It was a long wait in the yard, about a month. But we were eventually launched. After paying our bill, we made a mad dash to leave the ICW and hit the ocean.

The first order of business was running aground. I had a feeling we would with the channel being so shallow. As much as I want to use TJ’s Marina come fall to do our engine and bottom, I’m concerned about the depth in the channel. We called BoatTowUS, and after about an hour, we were towed out to deeper water. While there we discovered that the “waterline hose” that comes off the top of the shaft seal had not been secured properly and was now below the waterline and so was pouring water into the boat. An easy fix.

Once out in deeper water, we headed north. Out of Belhaven, NC, and into the Alligator River Canal. About halfway through the canal is when we saw the engine overheat and steam filled the whole cabin. We pulled over to anchor and discovered that our anchor windlass had seized. Just a click and no motion. I was able to free the chain, but raising and lowering the anchor by hand and fixing the windlass were added to our agenda. Turns out one of the coolant hoses had been pressed up against the engine belt and was sliced open to spray out all of our coolant.

Without any spare hose, we pulled some other hose off the engine that wasn’t so needed and made something that would work. We poured in as much coolant as we had and then topped off with water.

The water was good enough to get us to each new spot, and then we’d add water in the morning.

A pleasant anchor in the Alligator River, and another pleasant night in the North River. Then off to the free dock in Chesapeake, VA by the lock. First order of business was going up to the automotive store to try and find some coolant hose, but they didn’t sell any and weren’t helpful at all. But they did have coolant, so we were able to fill the engine with coolant once more.

We stayed a few days on the free dock and spent the time doing laundry, going grocery shopping, and otherwise resting.

72 hours later, which is a bit longer than the 48 hours officially allowed, we made our way to the lock and were once again impressed with how the new transmission was working. Through the lock and up to Norfolk, VA, and our spot in Hampton, VA, where we’d anchor by Fort Monroe for a few days.

Once into Norfolk, though, with about two hours left to go, we started taking on significant water. The boys checked, and it was the shaft seal. It had slipped and was no longer sealing the shaft at all.

Once we arrived in Hampton, we tore apart the whole aft cabin with an inch or more in the boat. It was then a quick job of the shaft seal to stop the link and make sure it was on tight.

Then all the bedding and the cabin’s contents were returned to the aft cabin. It was right about then that I got a message from work that the meeting scheduled for the next day was canceled.

New plan. The weather was perfect, and without a work meeting, we could hop offshore the next morning. And we’d worked through most of the issues following our engine work.