The Race Against the Chock

These last two days we have been spinning around like tops. From provisioning, to getting chocks made for the skiff; the latter, again, sounding easier said than done.

Marina Mile Yachting Center had our starter out and replaced within four hours. Back in the PNW, that would have easily been a couple days. We were surprised and elated to have this checked off our list.

We got acquainted with Seafarer’s Marine, who made patterns within a couple hours, which we then did our best to revise and fit for the real deal out of starboard. Tom was in their office when they opened in the morning the next day, and they were ready by midday. We then needed some starboard blocks cut to set the chocks on, they were ready within 45 minutes. Their Shop Manager Jeff helped Tessa with screws to assemble our setup when she went back to pick up the starboard blocks. The Sales Manager George helped her ID and locate a hinge for our deep freeze – ended up being a special order.

Every marine business we have dealt with in our time here in Ft Lauderdale has done Herculean efforts for a quick turnaround. From Seafarer’s, to Wood-Chip, to Tender Care (after Palm Beach Boat Show, they delivered a skiff to our specs in less than five days. Everybody else was ten days out) We are dually impressed, and very thankful.

Seafarer’s recommended a local business to make us a new bridle for our skiff to hang from the davit- the one we had made for our former skiff we just could not make work. Look for the sign “Rope”. Nance and Underwood had our bridle built in four hours.

While out and about we crossed paths with Bluewater Books and Charts, which lived up to all the hype. We were able to pick up cruising guides for all the regions we would be venturing, and they had any charts, flags, courtesy flags that you may need. As many have said before us, not to be missed in Ft Lauderdale.

This guy came along for a ride from Bluewater to our next destination. Scared Tessa to pieces as we approached the car door, the guy getting into his truck next to us kindly told her not to worry about these guys. It’s the ones with the curly tail you need to be wary of. Noted.

Before photo of what the chocks looked like on our aft top deck.

Nope.. the pattern is not even close to right.

Tom making a template out of cardboard to modify the composite template.

One chock down, one to go… it’s five o’ clock… here.

We are close…

Stern chock with a dock padding on top, lookin’ good!

7:20pm. After multiple adjustments, lifting her down and back up, she is sitting … supported … and comfortable. Not perfect, there is more sanding of the chocks to be done.

Neither of us felt confident leaving tonight for 15th Street for our jumping off point tomorrow morning. It was just over an hour cruise, and we would get there after dark. And we still needed to do more work.

A quick check of the weather showed tomorrow was our weather window. Thursday could work, but it would be from the N-NE, exactly what you do not want when crossing the Gulf Stream.

We continued to work into the wee hours of the night to prepare for cruising tomorrow. It was a race against the clock.