Launch Day and more

Day 8: Monday February 29

Launch day! Claire fixed a fine breakfast of bacon and eggs.  We gathered our wits and headed for the storage area where we hooked onto the boat trailer.  We pulled the boat about three miles towards Marco Island to the Collier Boulevard Launch ramp.  It is literally a wide spot in Collier Blvd where they have a ramp and a wall in a narrow canal that follows the road out to the Marco River. 

Janine, Scott and I dropped the boat into the water, fired up the motor and headed “gently down the stream” for Rose Marina on Marco Island.  We had traveled about ¼ of a mile down the canal when the motor began to slow down a little.  I gave it a bit of fuel assuming that the throttle had backed off and a minute or so later the engine again slowed down.  This time, I noticed smoke coming from under the engine cover so I immediately shut it off.  It was obvious that the engine was extremely hot. We were heading into the wind and had a bit of headway so I turned the boat and coasted around heading back towards the launch ramp.  We unfurled the jib and used it to pull us along the way.  As we approached the ramp area, I tried to start the engine but it was completely dead.  I tried to use the electric winch but it also would not work.  The entire electrical system was dead.  This motor has a pull rope and after about three tugs, the motor fired and ran enough to get us into the dock.  As the motor was running, I noticed that there was not water coming from the weep hole that indicated that the water pump is not functioning. 

We still needed to get to the marina so we backed the boat up to the incline on the ramp and lifted the motor from the boat and carried it to the truck that we had left there.  We then put our little 2hp Honda dinghy motor onto the motor mount and fired it up.  Amazingly, that little motor pushed the boat along fine.  It probably took us twice as long to get to the marina as it would have had we had the 9.9 Suzuki pushing us. 

The Honda is a direct drive motor with no transmission so that when it is running, you are being pushed forward.  That phenomenon created an interesting challenge when pulling into a narrow slip at the marina.  I will admit that the landing was not pretty but no one was hurt and nothing was damaged.

Scott and Claire enjoying a relaxing view of the sunset

I checked with the marina repair shop regarding repair of the Suzuki and they said that they did not work on them but there was a Suzuki dealer and repair shop in Naples.  I called Sawyers Motor Repair shop and they offered to check out the motor tomorrow morning.  I carry an extra impeller for the water pump and can do that work but the electrical problem had me baffled.

Nothing more to do for the boat this day, we went back to the time share and spent the remainder of the day swimming in the heated pool and playing the grand little ones. 

Sundown over the Gulf of Mexico from the beach on Marco Island

At sundown, we joined Claire’s folks on the beach to enjoy a beautiful sunset.  The high “mare’s tails” (clouds) painted a beautiful mural in the sky as the sun dropped below the horizon. 

We dined Cocomo’s Grill on Marco Island.  It is a famous watering hole that has wonderful food.  It was quite busy and loud but great fun was had by all.  I had Mongolian beef and Janine had crab cakes.  We had an appetizer of coconut shrimp which is reputed to be their specialty. It was good.

Bed arrived at 9:00.