Wednesday Afternoon, 14 October 2015 - Well, that was interesting. Ten seconds after I sent out Episode 37, I got a message from AOL that all of my friends who are serviced by them wouldn't be allowed to receive that message. I called AOL about it and they said they'd put resolving the issue on "The Fast Track" and get back to me. Should I hold my breath until it's resolved? I don't think so. I wait with bated breath.

Thursday, 15 October - Got to the boat early hoping to embark quickly, but decided I'd better wait for the tide to come in a little bit more, so I left the dock at almost 1:00pm when my depth finder said I had 7.5 feet under me. My draught is 6.5 feet. I was afraid that I might run aground again right here in the marina since I think it gets shallower further into the marina, and I needed to back out in that direction. I didn't get stuck again, but the wind was blowing me against the dock, and I had a hard time getting away from the dock and a piling that is ten feet further out from the pier, but I made it!
                I headed out - slowly. I could tell that the engine was working harder than usual, and I suspected why. My suspicions were confirmed when I got all the way out to Tampa Bay, dropped anchor, and got in the water to clean the bottom of the boat. Actually, the hull wasn't as covered with oysters and barnacles as I had expected, but the propeller was fully encrusted. I spent 45 minutes to an hour cleaning the propeller alone, then started on the hull. Most of it wasn't too bad, but the bottom of the keel and other leading edges were pretty thickly covered.
                It took me so long to get out to the bay that I really didn't have very long to get the work done before I needed to head back. I cut it pretty close and barely made it back before dark. In fact, by the time I got docked and all my lines adjusted, it was dark. Thanks Marcus Libkind for helping me depart and tie up at the dock. Marcus owns a beautiful, much newer boat than mine, an Elan 444 now renamed Carpe Ventum (seize the wind), a couple of slips down from Island Time. He, too, has recently purchased his boat and will be heading to the Caribbean soon.
                A great, short, day on the water!

Friday, 16 October - I had some paperwork to catch up on - reading recently received mail, printing FCC licenses, returning an improper signal booster sent to me by T-Mobile, etc. T-Mobile sent the signal booster when I was having problems getting a good signal here on the boat, and even though I told them exactly what my settup was, they sent me a unit that couldn't possibly work. It needed an Ethernet cable to connect with a land line, and, of course, I don't have one of those. It was to be free, since I couldn't get good service. After I'd called them and explained the situation, they offered me another device that couldn't work. When I turned that down, they said they'd mail me a Return Authorization, but it never came, and my most recent bill listed it at $250. I contacted them again today, and they emailed the authorization immediately. Why didn't the first girl do that? I had it printed at the marina's office and sent it on its way.
                I also rinsed all my dive gear, dried it, and put it away, along with the Hookah tubing, compressor, and generator. Yesterday was the first time to actually get in the water with the Hookah, and it performed splendidly. I didn't die of carbon monoxide poisoning, oil inhalation, lack of air inhalation, water on the lungs, or anything! Perfect!
                I found out about a "nautical flea market" to be held near here next weekend and called them to see if there would be room for me and my trailer. Perhaps I can get rid of some of the sailboard gear, extra anchors, and other extras I have there. The lady on the phone said they were running short of space, but she wasn't really the one to talk to, so she'll have the person in charge call me tomorrow.
                  About 6:30pm, Marcus and I went out for a great Mexican dinner and boat talk.

Saturday, 17 October - I compiled, composed, printed out, and posted a list of items that I have for sale at the boater's lounge, then repaired my port bow running light that was on the fritz. The lady at the Maritime Museum didn't call me, so I called her. There'll be a parking problem with the motorhome, which I expected and had a possible solution for, but it relies on yet another person returning a call, which probably won't happen 'til Monday.

Sunday, 18 October - Today I noticed what looked like two loose 1/2" bolts on the mount for my anchors on the bow. I reached down and tried to turn one of the bolts with my fingers and the head of the bolt came off in my hand. I got a drift punch and drove the remaining bolt to the inside of the boat. It came out in three pieces. It is not going to be fun replacing. I had to remove almost everything from the forepeak stateroom, then remove 300 feet of chain and 300 feet of 1" nylon rode from the chain locker to try to get to the bolts. I thought I had reached them, but was a foot short and a foot too low. Also, in the process, I discovered several bolts on the anchor windlass whose heads and washers are totally corroded away. This is what happens when things on a boat are not sealed up properly and the stainless steel bolts are allowed to get salt water around them, but very little oxygen. Stainless steel needs oxygen in order to resist corrosion, but when it is bedded in wet wood, or even fiberglass, the salt water really eats it up. When I removed the first bolt, it came out in three pieces. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to remove the anchor windlass, re-bed it and remount it. Enough for one day. I'm tired and will tackle it tomorrow.

Monday, 19 October - Today, I spent most of the day removing the anchor windlass, only to find that it really didn't need attention after all. The bolts that are so rusty on the bottom of its mount are really only holding a wood pedestal that it is mounted on to the deck. In my opinion, those bolts are unnecessary because the four bolts that hold the windlass onto the base go all the way through the base and deck of the boat. Everything's sandwiched together. Anyway, now the joining faces of the base and the windlass now need to be cleaned up, sealed and the windlass remounted. I also noticed that the bolts, really 9" all-thread, are all mismatched. One is 5/16" fine thread, one is 3/8" fine thread, and the other two are 3/8" x 16 teeth per inch, standard, but one is not stainless, so I decided to replace some of them. Easier said than done. I rode along with my friend Marcus to an ACE Hardware store here that has an excellent collection of stainless steel fittings, and we both bought several items that we thought we needed.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 20 & 21 October - Both of these days were spent making several trips to the hardware stores (3) looking for parts, and reinstalling the anchor windlass. That said, I don't think it will be leaving the deck of my boat when I raise the anchor for a long, long time. Many thanks to Marcus. The final installation was one of those jobs that needed one person on deck and the other down below in the anchor locker. Perhaps not totally impossible for one person alone, but at least 10 times as frustrating and would have taken 5 or 10 times as long. I'm glad to have that project done, but still dread trying to replace the bolts up in the very close quarters of the forepeak under the cat head.
                  I had done some favors for Marcus by helping him out shortly after we first met, but I'm sure he's more than made up for it. I think I'm indebted to him now.

            Until next time,
                        Dream BIG, or Live Bored.

                                          Rick