There is an abundance of sea creatures in the tidal flats at Black Point.
As we upped anchor at Black Point and started to head out, our port transmission started to squeal. That’s never good.
We shut it down and anchored again. Then I spent some time poking around, checking the oil, etc.. Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot to see or do about a transmission problem, without removing the transmission. It’s not like there are a bunch of switches and breakers on the outside of that giant heap of metal that magically turns engine power into spinning propeller. We figured we had two choices: either head back up to Nassau, a place we really didn’t want to be, but where we’d likely find professional help easily enough, or zip down to George Town, where we probably wouldn’t find much professional help, but at least would have a decent place to sit at anchor and work on things.
After figuring out how to bypass the stabilizers being deactivated when an engine is in neutral, we continued on our merry way south with one engine, albeit at a faster pace than we would have, since we now had the tranny issue worrying us.
Rudder Cut Cay. After passing by David Copperfield’s stretch of islands we came to the anchorage where he had commissioned some art to be created, and then sunk—a mermaid alongside a piano.
I made the mistake of trying out a camera—Sony “action” camera we bought last year but hadn’t used underwater—for the first time. Turns out this camera’s underwater housing makes it unable to take underwater photos (it actually says those words in the manual). One needs to purchase some sort of additional flat lens thing for that. Brilliant.
Fortunately, we also had the kids’ cameras along, so weren’t completely shut out with blurry photos.
For the record, the kids do have masks, snorkels, and fins, but prefer to swim with just the standard cheapo goggles.
14 Comments on “Rudder Cut Cay”
Just keep having fun! Your pictures have improved my day! Thank you!
Thanks, Michelle.
So you are leaving us hanging on the transmission problems? i hope it’s easily fixed. I think Ouest is half mermaid, herself.
Yes, on the transmission and Ouest. 🙂
(Not an easy or cheap fix, unfortunately. Will update at a later date.)
Hope your transmission problems get sorted out quickly and inexpensively! Pat, you look good twinkling the ivories, and the kids take good pics! I still prefer swimming underwater with goggles vs a mask, as the goggles seems to leak less. Maybe that comes from many years as a competitive swimmer when I was younger….
Unfortunately the transmission is not quick or inexpensive. Boats…
Goggles now days are really nice and comfy. Eventually they will want to try out the snorkel gear more I’m sure.
Stunning as usual. I hope the tranny issue is minor.
Thanks, Peter. I wish on the tranny issue. Always an adventure right?
What an amazing place. Hope you can sort out the transmission.
Thanks, Doug. It is getting sorted just not easily.
So, that’s what Copperfield did with MY piano. I bet it’s out of tune now, too….
Yes, you are probably going to need a tune up.
Always enjoy following your adventures. You may try investigating the damper plate between the engine and transmission, they can go out and cause quite a ruckus. Ours did on our 44hp Yamnar, and you could see the springs broken in the bell housing of the transmission. I’m not sure if an engine of your size uses a damper plate or other clutch mechanism. Also, FYI, the cruisers net in Geogetown will be helpful with current local info (we were there last year). If you have to import parts, watermaker air out of Staniel Key is supposed to be fairly good. Also, if you end up having to fly parts in by hand on a commercial flight, you will likely end up paying duty at the airport, despite being applied to a “boat in transit”. Good luck and safe travels.
Not the damper plate – we got it sorted (as in flying it out and having it come back). We have talked to Customs about not paying import duties. We will see how it goes. More updates at a later date. Thanks for trying to help.