Captain Rich Yacht Deliveries

This is a typical boat delivery not different from others, but always different. This yacht delivery had no major problems or delays. On other yacht deliveries, I have had to repair broken wires, pumps or plug leaks. There are times when I must stop for repairs, just recently to replace a starter and then a pump on the same delivery. But, most often the yacht delivery is straight forward, just like this;

Yacht Delivery 50-10

Feb. 2nd I took a rental car to pick up an Ocean 40 in Freeport LI going to Tampa, Brian is crew. We arrived at 1410 which gave me enough time for a boat inspection. It was a broker’s office and they had the boat well prepared. The only problem was low anti-freeze coolant and easily corrected. We ate at the Naut Restaurant which was very good but a little pricy.

2/3 Leave Freeport at 0640. Passed Atlantic City at 1100, speed 20K, Cape May 12:45, 23 K. SW wind kept me close to shore and at reduced speed. Nasty crossing Del Bay. Arrived at the Sunset Marina in OCMD at 1515. 263 gal. 165 miles. Not bad at all. All fluids in engine room ok. I wiped up a few drops under the port engine.

2/4 Leave OCMD at 0640. VA line at 0730. In at Cape Charles at 1010. Great Bridge Lock at 1220, Coinjock at 1510, 165 miles. All fluids in engine room ok. A few more drops under the port engine. Nothing unusual. 30-50 K winds predicted tomorrow. The steaks were great as usual.

2/5 Leave Coinjock at 0715. Delayed by fog. At 1300 I tried the ocean, close to shore it was doable so I stayed out. 5 footers from the NW off starboard quarter and building so in at Masonboro. Arrived at Southport at 1800. 224 Miles. 268 gal. 30 more gal. in starboard tank. I told Brian to be more careful filling tanks. Starboard engine down about a quart. Ate at Steamers which is normally good but today the food was cold due to a power outage, so they said.

2/6 Leave Southport at 0645 in a calm ocean. I was doing 25 K. By 1100 the seas were building and I was passing Charleston so with seas at 3-5, I went inside. Hilton Head at 1610, 207 miles 340gal. Stbd oil lower. Half gal. added. No leaks seen.

2/7 Leave HH at 0700 high winds kept me inside. Fog and rain slowed me down. I could see very little, GPS and radar worked fine. At Isle of Hope spring low tide slowed me down a bit. All through the Georgia ICW I was in shallow water. I finally went out at St. Simon and made Fernandina at 1500. I did not want to go into St. Aug. in the dark. Went 194 miles in Georgia ICW but only 94 miles made good, So much for the Georgia ICW. 318 gal. Starboard engine still took more than port. Not Brians fault. Fluids good, port engine no longer leaking.

2/8 Leave Fern at 0655 with a north wind and 3-5 ft. waves out of the NW. Speed at 24 K. The “C” can (A,B,C & D cans mark the restricted area going around Cape Canaveral) at 1300. The starboard engine’s fuel problem became more obvious. Traveling in the ocean I opened the crossover 40 miles short of Ft. Pierce. At Ft. Pierce I went in to the Pelican Yacht Club to pick up 50 gals of fuel. It was 1600. I stopped at Stuart (Northside Marina) at 1800. 239 miles. 392 gal.

2/9 Leave Stuart at 0645, St. Lucie Lock at 0745. Made Ft. Myers at 1530 at the Ft. Myers Yacht Basin. Added another half gal. of oil to stbd engine. Port just a little low. Nothing added to port.

2/10 Leave Ft. Myers at 0700 in clear weather. About 15 minutes out I ran into dense fog. It took me 3 hours to get to Boca Grande and the gulf. Again GPS and radar worked well. The fog lifted as I approached the gulf at 1000. Had I known about the fog I could have gone out at San Carlos. I arrived at the Bay Marina in Tampa at 1415. John the owner met me there. We discussed my boat report and the stbd engine problem. His son drove us to the airport. The entire trip was 1402 Naut. Miles.