FT LAUDERDALE

Since arriving in Ft Lauderdale, we have been busy. To begin with, our friend Al wanted us to “check out” the V-berth on his “new” boat, a 1988 Hylas 44. We assumed he was inviting us over for the night. Actually, he had several projects and needed some help. Peter installed a new radar system, traced down several problems in the 12 volt electrical system and the water system. In all, we spent a week on board his boat. We enjoyed several good restaurant meals--Mariscada at El Tamarindo and Conch chowder at Ernie’s and cooked some really good stuff on his boat—seared tuna with a rum reduction sauce, chicken Vesuvio.
We moved Now or Never! from a slip at Las Olas Marina and hauled her out of the water at Playboy Marine, a boat yard where our primary goal was a bottom job. We also replaced the cutless bearing and tended to a couple of other jobs. Originally, we had planned to do this at St Mary’s, GA, a day’s sail from Brunswick where we keep the boat. We are so happy that we did not do that. Had we done so, we would have been delayed in our progress south and would still be freezing at Fernandina Beach waiting for favorable weather to go South.
Peter re-installed the battery combiner. When we first boarded the boat back in December it didn’t seem to be working properly. So, Peter removed it and replaced it with a new one that definitely wasn’t working properly. He contacted the manufacturer who said, “Send both units and they would test them and replace if necessary.” Well, the new unit tested defective and they replaced it. The original unit tested OK so they returned it. Upon re-installation, the original unit worked properly. For those who don’t know, a combiner is a device that combines two battery banks in parallel whenever one of them is receiving a charge and separates them when neither is receiving a charge. It eliminates the possibility that one bank will discharge the other when in use.
Ft Lauderdale is a good place to stop for a few days. The marina is located right on Las Olas Blvd just a couple of blocks from the beach. Public transportation is good and easy to use. There are lots of restaurants nearby although most of them cater to tourists who come to Florida to lay on the beach. One however is really good. When we’re cruising, we are often beset with an insane craving for a hamburger. Near the marina is The Quarterdeck. On our anniversary, after bringing the boat back to the marina from the boatyard, we had one of those Jimmy Buffet desires for a “Hamburger in Paradise.” No champagne, just a beer and the best hamburger we’ve had in nearly two years! It was so good we went back the next day for another.
We’ll stay in Ft Lauderdale a few more days then move to Dinner Key south of Miami. We’re looking forward to seeing our friends Greg and Janice o/b Glenice there. We may also see Kathy and Earl o/b Seeker. It will be good to see cruising friends.


The pix are of Now or Never! on the hard, Now or Never! at the Las Olas Marina and one of our less pretentious neighbors.