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Eventide
Abaco, Bahamas
We bought a small piece of property on the sparsely inhabited island of Munjack Cay and are prepping our 1979 Fortier as a small liveaboard while we get acquainted with the property. The refit was finished in spring 2025 and we plan to take the boat down the Tenn Tom from Nashville to Abaco. We’ve been following sailing channels for years and have met a number of our heros out there. You know who you are!
Our 11 days as housers is up and we are back on Eventide. We put her on the hard for a few days to patch some of the hull and to swap the prop. Prop swap failed but we found a company to do it in water tomorrow. Had a really nice interaction with Heath. He’s on a sailboat here at safe harbor marathon. He gave me one of his old poles and reels tonight along with a cedar plug and one other lure. Looking forward to seeing what we can catch on it! Also added new zincs to the shaft and rudder and did some touch up bottom paint before dropping her back in the water today. Next stop is probably islamorada or largo, likely on Sunday.
Sometimes the salt, sea, sun and heat are just a little too much. After almost four months and 1400 miles we decided to take a breath and relax in an air conditioned house. The boat is on a dock in our backyard. Cats are running indoors and seem to approve of our decision. We have a few small boat projects that we will knock out during the first week of September. I’m also planning to get some work done on PolicyCo.
We’ve decided on a wait and see approach to the keys. It looks like we can get some reasonable priced dockage in Marathon and there’s also some pretty good snorkeling in that area. Our logic is that we can base our decision to go east or west on whatever hurricane models are in effect. We will see how this plays out. It’s still really hot and we are hoping that September brings some cooler temperatures. We are at stock island. Nothing very special about this marina but I think we will head to the Perry marina tomorrow.
Spending a couple of days just west at Boca Grande and Marquesas keys. Unfortunately, I don’t quite have the range for the round trip to Tortugas. We have food for a couple of days and plan to do some snorkeling and beach exploring.
It’s important to remove as much salt with freshwater as you can after cruising. If there’s rain on the horizon, save the water, otherwise turn up some destination appropriate tunes and get wet.
Really solid day about 97 nautical miles to Key West arrived at 30 staying in Galleon Bay. That worked great, but I do think I need to tighten up the packing nut on the rudder shaft.
Big 93nm day tomorrow. We are heading to Key West from Marco Island. The tanks are topped off plus 5 more gallons in a Jerry can. We plan to leave at first light and expect to arrive at around 2-3 pm. Changed the oil and filter last night (220 engine hours) and checked all the fluids. Responsibly nervous and excited for the trip.
Stormy weather. Safe at dock but it looks like a serious blow.
The boat is running really well. It’ll have about 240 hours on the engine during our stop in Marco island. I plan to change the oil, examine the zincs, and secure the new side shades properly at the bottom. It’s a pretty nice run down to Marco with very light seas and view of the land to port the whole way down. Averaging 15kts.
Easy 50 miles. We will rest here for two days and then cross to Key West!
Watching some incredible heat lightning in the distance from our dock at Cabbage Key.
Fueled up this morning and cruised a bit over 50 miles on the intercoastal to Cabbage Key. It’s a small island with rental cottages and a marina. I came here years ago and have a memory of a Dockmaster with a salty disposition. Even with a different Dockmaster, things haven’t changed. It’s a beautiful place and a lot busier than the last time I was here. Glad to be stopped for the day.
It’s always “fun” when arriving at an anchorage during a popup and severe weather warning. We will probably continue south tomorrow.
We’ve had a great time in St Pete, but it’s time to get moving again! Next leg, west coast of Florida southbound to Key West and Dry Tortugas.
Borrowed a friend’s surf board to try it out behind @eventide Nearing the 3 week mark in St Pete. Starting to get itchy to continue down to the keys.
For those of you who do not have air conditioning, I hereby recommend big ass fan. It’s just a cheap Amazon special. Draws about 120 watts (which is admittedly a lot) but the airflow is a complete game changer.
Motored to Fantasy Island for a night anchored out with some new friends at Harborage Marina.
Finally took care of reengineering the aft seating. This time I took a cue from my pretty successful rebuild of the interior and used 3090 aluminum extrusions to frame a span across the 9 foot width and then joined it with two perpendicular pieces secured to the transom. The seat is solid now.
Our son @jacksoncbutler is headed to Tampa for the long trip to meetup with @ExpeditionDrenched in the Philippines. Nate, we hope you enjoy his company and spirit of adventure as much as we have over the past few months. Fair winds and following seas.
Adding some weatherstripping under my custom windshield.
Haven’t posted in a while because Poseidon claimed my phone in Crystal River. Crystal river vis was about 6 inches. Anyhoo, we made it to St Pete and are staying in the amazing Harborage Marina with a pool. Plan to knock out a few projects. Fix the bench seating, continue cycling the starboard tank (which is working!), cleaned up some wiring, got our replacement EcoFlow battery inverter, swapped the engine control panel which was fogging up, ordered a big ass fan to keep the air circulating in this crazy hot environment. We cruised to downtown St Pete today to grab lunch and float while we watched airplanes land at KSPG.
Left Crystal River this morning at first light. Still having trouble with the starboard tank. Ran off of the left the entire time and had to fill up in Madeira Beach. Waited out a little rain at Sea Dogs Brewery for lunch. Going to hang at Harborage Marina for a couple weeks to troubleshoot and improve a few things. Saying Bon Voyage to Jackson on Monday who heads out on his own adventure in the Philippines with Expedition Drenched!
We arrived to Crystal River with no joke at lease 40 other boats. Cannot wait to get out of civilization. Excellent predictable day except Boba getting under the front floor bilge area. Pulling him out while in a light head sea was pretty traumatic for him. Adding cats secure to future checklist. We also say an impressive waterspout en route.
We found a nice anchorage past sea hags since they didn’t have an available slip for the night. Leo is getting past the heat of the day by laying in the sink. We will stay an extra day here and maybe gather some scallops tomorrow.
The boat and prop performed perfectly today. Averaged 15kts over 5 hours. Our first official crossing of the trip. Still looks like the Gulf of Mexico to me.
Waiting on spare impellers, serpentine belt, and oil filter before crossing to Steinhatchee weather permitting on Friday.
Had dinner with the crew of Perfect Fit, 60 Jefferson last night. Sylvester fell in the water and climbed a piling for the self rescue. First cat to save himself! Proud of our boy.
Looks like we even have a swimming pool.
