Last time, on Gudgeon Curmudgeon, we left you with our tale of replacing the heavy bronze gudgeon, partaking in several other fixes, and finally deciding to replace our drive shaft.

Did you non-sailboat language speaking folks look up the word gudgeon? If not… What is a gudgeon anyway? One of two mating parts of the hinge-like mechanism that supports and allows the rudder to pivot. Like a door on a hinge, the rudder contains the mating pintle, allowing the rudder to steer the boat. 

Should we also replace a moderately worn drive shaft? While not deemed necessary, it could be contributing to our vibration issue. Kelly knew I’d be incessantly grumbling again if we didn’t address every possible source then and now, while on land. I despise motoring enough as it is! 

So we made good use of our time by renting a car and taking a road trip to visit old and new friends back home.

Moving on…

Steve again worked his magic by contacting his source. Machined to order, its production was expected to take five days, plus shipping from Norfolk Virginia.

Our shaft arrived on Monday, personally-delivered by Steve, along with his coveted custom rudder-jack. We had the whole thing back together by late afternoon, and three weeks after initially arriving in Washington. Way past time to head south again! Fayaway was once again in tiptop shape, with her bottom freshly cleaned and paint touched up, motor aligned, new cutlass bearing, freshly-lubed steering, etc. All systems: a definite Go! Let’s get ‘er off the stands, onto the lift and launch!

Whoa! Not so fast!

We had heard about the strange tides here, but now we experienced their uncertainty first hand. The moon has only a minor effect on water level. However, wind direction, speed and duration significantly determines water level. Hence, wind had been strong and prolonged from the west and northwest for the last few days. And guess which way this causes our water level to be today? Maybe tomorrow?

“No way man, are you going into the water today”, was Patrick’s pronouncement, as I meandered with hopeful anticipation, near the haul out area early on Tuesday morning. Pat and Chris are the team who run the travel lift, moving boats every day to and from land. “We can put you in, but we probably won’t get you off the slings! Maybe tomorrow.” he further solidified. It was half question and half statement.

We had already re-extended the rental car and hotel room. What’s another day? But for how long? We wouldn’t know until then.

Wednesday morning arrived. A light frost blanketed the pine-needle covered ground. The yard was closing early due to tomorrow’s holiday, and wouldn’t open again until Monday. Kelly and I, with hopeful mild anxiety, strolled over to see Pat and Chris hanging by the launching area…

Water level had risen overnight by more than a foot! Yes, we could launch! Hurry, let’s return the car, while the yard makes preparations and tallies our lengthy bill! “No Cash. No splash.”, a conspicuously placed sign reads in the office.

By lunchtime we were motoring out through McCotters channel, possibly drawing a line into the soft muddy bottom, and southward into the deeper (but not much) water of Pamlico Sound. By now it’s almost two o’clock. A storm with another northward blow was expected tonight. There wasn’t time to go very far, so we decided to spend our holiday anchored in a cove by the little town of Bath, about a two hours south of Washington. We had escaped!

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We must express sincere thanks to Steve Brody and his fantastic team at Pacific Seacraft. He treated us like his most important friends, and not just customers. It’s great to see his business thriving, and we encourage anyone with interest in Pacific Seacraft, old or new, to give them a shout with any questions. Not only their boat expertise is top notch, but their people are too.

Furthermore, we could not have been treated better by Mark Henley and his great team at McCotters Marina. Our sincere gratitude goes to them.