Sunday November 18: Enjoying Being Back

We have been here at Banana Bay for just over a week now and are really enjoying being here. A number of the 'regulars' are back and it's enjoyable catching back up with everyone.

And as always we're still catching up getting the boat up to snuff.

The washing machine didn't like sitting for 7 months either and finally gave it up. It was having timer issues at the end of last season but we had a workaround so never took the time to replace the in theory working used timing unit we bought last Feb.

I was feeling particularly ambitious one morning and decided to swap out the old timer with the new.

The biggest challenge? Work with the main control wires - 16 wires that had to be removed all at the same time and put back on the new control in the same position.

But with a box of different magic markers and good notes along with many pictures, it was successful!!!




Sadly though the 'new' timer didn't work any better and actually was worse than the old one. So unfortunate.

Well, we installed the washer/dryer unit 10 years ago and it was used when we bought it so we didn't feel too bad about that.

Scott the dockmaster helped Steve get it out of the aft cabin. Only the top and the washer door had to be removed so not really too bad!

When we first moved to the boat and were constantly traveling it was great to have the unit; Now it's not such a big deal to do the laundry here at Banana Bay. Seriously not worth replacing at this point.

The manatee have been very active in the harbor since we arrived. Most days there will be one or more hanging around.

Manatee lying on it's back
to drink the dripping fresh water.

They come in for the fresh water which drips from a small leak in the faucet just in front of our boat.

The one left is lying on it's back and letting the water drip into it's mouth. This particular manatee has been here in other years - it's tail with two cuts from a boat prop is kind of hard to miss.

It's rare to see a manatee that DOESN'T have some kind of scar from a boat - either on it's back or tail.


It just seems like it's been all work again but Steve did manage to make time for a kayak ride along the shoreline east of us.

Not a lot to see yet as the water is not terribly clear but we look for improvement as the winter goes on.

Painting the deck of the forward cabin.

Steve decided he wanted to finish up the last of the painting on the outside of the boat.

The top of both the forward and aft cabin decks needed to be painted and that will be the end of the painting.

The aft deck cabin - the end of the painting!

Both of these surfaces will be covered with Raptor. It's actually made for a truck bed liner but works great on these decks. Goes on relatively easy and holds up very well.




I keep thinking we must be finished but Steve keeps finding more things that need to be done! Seems like there would be an end to it at some point :-)

And of course most afternoons end with docktails.

This is Stephen from Stevedore - we thought our Ironman son-in-law Matt would enjoy Stephen's shirt :-)

I couldn't help but add the second line to the shirt!!




And finally it was time to get some bottom paint on our dinghy. Usually we just have it sitting out of the water on the swim platform but now we'll leave it in the water while we're here in Banana Bay.

It's way quicker for Steve to just jump in the dinghy and go rather than put the dinghy down and hoist the engine on when he wants to fishing.

And since he just bought a new Suzuki engine - he can't wait!!

Hopefully he'll be able to get out while grouper are still in season!!





In the meantime I finally have everything I need to start making the new shade covers for the boat.





The ones on are now 10 years old and are just not even cleaning up any more. Not bad for their age but easy to replace and relatively inexpensive when I do the sewing myself. I figure about a two week project - which means they will be done in a month :-)





Tomorrow we head to Ft Lauderdale to see my hand surgeon to hopefully schedule part 4 of the 4 part work on my hands: fuse the right thumb!!!