By Mike Jastrzebski
The Internet is down where we’re docked right now so this will be a short post from my iPad. Today is engine test day. The parts for the heat exchanger came in Friday, I’ve changed the impellers even though they were fine as I suspected, and today we run the engine to see if the over heating problem has been solved.
If all goes well then next week we’re going to leave the slip and take Rough Draft to a nearby anchorage. We plan to take several day trips to make sure the problem is fixed before heading across to the Abacos.
Since Christine Kling is planning to head over to the Abacos around the 21st of February we’re going to stick around Ft Lauderdale for a couple of weeks and buddy boat with her across the Gulf Stream.
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About Mike Jastrzebski
In September of 2003 my wife, Mary, and I moved aboard our 36-foot Sailboat, Roughdraft. It was our intention to take the boat south from Minnesota to warmer climates where I would write a novel. Six years later I have completed 3 mystery novels. I have published the first two books, The Storm Killer and Key Lime Blues as e-books and trade paperbacks. The third book, Dog River Blues will be released in early 2011. It is my intention to use this blog to share what I’ve learned while trying to get published. I will also blog about the trials and tribulations of living on a sailboat.
We sailed the boat from Minnesota to Mobile, Alabama where we lived for two years. We also spent three months living in Key West. Currently, the boat is docked in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 2011 we plan to take the boat to the Caribbean where we plan to drift until it is no longer fun.
MIKE, South Riding Rock is a great pace to unwind after making the crossing. This maybe your favorite spot. The last time I anchored there coming west across the banks I stopped for the night. I dove the anchor in nine or ten feet of water, but had to come out the Lobsters were out in force and with spider’s feet they attacked me. Out on the rocks just like the ones shown on the chart it is like a desert. Great place for research if you want to experience nothing. Stars just like you see else where but you will never get them confused with any other lights from a boat. Good luck on your overheating. Can you still get a complete heat exchanger for your boat? Gerald