Skiff Builder
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2021
- Messages
- 23
- Vessel Name
- Change Of Pace
- Vessel Make
- Mainship 34 Mk I
Our trip was from Elkton, Md to Little Egg Harbor, NJ. My first time with a single inboard. Left 0800, stopped at Schaeffers in Chesapeake City to top off fuel. First docking - current running strong, the down current bridge abutment looked menacing , but squeezed it in between other boats ok.
The Del river and Bay were like glass, 90 deg temps-nice. The auto pilot came in handy. Allowed me to go down and check things in the bilge while wife stood watch.
Arrived Cape May 1800. Looked at the anchorage but passed it by. Went 2 miles up ICW and anchored in Wildwood.Beautiful and quiet.
Next day cold, fog to start. Winds came up out of the NE gusting to 20. Rode the ICW up to Atl City than to Little Egg. Didn't leave the helm for 9 hours. Some skinny water in south NJ!
Cummins didn't miss a beat. We did have a couple exciting moments though.
The Quicksilver dingy went completely flat when the day got warm.
The bow touched bottom where 3 ICW daymarks in a row, were gone from the poles and I guessed wrong on one. Was able to spin off with the high wind- no damage.
At a narrow part of the channel I lost helm response- a bad feeling. I thought I placed autopilot in standby, but hadn't. Caused a conflict between it and the helm I guess.
Another was waiting for the Dorset Ave bridge in A.C. Very tight spot, with another trawler ahead. After 15 min, the bridge opens, my turn to go and the anchor windlass self deploys! The helm switch did not respond. I just about dove off the flybridge- hauled up by hand and got back to helm just before I got very near to a bulkhead.
Got in our creek just before low tide at 1600. Landed at our home dock without incident. It was a great initiation to the boat and a lot of fun as well.
The Del river and Bay were like glass, 90 deg temps-nice. The auto pilot came in handy. Allowed me to go down and check things in the bilge while wife stood watch.
Arrived Cape May 1800. Looked at the anchorage but passed it by. Went 2 miles up ICW and anchored in Wildwood.Beautiful and quiet.
Next day cold, fog to start. Winds came up out of the NE gusting to 20. Rode the ICW up to Atl City than to Little Egg. Didn't leave the helm for 9 hours. Some skinny water in south NJ!
Cummins didn't miss a beat. We did have a couple exciting moments though.
The Quicksilver dingy went completely flat when the day got warm.
The bow touched bottom where 3 ICW daymarks in a row, were gone from the poles and I guessed wrong on one. Was able to spin off with the high wind- no damage.
At a narrow part of the channel I lost helm response- a bad feeling. I thought I placed autopilot in standby, but hadn't. Caused a conflict between it and the helm I guess.
Another was waiting for the Dorset Ave bridge in A.C. Very tight spot, with another trawler ahead. After 15 min, the bridge opens, my turn to go and the anchor windlass self deploys! The helm switch did not respond. I just about dove off the flybridge- hauled up by hand and got back to helm just before I got very near to a bulkhead.
Got in our creek just before low tide at 1600. Landed at our home dock without incident. It was a great initiation to the boat and a lot of fun as well.