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| Kite's engine, sans exhaust manifold |
Well, it seems that this voyage was doomed before it really
got started. A phone call this morning from the mechanic that has been working
on Kite confirmed that it will take at least 4 weeks to obtain the exhaust
manifold and heat exchanger that Kite needs for repairs to her engine. That
means that it will be at least late April before Kite can leave Daytona Beach,
and early May before she could start exploring the Keys. The weather starts
getting hot in May, even in the evenings, and by June is usually unbearable at
night. Also June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season, and Kite
does not want to be in south Florida in hurricane season. So, with the month
delay she has run out of time to enjoy the Keys and get back to Jacksonville
before hurricane season.
So, what will happen? As it stands now, Peter and Lyn will
leave Kite in Daytona Beach for the next month, and rent a car to go home. They
may decide to take a little time during the month to travel back to Daytona
Beach in order to polish Kite’s topsides, a task that is best done in the
cooler spring weather. Also, the mechanic will have a key for access to Kite so that he can perform the
repairs after the parts arrive. After Kite’s engine is repaired, she will
return north. There is a possibility that Lyn and Peter will try to salvage
some of this cruise by continuing north toward Georgia's Cumberland Island, Jekyll Island
and St. Simons Island for a few weeks before returning to Jacksonville, but
that decision will depend on many factors that are not yet known.
Lyn and Peter are already planning a trip to the Keys and
Dry Tortugas in spring 2017.
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