The Columbia 10.7 Log entry #4 the transport home

On Labor day weekend 2010, Tropical Storm Lee had formed in the Gulf of Mexico and was creating high winds 30+ knots and 8 to 10 foot seas in the Gulf, along with a lot of rain. I decided to transport the Columbia from its berth in Clearwater beach to mu marina in Tierra Verde Florida. This was a 28 mile run south. I had to work with the tides because the location of the Columbia in Clearwater was very shallow and the boat needed to be moved at mid to high tide.I decided to move her on Monday September 5th at 7:00 Am when the sun was rising and the tide was high enough to get her out. I planned a trek down the protected intercoastal waterway instead of the Gulf which was not sail able that day.

I fired the engine up,untied the boat from the dock and waved good bye to my wife Julie , who had driven me to the boat that morning... The winds were hitting about 20 knots and were coming directly at me me from the south, which is the direction i was headed. it was going to be a long 5 hour trip to my home port. I had a cooler, an ipod and a full tank of gas, I was ready to go...

I ventured out of the canal where the boat was docked and turned the corner into the channel that entered into the Intercoastal water way. I then smelled something burning. it smelled like plastic. I looked over to the cluster of gauges and ignition area and saw flames shooting from the panel.. I ran into the cabin and grabbed the fire extinguisher that I had found the previous day as I was cleaning the boat out. I put the fire out and looked up to find the boat was headed straight for a sand bar outside the channel. It was too late at that point. before I could turn the wheel, I felt the boat rise up and gently come to a stop. Yes, I had grounded onto a sandbar just 100 feet into my voyage.

 I composed myself and called Tow Boat US who arrived 30 minutes later and towed me the entire way back to Tierra Verde marina.... Stay tuned to hear the damage report.

The damage;;;;;  I am adding this entry to log the damage to the engine... It turns out that it was a cheap replacement key switch that had corroded and the progms touched each other thus shorting it out. No biggie. I called a marine mechanic who came out and replaced the switch.. I  refit the guages and made a new cluster plate to replace the crispy one....



                                          AFTER FIRE

                                         NEW PANEL

                                          NEW GUAGES PLACED UNDER BULKHEAD FOR GOOD VIEWING