Ship's Log 1998 "DNA"
07/10/98 Big Ridge Yacht Club, Chattanooga TN - Radar arch installed and radar mounted. Currently re-painting dingy. Remaining: Re-coat water tanks, buy & stow supplies, have going away party, and LEAVE!
08/06/98 Big Ridge Yacht Club, Chattanooga TN - Dingy completed, water tanks complete, supplies on DNA, going away party scheduled Sat 8/8, and LEAVE within next two weeks!
08/16/98 Big Ridge Yacht Club, Chattanooga TN - Party was a success and a lot of fun. Someone informed a local TV station (CH 9) about the adventure. They came by a few days later and did a story. It aired on the 11PM and 6PM news.
LEAVE is scheduled for 8/18 AM!
08/24/98 Pickwick Lake Alabama on the Tenn. River - Left Chattanooga on schedule Tue. 8/18 AM and arrived here Sun 23rd. After 250 miles, every thing is working OK. There is one exception, finding a phone to access the Net.
We purchased the "Tennessee River Cruise Guide" which tells where the marinas are located and what they have. No one should leave home without one for their area. We could not have gotten here without it.
We hope to start down the Tombigbee this week. We are now resting, swimming, looking for a Tombigbee Cruising Guide, and a phone the computer can use.
08/30/98 We are 164 miles down the Tombigbee, 9 miles west of Aliceville AL, and 284 miles from Mobile AL. We will be at Demopolis AL before this is posted because it is the closest marina. That is, if they will let us use their phone. We never could get the phone coupler to work on pay phones and have sent it back to the factory for adjustment.
Small problems, like the coupler, are starting to occur. A wire came loose to the electric bilge pump, causing the water level in the boat to be higher than normal. When we began to use the manual pump, the plastic fitting for the handle broke. After a brief pause for panic, we returned to plan "A" and fixed the original problem. Replacing the manual pump is the #2 item on our boatyard repair list. Item #1 is to replace the shaft seal that drips more than we like.
09/07/98 We have completed the Tombigbee. It was a long 450 miles. The major problem was an absence of encourages. There was one stretch of 90 miles with none. We got under way at 6 AM and ran hard till late afternoon to make it. All in all it wasn't so bad. The views were good and the people we met were nice. Barges, Lock Masters, fellow travelers, marina operators, and people just wanting to know where we were from, all made for a pleasant trip.
Mobile Bay was a shock after the Tombigbee. To go from a small bayou where, we stayed the night, to water you can't see across is something else. We passed under the Dauphin Island Bridge at 7:15 PM and started looking for a place to spend the night. We found a spot between the channel and the west end of Dauphin Island. This was the first time we ever anchored in OPEN WATER. We stayed up half the night expecting to be run over by several big fishing trawlers.
09/10/98 Biloxi MS. - We had planed on staying in this area till the hurricane season was over, but we are having problems locating a slip. What places there are, are taken, or they are too high for out budget. We will continue to look while we check out the local casinos. Life is full on contradictions.
09/14/98 Gulfport MS. (30.21.51N 089.05.12W) - We have moved here to be closer to friends and relatives. Where we are docked, says we can stay a couple of weeks. Where we go after that will depend on the weather and whether we can find another home in the area for DNA. The people and casinos have been very nice to us. The main problem is not having a car to go where and when we like.
09/25/98 Gulfport MS. - Industrial Canal - (30.25.23N 089.01.34W) - Georges, an adventure within an adventure. - We have moved DNA from the marina to a man-made canal that runs parallel to the coast, but several miles inland. We are not alone! Every shape size, and type of boat are here. Most boats, including DNA, have nosed the bow into the soft mud bank and ran lines to trees. We have four lines totaling about 300'. We all have also run stern lines to anchors, to hold the boats off the bank during the expected tide surge. Everything on deck has been secured or stowed below. Now we wait.
So far the only hitch is water, we left the marina with very little water in the tanks. We have a reason, not a good reason, but a reason. When we decided to leave the marina, a local TV crew (CH 13) arrived. After a short interview, they filmed us preparing DNA for departure. Somehow filling the water tanks just fell through the crack. Oh well, it's a small price to pay for our public. We haven't seen it, but hear it was "cute".
They are saying Hurricane Georges, now 275 miles away and closing, is going to be bad. The casinos have all closed and most of the hotel guests have gone. It's now 9/27-01:00AM, all is quite and here we sit. I'm glad we're the main characters in this adventure series or I might be concerned.
09/30/98 Gulfport Marina (30.21.51N 089.05.12W) - They say we can only stay till Monday. All the marinas we have seen were heavily damaged during the storm and are currently closed. I guess we are lucky to have a place at all.
The night of the 27th Georges came ashore looking for us. When we were in the west side of the EYE, IT STOPPED! It was weird! The entire sky would light up with a bright shade of turquoise. It was so bright, the blinking red night lights on a tower near us would go out. The next morning found us washed up on the bank by the wind and a 15ft tide surge.
Monday the 28th was spent working in the rain on plans A, B, C, D, ..., trying to winch and pull DNA off. No luck. We were still in the EYE and the wind was too strong to reset the anchor are expect help. That evening the tide began going out and DNA began to tilt. By that night she was leaning more than 40 degrees on her starboard side. The water was within 6'' of coming in the boat. At some point, one of the many ropes we had on deck and in the water, rapped around the prop and killed the engine. We called it a night and went to bed.
Tuesday was cloudy and misting rain but the wind had died down. We retrieved and secured as many lines as we could and prepared a tow rope. A couple of the bigger boats were beginning to try and pulling boats back in the water. We were among the lucky ones that slid back in with little or no damage. Several shrimp boats near us insisted we tie up next to them. We cleared the rope around the prop by placing the engine in forward and reveres for short burst. It wasn't even cut when we got it out. After retrieving the anchors we secured DNA with the shrimpers. They offered to share their food, water, and fuel. It was a fun evening learning new things, asking and answering a lot questions.
Wednesday the bridges began to operate so we left the canal and eventually wound up here.
10/07/98 Grand Casino OF Gulfport (30.21.42N 090.00.01W) - Monday 10/05 we left Gulfport Marina, as requested. Because the gas dock was not working, we had to rent a car to locate fuel and a new place for DNA.
On previous visits to the Grand, we saw several boat slips behind the casino. Lucky for us we requested and were granted permission to move DNA here. This was good because we like the Grand and was spending most of our time here anyway.
We plan to leave next week for New Orleans and pull DNA out of the water.
10/18/98 Orleans Marina, New Orleans LA (30.02.20N 090.07.08W) - We left Gulfport Monday 10/12 and arrived here Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time DNA was under sail since leaving home. Today was spent, riding buses from New Orleans to Kenner LA sightseeing.
DNA is scheduled to be pulled out of the water Thursday 10/20 at Sintes Boat Works near the marina. We are doing this to replace a leaking shaft seal, check for any storm damage from Georges, and do a final inspection below the waterline before going offshore.
10/28/98 Sintes Boat Works, New Orleans LA (30.01.24N 090.07.09W) - It turned out the storm did more damage than we expected. DNA's prop shaft was bent and couldn't be repaired. The new shaft and the other parts are on order and should be here this week. We hope to get back underway by this weekend.
We are planning to leave here, go offshore, and sail straight to Tampa FL. The trip should take four or five days depending on the wind. All this depends on what the weather is doing in the Gulf and points south.
11/03/98 Orleans Marina, New Orleans LA (30.02.20N 090.07.08W) - After two weeks, we are back at the marina looking forward to a long HOT shower and doing some laundry. Life in a boat yard in interesting, never knowing where DNA would be next, as we were moved around to make room for other boats. We even spent the night, on the travel lift, suspended in the air a couple of times. But everyone was nice and the new shaft is installed so we hope to get under way soon.
11/07/98 Ship Island MS (30.12.51N 088.58.40W) - We left Orleans Marina the morning of 11/06 and sailed across Lake Pontchartrain. We motored the rest of the way and arrived here late this evening. Tomorrow we motor to the outer marker and head offshore to Tampa.
11/09/98 Big Lagoon, Pensacola Fl (30.19.29N 087.19.45W) - After sailing all night the weather forecast started to look bad. We were about 35 miles from Pensacola (30.40.41N 087.41.12W) when we decided to alter course. We dropped anchor about 9PM in Big Lagoon which is just west of the Pensacola entrance.
Update 11/13 - Still at anchor. After we arrived, the wind started gusting at more than 30 knots. Rain and lighting followed and now it's cold. The forecast looks better for this weekend, we'll see.
Update 11/15 - Still at anchor. Tomorrow we plan to spend a night at the Southwind Marina nearby.
11/16/98 Southwind Marina, Big Lagoon, Pensacola FL - Arrived at the marina around 1300 and was surprised at the damage caused by GEORGE. They were in the process of rebuilding all there docks. The large marina next door was virtually gone.
After spending the night and talking with some local cruising folks about the weather, we decided to leave for Tarpon Springs FL. Below is an account of the crossing.
After taking on fuel and water, we left Southwind Marina about 11/17-1215. Below is the date, time lat./long and miles to go. The reason will become clear:
Date Time Lat. / Long. Miles
11/17 1330 30.10.11N 087.17.29W 277
1600 30.00.00N 087.05.10W 263
2000 29.53.20N 086.44.27W 240
2400 29.40.57N 086.29.18W 223
11/18 0400 29.29.50N 086.13.25W 205
0800 29.10.20N 086.01.05W 188
0900 29.13.10N 085.55.33W 182 wind on nose, started motor-sailing
1200 29.02.30N 085.35.42W 153
1600 28.55.58N 085.15.15W 134
2000 28.45.59N 084.45.50W 107
2400 28.38.03N 084.17.45W 81
11/19 0400 28.28.10N 083.50.40W 55
0800 28.20.42N 083.28.32W 34 lost motor transmission, returned sailing, and altered course to Clearwater FL.
1200 28.14.48N 083.28.59W 38 NO Wind!
1600 28.14.07N 083.31.47W 39
2000 28.12.09N 083.31.48W 39
2400 28.11.14N 083.30.30W 37
11/20 0400 28.09.20N 083.27.29W 34
0800 28.08.24N 083.27.40W 34
1200 28.09.23N 083.20.29W 33
1600 28.09.12N 083.24.57W 32
2000 28.08.32N 083.23.32W 31
2400 28.00.25N 083.13.14W 21
11/21 0400 28.00.11N 082.59.21W 8
0800 27.50.52N 082.57.49W 6
1200 27.50.54N 082.54.10W 3
Sailed through Clearwater Pass and contacted Tow-Boat-US for a tow to Ross Yacht Sale , a local repair facility. We plan to remove the transmission and have it ready for inspection Monday 11/23.
11/27/98 Ross Yacht, Clearwater FL (27.58.33N 082.49.07W) - Andi and I removed the transmission and took it to Competition Marine in Tampa FL. We should know Monday 11/30 if it can be repaired.
Andi found the Seminole Indian Casino, just outside Tampa, and came home $240 richer. I hope we're as lucky with the transmission.
12/05/98 Ross Yacht, Clearwater FL (27.58.33N 082.49.07W) - The estimate to repair the transmission is between $2K and $3K. A new one would be around $4K. We are looking for a used one. It would be a replacement or parts for the old one. We've also had to remove the 'carrier'. This is the part on the motor's flywheel that drives the transmission. We are also working to remove a leaking injector on the motor.
12/19/98 Ross Yacht, Clearwater FL (27.58.33N 082.49.07W) - The replacement transmission and 'carrier' are installed but not tested. The leaking injector requires a new sleeve. This is the part of the motor that holds the injector. We are trying to install a new sleeve without removing the head (taking the motor apart).
12/31/98 Ross Yacht, Clearwater FL (27.58.33N 082.49.07W) - The replacement injector sleeve arrived and didn't fit. We confirmed, with Volvo, that the part number matched the motor number, and it did. They sent another one in case the first was damaged in shipping. When it arrived, it looked identical to the first. There are four different injector sleeves for the Volvo Penta 2003 series. We are trying to get the dimensions on the other three, hoping one of them will match the one we removed. Volvo is closed till Monday 1/4.
This is DNA wishing you a Happy New Year from a deserted boat yard in FL.--- Main Menu --- Ship's Log 1999 ---