Tie A Knot and Hang On

The name of this boat says it all!!!!  We are once again back at Charlotte Harbor Boat Yard...not by choice!
We had been waiting for the winds to abate so we could start south and Sunday and Monday looked like good enough weather for us to get to Fort Myers before the winds picked up again with yet another cold front coming through...(at least none of them has brought snow to South Florida)  Getting away from the dock was a piece of cake but stopping for fuel started the snowball effect rolling.  Queuing up for fuel had us in a holding pattern in Fishermans Village Yacht Basin for almost an hour.  No winds, sunny warm day, equals boaters filling their tanks for a day on the water.

We finally got moving at noon and it took four hours to get to Pelican Bay Anchorage off of Cayo Costa State Park as you can see we weren't the only ones with that idea. Pelican Bay is the nicest anchorage on Charlotte Harbor and  is accessible only by boat or ferry. You can go ashore at the park and walk over to the great beach on the Gulf side of the island so it is a popular place.

We saw what we thought was to be our first of many beautiful sunsets in the next few months..........

then Here Go Again........

First Gary noticed the anchor light wasn't working,,, grrreat....up he went to dismantle it and find our fairly LED bulb had burned out (they last forever don't you know....yeah right!).... a knot to tie

the next morning we got up ready to head out early for Fort Myers and of course the salt water wash down wasn't working......another knot to tie

Since we were anchored in a sand bottom she came out clean as a whistle so no big deal just one more repair....

It was a beautiful day and we were enjoying being on the water again and seeing all the other boaters doing like wise.  Then IT happened!!  All of a sudden the port engine sped up and slowed down....I was cleaning on the back deck....looked up onto the bridge with a "what the heck are you doing"  and he said the dreaded words...."we have no forward, I think we just lost the transmission"........Oh S**t!!  But calmness prevailed , meaning I didn't freak out as I am wont to do.  I drove while he headed for the bilge.  Final prognosis....not good, decisions had to be made...... head back to the boat yard...and TIE A BIG KNOT!
This is definitely a time when you are glad you have two engines....and that you have trailing transmissions which allow you to run on one engine at a time. ( We do this always. Alternating engines every three hours to save fuel.)
We arrived late yesterday at the boat yard and are tied to the dock.  Gary talked to a Transmission repair in Stuart....there aren't any around here...and they agreed it was the clutch.  Which means a rebuild IF (and that is a big if when talking about 28 year old transmissions that were made in England yet) he can get the parts. Right now Gary is starting the removal of the transmission and we are on our knees praying that it can be rebuilt.   All good vibes and prayers are most welcome!

On his knees and believe me, praying

Bessie's transmission....poor old girl....

This run of "issues" started a week ago when we realized our 18 month old stereo (12 month warranty of course)  on the bridge is not working .....
Then the air conditioning/heating unit started shutting itself down occasionally off  for a reason he still can't figure out.... I am thinking another sign of old age....(not him, the unit silly)!

So we have tied a knot and we are hanging on!