12/28/15   Monday

Best as I can recall, this was an uninteresting day of travel - pretty, had to stay in the channel, some power boats went rudely too fast past us so we had to hold everything down, we had a "take the outboard motor off the dinghy" after we got underway this morning (i.e. pull off the ICW into "other" water  - did we anchor? I think we did - like pulling into a rest stop on the interstate except that there isn't a rest stop. Anchored behind a little island tonight where the wind is blowing hard enough to keep any bug from landing so no mosquitoes. Hurrah! And it is delightfully cooler, yes, cooler.

Anchored behind this small island 

Nancy out.

David here:
The Indian River is most challenging because it is monotonous (spelling?) , the water is wide but the channel is narrow so there is considerable distance between the channel and anything one can look at. It is exposed to the SE wind (prevailing at this time) and the navigable channel is narrow, so close attention to depth and direction are what you do.

As Nancy said, as we started off, we quickly discovered the wind and waves were not favorable to towing Evon the Avon with motor attached. So we pulled off at a "deep spot" and hauled the motor. Evon is much happier and so am I.  We slogged through 20-25 kt winds on our nose all day, nursing the engine (more on this for your motor heads). As we grew closer to the Vero Beach end, it became more interesting because of the islands, primitive island campgrounds and views of the barrier islands. But, alas, too late.  a long day of motoring had taken its toll.

Boat Mechanical Stuff:
So, over the past week we have prepped and then done a haul-out to re-do the stuffing box, which has been leaking a great deal. We discussed how to repack with Dick Merrick and with others, and although Dick and I thought we could do it in the water, other advice, plus caution, led to us paying for a quick haul out. As it turns out, we could have done the stuffing box in the water. (now we know for next time) BUT, we did get to scrub the bottom, change some zincs and generally, lovingly, pat the hull that keeps us afloat. (Yes, some cruising dollars gone, but good stuff accomplished.)

Stuffing Box:
Re-packing the Stuffing box, (the thing that keeps water from coming in where the propeller shaft comes into the bottom of the boat) We found the previous "maintenance" was done by someone who took a few feet of the packing and wound it around the shaft in the stuffing box in a continuous loop. Oops! This is exactly what all the "experts" say one should not do. So i happily put in new packing in the proscribed manner (What? you want to know what that is? - Essentially, cutting each piece of packing so it makes a perfect ring with ends of the ring cut at 45degree so they lap. Then add the next layer with the cut 120degrees further around the shaft, and continue till full.)

Anyway, feeling quite holy and nautical we closed it up and dropped Grace back in the water. Unfortunately, after running the engine the packing still leaked (although it is a heck of a lot better than before.)
So, on to further research: Nigel Caulder (boat book guru) says that if the engine is out of alignment, the stuffing box will leak. Hmmmmm

So, our good friend, Sheldon ( a trained marine engineer as well as lawyer (go figure!)) met us in New Smyrna and we pulled apart the shaft to tranny connect.  AHA! We measured and found the alignment off by .046" (to those who do not know, that is a lot!) We suspect the problem is the engine is out of alignment with the shaft. Given the weird engine mounts we have, this will take someone well above my pay grade. (amazing that I can admit this!)

So, now we are working toward another haul-out in Stuart, FL, talking by telephone to boat mechanics referred to us by wonderful family (Richey) connections (Thank you- Lew and Kathryn)  as we work our way toward Stuart, to determine the best possible, hopefully lower cost, options for getting the engine in alignment and things working right, or better.

RE: The politics of getting ashore:
Vero Beach has a municipal marina that has a bunch of moorings. $16 a night.

Good price, Here is the catch. They tell you that you will "raft up" with at least one and maybe two other boats (that is, tie up to, side by side - up to three across) on one mooring ball. So, picture this. You go to a state park and reserve a camp site and when you arrive, the park ranger says; OK, so you are in campsite "C" along with two other groups who are complete strangers. We don't know if they know how to pitch a tent safely, or if their way of rigging things will snag and damage your stuff,  if they are trustworthy or will steal you blind when you leave your tent, or if they will party all night with music blaring. Just give us the $16 dollars.  Yeah, right!
I apologize for this expression of frustration but,...WTF???

Sorry, Vero Beach, we are moving on. (one has to wonder who dreams up these arrangements and if they ever consider if they would put their families, and loved ones, in these arrangements. I bet not!}