I fear family members or friends may be hesitant to hitch a ride on Simba after reading my report of the recent trip. But don't be! I was remiss, for I left out some important facts.
First, I approached the trip much more casually than normal because the trip was not for pleasure. In addition, it was to be a short hop of 36 nautical miles. I fault myself for not taking it more seriously – anytime you go to sea you had better be well prepared…and I wasn’t.
When the port engine went down early on, I could have aborted the trip but chose not to. I could also which, after crossing it five years ago, I labeled "very shoal, to be attempted only at high have run down the intracoastal. I didn't because there is a shallow area on the route tide". Having been aground on the ICW more times than I would like to count, I choose to go "outside" whenever possible. In hindsight, I should have done the ICW.
The diesel generator set was out as I was waiting for parts to install. True, I had the big 110 volt generator driven by the port engine, but it sure would have been nice to have backup on this trip! Without either generator, after four hours the battery bank supplying 110 volt power through the inverter became exhausted so our computer-supplied electronic chart went down. We had paper charts of course, and backup GPS sources, but it would have been helpful.
The paravane system, proven many times to cut roll by about 85%, was inoperable in my opinion because four years of airborne salt and grime (from adjacent paper mill) had stiffened the deployment and recovery lines. I feared that the massive booms might become stuck in a semi-deployed position and thereby become more of a threat than any following waves.
I did not secure the boat for an open water passage, especially the saloon. Yes, I tied the flat screen TV on its highly flexible mount to the wall, but had not stowed below the three crates of files and boxes of pneumatic hose and equipment from Harbor Freight, table lamp (grrrr), stereo, etc. I had focused on items of greater concern like the steering system and not delayed the trip for another week to completely put things “shipshape”. Mea culpa. Oh, what’s that about the table lamp? It was a cheap thing and for ballast the hollow base contained a concrete-type casting which proved to be easily shattered upon impact. I imagine I will still be vacuuming heavy gray sand and dust and picking up pebbles weeks hence! When added to the contents of the several boxes, table fan, printer, stereo, chairs, throw pillows, etc., etc., an unsightly (and noisy) slurry was created. The lamp base grit also managed to scratch the sole extensively (grrrr).
Ocean passages in a capable vessel like Simba are usually pleasant and comfortable providing the weather is favorable and vessel and its equipment adequately prepared and in working order. Stay tuned for the tale of the next passage – it will be different!
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