Towboat US

The next several days were uneventful.  Lyra stayed close by my side (not that she had a choice in the matter), and had no more ‘incidents’.  The Espar diesel heater on board was working sporadically and required cleaning the fuel filter daily.  We should have seen this as a warning, but in our haste to get south and somewhere warm we failed to listen.  We were making great time, on day three we made it out of the Chesapeake Bay and headed down the Intracostal Waterway. 

12.10.2018 … my logbook reads … Depart: 6:36AM Broad Creek, NC … Arrive: 2:49PM Coinjock Marina, Coinjock, NC …. a quick look at a map will show that it was indeed a long day, to go two hours backwards...

The previous day, just after we were motoring through the Currituck Sound, IB made several comments that he was glad our motor didn’t die.  The ICW is a deep narrow channel that goes through the approximately 4 foot deep sound.  Our boat needs 6 feet of water. We have never had engine problems in the past, so I didn’t think too much of his concerns.  

About an hour after entering the Arlbamarle Sound, (fortunately the Arlamarle is plenty deep enough that we don’t have to stay in a channel) the engine sputtered and died.  I had been below deck with Lyra, and quickly went up to enquire at the sudden silence, after all maybe the sailing was so great IB decided to turn off the engine!  Of course that was not the case. The engine was dead. Fortunately our boat is equiped with sails and we had wind, so no immediate danger.  IB tinkered with the engine for a few moments until he decided it really wasn’t coming back on. That is when I made our first call to Towboat US.  We have always carried unlimted towing insurance with Towboat US when we have been in US waters, this was our first time using it.  An hour later, our towboat arrived, met us in the sound and towed us back to Coinjock Marina.  A few hours of IB tinkering with the engine, and the conclusion was that we needed to have our fuel tanks cleaned out and the fuel polished.  We called around and found someone who could do this… in Beaufort, NC.  It was possible to get someone to come to us, but at our location the price tag was high.  IB felt very confident that he had all the filters and everything cleaned out and it was indeed running again.  We wanted to get across the sound with mild weather, which meant leaving the next day… feeling hopeful and anxious to get somewhere warm, off we went at first light.

Passport receiving her first tow with Towboat US.

Staying on leash, staying close. She has no choice.

Staying very close, the face really says it all!

We cleared out all chart-books and lost yet another storage area, but Lyra now has her own special cubby to hide in.  She is safe and easy to check on.  She often goes to her cubby when she's feeling uncomfortable, or just wants a nap.