Out of the Waterway into H2O

Harbortown Marina, Fort Pierce, 27.46752 -80.32779

We put into the marina for two days in order to meet with a mechanic from Fort Pierce Diesel. We've been waiting for this for a long time. The exhaust manifold is loose, causing exhaust gas and oil leaks into the engine compartment. I tried to tighten it a long time ago but the bolt heads are so close to the manifold wall, that I can't get a socket on it, or a open end wrench over it. It needs a mechanic.

When we called the marina for a slip assignment, they said H20. Get it? H2O? Ha ha, a weak joke I know.

I went to the post office to post Christmas packages for Marilyn and for Dave. The post office was 5 miles away, and when I got there, there was a very long line. I didn't get back to the boat until supper time. As we live the luxury life of cruisers, we get reminded frequently of how hostile this country is to people who don't have a car.

Anyhow, we're well past the Christmas mailing deadline for Kuwait. Sorry Dave, I hope the package gets there in time for Easter.

There is a dredging barge working here in the marina. It is a clever setup. It has a steam shovel on deck. A big hopper for the spoil. An outboard on the stern, and a very clever anchoring system. They maneuver the barge to the desired point, then it pushes down two 12 inch pipes from the stern down into the muck about 10 feet deep. That makes a very strong temporary anchor. Easy to deploy and easy to pick up. After an hour or so, the spoil hopper is full and the rig motors away to someplace else to empty the hopper. I think the whole rig is clever and efficient for the purpose.

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