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I’ll cut to
the chase, with my head hanging: Linda hit
a log in Princess Royal. Why? I let my vigilance
drop.
I had been monitoring the traffic - like this
BC Ferry.
And this tug and
tow.
This one particularly interested me because we
had been playing nip and tuck for awhile. So
I was watching him out the window and tracking
him with my Electronic Bearing Line on the radar.
Then I saw all the birds sitting on a log alongside
him that was as long as his tow.
I decided I needed several pictures of that to
show how big the logs can be up here.
The siren song of
this log was still calling me.
Fascinating, isn’t
it? Well - with this last picture I fascinatingly
multi-tasked myself right into a log that whacked
our bow, tumbled down the starboard side, tangled
with the prop, then smacked the Green Devil
on its way past for good measure.
I am always preaching "Constant Vigilance
Out The Window". I still will. I’m
usually very watchful, but not so this time.
I need to follow my own advice more diligently.
No matter what the experience level of the operator
is, the need for vigilance is present in every
moment.
We had been running at 7 Knots and the log was
about 6 feet long and about 8 inches in diameter.
We checked the bilges and tried to assess for
any hull damage. There was a subtle but obvious
difference in the feel of the boat on the starboard
side. We could discern a slight shuddering under
our feet as we increased the RPMs. David thought
the most likely explanation was shaft and/or
prop damage. It was not enough to require running
without that engine (we are a twin screw boat).
But it was enough to plan on having things checked
out in Prince Rupert.
So we continued on our way and once again admired
beautiful, sad Butedale.
Yes, it is still
its same dilapidated but captivating self.
The Devil was behaving nicely behind us on its
temporary spider-web bridle - still waiting for
its re-rig parts in Prince Rupert.
We decided things were too rough in Wright Sound
so we went up to Bishops Bay and used the dock
for a convenient overnight. The next we detoured
around through Verney Passage because it is one
of our favorite beautiful stretches.
We have encountered
more fog on this cruise than in any other year.
Even when it’s clear,
there is often a fog bank lurking ahead.
The currents were
just right for making it all the way up Grenville
Channel so we went to another of our favorite
spots to anchor: Baker Inlet. Yes, we did get
crab; it's a sure thing in Baker.
We wanted to book
a diver as soon as possible upon reaching Prince
Rupert, so I started checking for a cell phone
connection as soon as we left Baker.
Verizon has never worked in this area before,
but the promises have come each year that it
will. This year Verizon finally does work in
Prince Rupert. We have a cell phone booster and
antenna and I was picking up a signal just a
few miles north of Baker Inlet. That’s
still about 30 miles south of Prince Rupert so
there must be numerous connecting locations.
(We did hear of others with different phone instruments
not being able to connect. I have a one-year
old smart phone (LG Voyager), my husband's is
an ancient 5 y/o simple phone (Samsung). They
both worked.
A diver was recommended by the Prince Rupert
Rowing & Yacht Club who was just terrific.
We pass on his name and contact information in
hopes that you never need him:
Aiden Campo – Commercial Diving – Cell:
250-627-6751; Home: 250-6271098
Prince Rupert
Rowing and Yacht Club was too crowded to accomadate
us even though I had tried to make reservations
when I found a cell signal at Klemtu – two
days earlier. So we called Fairview Harbour – a
predominantly commercial dock – and were
able to raft up to this great packer, the F/V
Pacific Nomad.
When the diver arrived,
Linda was the designated tool passer.
He had a prop puller
and was able to get the starboard prop off – with
some difficulty – and
handed it up to me. The shafts were fine and
the other propellor checked out OK. (Sigh of
relief.)
Here is what we
saw.
It’s hard to see in this photo, but the
blade you are looking at head-on is curled forward
a small amount. That is enough to cause the shuddering
we were feeling and it needed to be fixed. It
doesn’t look like much, but when the propellor
is turning 1100 RPM and more (on our boat) it
is definitely noticeable and will damage the
boat over the long term.
The diver took the prop to Harbour Propellor
for us and booked a guy to do the job – on
a Saturday – with the attendant overtime
charges. Now we had to wait. Strolling the docks
and seeing the real fishing folks helped divert
our minds. This is a serious crabber.
The next day our
diver picked up the prop and brought it to
the boat. Terrific service from Diver Aiden
Campo. Note the price (Canadian) on the prop.
The total damage to our budget for the fix
and the two dives: $610.
The diver installed
it in short order. But before that, Dave wanted
another picture of me with the repaired prop.
Blackmail material? Ugh. I wasn’t proud
of all of this, but I share the story to urge
vigilance – mine
and others.
We were very happy to be skookum again. Even
the Devil has new hardware and a new bridle and
lines set-up that Dave rigged while in Prince
Rupert.
The weather cooperated nicely as we departed
Prince Rupert. We transited Venn Passage at high
water slack early in the morning and did the
entire 88 mile run to Ketchikan. It was the calmest
Dixon Entrance crossing we have ever had. Fog?
Yes – lots of it. But calm rolling swells
and light winds. We like that. We were fueled
up, custom checked, and tied up at the Bar Harbor
Marina in Ketchikan by 1640.
Next installment:
Ketchikan and beyond
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