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A few more lessons to add to the seasoning of the rookies...
MONDAY: We left Holmes Harbor in Freeland for a three hour tour to Hope Island (Skagit) followed by one night of camping on Hope Island. Instead we arrived home 5 days later....
It all started well. Great weather, a lovely afternoon in Saratoga Passage. We stopped for gas in Oak Harbor and headed out for the final stretch to Hope on schedule.
As we approached Hope Island our depth finder was suddenly and abruptly reading 4-6 feet. How can that be? Surely it must be acting up. Then I could see the bottom. Holy____we backtracked outta there just as the propellar hit the sand and luckily found our way back to the channel. Whew. LESSON 1: Don't travel without a chart because there is something called shoal water
We decided to duck into La Conner to get a chart. But first, time to switch over to the other gas tank. Hmmm, the hose won't clamp on to the gas tank. So Chris sat on the floor and held the connector in place so we could limp into La Conner.
Now it's too late to attempt to get to Hope. We tied up at the public dock in La Conner and inquired about a place to get the gas hose fixed. We were directed to the marina a little farther down. Back to the boat, and we try to start her up. Dead battery?!??. Spent the night in La Conner.
TUESDAY:Got the gas line fixed, and splurged on a new battery (we figured it was time as the other one looked pretty old) and picked up a chart. Vrooom, she started right up and we were off (once again) to Hope. Arrived at Hope and found a great campsite right above the beach. Left the boat tied up on the beach for a couple of hours while we unloaded and set up camp. Kept an eye on the tide and finally decided it was time to take her out to one of the mooring buoys. Went to start her up dead battery again. Realized we left the fish finder on...but still..it was a brand new battery.
Okay, time to learn how to crank the engine up by hand. On the sixth or seventh yank it finally started. But now the throttle won't work. Tried to shut her off by turning the key off, but she is stuck in the ON position. Holy____again! Now what. Disconnected the gas line and she finally stalled out. Rowed to shore. LESSON 2: Don't put off a Vessel Assist subscription or a kicker...and I KNEW that
Luckily, another boat was leaving Hope and offered to tow us into Cornet Bay. That saved us about $500. REALLY nice people. Took our tent down, packed up and headed (under tow) to Cornet Bay. The wind had picked up, the seas were choppy and talk about a wild ride! Got there, tied up and begged for a place to camp. The Rangers took pity on us and let us moor overnight at no charge and camp in the marine host spot (for a charge).
WEDNESDAY: Chris dropped the battery off for a charge at the marina and took the bus back to Freeland to get our car / trailer. When he got back to Cornet Bay, he picked up the charged battery. Put the battery in the boat, started it up and the engine is still stuck in the ON position. A mechanic from the nearby Marine Services shop came over, diagnosed a stuck Solenoid and fixed it pretty quickly, no charge. WOW! NICE people.
It was late so we moved over to the Deception Pass campground on the other side and spent the night. Left the boat moored at the dock.
THURSDAY: Went over to get the boat and load her on the trailer for the ride home. She won't turn over. Dead battery again???. Can't be. The mechanic came back over and now diagnosed it as a bad solenoid. Replaced it and in a couple of hours (and $120.00 later), all is well once again. Went out for a final ride...cruising around...trouble free once again. Then, HOOT HOOT....What the _____!!! Another vessel is rapidly approaching our stern. Pirates?! No, the Coast Guard.
TURN OFF YOUR ENGINE AND PREPARE TO BE BOARDED! Boarded and subjected to a safety inspection. LESSON 3: Have your registration papers on board NOT IN THE CAR GLOVE BOX. And carry a throwable lifesaving device if you are 16' or bigger. Cited with fix it tickets. Sulked back to the marina with our backside stinging once again. Decided to stay one more night and lick our wounds.
FRIDAY: Final spin on a gorgeous day(with our registration papers)
arrived back in Freeland 5 days later than our 3 hour cruise. We are very grateful for all the asistance we received from other boaters, park rangers, mechanics, etc. Even the Coast Guard guys were pretty humorous (while they wrote our tickets). So we have a lot thank you notes to write and many good deeds to eventually reciprocate to the boating community.
MONDAY: We left Holmes Harbor in Freeland for a three hour tour to Hope Island (Skagit) followed by one night of camping on Hope Island. Instead we arrived home 5 days later....
It all started well. Great weather, a lovely afternoon in Saratoga Passage. We stopped for gas in Oak Harbor and headed out for the final stretch to Hope on schedule.
As we approached Hope Island our depth finder was suddenly and abruptly reading 4-6 feet. How can that be? Surely it must be acting up. Then I could see the bottom. Holy____we backtracked outta there just as the propellar hit the sand and luckily found our way back to the channel. Whew. LESSON 1: Don't travel without a chart because there is something called shoal water
We decided to duck into La Conner to get a chart. But first, time to switch over to the other gas tank. Hmmm, the hose won't clamp on to the gas tank. So Chris sat on the floor and held the connector in place so we could limp into La Conner.
Now it's too late to attempt to get to Hope. We tied up at the public dock in La Conner and inquired about a place to get the gas hose fixed. We were directed to the marina a little farther down. Back to the boat, and we try to start her up. Dead battery?!??. Spent the night in La Conner.
TUESDAY:Got the gas line fixed, and splurged on a new battery (we figured it was time as the other one looked pretty old) and picked up a chart. Vrooom, she started right up and we were off (once again) to Hope. Arrived at Hope and found a great campsite right above the beach. Left the boat tied up on the beach for a couple of hours while we unloaded and set up camp. Kept an eye on the tide and finally decided it was time to take her out to one of the mooring buoys. Went to start her up dead battery again. Realized we left the fish finder on...but still..it was a brand new battery.
Okay, time to learn how to crank the engine up by hand. On the sixth or seventh yank it finally started. But now the throttle won't work. Tried to shut her off by turning the key off, but she is stuck in the ON position. Holy____again! Now what. Disconnected the gas line and she finally stalled out. Rowed to shore. LESSON 2: Don't put off a Vessel Assist subscription or a kicker...and I KNEW that
Luckily, another boat was leaving Hope and offered to tow us into Cornet Bay. That saved us about $500. REALLY nice people. Took our tent down, packed up and headed (under tow) to Cornet Bay. The wind had picked up, the seas were choppy and talk about a wild ride! Got there, tied up and begged for a place to camp. The Rangers took pity on us and let us moor overnight at no charge and camp in the marine host spot (for a charge).
WEDNESDAY: Chris dropped the battery off for a charge at the marina and took the bus back to Freeland to get our car / trailer. When he got back to Cornet Bay, he picked up the charged battery. Put the battery in the boat, started it up and the engine is still stuck in the ON position. A mechanic from the nearby Marine Services shop came over, diagnosed a stuck Solenoid and fixed it pretty quickly, no charge. WOW! NICE people.
It was late so we moved over to the Deception Pass campground on the other side and spent the night. Left the boat moored at the dock.
THURSDAY: Went over to get the boat and load her on the trailer for the ride home. She won't turn over. Dead battery again???. Can't be. The mechanic came back over and now diagnosed it as a bad solenoid. Replaced it and in a couple of hours (and $120.00 later), all is well once again. Went out for a final ride...cruising around...trouble free once again. Then, HOOT HOOT....What the _____!!! Another vessel is rapidly approaching our stern. Pirates?! No, the Coast Guard.
TURN OFF YOUR ENGINE AND PREPARE TO BE BOARDED! Boarded and subjected to a safety inspection. LESSON 3: Have your registration papers on board NOT IN THE CAR GLOVE BOX.
And carry a throwable lifesaving device if you are 16' or bigger. Cited with fix it tickets. Sulked back to the marina with our backside stinging once again. Decided to stay one more night and lick our wounds.FRIDAY: Final spin on a gorgeous day(with our registration papers)
arrived back in Freeland 5 days later than our 3 hour cruise. We are very grateful for all the asistance we received from other boaters, park rangers, mechanics, etc. Even the Coast Guard guys were pretty humorous (while they wrote our tickets). So we have a lot thank you notes to write and many good deeds to eventually reciprocate to the boating community.
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