Took the girls over to the mall here in St. Martin the other day… Parking in underground’ish, so we naturally left our sunglasses in the car…
Category Archives: St. Maartin
Max Prop = Max Issue?
Well well well… I’ve been chasing the starboard engine issue (low rpm) for a few weeks now..
Here’s the video from last year when we hauled her: http://youtu.be/UoNVYZQjhu4
Calling Tokyo .. Calling Tokyo
First Up… Robins Back… Literally.. She is much better and on the mend.. Will be a few weeks minimum, but certainly better news than last week.
The MRI showed no previous issues, only a new one.. herniated disc.. caused by a sideways motion, which we all know was pulling in a line off a mooring ball.
Doctor Opinion #1: Nothing we can do but operate. – Sea Ya… I literally walked out.
Doctor Opinion #2: Looks fairly minor, need to see you to recommend some stretches – Sounds awesome.. But he is located in Canada… (FTP’d the MRI, and sent email pics.. love technology)
Doctor Opinion #3: This is the guy that runs the Scan place – Operate? No..No..No… If you can get some physio you will be fine in no time,,, this is a minor issue
Doctor Diesel: (He’s my favourite doctor as I work with him on the boat): SCREW THAT SOB.. YOU NO NEED OPERATION! I BREAK ALL BONES IN MY BODY AND I HAVE NO OPERATION…. I SHOW YOU HOW TO RECOVER YOURSELF… ha… Most colourful person there is.. don’t mess with Dr Diesel.. He’s got a ton of very cool stories, from flying military jets (blowing up a motor and ejecting, breaking many bones).. captured in enemy territory.. etc etc..
Parachute testing 20-30 times a day.. sometimes in thunderstorms…. some designs didn’t work… (Breaking many bones)…
I have no doubt He can bend a 1/4 bolt in half just by looking at it and willing it to break.. he’s bad ass #1 on the island… (And he’s on Timbo’s side!)
Side Band Radio – Also known as the HAM radio… Its used to communicate long distances when at sea.. even send emails… very cool.. I’ve got 2 on board… neither work.. Damn
Well that was until Brendan tripped over the antenna and it came off in his hand.. The connection was bad all along.. so he actually fixed it…
A pair of wire cutters, some clean strands to attach to the back stay of the mast and we turned on the radio…
Every morning there is a long distance net where cruisers call in their location… It’s called the Coconut Telegram.
We dialled it up yesterday and heard a net operator taking calls.
Not sure if the radio would work….. Timbo keyed the mic…
“Island Dancer… Island Dancer..”
Net operator: Island Dancer.. Go ahead…
(WHAT? this thing works? WOW)
We told them our location and plans.. very cool…
Our friends on PLANE TO SEA, are in Bequia (more than 300 Nautical Miles south) immediately called us up.. saying the radio sounded great!
There were people on from Florida to South America.. and we can chit chat to them at any time.. how cooool is that???
Boat Work:
Finishing the last repairs.. 3 machines shops later I have the bracket welded.. Pulled the job 2 times.. We’d be here until Christmas otherwise..
Found a very good shop that did an excellent job.. Fitted a new aluminum billet, welded to the aluminum case, table ground the surfaces.. Drilled out the alternator, made new sliding bushings (much like a brake caliper) and changed the design of the clamp..
It’s 200% better than the original poor design (which lasted 25 years)..
A lot of wrenching lately getting it all back together, but she’s back and ready to go!
A weather window is approaching next week.. we are planning to hit an island our two near here, before heading back to the BVI’s to meet up with more friends!
I had to shorten a bolt the other day.. I can do it onboard, but its a bit of a pain.. I walked into Ace Hardware.. a brand new store here… thats a combo of Canadian tire, Home depot, and Macy’s..
The guys warned me not to let the girls go up stairs to the “Girl” area or your credit card may be in serious pain..
Very great store, with employees working every other isle…
I asked about cutting 1/2″ of a hardened steel bolt in my hand.. They said “No Problem Mon”…
As he pulled out the bolt cutters, I had to stop him… no, that will shorten it, but not what I need.. something like a grinder, or hack saw..
“No Problem Mon”… over to the hack saw isle.. Picks a new one off the shelf… Hands me a new blade off another shelf..
Timbo: Would you have a vice
“No Problem Mon”.. over to the vice isle.. pulls one off the shelf.. “Have at IT Mon”…
Timbo cut the bolt in minutes.. (using two more blades) and we were on our way..
Not sure the health and safety department in Canada would allow this.. customers were walking by as I hacking away in the middle of the store.. it was pretty funny!
But I was sure no one was hurt… 🙂
A lot of sports on these days eh??? We watched the Daytona races (BORING!! but nice fire Jimmy)..
Then the 2 hockey games.. (More Canadians here than Americans.. the Bar EXPLODED when we won!)
Looks like Sunday will be busy.. We have a 4 km hike on the northern shore with a bunch of cruisers.. then the Daytona 500!!!
(Apparently there is a hockey game on that day too!)
Monday Brings Robins Birthday….. The cruisers are planning a BBQ on the Pink Tug, so a natural party is growing for that day!
Have a Great Weekend!
Timbo!
Life in France
We’re really settling into the life of France in St. Martin..
SleepOver On A TugBoat
Buyin Socks and Building a House
You won’t see too many picks of Robin this week.. She threw her back out in a bad way.. thankfully we have friends here on the island who have picked us up and brought her to a physiotherapist…
He is hopeful she will be better in a week……. Sure hope so!!! No fun when you are in that much pain….
In other news… Jessi has new Bamboo Socks.. strange place to buy socks… I haven’t worn any in 6 months.. can’t imagine sales are too high!!! ha
Also.. Brendan and Tracy have rented a place at the Hilton…. OMG… did we take advantage of THAT…. Hot tubs!!! Hot Showers!!! and even watched 10 minutes of REAL LIVE TV???
House building here on the island is interesting.. I had to stop to check out a new house going up.. He welded two SEACan storage containers together..
Cut out some windows.. and has been ‘nailing’ wood to the sides for 6 weeks now.. (Looks like another 12 weeks to go if you ask me) 🙂
Fun Guy… showed me all around.. very proud of his work, and why not.. pretty cheap house and it’s hurricane proof… (Or maybe not.. hummm)
This was funny.. we went in search of a remote sandy beach.. out of the lagoon, into the wide open ocean.. we spot a sandy beach without a sole (located beside a resort)… perfect…
After an hour of swimming, and sun tanning, I see a sign facing the opposite direction from us.. Likely says private property so I wasn’t too quick to walk over and read it… NOPE….. (see pics)
Our friend SnowWhite was FIRED… you got it FIRED from his job at the French Pizza place.. Well thank god for him there’s 10 more on the street..
We ran into him (at his new place) so went in to say hello and have a small lunch…
Jessi, Allie, and I sat down in a couch type setting…. They were fairly busy.. with not enough staff..
Relaxing with a book, the three of us waited patiently to order some drinks.. 10 minutes goes by… The book is getting good..
15 minutes goes by… Staff acknowledge us 3 times now… be there ‘soon’
at 20 minutes I ask Jessi if she wants to go somewhere else…
No Dad.. This place is great.. we have our own couch in a shady place on a hot day.. laying back reading a good book, and people watching (some people didn’t like the fish soup.. as it lacked fish.. I think that would have been just FINE… picky people )… 🙂
In complete relaxation, SnowWhite comes over.. Hey Timbo.. would you like a beer?
Startled, as I forgot we were actually at a restaurant.. “Sure SnowWhite.. thanks”
Not many times back in Canada were we totally comfortable and relaxed waiting 30 minutes to be served even a drink… but thats the way it is down here “Sometimes”…
Ended up being an awesome snack, and we were on our way within the hour..
Timbo took the girls shopping for clothes.. into an art gallery.. few specalty shops, the beach (story above!).. Then to the french supermarket for dinner preparations.
Totally awesome day.. Lets Hope Robin feels better soon and can get into the action..
Have a Great Day
Timbo!!!
Why own 2 Boats?
We’ve been watching this thing sail around the bay the last couple weeks.. always off in the distance.. and we were sure there was some kinda motor on it.. but centre mounted???
It certainly appeared to be an outboard.. mounted in the Middle of the boat… facing backwards???? WTH???
How would you do that? Theories were discussed at length… including building a ‘live well’ type hole in the centre of the boat, allowing you to hang an outboard in the middle, with the prop in the water.. but not sinking the boat…. calculations on hoop stress of the hull strength were showing it an issue… perhaps they were using composite materials of greater strength…????
NOPE…..
Well.. back to gas station for a $1.00 beer… mystery solved…
(He cut one boat in half, and duct taped it to the other…)
Have a GREAT DAY
Timbo
All Inclusive Island Dancer Resort
Whats new this week… well……
Jessi has managed to escape the northern Maine climate for some fun and sun in the south on Island Dancer! Whoooo Hooo!!!!
Free unlimited ICE
Free use of their Beach, Chairs, Two fresh water pools, volleyball court..
Free garbage disposal
Unlimited showers by the pool.
Access to a french bakery
Access to the gas station that sells Wine for $3.00 and Beer for $1.00… They even have a patio… and I think they even sell gas!
Access to REAL washrooms, with unlimited water… what a concept!!!
When I signed up for the internet they didn’t mention all these amenities … We’re also not sure they told the security guard, who has been chasing Brendan for a week now.. he’s a SNEAKY dude.. they need to bring in backup to catch em!
Mr. Parker leaves today.. so off to the beach… I mean the airport… what a place!
SUP MUILTI-COUNTRY CHALLENGE
Sitting on Island dancer you can see Holland in the distance.. We are currently in France….
Timbo heard a snicker from one of the crew when he suggested a paddle board ride to Holland didn’t look too hard…..
LAUNCH THE BOARDS!!! As Timbo and Allie setoff to the great Horizon.. Challenge.. board the Pink Tugboat in Holland and secure a margarita.
I think this was the most fun I’ve ever had on the boards.. We stopped at a small island half way across to investigate a ‘friendly’ dog barking on the second deck of an abandoned boat..
(We later found out his owner lives on the boat.. hummmm)
Continuing on our way, the whitecaps begun.. that indicates approximately 15 knots of wind.. Timbo and Allie dig in, making good progress to the Pink Tug…
For a couple months in San Juan we paddled across a large lagoon daily, so this ‘challenge’ by the weak crew was a bit of joke.. especially knowing the tug was open for business!..ha!
Soon enough we board the tug and find the owner very interested in our journey…. we explained the French have no idea how to make margaritas (a ploy to get in with the Dutch!)… it worked wonderful.
Many sea stories were shared between us, in an enjoyable hour about the pink panther tug…The owner is now a kozyboat fan!
Mr Parker has MASTERED the SUP Boards… He can drink a beer and sit on the board without falling off!! ha… actually he is doing really well even standing momentarily!!!
Boat Projects:
Good News:
Hurray!!! We have a starboard engine again. New turbo installed and commissioned.. Transmission was disassembled and found reverse clutch was dust.. back together and installed!!
Bad? News: Strolling across the deck of Island dancer.. a strange vibration.. then smoke alarms go off… WTH? quickly entering the engine room, Timbo finds the generator is not happy..
Water pump pulley bearing let go.. coolant now in the bilge.. engine wants to be shutdown NOW… ok ok… Pulled off the pump and ordering a new one from the states (Need a Canadian Tire here).. 6660 hours on the motor..
If only it lasted 6 more hours we would have more of a story!
Crew Addition soon:
JESSI is in route Friday for Island Dancer…
Weather: Hot… really Hot.. Sunny… really Sunny
Have a Great Day!
Timbo
Timbo’s Birthday
Had an awesome Birthday this week! Waking up to Island Dancer decorated with red solo cups! Allie was up much of the night decorating!!
Timbo opened up a very cool present.. an official ISLAND DANCER Shirt!!! wow.. we ‘look’ professional now!!!
Tough man stickers were applied to the crew… Allie is head tattoo artist on board if anyone is interested…
Thought long and hard for a plan for the day when we came up with “No plan, just go”…
We started off in a small lagoon surrounded by a golf course.. our sources indicated a small dock would be available to tie up the dingy… Hummm.. need new sources!!!
We had an up-close look of the driving range.. Are we dressed in clown suites or something.. a few balls almost landed in the dingy!!!
Up on plane, we pulled into the next harbour and locked up the dingy for the day with our 400 lb chain and fort knox lock..
Today we were smart enough to bring an extra key, ‘WHEN’ the key is lost one day, we certainly will have an interesting story getting the floating car home!
Crew was grumbling of starvation, so two choices.. into an expensive restaurant, or… Grocery store..
Hot meatloaf, rice and beans was a hit… taking over a patio at a closed restaurant made a spectacular $4 meal !!! Good start to the day!
Walking out onto the road, to figure out a ride to town, a local bus pulled up… Great timing!! $1.50 each and we landed in Simpsons bay..
Meandering the beach, we found several interesting establishments to insure the thirst of the crew maintained in-check.
Back to the main road, looking for ride further up the coast of the island… 10 seconds into the wait a taxi pulls up… no thanks.. they charge $10 a head..
35 seconds into the wait a bus pulls up… $2.00 to get us up the coast, across the mountain, and into the next beach town.
Round of licence plates later, we found ourselves being directed by Allie to the local Gelato stand…
Swimming in the ocean was a hit…and a nice refreshment from the hot hot sun…
After a fun beach day, tackie shirts were bought to insure we are camouflaged in tourist attire..
Bus wait was 15 seconds… and pointed towards “Curry in a Hurry” for dinner
Fabulous dinner… and before long we were back on Island Dancer for movie night!!!
Another great day…. hope your’s was as well!
Timbo