Delayed for Repairs

We arrived at Saunders Yachtworks in Gulf Shores on Sunday as planned.  The crossing of Mobile Bay was a bit bumpy but nice and it reminded us of Lake Michigan.  We spent just two days shy of two months on the rivers and got used to not putting everything away each day! Other than an occasional passing large boat wake, the rivers are calm cruising.
No Zip Code led the way for four boats, with two of us stopping at Saunders for repairs and the others continuing on.
Leaving Dog River

  Shallow bay!!!

 

Entering the inter coastal

 This is quite the repair facility, employing about 65 people in every imaginable boat related trade.  They do not sell boats or have transient slips for rent, it is strictly a repair and maintenance facility.  We are a small boat here...lots of large sport fish boats and other yachts. 
We took a short dinghy ride down the inter coastal to the famous Lulu's (owned by Jimmy Buffet's sister).  They had wonderful menu options for allergy restricted individuals.  So Julie ended up with a huge burger on a gluten free bun...and I had a burger too....they were great along with the fresh margaritas too!!

Ralph and Linda came in their dinghy too.

Lulu's at night when leaving

On Monday we again took a dinghy ride three miles to the Wharf Marina.  Wow, what a facility!  Huge retail shopping area, a movie theatre on site, nice floating docks, multiple restaurants and a really nice boaters lounge.  We would have stayed here if not for the scheduled repairs.  A number of Looper friends are there for a week or so.
They pulled our boat this morning and we have very minor prop damage on both sides as well as worn cutless bearings both sides that are likely contributing to the vibrations. 

So we are now on the hard for over a week (estimated completion is next Wed). We are also having the VHF radio repaired (it shares a signal with AIS and needs a splitter), getting a new chain for the anchor installed, restarting the macerator for waste disposal in the Bahamas (no pump outs there), replacing impellers, new genset zinc, checking/repairing a leak in the steering system hydraulics, adjusting the shifter cables and a couple other things that have cropped up and are beyond my pay grade. Did a little varnish touch up too.

We are actually lucky to have made these repair arrangements.  Others coming in have been told it is a week before they can even look at their boats.  The service manager says they are slammed and have not been this busy in a while.  It sounds to me like the economy has improved and folks are using their boats!
The blue heron thinks he owns the place!  And we talked to one employee who showed us pictures of all the fish he catches right in the marina (he comes in early and fishes in the morning before work).  So I guess the heron knows what he is doing!

OK, but we have to make lemonade when dealt lemons.  So today I got busy and cleaned the scummy waterline and waxed the hull sides up to the upper rub rail.  Not a perfect job but at least a quick coat to get off some of the river stains. 
They have us hooked up to electricity and a nice step platform with hand rails so it is easy to get on the boat.  The only system we cannot use is the air and heat as they require water.  For an extra fee the marina would have set up cooling water towers, but we will only be here a night or two.  So again, things can always be worked through.
Here we are on the hard...

Tomorrow we will rent a car and get some laundry and other chores done, then we will leave for Michigan for Thanksgiving with the Van Hall clan. We are going to wait for the storm to clear the middle of the country before we leave.  Then, we will let Saunders complete the work on the boat and we will be back here around the 28th or 29th to continue our adventure.
We are so looking forward to getting to Tarpon Springs and beyond.  But it will be great to see friends and family for a few days too! 
Happy Thanksgiving to all and thanks for following us.