As always, thanks for sharing.

Another little side story.
 

The lift operator said it would cost me $500 for the lift out and another $ 500 to drop back in the water. Being caught between a rock and a hard place I agreed. When repairs were complete and it came time to pay the bill he said " I'm going to give you a break. I will only charge you $325 total for in and out." Not sure why but we got along well with them as they worked away. Maybe because I did not show any "attitude" towards them as well even tho I felt I was getting ripped off initially. Dunno? I gave him a $100 tip and maybe that is what he was looking and positioning himself for. The guy that installed prop and fixed hydraulic steering charged $120 so I gave him $150 which was well worth it to me. I was so relieved and happy to get back in the water and under way to Georgetown. :)

Thanks Bob for sharing....

Wow I win !
I wish I could say I did some in depth calculations but really it was just a guess .
Thanks Bob for all the great stories .
Always with some kind of twist and surprises .
When I told my wife Monica what I was getting she said
" Great now I can track where you are ". Ha I said .I need to turn on the unit for that to happen .
Bob and maybe some of you prop guys might be able to answer the throwing blades issue .
It seems to me that on larger heavier boats breaking blades off happens more often than on lighter boats . What if you ran a lower pitch prop faster ( changing gear ratios ) ?
Just an idea .

Paul

That is funny. I found during my time spent in exuma that many Bahamians have a stereotype towards americans (canadians I'm sure as well) that we are all in hurry and want everything instantly. As a result they almost seemed pleasantly shocked when I was "chill" and went with the flow. Often times it seemed that our Bahamian Attorney's were almost testing us with respect to things being done in a timely matter. If we were relaxed in the first place things went much smoother. If we were Mr. hard a** american things got expensive quickly.

I'm betting they were testing you and since you were cool they figured you would take care of them when it was time to pay. One of the best lessens from my time there is to slow down and smell the roses.


Thanks again for sharing.

Where did you leave the boat untill you return? Is it in the water?

Bob, sounds like you got a pretty descent guy with a travel lift, and you can never underestimate how helpful being courteous and giving a descent tip can be. In the bahamas I learned very quickly that a descent tip will get you anything you could want. We spent a lot of time this winter in the bahamas on the yacht i was working on, and in most cases, I would always carry some cash just in case. one time we had to empty out 200 gallons of bad gas from the aft tank and refill it with new gas. went to the gas station in nassau harbour, slipped the dock guy a $50 and just dropped off about 20 6 gallon cans. came back 20 minutes later and he had them all filled. most guys in canada and the states would not be so happy to sit there and fill 20 gas cans, but these guys work for the tips. we give the dock master at Atlantis a couple grand every christmas to ensure that when we come into town he gets us a good slip.

That was AWESOME!

A few observations:

1. I think we ran our very own Bimini Challenge, and I'm fairly certain we won:grinser010:

2. Bob's vocabulary (both English & Canadian) absolutley does
not include the words "give up" ....

3. I've never seen the water as beautiful as it was the last few days

4.I've never seen anyone move a 50ft boat into a marina with boats on either side, with NO STEERING, in a friggin' crosswind, with a strong current, spin the boat around on a dime to get into the travel-lift, only to be told by the travel-lift operator to turn the boat around, spin the boat around AGAIN, and then get it pulled out of the water...INSANE!
Bob, I was right next to you on the boat, and I have no F...ing idea how you did that....Absolutely amazing!
(I would have simultaneously crashed the boat and pooped my pants!)

5. Note to self: Next time bring Terry Sobo along...He's clearly alot better at changing props than me:drink:

6. Note to self #2: Next time bring a large bottle of Off when stuck on Highbourne Cay, where the mosquitos are the size of butterflies.

Aside from all the obligatory boating greatness, we had some really really good laughs, and I was really happy that we ended up making it to Georgetown in record time yesterday afternoon....

From now on please refer to Bob as "Admiral Barnhart"...Rest asured it is a well deserved promotion :lolhit:
Pictures to follow tomorrow....
H.

Yes it is in the water. It is tied up at the small marina at a development called February Point just south of Georgetown on Great Exuma.
Pic 1 was taken during our visit last year. Pic 2 is how we left her Monday. The plan is to return and continue to T & C late next week if weather allows and if not hang around the Exumas and do some local boating which is what we were forced to do last year with the windy conditions.

It's funny, all my life I have been saying that I must slow down and even tho I am now semi retired it still has not happened. Over dinner the other night I said to Hans, I think I try to pack too much into a day. He could not stop laughing and responded - "do you think" ? I must do something about that ! LOL

Yes Paul, you are a winner. A worthy fellow builder as well. Don't worry about Monica tracking you. It can actually be used to your advantage !! I will tell you how when I see you. LOL

My props are rated for 1200 HP and should not be breaking. I'm sure it is a combination of several factors and is costly and frustrating when it happens.

Cash works wonders for sure I find that whenever I return to a marina I am remembered and well treated. Taking care of the dock master is important in getting a good slip.

Well, he does have a personal navy at his disposal :)

A few more pics to share.

1) the Bank just outside the marina entrance at Cat Cay 9 miles south of Bimini where we cleared customs.

2) Bob catching a few winks as we idled 40 miles back to Nassau. Check the position of throttles and shifters. Port side at idle / neutral as no prop. Center pushed forward to about 2,800 RPM. Starboard was about 1800 RPM with starboard tab down and port side all the way up. Sounds strange but was able to steer within 5 deg one way or the other by adjusting tabs, throttles until someone moved on the boat then had to look for new setup. LOL We were running reasonably on coarse for me to catch a few minutes of shut eye.

3) Pulling into the anchorage at Big Major

4) Northern Lights

5) Marc swimming with the dolphins.... er I mean pigs. LOL

Bob
Oh well a couple days late, and a dollar short
The story of my life
Enjoy and looking forward to the next installment
of your adventure.
Do you have planned stops in Puerto Rico ?

Thank you
Jim

Bob,

We hope to see in this area soon. If you make it this far we will meet you with a welcome you won't forget. Bikinis and Painkillers.

db

Jim, not sure of stops in PR as wind will likely determine if we run the north or south shore. There is a good chance of a stop at Fajardo on the east side. I have heard some horror stories about the Mona Passage but can't be much worse than our crossing of the Yucatan Straits. We will figure it out as we go along. :)

Thanks, David. Sounds inviting !! BVI is an unfulfilled dream and somehow I will get there. It would be a blast to do the Poker Run with you all at month end. Looking forward just as much tho to exploring your beautiful islands and crystal clear waters. I will keep in touch. Should be back on the water on the 21st all being well.

Bob

The folks from the Dominican Republic try the trip across the Mona Passage/Straits in skiffs at night.,, some make it and some are not as lucky.
On the West end of PR, you have Aquadilla and Mayaguez as big ports, Towards the south-west there is Cabo Rojo/Boqueron with some small marina complex/Clubs. Ponce on the South cost is large and then Fajardo in the East end has several very Large marinas, Between Ponce and Fajardo on the East coast you have Palmas Del Mar Resort and Marina south of Humacoa and of course you have San Juan on the north coast
Off of Fajardo is a small semi private island called Palomino which is owned by the El Conquistor Resort
also you have the Islands of Culebra and Vieques on the east end of PR,, Beautiful islands and great beaches

Enjoy the trip and hope the Seas are good to you, Please keep us posted on your progress.

Thank you

Jim

Thanks, Kim. That is extremely helpful. Much appreciated and yes I will continue to post as we progress. Glad I am not on the water this week. It is blowing 18 to 24 knots right into mid next week. Sailflow is showing winds dropping to single digits on Thursday, the day I am set to return. Hopefully I will get the window we need.
Again, thanks.
Bob

yes boy , dis adventure bean fun reading. u sure u ain no conky joe capn from marsh arbour instead a bein sum hockey playin canadian from where dos maple leafs play.

Maple Leafs ?? You be joking , eh? Now how bout dem Canadiens , eh? Dats a hockey team! Ave we met? ( hope not ! LOL )

Well, if you make it that far Bob, you might as well keep heading south to the island of Dominica. You could visit with my buddy Jay.
You might remember him from the BT poker run circuit. He drove a black Velocity named Thin Lizzy. He is living there in his own private lagoon on his 60 foot sail cat while his new house is being built.

Culebra and Vieques are worth checking out! We used to vacation in Boqueron as well

Hey bob great read thank you for sharing your adventures with us. I have had the chance to meet you here in town at a couple of fmo events and key west. I do think we should change your name from bobthebuilder to bobtheboater. What does everyone else think? He is the ambassador of offshore boating got any good names for Bob!!

OMG Bob what is "Northern Lights" is it a charter or privately owned. That is a gorgeous peice of equipment

:drink::drink::drink::drink::drink:

Some of us in Ft Myers Offshore refer to him as "The Bobfather." :drink:

Admiral Barnhart...King of the Yucatan Straits and then some

Hello Cowisi
I lived in Boqueron for about 3 years when I was work in PR
love the place.Nothing like a ice cold Medalla Beer on a hot beach day.

Thank you
Jim

Northern Lights looked to be a charter. They had all the toys out and seemed to be a large family or group. Now that is the way to travel !! It was actually rather small compared to many of the yachts in the harbor at Atlantis.

Tomorrow I will be confirming who will accompany me on the next leg of the journey. Hint .....lets just say the pictures will be awesome !!

That would be Jayboat. Jay can stay with me from Friday till sometime into the following week which should put us in the Islands. Hoping he can catch some great pics along the way.

Also thanks to all the well wishes and kind comments. Thanks as well to dammmagnum, cowisl, and Pete280 for their helpful tips.

I got married on Luquillo Beach in PR (near Fajardo), spent a couple days in Vieques back when the Navy was still there, I bet it has changed a lot, this was around 96, swimming in the biolumenescent bay was really cool, I have a college roomate that lives in fajardo if you need anything when your there, he has lived there for 20 yrs so he has a lot of hook ups.

sorry mr bob dint know you where a habs fan. when your stories say you are flying back home to toronto, i just assumed. strangely enough i am a habs fan as well. . i spent 7+ years in the bahamas working down there. i am back in canada now. boating in the great lake st clair. i only know you through your stories on oso and thoroughly enjoy them. you have a way with words. thanks and sorry for da dis on being a leafs fan!

Holy Phuck'n Chit!!!!!

$74500 to $90000 per Week!!!

If I ever win the lottery, that I never play, then I might be able to afford such a lavish vacation, but till then, I'm content with where I'm at. :party-smiley-004:

Not really a Montreal fan but am cheering for the only CAN team left in the playoffs. Can't stand the Leafs as they think they can sell out every night ( and they do ) with icing such a mediocre team. I like a winner and that will never be the Leafs. Habs have got this far by a bunch of average guys working hard and I like that.

That is just the base rate. Usually fuel and lots of additional charges on top of that !! :eek:

Bob,
Been following along. Still cant get over the the pigs!
I Looked at the third pic were the pigs looked like 2 dogs swimming away.......... then I read your captions. Then relooked at the pics of the 2 pigs swimming towards the camera. Pigs!!!! Go figure
Sorry to hear about the problems...But still sounds like you all had a great time.
Will follow along on part 2.

Going on my first cruise next week. Carribean(Bahamas, St Thomes, St Maarten, Turks Caicos..Should be a great time in with beautiful ports!!!

Dennis

Woo-hoo! Can't wait for this one, Bob!
Sounds like we will have plenty of room in the boat for how many bikinis? :drink: