You guyz sure are QUIET:-// Maybe we should start an "All Things Boating Ft. Myers / Cape Coral" forum thread and not just "New to Cape Coral" thread. Boring update to slowly wake-up everyone:

Splashed at Rosen July 3rd without incidents (yeah baby). That ramp/facility is really good even though I wish it had better "bump" protection on the ramp sides since they sit really low and there are no pilings. Resisted the itch to take her out to the river for a quick WOT test, and stuck to the plan of slow-crusing back to the lift during high tide to ensure she fit right on the newly positioned bunks with the self-built hull step additions. The decision proved prophetic. Turned her around in my narrow channel and floated into the lift like a BOSS (beginners luck). Lifted her and she was sitting perfectly on the bunks. The thousand measurements and angle calcs to clear the beams under the low-height bunks were worth it. Not to mention, the always-on-the-prawl canal gods claimed a digital level (recovered but obviously fried) and a Craftsman extension+adapter+deep socket assembly that is yet to be recovered :-//.

Boat ran great but started running a bit on the hotter side (170F) late in the cruise. Then, when I pulled the drain plugs, a few gallons of water came out. Ugh! Long story short: 1) 95% of the old raw water impeller pieces were found, and a new impeller is now installed, 2) the stupid Mercury racing Bravo 1 nose cone flushing contraption simply does not work well (at all) on the boat/drive (even with new impeller), and 3) turns out one of the bellows was leaking with drive up. Sooooo, after over a month of Quantessa sitting peacefully on the lift, I finally found a quality, reputable, and reasonably-priced I/O shop that was not 2-months backlogged. Last Friday, I cruised back to Rosen, put her on the trailer, and pulled her east just past Alve where she is getting new bellows, bearing, shift cable, etc. Once back, I'll keep her in my driveway for a few days and install the Hardin Marine Fresh Water Flush Kit along with a few other upgrades.

3 1/2 months. Its been nice cruising back and forth from Rosen Park! But I am grateful to now be an absolute boating expert (eyeroll) by having splashed at ramp, rotated 180 degree in canal, loaded at lift, unloaded at lift, and loaded on trailer; once, each, without hitting a single thing (while I knock on wood)! Should get her back next week ready to make it beyond Rosen Park. There is not that much stuff beyand that anyway, right? (eyeroll again)...

Huge THANK YOU to Mike (@CrudeIntentions) as he has helped me tremendously over the past few months. I even managed to con a beer from him! And also Marine Trading Post folks for being just simply awesome, always, and referring me to Chuck and John who are getting Quantessa's bellows fixed right.

A few pics (last one is my neighbor at the helm on the way back to Rosen:

Lift Bunks with the step:

Those lift bunk with steps are amazing. I read your stick to the conservative plan for first boat outing and did the same thing in my new to me local area (Perdido Key). Sure enough a exhaust manifold water line popped off and it would have been catastrophic or at least significantly worse if I was not literally in my own backyard. Voting is just like Aviation it's best to execute a very conservative plan and have two to three back ups.

Hey are u around this weekend?? I’d like to try putting my 292 on your lift to see if it work. If so maybe I could get your dimensions for my lift. If so we can go for a ride in my boat over and I show u around the tricky spots.

Thanks F14A, the bunks where a bit of effort but well worth it. Indeed on sticking to conservative plans in these situations. I don't always do it, but as I have learned to recognize and follow my instincts.

Absolutely Formula 292. I'll be around all day tomorrow. My friend from PA is visiting again and will arrive Sat night, so as Crude Intentios once put it, I'll be "working on my ride" while the boat gets fixed LOL.... Other than that I am totally free without any fixed plans. A few thoughts:

• Is your boat on the lift now? You may want to consider coming over and looking at it to take some dimensions and ensure your extra two feet will fit in my deck's cutout. I believe it will as I have about that much room left at the bow on mine if I sit her with the hull step right against the bunks step.
• The other critical thing is measuring the width of the aft and mid-hull "inside chines" (not sure what they are called). In my 271, I had to make the bunk aft spacing wider by 1", and the front narrower by 1", so that I could clear the aft "inside chines" to fit inside the bunks, while the mid-hull ones to remain outside the bunks' edges. Hard to explain but had to do it so the hull rests flat on the bunks without catching on any edges or corners.

In any case, yes, visit in advance if you'd like and/or lets coordinate to try your 292 on it. If you want, I am also more than happy to look at your boat's hull while on your lift and give you my thoughts. They should be very close though. Call or text: 646.645.4851 anytime.

I am around today as well so feel free to come over. Well... anyone else also welcomed for that matter. There are a bunch of Coronas in the fridge wasting away....

I did get the boat out last weekend. Saturday at sanibel and Monday just river cruising and lunch. Hope you get your back soon!

Awesome! Great to have you back. I should have called you Monday to possibly connect on the water. Formula292dsb took me (and my visiting lady friend) out on Monday for a grand tour. Cape Harbour, Cayo Costa, FM lunch. Superb day across all fronts.

Picked up Quantessa on Friday. Bellows, bearing, alignment, etc all done. Safety lanyard and trim switch also fixed/replaced. Fresh water flush kit now installed as well. Chuck and John and Chuck's Marine did excellent work. Over and beyond across many fronts while they had the boat there. Unbeatable price icing on the cake.

I am keeping her in the driveway for a few days to fix the automatic bilge pump float switch(es) that seem(s) to not be working. May also replace the VHF with a GPS unit while it is out in front. Plan is to splash this weekend and finally run her past Rosen!

Awesome man. I was back. Not anymore. Lol. Maybe next week. Depends on work. I’ll text ya when I do get back again.

also thanks for the shoutout and as you know anytime you need help, let me know.