Back in South Gulf Cove

We arrived back in SGC 10 days ago. After a nice trip across central Florida.
It takes as long closing the boat as it does launching the boat in the fall.
We decided to haul the boat this year. The bottom was not as bad as I expected but I still would like to have it totally redone next fall and have the suffing box repacked before relaunch.
We been having a great time with Rae, and Jim ( my cousins } Their hospitally is just great!! We've enjoyed meals out with friends and at one restaurant Ruth was thrilled to see Alligators in the pond off the deck!!

Back in Stuart

Yes we made it back to the Town of Stuart on Wed.evening  Where Ruth's adventures all started. She has learned alot about boating over the time she has been on board. Donald and Susan arrived last night and we spent a great evening together talking about the Bahamas and Esperanza adventures or should I say the lack of adventures, other than repairs and our cruise down the ICW and thru the Keys.
I ended up trading my two spare outboards to Kendel for labour on the boat and wouldn't you know it, the mercury started giving me problems this morning. We are tring to cut new gaskets for the carburator. So my four days of everthing running great has ended. I must say that the new dingy worked wonderfully.
Leaving here tomorrow to cruise across Lake Okeechobee. Ruth is looking forward to seeing Gators - lol!
Cheers!

                                          Dolphins riding our wake on way into Miami

                                         Going from tranquility of Keys waterways to......

...seeing the huge city of Miami looming before us!!!

On the move again

Yes belive it or not Esperanza in on the move again. She seems to be working better then ever. Running cooler and faster easy 8 kts at 2000 rpm. We drove her hard the last two days arriving Bota Raton this evening a long two days from Marathon. The generator is running better then ever with the new mixing valve and Kendel's reworking the coolant side. Had to perchase a new tender the day before we left Marathon because while taking of the motor off, prepairing to leave the dingy must have come in contact with the deadly mussels on one of the pilings and cut another hole in her. no time to fix {and she had enough glue for two space shuttles already} so we decided to get a new one. It has not been in the water yet but looking forward to trying her out when we meet Donald and Susan tomorrow..

Esperanza won't give up

After all the recent repairs to the exhaust systems, both the engine and generator, she still will not release us from Marathon . Kendell repaired the drive shaft but discovered a fuel leak in the injector ( yes again) So we are hoping to have that problem fixed by monday, chris the diver will be here tomorrow and hope that goes well, in the mean time ruth and I are enjoying each other and our time together. Ruth rescued a carrier pigeon tonight that flue into our window and ruth decided that it would be a great adder to our chicken soup so she showed me how to clean it and placed into the soup.
Oh...he's in trouble and such a lier!!!! I made a lovely Homemade "Chicken" Soup to help Scott with his cold and as we were sharing the soup with our friends, a Carrier/ Homing Pigeon flew into their glass patio door. After rescuing it first from ferocious Taz, the Chiwawa, it went under the house. I called the Bird Rescue Society and a girl came and got it - from the tag on it's leg she could tell it came from Cuba and was 2 years old! It was tired and very thin. Rest assured I did NOT add it to the soup!!!!!
Despite problems still trying to keep a smile on our faces.
So you want to be a live aboard?
Yes we do!

 After not catching the crane and still needing meat for her chicken soup Ruth looked elsewere.....

                                                      How about an Iguana? Ha ha ha!

Fabrication of parts

                                      New Mixing valve and flex pipe made by Kendell

new mixing valve for generator made by kendell

                                         trip to Key West with Lane and Tina

                                        Lane and Tina's last day at beach

                               A Good day for all

Esperanza Troubles

We are still in Marathon, and repairs are almost completed - we are calling Esperanza the Bionic Boat - we can rebuild her!! After the Muffler issue it led to the replacement of the complete exhaust - from the Turbo Charger and including the Mixing Valve. Our friend Kendall who is a mechanic has been a great help and fabricated many of the needed parts - we will add pictures next time after we download them. Just taking advantage of a friend's internet as we don't get internet very often. Life as "live aboards". Next project is a new valve for the generator which is leaking and has mutinied along with the Muffler!!!

Meanwhile we are enjoying each other and a visit from Tina & Lane from home. We took in the local Sea Festival, and took the bus down to Key West with them for St. Paddy's Day - a good time was had by all. Despite not being able to go far on Esperana we had a successful "Sea Trial" yesterday. Ruth is still enjoying the Manatees, her Kayak, and of course the beautiful sunsets. Life is good!

New Problems

Well it took 2 days but I finally got the toilet fixed but, the vent in the holding tank is still clogged, I have to wait for Kendel to come over - we need one on the out side and one inside to get the through hull fitting. Ruth is not allowed to clean anymore as she always finds something wrong - she noticed rusty water coming out of the muffler under the bed. As this could be a potential dangerous leak - as in we don't want a water bed!!! we have to get that fixed as well. .... There is a boat in the Harbour called "Always Something" - we are beginning to think we should be called "Always Something Too!".

We are anxiously awaiting Tina & Lane's arrival on Monday and after Sea Fest next weekend, we will be heading South to Key West!!

Meanwhile we have enjoyed seeing 4 Dolphins playing near the boat, Pelicans soaring overhead, the company of good friends, lovely meals, sunshine when we have it, and being snug and warm on board when the weather recently dropped to 62 degrees and winds and rain prevailed. Ruth found it quite interesting last night when we could hear the shrimp eating the barnicles, etc. off the bottom of the boat!!! Such an interesting life....it's all good!!

Working on front head - again!!

Friendly Dolphins!