[Ed.Note: our stay at OBM has been summarized by weeks from the original blog, from Mar.21 through May 1]
Wk 1 – Sat.Mar.21/Day 21 to Sun.Mar.29/Day 29:
Sat.Mar.21/Day 21: Left Dog R. at 07:15 in light chop, N.winds, for first 10 mi., crossing Mobile Bay 25 mi.SE to Oyster Bay and ICW [see photos], reaching OBM at 13:20, with one brief ‘touching’ bottom near Perdido Pass Bridge [when I strayed outside channel marker!]. The configuration protocol for fluxgate compass failed.
OBM [ranked in top 25 for USA]covered slip is great with nice view and other looper boats; has 161 slips/30 transients. Marina has restaurant [closed for Covid except take-out – we had their fish taco and fish sandwich, vg, delivered to boat]; great staff and store; took their courtesy car/Tahoe to Publix. Our undercounter filter failed – need replacement tomorrow. Made plans for mechanic to check engines and electronics and now will be here a month. We are reading novels and watching whodunits on Prime.
Sun.Mar.22/Day 22: Found port engine belt shredding [see photo]; both belts had been replaced in Florence; mechanic coming tomorrow, hopefully. Galley cold water still not working; W.Marine cartridge wouldn’t work. Took Courtesy car to Rouses grocery store – great beer/wine selection. Talked with other boaters – all waiting here for Covid to pass.
Mon.Mar.23/Day 23: Removed the port engine shroud and found lots of shredding; Saunders Yachtworks will be out tomorrow for that and the shaft seal. Went to “Webb’s Hardware” to get jerry-rig fittings for the undercounter filter until new cartridge available, and it works. Winds 10-20mph, requiring adjustment to lines. Looper friends, Tom & Phyllis, on Manifest arrived after hearing our impressions of OBM and will stay for a month also. Covid has snowbird friends in quarantine on their return to Canada. Docktails here ok since we are outside and everyone is BYOB and distancing.
Tues.Mar.24/Day 24: Mechanic Aaron recommended replacing tensioner; also need new PSS [Packless Shaft Seals] which require haulout; he will also order new sending unit for holding tank. Talked with Raymarine about replacing autopilot/course computer. Cleaned the sump. Adjusted the lines again, due to winds. Chris has recovered from his flu. Happy hour again is a pleasant experience.
Wed.Mar.25/Day 25: Conversations with Saunders yard mgr Eddie here - haulout planned for Apr.6 at Gulf Shores site to replace PSS and do other work. Updated all the logs. Raymarine told me we cannot ‘fix’ our AP; will talk to Saunders. Wx has been great, in 70’s during day, 60’s nights. All restaurants closed to eating in. Still impressed with OBM and how fortunate that we chose it. Described our ‘Bung Plugs’; and ‘Collision Mat’. Described our usual daily activities.
Thurs.Mar.26/Day 26: Wx remains great. Replaced undercounter temporary rigging after it started leaking; installed proper cartridge from Amazon; then after trip to hardware for another valve. Discussed autopilot issues with Saunders tech and will attempt resetting the course computer first. Photo of the holding tank and need to pumpout tomorrow. Photos of the marina via the drone Chris had given us [his Covid test was neg.]. Marg went to Publix; many people wearing gloves.
Fri.Mar.27/Day 27: Cleaned engine/utility bilges/areas after mechanic Aaron replaced tensioner units. Cleaned fender board. More Covid restrictions announced by Alabama. Enjoying sitting on boat watching boat traffic, etc.
Sat.Mar.28/Day 28: Took boat to pumpout/fuel dock in wind, which blew us into a piling and was a management issue on returning also. Washed boat. Fixed door latch to V-Berth and on aft door. Tried to fix leaking icemaker. Reading novels and boat materials, watching TV and all the boat related activities around.
Sun.Mar.29/Day 29:
The ELCI tripped off when 2nd stove burner used, due to overload; explained our 50A power service. We drove to Publix again. Photos of the Saunders Yachtworks located at OBM. Decided to have them replace autopilot and chartplotter.
Comments:
DD - 21 Mar 2020: Some of those places look daunting!!! Nice butt! Lol
Bruce and Susan - 22 Mar 2020: Enjoying reading your progress and adventures .....Did you know that the Airbus factory is in Mobile?
DD • 22 Mar, 2020: Nice looking digs!
Dd - 24 Mar 2020: It’s a good thing you guys have to go slow and stop as you are finding all the problems now! It will make the journey easier in the long rub
Janice - 24 Mar 2020: Always enjoy reading your posts ... RV’ers are famous for saying, “ There’s always something!” Sounds like boating must have a “saying”? We’re in our 14 days if us okay now at the lake ... not much of a hardship. Take good care
Janice - 24 Mar 2020: Drat should have checked for auto corrections before I sent my post. * We are in our 14 days of isolation....
Robert & Margaret - 25 Mar 2020: Glad to hear you made it back ok. Hate to ask what your 'rear end' repair cost you. Likely equal to what our shaft seals will be! Take care
Scott Wed, Mar 25, 2020: You are my hero’s . You are living out Mary Ann and my dream. If I can be of any help in any way please let me know! Scott
Wayne - 25 Mar 2020 | 04:21 Feel badly you are having all these problems but on a positive note they make ours look simply, was grumpy the other day when we had to replace our undercarriage on the fifth wheel but after reading about your mechanical issues I feel lucky. Hope you can get back on your trip sooner than later. We are self isolating at the cabin for 12 more days, can't talk with anyone, darn!. Best wishes. -- Janice - 25 Mar 2020: I make him talk to me at least every other hour.
DD - 25 Mar 2020: Hope you can get a hotel!!! The big chains here are closed! Could you add Marnie and Roger to the blog! Rig might be able to give some insight! Cheers! I’m having a beer too!Miss you guys
Dick Sun, Mar 29, 2020: Hello Rob & Marg, Mary and I have been checking in on an irregular basis to follow your great adventure. Sounds as though you picked a good place to set things out for awhile. I don’t know if you are aware or not but there is a big article in yesterday’s (3/27) Wall Street Journal about the loop. Maybe you can find a copy to read between boat repair times. Stay safe.
Dd - 27 Mar 2020: Hey! You look totally like a sea faring sailor!! Love your toque!!! Hi to Marg.
Jack - 27 Mar 2020: You guys are amazing!
Janice - 28 Mar 2020: Well, I reckon you two are not bored. Things are well here, a few ppl around, but we are not even at the social distancing stage yet, day 6 of our self isolation and counting. Things seem fairly relaxed where you are in terms for this virus compared to what we hear from our Biggar family. Stay well.
Wayne - 28 Mar 2020: We are taking your advice, no contact with others, they closed the Provincial Park today and all sled trails, we still have 2' of snow. Could be worse we have food and wine.