Journey Preparations Continue

Chain rode marking was done by pulling all the 300 feet of 5/16th HT chain out of each locker ( 600 ft in all) and laying it out on the yard where I painted it with a zinc oxide primer then an enamel second coat. Time will tell if it lasts as all markings are temporary. I marked every 20 feet. My first attempt usingcolored zip ties was a complete failure as they popped off by the windlass and could lodge in the anchor locker drain clogging it. Not a good thing.

Intending to leave by end Feb. will not happen. We are continuing to settle into the new house and get more familiar with the Carolyn Ann systems. This posting will chronicle this process as we move forward to starting our next journey the beginning of April. Bahamas?, some or all the loop??? As we've been told over and over, "...the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule...", however, we've also been told over and over DON'T wait till you are totally ready or you'll never leave!

First to fix the alternators:

This is the starboard engine pre rewiring. The loom has been removed for clarity. Balmar consulted on the rewiring of the system which is shown in the next picture.

The updated wiring per Balmar with a tri switch that allows selecting the alternator internal regulator, idle mode or the MC-612 smart regulator (shown on stringer). Still to test fully by anchoring out then running engines to recharge battery bank. Wondering if the 1400 amp hour battery bank of AGMS is more than the pair of 100 amp Balmars can handle ...use will tell. However, option is to run the generator to stat charging then allow engines to top off. Again, use will tell.

Second was the first(for me and boat) change out of the fuel filters having approx. 190 hours on engines with the new tanks. there is always small debris remnants from the manufacturing process and Mirage installs scavenger filters to catch construction debris in all the new boat. I had the small scavenger filters removed in Coco, Florida during the alternator replacement from the fire. The vacuum gauges were ok but ;increasing so thought best to change out filters pre- departure to start the journey with two fresh tandem filters for each engine.

Journeys of the Carolyn Ann: The Begining of the Begining

This is Carolyn Ann's first journey. It was a journey of 900+ miles, 4 locks, many bridges, and an overnight crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. The journey was from Green Cove Springs (south of Jacksonville on the St. John's River) to our home port of Gulf Breeze near Pensacola, Florida. This journey was made possible by Ken Fickett's (owner of Mirage) patience with my novice nervousness. Thanks Ken, I owe ya a bottle of Zacapa Centenario! Also valued assistance was had from my neighbor Greg and brother Mike. The last leg I was assisted by the Capt. Punk.

Escorts to start the trip

Here we are off Cocoa Beach where we met with Lo Que Se A, a GH-37. Shortly after this picture, we had a fire in the starboard engine.  (The alternator had seized and the heat was enough to ignite the varnish on the windings). We shut down all systems (electrical) and dropped anchor to stablize (clean pants). Restarted the port engine and limped into a close by Marina (Cocoa Village Marina) on one engine. With the (great) help of Balmar, and Mirage (Ken Fickett), made a fix & Balmar is doing bench testing of the three stage regulator and center fielder that may have caused the overload of the alternator...however the final analysis is still pending test results from Balmar.. Balmar also replaced the alternator. Frank from Marine Pro is highly recommended should you need anything for your Yanmars or Balmars and are in that area.

Starboard engine with the new alternator. The 3 stage smart regulator (MC-612) is mounted on the stringer. The remainder of the trip was made without further electrical incidents using the internal regulator on the port engine and center fielder disabled. The starboard engine used the remaining MC-612 smart regulator.

Center fielder on after bulkhead left of a/c water pump.

In port St Lucie, a sample of huge houses that were passed along this trip. 

While in the St.Lucie Canal, I noticed a sea plane (ultralight) taxi off a lawn and setup into wind. We moved over and allowed him to pass so he could take off. Never thought I'd be passed by an airplane on the water.

There he goes!

St Lucie lock after we passed thru. Our first of 4 locks. 

Port Mayaca lock into Lake Okeechobee

Port Mayaca lock into the lake, note no difference in water level. the controlling depth was only 4.16'. They are having a drought and the lake is down to historic lows. We made it to Moore Haven after dark. Learned a very valuable lesson...read the guide book completely and plan to arrive in daylight. It was very dark and very confusing. Thanks to Ken Fickett's patience with my call we got "unlost" and overnighted at the city dock. Very nice facility.

Everything was going fine until right before the Franklin lock a fog bank settled in. 

Slow bell and radar and waited unitl the fog lifted. We made the 10 am opening.

Neighbor Greg helped out with the trip.

I'm just looking confused.

Skyway bridge Tampa.

Wild looking ramp in St Petersburg.

At anchor in Boca Ciega Bay east of bridge in St. Pete. 

Tarpon Springs home with helicopter on front lawn. 

Overnighted in Tarpon Springs to add another depth finder. We were planning to do the nature coast trip and needed a reliable depth finder as the integrated one was intermittent. While we were at the marina, they hauled a huge Cat boat bound for Venezula to replace cutlass bearing and clean hull. This haulout required a special crane for the day @ $8000.00!

Rocky, our dog, gets familiar with the "poop deck".

We crossed the Gulf from Tarpon Springs to the East Pass of Dog Island. Again thanks to Ken Fickett for his patience with my nervousness. He called it correctly that the weather window was the best it could be. So cross we did and it was.

Watching the sun go down over the Gulf.

Going.

Gone.

Sun rising as we approach Dog Island east Pass. We left too early and arrived before daylight. The back ground lights were very confusing so stayed off shore until sun up. Lesson learned, again should have more closely followed Ken Fickett's (Mirage) advice on time of departure.

Ahhh, boy that sun looked good.

Over-extended by continuing past Apalachacola, going till we reached White City which has a free City Dock without amenities. All we wanted was sleep as it was 3:00 pm before we tied up. Thought I would find a good place to anchor ....but none presented. Again, trip planning was not complete. Need to study charts better and read all the guides. It was foolish to go that long without sleep and unnecessary.

Mother nature let us sleep in as fog was very thick. 

Even the birds were grounded!

The grand canyon canal to Panama City.

Newly commissioned fighting ship in Panama City. 

At anchor in West Bay just west of Panama city

The cormorants seemed to like this bridge. Bet that's a no walk zone! 

I felt a clunking in the strb prop shaft on pre departure check. Ft. Walton Shalimar Marina pulled the boat ($150 for inspection pull) and found the prop nuts backed off. Repair made and overnighted there. Nice friendly folks with a courtesy car.

Home getting ready for the loop. All in all a great learning experience of 900+ nms, many, many bridges, 4 locks, delightfull and not delightful moments. A good begining to the new begining. Extra sincere thanks to Mirage (Ken Fickett) for all the novice hand holding he did with me

Click on the slide show link below to view pictures with comments of this trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/joseph.pica/TheJourneyHomeFromGreenCoveSpringsToGulfBreezePensacola

Sea Trials

Mirage requests that the owners get familiar with their new boat and at least put 50 hours on the engines to reach the first major initial maintenance before leaving the area. This is to develop the punch list and have Mirage assistance dealing with any other manufacturer equipment defects that may occur. Most will show up within 50 hours , sometimes referred to as burn-in time. As a manufacturer they carry more weight than an individual boat owner. Reynolds Park is also convenient for the factory to make any necessary adjustments or fixes.

The official christening with a splash of Ron Zacapa Centenario 23yr old rum in honor of Mirage owner, Ken Ficket.

Of course the rest of the rum had to be toasted to Carolyn Ann. In attendance were Capt Peden, Reynolds Park Dock Master, the new bewildered owners Kathy and Joe, and Chrisy from an  N-47 Christina Sea.

Carolyn Ann waits to begin her sea trials.

Standing halfway in the basement, contemplating where to store everything.

Guest stateroom or Sarachene Suite

Master stateroom

Everything's a mess as we start to move in.

With a fresh coat of teak oil on the floor, we leave to let it air out.
Might as well go to West Marine and Bed, Bath and Beyond for more stuff!

The saloon settee converts to bunk beds.

Dining table and port side settee

Glass helm lite with touch screens running Nobletec Admiral, with AIS and radar overlay. Flybridge has a display screen and a wireless air mouse for control

Sarachene at the navigator station

Let's see, that's the pointee end the stern must be the other 

Click on the below link to view a photo album of this phase with larger pictures and comments.

http://picasaweb.google.com/joseph.pica/SeaTrialsBegin