Dinghy update..... we took "Nightmare" out for a ride and all seems to be well! We can go faster than before, and even get it up on plane! something we have never been able to do since the day she came home! Like previous mentioned, apparently the Bahama service man knows more than the guy who built her! We are very happy. Of course, she still won't be able to keep up with "the big dogs" (40 hps) BUT at least we can bring up the rear. She will be tested out this afternoon after we join up with our buddy boats and take her over to Pete's Pub.
So we will bid farewell to Abaco Beach Resort....this is a beautiful marina (and they know it! $$$). We have enjoyed our couple nights here and got a little experience of what a few months here (next time???) would be like. This is home to the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club...of which we are members. We joined to get the discounts the membership gets you, but there is actually an active club and this is their home port. ( They have "happy hour" EVERY day at 5pm! Honest...we only went once) You get a discounted slip if you stay long term, prepay, etc etc.....it is still considerably more than we paid at Treasure Cay for a month, but more offered. We have learned that we don't plan that far in advance anymore. So we will see what summer brings and if it is even possible to come over again next year......But not so fast.....we STILL have a month here this year and I understand the best is yet to come.
Bob is off to pick up his $$$ engine part...that has been delivered to the CAT dealership, so we are told. A lady from "the club" has offered him a ride over to pick it up. (another a benefit of belonging to RMHYC...such nice helpful people...."all in the same boat", actually all in different boats from different places and different walks of life)... we will then head out to the anchorage where Job Site and Puttzing Around spent the night. Then on to Pete's Pub......a great waterfront bar, probably mentioned previously as we have been there a few weeks ago. Then tomorrow onward to Exumas, with a few stops in between. The sun shines every day, the water is beautiful,...and Bob is starting to complain about the heat!....".hey mon, slow down.....you're in the Bahamas"! Life is good!
Monday, March 11, 2019
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Bob vs the Dinghy!
MARCH 4TH.. the score is Bob 0 Dinghy 5 !!
Yesterday morning Capt. Bob caught a car ride to Marsh Harbor. His "plan" was to pick up repaired dinghy and motor it the 15 miles back to Treasure Cay. I asked if he wanted me to go along.....mostly to weigh down the bow! (since not being able to get it up on plane has been a problem since day one)…..probably should have paid more attention to THAT problem immediately.....But Bob was so busy mourning the fact that his "real dinghy" (with a 40 HP, stored in Michigan) wouldn't fit on top of LeReve....that he just assumed the "nightmare" dinghy would never meet his expectations....I regress....anyway...
He told me he would be back by noon, and I should use VHS radio to contact him and by 11:30 he should probably be within ear shot. So about 11:30 I get a cryptic email message from someone I don't know, saying Bob is on his way back to dinghy repair shop and is looking for a car ride back to Treasure Cay. Well thru a series of emails etc....we (back here on the docks) determine that Bob is indeed back at repair shop and does indeed need a car ride back. Luckily, our friends that dropped him off, still had their rental car and were already back here.....but off they went to pick him up. Seems the dinghy was launched and off he went....for about 1/2 the trip, all went well.....then the motor quit #@%&^! and Bob now knows that rowing it anywhere is out of the question because it has a center console steering wheel and there is no where to sit to row....He is out in the Sea of Abaco, floating free (he did not take the anchor with him...or water....or Pepsi.....or.... boyscout??? Good thing I WASN'T with him) anyway, he hails a sail boat underway, who graciously agrees to tow him back to Marsh Harbor. That is who he got to email me with his whereabouts. Nice boaters who wanted nothing from him, but a "pay it forward" for any boater we may find in distress someday....Aren't boaters great!....guess that's because we are all "in the same boat".....pun intended!
So, back at repair shop they figure that all that problem was that the hose connecting the gas tank to the motor came loose and hence no fuel.....BUT, the seemingly capable repair guy takes it our for a spin and says ….there is something very wrong with the fact that it won't get up on plane! (duh, we knew that, but blamed the dinghy)…..his opinion is that the prop isn't sized correctly for the motor. We are beginning to realize that we should have done a little more research 19 months ago, when we purchased the "cute little thing" from someone we knew little about....and are now finding out, obviously knew very little about dinghys and motors, etc) But that is in the past....so now the issue is finding a proper prop and attempting to fix the "Nightmare" to the point of just being able to get to shore and the nearest beach bar, when anchored out! We have more confidence in our new friend, the Marsh Harbor repairman, than they guy we bought it from …….on to the next issue
Capt Bob has ordered a part we must have to make the boat run (so cost cannot be an option!) but the bigger problem is how to get it HERE......he has more confidence than I do that the $1200 part will arrive from Miami as promised....(and you thought the US Postal service is bad!) It would have ONLY cost $850 if we were in US....anyone coming from Miami?? alas, we have placed the order and will now wait!
I cannot stress to him that it could be worse, as he feels totally beaten down at this point....he even missed our regularly scheduled "happy hour" last eve. We have gotten back into the schedule of the "roving happy hour" now that our 3rd boat has joined up with us for the future travel. I think he needs a relaxing day at the beach (always works for me).
MARCH 9 UPDATE... BOB 2 (maybe 3) DINGHY 5
Today I will give Bob a 2 or 3.....he will probably get a 4 or 5 by days end. Yesterday we made the move into Marsh Harbor for 2 reasons. First the dinghy was ready for pick up. This involved dropping an anchor in the harbor, the guy coming out to get Bob in "Nightmare", showing him how great it is working, and Bob then taking him back to pier.... All this was happening while I am standing on bow, praying anchor will hold (no reason for it not, other than my terror) as I don't think I have ever been on LeReve with engines running, anchor out.....with others very close to striking distance (!) ALONE.... of course, it all worked out, The captain returned and we towed dinghy to Abaco Beach Resort....the marina on other side of island. Good News here, fuel is cheap $4.19 plus 12% tax.....YES that is a deal here in the islands...but that cost is offset by the high cost of the slip. Very nice marina here in Marsh Harbor, the largest city in the Abacos. Lots to see, do, shop, etc...but I have to say I prefer the quaintness of Treasure Cay, and the incomparable beach! It was a great 5 weeks spent there....and better rates. We are now getting into the "season" so prices will be going up. It is strange to think that their busy season is now thru the summer. Lots of people from Florida come here to escape the humidity, as there is always a trade wind blowing here. It truly is paradise …at least in my eyes....I STILL marvel at the water color and clearness. I am forever reminded of a friend in Colorado who barely knew me and said, "Jane, you affect me as someone who could be happy living on an island with a beach, somewhere warm" … she sure had that correct...I just didn't think it was that obvious!
I will update Bob's score after he cleans the "Nightmare" up and takes me out for a ride😎…. (and 2nd reason for Marsh Harbor....we understand our $$ part is enroute...the shop is here where we will pick it up and hopefully be on our way to Exumas, I am still skeptical) Other boaters tell us we "ain't seen nothing yet, until we see the water in the Exumas!" Can't wait...just pinch me!
Yesterday morning Capt. Bob caught a car ride to Marsh Harbor. His "plan" was to pick up repaired dinghy and motor it the 15 miles back to Treasure Cay. I asked if he wanted me to go along.....mostly to weigh down the bow! (since not being able to get it up on plane has been a problem since day one)…..probably should have paid more attention to THAT problem immediately.....But Bob was so busy mourning the fact that his "real dinghy" (with a 40 HP, stored in Michigan) wouldn't fit on top of LeReve....that he just assumed the "nightmare" dinghy would never meet his expectations....I regress....anyway...
He told me he would be back by noon, and I should use VHS radio to contact him and by 11:30 he should probably be within ear shot. So about 11:30 I get a cryptic email message from someone I don't know, saying Bob is on his way back to dinghy repair shop and is looking for a car ride back to Treasure Cay. Well thru a series of emails etc....we (back here on the docks) determine that Bob is indeed back at repair shop and does indeed need a car ride back. Luckily, our friends that dropped him off, still had their rental car and were already back here.....but off they went to pick him up. Seems the dinghy was launched and off he went....for about 1/2 the trip, all went well.....then the motor quit #@%&^! and Bob now knows that rowing it anywhere is out of the question because it has a center console steering wheel and there is no where to sit to row....He is out in the Sea of Abaco, floating free (he did not take the anchor with him...or water....or Pepsi.....or.... boyscout??? Good thing I WASN'T with him) anyway, he hails a sail boat underway, who graciously agrees to tow him back to Marsh Harbor. That is who he got to email me with his whereabouts. Nice boaters who wanted nothing from him, but a "pay it forward" for any boater we may find in distress someday....Aren't boaters great!....guess that's because we are all "in the same boat".....pun intended!
So, back at repair shop they figure that all that problem was that the hose connecting the gas tank to the motor came loose and hence no fuel.....BUT, the seemingly capable repair guy takes it our for a spin and says ….there is something very wrong with the fact that it won't get up on plane! (duh, we knew that, but blamed the dinghy)…..his opinion is that the prop isn't sized correctly for the motor. We are beginning to realize that we should have done a little more research 19 months ago, when we purchased the "cute little thing" from someone we knew little about....and are now finding out, obviously knew very little about dinghys and motors, etc) But that is in the past....so now the issue is finding a proper prop and attempting to fix the "Nightmare" to the point of just being able to get to shore and the nearest beach bar, when anchored out! We have more confidence in our new friend, the Marsh Harbor repairman, than they guy we bought it from …….on to the next issue
Capt Bob has ordered a part we must have to make the boat run (so cost cannot be an option!) but the bigger problem is how to get it HERE......he has more confidence than I do that the $1200 part will arrive from Miami as promised....(and you thought the US Postal service is bad!) It would have ONLY cost $850 if we were in US....anyone coming from Miami?? alas, we have placed the order and will now wait!
I cannot stress to him that it could be worse, as he feels totally beaten down at this point....he even missed our regularly scheduled "happy hour" last eve. We have gotten back into the schedule of the "roving happy hour" now that our 3rd boat has joined up with us for the future travel. I think he needs a relaxing day at the beach (always works for me).
MARCH 9 UPDATE... BOB 2 (maybe 3) DINGHY 5
Today I will give Bob a 2 or 3.....he will probably get a 4 or 5 by days end. Yesterday we made the move into Marsh Harbor for 2 reasons. First the dinghy was ready for pick up. This involved dropping an anchor in the harbor, the guy coming out to get Bob in "Nightmare", showing him how great it is working, and Bob then taking him back to pier.... All this was happening while I am standing on bow, praying anchor will hold (no reason for it not, other than my terror) as I don't think I have ever been on LeReve with engines running, anchor out.....with others very close to striking distance (!) ALONE.... of course, it all worked out, The captain returned and we towed dinghy to Abaco Beach Resort....the marina on other side of island. Good News here, fuel is cheap $4.19 plus 12% tax.....YES that is a deal here in the islands...but that cost is offset by the high cost of the slip. Very nice marina here in Marsh Harbor, the largest city in the Abacos. Lots to see, do, shop, etc...but I have to say I prefer the quaintness of Treasure Cay, and the incomparable beach! It was a great 5 weeks spent there....and better rates. We are now getting into the "season" so prices will be going up. It is strange to think that their busy season is now thru the summer. Lots of people from Florida come here to escape the humidity, as there is always a trade wind blowing here. It truly is paradise …at least in my eyes....I STILL marvel at the water color and clearness. I am forever reminded of a friend in Colorado who barely knew me and said, "Jane, you affect me as someone who could be happy living on an island with a beach, somewhere warm" … she sure had that correct...I just didn't think it was that obvious!
I will update Bob's score after he cleans the "Nightmare" up and takes me out for a ride😎…. (and 2nd reason for Marsh Harbor....we understand our $$ part is enroute...the shop is here where we will pick it up and hopefully be on our way to Exumas, I am still skeptical) Other boaters tell us we "ain't seen nothing yet, until we see the water in the Exumas!" Can't wait...just pinch me!
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Where did February Go?
We have visited a few more out islands...anchored out on some small cay....(there are so many, I can't remember which is which) with buddy boat, Job Site. I do remember that this is where we went to Pete's Pub, another happening beach bar where most come by boat! And I do remember that we had a great time and great food. This Cay is where Bob discovered his passion for snorkeling.....I was surprised he would even put his whole body underwater.....but he did and loved it. This is also was where we discovered the dinghy motor would not start and that we would have to get it to Marsh Harbor for repairs. We decided in addition to making that trip we would also (again) visit the world famous beach bar....Nippers!.. on Great Guana Cay. It is such a fun place, especially on Sundays for the pig roast. (after a few/several rum punches, you then proceed to "Grabbers"...another beach bar, for pizza and beer and the party continues there. After so much partying,(actually we also discovered we are way too old to hang with the young kids and left earlier than most) we spent the night at Orchid Bay Marina and witnessed a beach wedding....complete with fireworks. Got this ole mind working about how beautiful that would be for a couple I know and passed the word on! Only hope I get an invitation if this were to happen there. It was a beautiful celebration in a beautiful place.
Then it was off to drop the dinghy at the repair shop which involved finding somewhere to "park" while we unloaded if off the roof. Not an easy feat, but we pulled it off.😎....we have received word that they fixed it (already!) and now have to come up with logistics to pick it up. Capt Bob is toying with idea of driving it all the way back to Treasure Cay (in water)….the winds and waves will determine if that is an option.
So for now, we just enjoy the beauty of the beach and the beautiful turquoise waters....Jane goes to beach everyday, Bob golfs and finds projects to do on boat! Last night the Marsh Harbor Yacht Club had a party on the docks following a golf outing. Bob's team won first place! (golf balls and a bottle of wine, great prize!) and we met many new friends and joined the club. Perhaps NEXT year we will spend more time there, where a lot of the people we met stay for the winter months.....But like I told someone last eve, we don't plan too far ahead anymore....just take it as it comes and enjoy a day at a time.....or one month at a time.
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