March 5: Waiting on Weather

Here we are in Marathon, along with many other boats, waiting for a weather window to cross the gulf stream and anxiously checking offshore weather reports for news that the winds are shifting to any direction but north. The latest indicates that this might happen Sunday or Monday. We spent a few days in the harbour on a mooring ball ($20/night) and have now moved to an anchorage (free) just outside the channel marks to Marathon Marina and the harbour.

Mooring balls are usually (in the USA, anyway...) screwed into the sea bed and have tethers on them. To get on a ball, approach into the wind (Admiral), coasting up to the ball. Use the boat hook to grab the tether (Captain) and with quick speed and mighty muscles, pass a line from the boat through the tether and tie it off.
Images of the mooring field at Boot Key Harbour in Marathon.

Images of the anchorage outside of the marinas.

This boat reminds us of the movie Dead Calm.

Pirate Test.

What is the best evidence of potential piracy here?

A. Distressed and bombed out boat with old tires for fenders

B. Pirate on deck

C. Pirate flag
D. All of the above

So, we are looking forward to our trip and in the meanwhile, preparing to live at sea. Now that we are away from the marina, I had an excuse to put the WonderClean to the test. Guess I'll have to write a separate entry about that, but here is a link to see what it is:

http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1600&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C127%2C284&KickerID=77&KICKER

Works like a champ but we will still visit laundromats for sheets and towels. I have to admit some hesitancy in hanging dainty bits on the lifelines, but then again, if that gives some passing fisherman a thrill, well, he needs to come out of his cave more often.

Since the definition of cruising is fixing your boat in exotic places, at least we are well on our way with that. More boat parts, you ask?? Well. About a month or two ago, for unknown reasons, perhaps age, we threw a fan blade on the AC/heat blower in the salon. Craig shimmed the unit with a paint stirrer stick to reduce vibration. Monday night we threw 2 more blades. Now it is a problem as we figure the fan will become unbalanced and bomb out in some exotic and hot locale. (Think: crazy international shipping rates, delivery schedule and customs). Much internet searching, phone calls to every dealer up to Ft Lauderdale and a 6 mile hike to every AC, marine dealer and marine salvage yard in Marathon ensued in an attempt to acquire just the part (squirrel cage fan...like a hamster wheel). No luck. One must order the entire blower/motor/fan unit. $565. Plus we were against a wall, balancing delivery with our anticipated departure. A three hour install, given tiny screws and about 2 inches around the unit in which to work. After ordering the blower, we continued the search in a refusal to give up and there it was. Some kinky online outfit that specializes and sells every size and rotation of 'squirrel cages' one could possibly want for $24 plus shipping. The new motor, though, is whisper quiet.....
The Admiral