Key West - Bottom scrubbed and the wind returns

Time for a bottom scrub

Every year before we start on our return journey, I get the bottom scrubbed. It needs it after sitting in a warm harbor for two months. We've used Down Under Bottom Cleaning for the past three years and they'be done a good job each time. The charge is $3/ft which is average for the area. I also had the zinc on the prop replaced but it was in much better condition than at Titusville where the overboard zinc had come loose. With the overboard zinc detached, the zinc on the prop was completely missing at Titusville after two months, not so here where we had about 1/3 left.

Not all Key West hens are alike, here's a speckled one with chicks.

Today was tax preparation day (TurboTax) and it grew hot in the afternoon so I turned on the A/C only to find no cooling water coming out. I looked at the filter and it came apart in my hands. It's supposed to be stainless steel but it was badly corroded. A simple thing as a filter can stop A/C for the entire boat! Since we were leaving Saturday (maybe Friday) I had no time to shop around. I found a filter at Fisheries Supply and I'm having it shipped overnight. West Marine is supposed to have it but they are not dependable on having it in stock and I was running out of time.

The winds return!

The winds have returned with a vengeance. It's predicted to blow 15 to 20 kts and higher for the next three days. Then, hopefully, we'll have a window to move east and north to Miami. Our goal there is Marine Stadium to wait for good conditions to go outside to Ft Lauderdale.