Month: April 2024

I’m anchored here, sheltered from the east wind.  Tomorrow I’ll head over to the Connecticut side.  I’d like to stop in Mystic for a day or two.

Yesterday I stopped in Shinnecook Bay, and this morning came through the Shinnecook Canal, and around the north side of Shelter Island.

I’m sure things will look quite different around here in a month.  Right now it’s pretty quiet. 

After my last post I decided to go into Jamaica Bay, and I anchored near JFK for the night.  Had planes taking off over the boat, which is always entertaining.

Yesterday I went out around Rockaway and in at the East Rockaway Inlet.  Last night I anchored next to the Fire Island lighthouse and hiked around a bit.  Neat area.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting  through here.  I didn’t realize the barrier Islands run 2/3 the length of the island.  Today I’m noodling east.  At Shinnecook Bay there’s a fork in the route.  My inclination is to head into Great Peconic Bay from there.

This is mostly new territory for me, so lots of pics.  If recent posts seem light on details and pics it’s because I’ve done most of it before.  Go back six years and you’ll see my first trip on Mazurka.

Also my tracker is on, and you can see my recent route here for those following along in near-real time.

To catch up – I’m anchored here.  Nice spot, lots of birds, and golfers on the left.  Manhatten skyline astern.

Yesterday I set out to explore three rivers in NJ – Raritan, Hackensack and Passaic.  I had high hopes for going some distance up each.  In all cases I was blocked by closed train bridges that were too low. 

By the end of the day I had covered the NJ side and and stopped in Newark immediately adjacent to Red Bull Marina.  There’s a park and dinghy dock there.  Had a burger out at a local bar.  Nice.

Today I headed out the harbour and over to Coney Island and in here.  Neat area.  I’ve never been to Long Island.  I like the seaside view so far. 

I haven’t moved Escapade since arriving.  It’s quiet here, a few boats fishing in the bay and people fishing and hanging out along the shore.  It’s all part of the national park where I am.  Dinghy access to shore is decent, and I’ve managed to get stores and do laundry and enjoy some meals out.

I tore apart my cooling system end to end.  Discovered a somewhat suspect connection on the suction side of the pump, and replaced a hose.  But there was no smoking gun.  Transmission oil cooler is clean and unobstructed.  I’ve run the engine a couple of times, and still seem to have a problem at startup, where water won’t start flowing unless I increase engine speed.  Will be keeping a close eye on it as I get back underway. 

My other mission was to get a replacement fuel filter for the generator, which I did after discovering that it’s a common automotive part. 

Tomorrow I’m going to fuel up and get underway.  Not sure where, but there’s lots of this area I haven’t seen.

I had a smooth trip, and am anchored here. 

NY Harbor was eerily quiet.  I didn’t encounter any boats.  Then shortly after anchoring the CG called on the radio and got all my deets.  Better than boarding, I guess.

I’ve got a few tasks to attend to before I start my local cruise.  This is a good stopping spot.

I just passed Barnegat Bay heading north along the New Jersey coastline.  Not much of a view.

It is however a nice day for the trip.  Calm.

I got underway Friday about 0930 from Norfolk and arrived in Atlantic City about 1000 on Saturday.  I had allowed 24-30 hours for the trip, with an estimated distance of 220 miles.i  I was very tired on arrival and slept almost continuously from 1100 until 0630 today.

The trip wasn’t entirely uneventful.  I started having cooling issues shortly after passing the causeway coming out of the Chesapeake.  The raw water flow was stopping suddenly, and engine coolant temperature would start to climb. 

My response to this was to put the engine in neutral and go to about 2000 rpm until the pumping started again, and all would be good, but I had it happen a few times in the space of an hour.

It was pretty choppy at that point with the current running out of the Chesapeake.  I stopped and checked the raw water strainer and did a quick inspection elsewhere, and all seemed to be in order.  Got tossed around enough while drifting to decide to carry on to calmer conditions to replace the impeller.

At about 1600 I stopped at an inlet along the Delaware shore.  It was a little nerve wracking heading in across the unmarked inlet bar, but I found shelter to drop anchor and enact repairs.  Pulled the water pump and replaced the impeller.  One vane had torn off, but the rest were largely intact.

The issue hasn’t been fully resolved.  I had it reoccur several times after getting underway again, but I pressed on keeping a close eye on the temperature gauge, and had to reprime the pump several times by going to high rpms in neutral briefly.

This morning I had full flow on startup, and after puzzling over it and looking at it running decided to get underway to hit the weather/daylight window.  Have had to reprime it twice today in 5 hours of travel.

My current diagnosis is that there is a restriction in the transmission cooler, which is on the supply side of the water pump.  I’ll disassemble and inspect when I get to NY.

My destination today in Great Kills Harbor.  I remember that as a good stopping point from my trip north five years ago.  I’m ready to stop for a bit.  Need to fix this issue and do some shore-based tasks like laundry. 

The only picture I took was of a sub and escorts inbound near the causeway.  I kept my distance as instructed.

I’m anchored here in Norfolk.  Today was a leisurely trip through the Dismal Swamp Canal.  I had a productive day in Elizabeth City getting supplies yesterday.  I like it there.

The trip up the AICW was uneventful and pleasant and generally familiar.  This is my fourth time through here. 

I’ve often thought that NC would be a nice winter cruising area.  Lots of remote anchorages and friendly towns and marinas. 

Now for my next destination.  I’d like to leave NYC to head up the Hudson River around May 13.  So I’m comfortably within schedule, as usual. 

The usual route between here and NYC is up the Chesapeake, through a canal to the Delaware, then down to NJ.  I’ve done that route a couple of times. 

I’m not a fan of this route.  There are countless destinations, but most are not close to the main channel.  So I’ve been thinking of places I’d like to stop.  Washington is high on my list.  It’s a couple of days up the Potomac, but I’ve got lots of time.  There is limited anchorage in a great location. It would be cool to visit by boat and I could happily roam the museums for a few days.  I’m ready to get off the boat.

But I’m tempted by an alternative – beeline it for NYC, then explore that area.  The weather looks great for a longish trip from here to Atlantic City tomorrow, then on to NYC Sunday after some sleep.

I really like that idea.  Maybe cruise around Long Island. 

Lots to think about.  But 14 hours to make the final decision.

I don’t normally write and drive at the same time, but today I’ll make an exception.  Here’s the scenery.

I’m chugging along in a straight line for the next hour or so.  Head current, making about 6 knots.  It’s a parade of slow cruising power boats.  Ahead of me is this boat, the Nancy Lakin.  My kind of boat.

There’s a Nordavn that’s been shadowing me all day and two Nordic Tugs, all going about the same speed.

All is good aboard.  I stopped in Moorehead City yesterday for fuel (5.75 mpg!) and a meal out.  The current gods have generally smiled on me the last few days and I’m making good time. 

I’m heading north to Montreal, and my goal has been to be in Troy NY by May 17 when the canal opens.  I have no idea how I’m tracking against that.  Will do some further planning before I get to Norfolk in a couple of days.  Next stop is Elizabeth City, then through the Dismal Swamp Canal.  I like this part of the ICW.

Pics from the last few days.

I’m anchored here at mile 536.  203 miles in 3 days.  Mile zero is Norfolk. 

All is good.  I stocked up with groceries at St Simons Island. Had some nasty weather last night as a front came through, with 2-3″ of rain.  I didn’t get underway today until 1000 when things moderated.  Weather looks great for the next few days. 

I’m anchored here just north of the river. 

Susan and Miles got off a couple of hours ago.  I’m now in solo travel mode, next major destination is the Hudson River.  I’ll lay out plans in another post.

It was nice having them aboard, and I got to explore the more interesting spots a bit more.