Fort Pierce
Innamorata
Steve & Carol
Fri 20 Dec 2024 08:35
The day after we arrived we set off in the dinghy to go ashore but didn't make it - the outboard propeller spun - which means that we either hit something in the water or the rubber bushing just gave out and failed! Anyway we could only go slowly and as it was choppy and about a mile dinghy ride with strong current we turned around and headed back to the boat to have a look at it and see if we could do anything! We know you can drill and fix the prop to stop it slipping at higher revs but were told you can also glue it as a temp fit so we tried that (if you screw it and hit something you can damage the shaft which obviously isn’t good)! We also googled chandleries and getting a new prop on amazon etc long and short - the following day was calmer and so we headed ashore again - glue didn't work but we could go slowly and not get too wet, we set off to a big liquidation warehouse, on foot it was about an hours walk but we can always do with the exercise so didn't mind, the walk was a pretty boring one along US1, on the way we passed loads of lizards, trailer parks and a handful of shops including a supermarket.   The liquidation shop was massive but a bit of a disappointment as it didn't have anything we wanted, however they said they could order a new prop and it would be there first thing the next day for a very reasonable price, so we went ahead and ordered, walked back stopping at a couple of places and of course the supermarket. The following day we got an email early to say the prop was in and so headed off again for another walk to collect it 🤩, not often are things that easy! Another stop at the supermarket, it's a long walk so only small shops, and back to the boat - the prop isn’t exactly the same pitch but it shouldn’t make much difference and soon it was on the outboard and we were fully mobile again! We spent our time doing bits on the boat - exploring Fort Pierce - not that there’s a lot to explore, visited the Manatee centre and learnt a fair bit about manatees 😍 but didn't actually see any here! Met up with Tom and Sabrina who arrived a few days after us and anchored near by before they headed into the Marina to leave Honey Ryder and go on a road trip. We hung out with them a bit and also went to see David and Lieser the owners of Innamorata’s sistership Inner Voice who live very near the anchorage, we had met briefly in 2019, this time we got to have a walk around Inner Voice as well, she was built in 1987 and is very different below decks to Innamorata.  We went to the Fort Pierce Christmas Parade with David and Lieser   m  We also went to a VW car show which was nearby.    Spent too many days on board in wet windy weather  Had one spectacular lightening storm - we were somewhere under all the lightening!  We spent longer than we intended and were actually 3 weeks anchored at fort Pierce and did wonder if the anchor would come up when we left 🤣, for a good few of those days we were boat bound in strong winds and choppy water, always a good opportunity to do some sewing, repaired the enclosure where some of the seams had failed due to sun damage, managed to put a split in it when we put it back up - so repaired that and made a battery cover for the Electric outboard. The watermaker high pressure hose sprung a leak and would you believe it the only shop outside Trinidad where ours is made was only in Stuart - 24 miles away! The very nice lady there even delivered the new hose and then took me to get some Sodastream gas bottles exchanged so now the watermker is back running and I have all full Sodastream gas bottles to head to the Bahamas with🤩. We met Janine and Tom on Kismet who are new to cruising having sold up and bought their boat this year, they are heading to The Bahamas, we enjoyed sundowners on Innamorata with them. |