End of the dream

 

Approaching Stingaree Marina, near Crystal Beach

As many of my loyal followers already know, we have made the sad, excruciating decision to cancel our long-planned boat trip to Florida and beyond. 

Here's a summarized recap:   Four years ago, I (shall I say) strong-armed Joan into agreeing to this crazy adventure.  It took a lot of flowers and sweet-talk.  Here were the caveats:  the trip would NOT extend beyond six months, I would NOT put us in danger, and we would NOT endure multiple big-time problems (mechanical, weather, etc).  

Well, before we could even get to Port Arthur, Texas, we suffered two major mechanical failures:  first there was the prop & strut, which resulted in one monstrous repair bill. 

Then, while attempting to leave Stingaree, Dragonfly's steering fails.  I was backing out of our slip, and the rudder evidently caught on something, knocking the steering post out of whack.  Even the emergency tiller would not turn the rudder.  Fortunately, the wind blew us across the ICW where we embedded on a mud bank, where we were at least safe from barges - for the moment.  But I knew right then and there:  this was it.  The big "It".  I had made a promise, and if nothing else, I am a man of my word.  But I don't mind saying:  I cried my heart out. 

We got a tow from BoatUS BACK to Pier 77 in Galveston, where they hauled us out of the water AGAIN. The good news was that the rudder itself was not damaged, and the steering post was easily popped back into position.  Closer examination inside the binnacle showed that the chain attached to the steering mechanism had come off the sprocket connected to the wheel.  I was able to fix that.  Steering was good as new!

We then motor-sailed back to Galveston Yacht Basin Marina, back into the same slip where we were less than a week ago.  (Yes - we actually raised up the mainsail along the way, to give Dragonfly a little extra propulsion from these delicious southerly winds.)  From the marina, I write this blog article, and Joan and I discuss what to do next.

I still blame these problems on our two-month inability to do any shakedown day-sails before embarking on this adventure.  For the entire months of December and January, we were totally unable to get out of the marina due to low water.  If the propeller and the steering issues had made themselves known while there in Kemah, I could have addressed them at a fraction of the cost and aggravation.  And we'd be on our way to Florida right now!

So after much discussion, here is what Joan and I have decided:  for the immediate future, we are going to keep Dragonfly.  We will sail her back up to Kemah, right back into our old slip at Marina Del Sol.  As we head into the nice springtime months, we will continue to live aboard, and do some long-anticipated day sails.  Maybe even an over-nighter out to Redfish Island or someplace, so we can actually put that darn anchor down! 

Meanwhile, we will purchase a vehicle, and start looking for a permanent home.  Once the weather gets too hot, we won't be able to sleep aboard, of course - despite the shade awnings stashed below.  And we will try to keep Dragonfly as long as the finances allow it.

I will end this blog on a positive note.  Here are some photos of us traversing down the ICW and passing up a tow and his barges:

 

And here we are on the deck at Stingaree, looking out over the ICW, and enjoying the boating life!