If It Were Easy . . .

Slowly leaving Clarksville Marina at dead idle last Saturday morning on the identical GPS track that we had been in and out on three times before, Katahdin clunked, scraped, and lurched heavily. Ouch, ouch, ouch. We had apparently hit a huge submerged log that the large vessel that left just before us stirred up. We pushed through into the channel where we tested the rudder, tried forward, went backwards, sped up, and concluded that we were at least serviceable for the trip to Barkley Marina and then, next day to Green Turtle Bay where help was available--about 100 miles altogether.

As we cruised down the Cumberland, we wondered if Katahdin were vibrating more than normal. Was it or were we imagining it? Then, some of the things that were on the salon table crashed to the floor. They hadn't done that before. We needed to check this out.

We arrived at Barkley Marina where they gave us the same slip we'd had the week before--across from our new friends Larry and LeeAnn Lane. After settling in, they took us to KenLake Marina where we had burgers and beer. When we returned to Barkley, we enjoyed the rest of the evening with locally brewed white-lightning moon shine around a propane "fire" on the bow of their boat. One thing about new friends: they haven't heard all your stories and you haven't heard theirs.

Sunday morning, the Admiral and I went for a three mile woodland walk in beautiful surroundings--we enjoyed the exercise, watched some birds, and got back to the boat for a timely departure to Green Turtle Bay.

Fortunately, I had an appointment for service there on Monday morning. Katahdin needed shutoff valves and a drain in the lazarette in case we run into freezing weather and her horn has never worked since the boat yard replaced it this summer. Before they started those projects, I raised my bigger concern about the real or imagined vibration. Christina Carroll, the service manager, offered a sea trial and late Monday afternoon, she, one of her colleagues, and I took Katahdin out for just that. The good news was that they found the shaft to turn true. Bad news was that they thought there might be something either stuck in the prop or wrapped around it. "Call the diver." Meanwhile, her techs and I completed the other two projects. I can now hopefully keep the pipes in the lazarette from freezing and can definitely wake someone up with our very loud working horn.

The diver got back to me the next day (Tuesday). He was away and not coming back anytime soon but recommended another who turned out to be three counties away. I cut my losses and got in line for a haul out. The first available time was 9:00 Thursday. Jackie had also lined up an appliance tech to come on Tuesday morning. While she had her nails done, the appliance guy and I twisted and turned in the bowels of Katahdin getting into the guts of the washer/dryer. Two hours later after lots of trial and error, we concluded that a blown control panel, specifically the capacitor that starts the unit, is the most likely suspect. Jackie returned just in time to take charge of ordering the replacement. With luck it will be here Friday (now tomorrow).

Looking ahead at a couple of more days of down time if not more than that, what to do? We rented a car which at least gave us some flexibility. Tuesday night, I met up with Santa Claus and asked for a few days on the water without boat issues!

Yesterday, we drove back to Paducha which we didn't think we'd gotten enough of the first time through. Paducha is an interesting town. Located at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers and only 20 miles upstream from the Mississippi, it defines a river town. Tow boats, river boats, steam ships, moving freight, and surviving floods define both its history and present day. The 1937 flood, peaking at a terrifying 60.8 feet and more than 2,000,000 cubic feet per second set all records. The town now has a flood wall that not only has protected its downtown from a number of more recent flooding events but also tells the history of the region in a mile long series of murals.

We toured the river museum and I got to use the tow boat simulator (proud to say I was pretty successful). We went to the railroad museum (interestingly, barge traffic and railroads use most of the same corridors) where the best part was outdoors. And, we

learned that Paducha has the only uranium enrichment plant in the United States. Who knew?

Today, the marina hauled Katahdin, her first time out of the water since being launched in early September. The good news: her propeller was a bit loose--probably due to 300+ hours of wear on a shaft coating that should have been sanded off. In an hour or

so of work, the crew removed the prop, sanded the shaft, replaced the prop, tightened the nuts. Voila, new, much quieter and less vibratory drive train. Hooray! The other good news: the front vu sonar transducer installed this summer by the Michigan boat yard didn't look right to me. And, I'd been having a heck of a time making sense of it while driving the boat in shallow water. Turns out they had installed it 90 degrees off and it was giving a very clear picture of the depth to starboard--not ahead!

We climbed up into the boat and, sure enough, the arrow on the internal part of the transducer that should point forward was pointed perfectly to starboard. Turns out it was a quick fix and I'll be a much happier helmsman as we approach shallow water.

Not a lot more to report except to say that the Admiral and I have been doing a little Christmas stocking shopping along the way--it's so much fun to finally have grandchildren. We're hoping the washer dryer control board will come tomorrow. I'm going to have to literally take apart the space the machine is in in order to slide it forward to work on. Sigh. Meanwhile, we're dreaming of pink tractors.

Oh wait, that wasn't a dream!