March 21st: Banana Bay

 It's hard to believe I have been back at Banana Bay since January 19th. The opportunities to get out fishing and/or kayaking have been pretty sparse. However, it's always warm and almost always sunny. There were numerous projects I wanted to complete so the weather actually helped that motivation.

The first project was to replace the fresh water pump. It pumps water  from the boat water tanks to the sinks, shower heads, etc. The old pump died shortly before I arrived so Mychael was running off the marina water hookup. It works quite well but if a hose would come loose, or some other leak, the boat would fill with water. There are bilge pumps but we had that situation happen a few years ago. A hose came loose and both bilge pumps failed. I got out of bed in the morning and when I stepped down, the water was over my ankles! It was a crisis, but fortunately I got the water shut off before the boat sunk at the dock. It was a big ordeal getting everything repaired. Consequently, I installed a high water alarm and we just always ran the fresh water system off of the boat's water tanks. 

Water pump circled in orange

So I was anxious to replace the water pump. It would not be challenging except for getting to it. It's down in the bilge and I can't quite sit up straight. After much crawling around and replacing some older suspect hoses, I completed the job successfully. 

Old pump

Then I moved on to replacing the forward head toilet parts. It's a manual pump and there are parts that wear out. I decided to just order a new pump mechanism because the old one was getting very hard to pump. 

Old and new Joker Valves

The system uses what's called a "Joker" valve. (Looks like a Joker's hat). I suspected it would need to be replaced and I was definitely correct.

New pump 

The installation went well and the forward head is ready for the Rahn's visit in April. 

One of the good things about using the fresh water pump on the boat is that you can hear it run anytime the water is running. That means, if there is a leak, you hear the pump run. Very shortly after replacing the pump I heard the water pump kick on for just a second or two. That meant a small leak somewhere. The question is where. There is water in the forward (bow) head, the galley sink in the salon in the center of the boat, the hot water tank next to the fresh water pump in the bilge, and in the aft bathroom, head and shower.

Suspect hose clamps

I started with the easiest to get to first. The water hoses run underneath the bow v berth and are easy to access. Pretty nasty down there. Cleaning is also in order! I checked and sure enough, two of the hose clamps were very rusty and one was leaking. Easy fix. I replaced one old hose and replaced any suspect hose clamps and put everything back together. 

Didn't hear the pump run for hours. Then just before I went to bed, I heard it kick on for just a second. Hmmmm. Hopefully, just some air in a line. But I knew better.

The next day I started searching further. Of course, I found the leak in the last place I looked. It was behind the wall in the aft cabin shower. That line has some old copper tubing (1978) which is linked to plastic hoses. Dealing with old copper is always problematic. It took three days and several different approaches, but I finally fixed the leak. I haven't heard the pump running, when nothing was turned on, for many days!

Scorpion fish

Fortunately, the winds died down and I was able to get out fishing under the seven mile bridge in the dinghy. It appeared to be very good conditions. I fished for several hours and caught only one fish. It's a scorpion fish with venemous spines. It is a very colorful and unusual looking fish. I was able to get the hook out with my needelnose pliers and return it to the ocean. At least I caught something!

Scorpion fish

After putting all that time in to catch one fish I included two pictures and a link to more info. Scorpion fish

Walk around deck repair

The wind picked up again so it was back to the projects. I noticed there were several places where the caulking was cracked on the walk around deck. Eventually water will find it's way into the cabin so I worked on that next. Took a couple days, well a few hours each day, but I felt like I got them all taken care of.

 

Mychael had purchased some new 12 volt lights for the front cabin. He didn't get to installing them. The old fixtures were actually 12 volt light bulbs many years old. I installed the new lights which are very nice.

New LED lights that swivel 

About three days prior, a transient boater/fisherman stayed a few days. He was seriously into fishing. He went out into the gulf stream (about 30 miles out) and caught a swordfish. It was huge. He passed out fish to anyone who wanted some. (Unfortunately I wasn't there at the time.)

Turned out he cleaned the fish on his boat and threw the carcass into the marina. A carcass typically sinks but after a few days of decaying the oxygen floats it to the surface. That's what happened. He was long gone. The carcass smelled terrible. A woman on the boat next to it came looking for Mychael hoping he would use the dinghy to tow it out of the marina. I told her he wasn't here but I would do it. After all, I had a vested interest.

Towing swordfish carcass

I tied a line around the sword (bill) and slowly headed out of the marina. 

Swordfish minus its bill

I only made it about 100 yards before the bill came loose. So I pulled the bill into the dinghy, retied to the body and towed it out. My boat neighbors were very grateful.

Sword fish bill,
 almost 4 feet long

I am told that people do scrimshaw on the bill, which I now had on my dinghy. It smelled terrible and after I asked if anyone wanted it, it went to the dumpster. I will say it was very impressive but I believe it would have required action before it started decaying.

My boating neighbors for 10 years, George and Pat Hospodor, are very active in the America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association, AGLCA. They wrote two books about doing the loop and host an annual AGLCA rendezvous at Banana Bay. Most of the Banana Bay boaters help and attend. It includes a presentation about boat sales by the well known Yacht World Sales owner Curtiss Stokes. He gives a very good breakdown of boat sales, prices, current trends etc. We learned that high powered pontoon boats are the highest selling market right now. Also, trawlers to do the Great Loop. Apparently I could sell Yesterday's Dream in a heartbeat if I wanted to, which I don't! There is also a wonderful pot luck dinner and live music. This year over 180 people attended. It was a beautiful day and the setting is like paradise.

AGLCA Rendezvous at Banana Bay 

Black Grouper

The winds calmed down again so my friend Bill and I went fishing. Once again it was very slow. However, I caught a small grouper, out of season, and too small anyway. .

Bermuda Chubs

I also caught two Bermuda chubs which are fun to catch and good eating. Bill caught two small hogfish, also out of season and too small. Still, it was a nice day on the water and we came home with a couple fish.

BBQ at the Tiki Gazebos

The marina has a nice BBQ area with Tiki Hut gazebos. We decided it was time for a group barbecue. It was a beautiful night and we all enjoyed the many decadent side dishes people provided.

Enjoying a great night

One day I went up to do my laundry. The laundry room is also where people leave items they no longer want. I noticed an HP printer sitting there. Hmmmm! I have an HP computer. Our printer died several years ago and although it is seldom, sometimes it's nice to have one. I decided to take it to the boat and check it out. With some help from HP Tech support, I was able to connect it but it wouldn't print. The tech person said, I probably needed new ink cartridges. He also said it's a nice little printer and well worth the cost of new cartridges. So I ordered the cartridges and it works great.

A wonderful improvement to Marathon this year is the opening of the old seven mile bridge for biking and walking. When the new 7 mile highway bridge was opened, 2 miles of the bridge were dedicated as a biking and walking site. 5 years ago, there was talk of closing it down due to deterioration. 

Read the signs for the history. Fortunately, a lot of people came together and organized a save the bridge campaign. The bridge overlooks the water where people can observe spotted eagle rays, sharks, many fish and sea turtles. I always enjoyed walking and riding on the bridge. I was quite disappointed when I learned the bridge would be closed for 5 years, but happy it would be restored. I was amazed that the bridge was opened this year until I realized it has been 5 years.

The last time I rode my bike out to Pigeon Key on the bridge I spotted at least a dozen spotted eagle rays. They a re beautiful and very graceful  When I was snorkeling in the Bahamas the last time I was there, I was fortunate enough to swim along with four huge spotted eagle rays. They were not skittish at all. It is a very memorable experience that I relive when I see them from the bridge. Here is a not great video so I included the links.

Giant Eagle Ray pics

Spotted Eagle Ray info

Newly repaired walking/biking bridge

The bridge goes from the end of Marathon to Pigeon Key. Pigeon Key was a place for the workers to stay when the original bridge was being built. It is now an historical site.

It used to be very rusted. Now it is a very nice freshly painted blue.

Osprey nest with an osprey

There is a nice osprey nest on Pigeon Key. The island is also now home to birds being rehabilitated.

End of bridge at Pigeon Key

The forecast was very good so my friend Carol suggested we go kayaking. I said sure, I can inflate Linda's kayak and we can go together. It was a perfect day. We kayaked out to Crane point and around a small island. Three dolphin showed up and were herding/catching fish very close by. It was really fun watching them.

Crane Point, East shore

Sadie at my door

There are a number of fun dogs that reside and pass through Banana Bay Sadie is one that lives two boats over. She always stops to see if I'm here. I sometimes give her a small dog biscuit but I think she likes the attention more.

Lilly napping

And then there is Lilly. I watched Lilly overnight and we got along just fine. She is a very cute and friendly dog. I put her little dog bed next to my pillow and she slept soundly all night. 

Lilly, too cute!

There was also this little chihuahua. She is somewhat crippled because she was attacked by a bigger dog. This lady rescued it from the shelter and said it is a great pet.

V berth wallpaper repair project

A project I had been putting off was repairing the vinyl wall paper that was coming loose in several places. In particular the front cabin where the Rahns will be staying. I decided I better get that fixed up, company coming! It turned out pretty well. 

Loose & missing wallpaper

Repair completed

Repair completed

Yet another project was recovering the bench seat. It was in dire need. I had been talking to Susie on Susie Q and heard she could use a sewing machine. I told her I had one and she was welcome to borrow it. As we talked she learned I wanted to recover my bench seat. She happened to have a perfect piece of Sunbrella that is an excellent fabric. 

I also borrowed her pneumatic stapler which worked great. As I always say, the boating community is great! The only problem now is the back rest looks tacky!

The views here at Banana Bay continue to amaze me. There are so many beautiful scenes, rainbows and sunsets. Here is a collection of some.

View from my fly bridge

Storm coming in before the rainbow

Yesterday's Dream,
Pot of Gold

A great silhouette of my friends Jay and Emily

I head to California Wednesday. I will spend two or three weeks catching up with friends and the kids. I'll also meet with Craig and Karen Rahn to do some planning for our cruise up the west coast on Yesterday's Dream. They will arrive in Florida April 23rd.

It seems like there is a lot of craziness in the world today. My friend sent this to me to remind me about the importance of Patience and Wisdom. I like it!