North Carolina ( Mile Marker 329.5 on the ICW). Chuck has been having trouble with his engine, the injectors on the engine are leaking. It's leaking about a gallon a day and he is going to lay up in North Carolina and replace the injectors. So far this has been the only difficulty he has faced and that the ICW is fine.

ABISHAG has had her bottom painted and all we await is the prop. Waiting, waiting, waiting! waiting! waiting!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

Well, what can I say. There is nothing I can do to move the process along any faster than it is going to go. Eventually the prop will come and be fitted and off I will go. If I had the Marine Units, I think I would just, maybe just might, hire a delivery crew and have them take the boat to Norfolk. But not having the Marine Units and so I'll do it. I am sure that I will get over it once I get going but after sitting "in harbor for three weeks, I am going to have work to "get up for the game." The days are getting colder and shorter and getting South is going to take a bit of pushing. The toughest part is what I face immediately after leaving, getting through New York and New Jersey and up the Delaware Bay into the Chesapeake. After that, it will be a lot easier but it is getting there that I am not looking forward to at this time of the year. I could be sailing in snow! ARGH!!!! true, it will make Key West all the sweeter, it is just getting there that seems to be a pain. It is like being on your back in the March mud, under the boat, sanding the bottom. The only reason that one is able to do it is the memory of the fragrance of the steaks on the grill at anchor. Here's to the memories of Fort Stuart!!!!!