Yesterday started with taking on of 608 gals. of diesel fuel which gives us a slight port list, has always given us a slight port list, not usually a problem.
The weather Goddess had bestowed upon the collective us a beauty, warm, sunny perfect day for the dozens of fishermen hoping to catch a trout (weakfish), we were enjoying the sun dancing of the marsh grasses glistening golden, as flocks of terns and pelicans dove for lunch. Our peaceful quietude was rudely shattered by the shrill of the high water alarm. If you have ever heard the sound of a school fire alarm, you know the decibel range of the high water and the high temp alarm on our boat, it is LOUD. Now let me point out that until very recently these alarms were located in the engine room where only the engine room fairies could hear them so they were relatively useless. After our second near disaster with an engine overheating due to a failed impeller, our collective intelligence decided to relocate the alarms to a place where we could hear them and hear the alarm we did. I have no doubt that the folks in their homes on shore enjoying a post-Thanksgiving Day turkey sandwich also heard our alarm. The alarm sounded, we looked at each other, not processing which alarm was going off, a quick look at the temp gauges eliminated an overheat situation, so that left the uncomfortable reality of high water in the bilge! A first for us. Hmmmm, now neither of us is prone to panic and each is analytical, experienced boaters, I got to run the boat while Kurt got to figure out what the problem was, a combination of factors: empty 220 gal water tank in bow, very full fuel tanks (4 ), the inflatable is now suspended off the transom with the outboard to port; with the result that the discharge fitting for one of the bilge pumps was thus under water on the listing port side and therefore back-filling into the bilge and the other bilge pumps were not able to keep up with the task of pumping the water out! I am reminded of one of the many books that I have read about Coast Guard rescues of men from fishing boats that are sinking in challenging sea conditions because they have been structurally modified and overloaded. How easily and quickly a peaceful day can become a challenging one, I am very thankful for our obnoxious alarm and that we didn't have to rely on the engine room fairies to alert us to the danger and grateful to my clever husband for quickly figuring out what the problem was and fixing it:)
On a positive note, we missed a bridge that opens on the hour, so by the time we waited for the next opening,we ended up in Harbor Village Marina, a lovely deep water place, where a pair of Kingfishers were oblivious to our presence and busy with their aerial acrobatics and incessant chatter as they prepared for nightfall against a magnificent magenta sunset. All's well that ends well.
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