May 11, 2020 - Stabilizer Check - Key Largo, Florida - Key Largo Harbor Marina

May 11, 2020 – Stop at Key Largo Harbor Marina (another shallow entrance – 1.9’ under keel at high tide) to address the clunking stabilizers.

Not long after the Coast Guard helicopter had left, and the Coast Guard cutter was nearing, we made the decision to stop and have the stabilizers checked.  We are fortunate to get into Key Largo Harbor Marina as I made calls to several marinas in the area and they were all closed due to the pandemic, including Key Largo Harbor. Fortunately, Niki knew someone who has a boat there.  Their boat was hauled out, their side tie slip was available and just big enough for us to fit.

We could continue without the stabilizers, but the ride will not be as pleasant.  I scheduled Yacht Equipment & Parts to travel down from Fort Lauderdale to service the stabilizers.   Ray arrives the next day and checks the software, hydraulics and bushings.  Ray also cycles them at the dock.  He made some adjustments in the settings and pushed up the hydraulic pressure to 1,000 psi - but without a sea trial he was limited to the trouble shooting he could perform.   The sea trial was a no-go due to the tide and shallow water at the entrance - did not think we could get out until dark.

As we awaited Ray's arrival Nikolay continued to work on improving engine room cooling and wants all four blowers working but the starboard aft blower appears to have failed.  With help from Patrick Dunlop we learn that Ingham Engineering, in Fort Lauderdale, has the engine room blower we need and they are able to deliver it to Yacht Equipment & Services.   Fortunately Ray is able to deliver this part when he arrives.

Nikolay crawls up into a tough location back in the starboard aft corner.  to get to the blower and prepares to install the replacement part.  A connector appears to have been inadvertently disconnected – plugs it back in - and it works!  No need for the new blower - now we have a spare.  Good thing as we still are not sure how to unfasten it from the engine room ceiling.

Also, he installs a couple of box fans to pull air from the engine room into the lazarette, improves the fan venting from the electrical room and gets the fan under the dash in the pilot house working.  In the meantime, I tackle the toilets to reduce the amount of water used during the flush cycle and collect safety items: smoke detectors, life sling, signaling devices.

During this down time Lois and I have a discussion about motion sickness and disrupted sleeping as we are unable to make any further stops for the next seven days until we reach Panama as all the ports are closed due to the pandemic.  Nikolay informs me that after three days of motion sickness it can become a medical emergency.  And on top of this, the disrupted sleep may also result in a lupus flare up for Lois which could also become a medical emergency.  After discussion, Lois and I make the decision to step off and have Nikolay bring on crew in our stead.  However, Niki and Dennis chose to stay on to experience the canal crossing!

Nikolay has made good use of the time while we wait out Tropical Depression One (soon to become Arthur) as it moves north.  Not only has he made heat management improvements, he has rounded up two crew members to replace Geary and Lois who have decided to depart due to health concerns.

Note our neighboring boat is Raven!  

   Stop at Key Largo Harbor Marina (another shallow entrance – 1.9’ under keel at high tide) to check and address the clunking stabilizers.

Positive events - I think we have a guardian angel:

• Geary and Lois make the right choice to step off 
• We were able to find a harbor where we could stop and evaluate the boat and crew