Put In Day!
Put In Day!!!!! I think it should be capitalized like a national holiday. Morning came fast and cold and wet. Granola bars and coffee, let’s go! Bill and I had discussed the roles we would each play and the plan. Oh boy, a plan…..always good to start with but be ready to change it. PLAN: Our engine mechanic who fixed our coolant leak that occurred while we were on the gravel (!?!?) would show up at 6:25 to trouble shoot any engine glitch. We would be motoring over to our slip about 1 mile away at Cap Sante Marina with just water for coolant. Once at the slip he would change out the water for real coolant. Bill would be at the helm driving. Once we started floating I would check for leaks. There were 5 places to check. I reviewed them with Bill 3 times a day for a week to remember. Bill tirelessly listened and affirmed. I digress, moving on with the plan; then I would move to the bow and be ready to “fend off”. This means pray for nothing bad to happen but if it does be a first responder and attempt to limit the damage from any obstacle we crash into by sticking what is in essence a little rubber pencil eraser between 2 giant objects. NOT going to happen! Next, we would gently back out of the 70 foot wide boat ramp area and once clear of the dock pilings, turn to starboard and head out. Our boat is 53 feet long so turning around in the ramp area would not be a good idea.
REALITY: Leroy and his partner showed up at 6:20am. They began positioning the equipment but our mechanic, Vince, had not arrived yet. We were ready and in position, marriage savers on and working. “What is a marriage saver?”, you ask. Marriage savers are blue tooth head phones we use for communication. It makes it so we don’t have to yell to each other to be heard which can be misinterpreted as being yelled at in tense situations. UMMMM, where is Vince? Bill was discussing with the guys stalling and calling Vince. Oh, here he is at 6:35 literally running up the ladder which was just being removed. Deep breath. I went through my leak check areas once more as the fork lift with air bags began lifting us. There goes that familiar feeling of adrenaline! Lights are a little brighter, heart rate and breathing like I am lightly jogging, that slight dryness in my mouth with a little metallic taste, an all too familiar feeling from when I used to do surgery. I went up to the bow to get some pictures. I waved at Leroy. He smiled and waved back. We were off! About 1 mile per hour across the gravel lot, take a right just before the porta potties, down the ramp, we touched the water. I went below and waited for Bill to tell me when we were floating and to check for leaks. I let him know as I looked in each place: Bow thruster good, raw water wash down good, transducer through hull good, propeller shaft and rudder dam good, main through hull good. I heard him fire up the engine and it started smoothly! I came up to the bow with a fender (pencil eraser in comparative size to a brick) in hand. Bill put it in reverse and added some RPM’s. Nothing happened, he added more to the throttle, nothing. He gave it a good goose and we started moving but the right side of the boat was stuck on the airbag! Now we were turning hard to the left AND we were free of the lift. I spoke calmly into the marriage saver “you are good 15 feet from the rocks” as we floated turning 90 degrees in the 70 foot wide “hallway”. No going back now! We were turning around in the put in ramp area. “Still good, 5 feet from the rocks” I said calmly looking at the fender float on the rope I held knowing was no good against rocks under water. Bill was doing his best. Back up 2 feet, bow thruster, advance 2 feet, over and over. All the while I am sure I was being very helpful calmly giving distance from rocks. Bill worked a miracle and we did a 180 in an area only one and a half boat lengths wide. I swear I heard the entire boat yard exhale once we made it. Leroy exclaimed “I don’t think I have ever seen that done before. You gotta watch those rocks over there.” I shouted back “It wasn’t our plan but it worked out!”
Whoo Hoo! Finally…
Whew, that was exciting! My heart was pounding. Kristin, you’re a great writer!
Hi there…..Been there and done that only a bit easier as our boat was only 40’….I am so envious of you two. So wish I had been able to do what you are planning to do…..SAFE SAILING, and stay connected……..We are loving your adventures at sea……….Big safe hugs…..Stanley and Jerry
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