Ready to Leave Kemah / Watergate Marina

The transmission is installed and the boat turned back from a mechanics garage to a sailing yacht. Elaine was really happy to have a nice clean boat back. While removing and installing the transmission the back captains cabin was a real mess. Everything had to be taken apart to make access to the engine room. Parts and tools were laying all over the beds base and floor. And a big guy like me needs all the room he can get to be able to work in the engine room.

Once the transmission was completed, we had a diver come pull the prop to inspect the shaft, prop, and prop key. Glad we did. We found that South Texas Ship Yard had installed an under sized prop key causing a shearing effect on the key. So I took the prop to Mike Hoods Prop Shop and had the prop inspected and get the correct key. I also bought an extra prop key for the spares. The diver installed the prop and new key. I then did a test in the slip and every thing worked great.

Now we have all the food and supplies loaded. The freezer is so full I have no ideal how Elaine will know what she has in it. Hope she does not need something off the bottom. Secured extra diesel fuel, gasoline, and water in jerry cans on the deck. Also have our K-9 grass (potty patch) on the foredeck. It is so big it almost looks like a putting green or a front yard. Greg tested out the front lawn for me.

Elaine and I took Barefoot Babe out yesterday for a sea trial at sunset to test the transmission, prop, generator and all the electronic / navigation systems. Every system checked good and we were treated to a beautiful sunset.

We will be moving aboard the boat today with all the kids (2 dogs, 4 cats, and 1 Bird). We will spend the night at the Marina and then tomorrow leave at about 12noon and sail down to Galveston. We will spend the night anchored off Galveston Island and then if everything is OK, we will start heading East on the ICW towards Shell Island near Orange Texas.

You can track our progress and see where we are at anytime by SPOT TRACKER logo on the right of the blog page. The tracker will be running.