What’s That Noise!



Leonard Suiting Up



Gut Bay

We left beautiful Red Bluff Bay heading southward and stopped at Gut Bay for a “looksy."  As we turned the boat to head back out the inlet, we heard an unfamiliar sound when the port engine was put in gear.  We thought perhaps a fishing line, net, or a limb was binding the port prop.  We anchored in the bay and Leonard donned his diving equipment – a drysuit over a neoprene bodysuit, a diving mask & snorkel, and fins.  He took the cold, eerie plunge under the swim step to take a look but found nothing abnormal.  It was a good exercise, however, and now we have more items added to the “need to buy list” – a diver’s weight belt, a neoprene hood, and an air-compressor with a breathable hose.  Leonard’s scuba diving experience came in handy but it certainly would be easier with the proper equipment.  We headed back out the inlet to continue south, suspecting that the noise was a worn cutlass bearing requiring replacement.  A cutlass bearing is located on the end of the V-Strut that holds the prop shaft in place.  Planning to have the boat lifted out on a grid system for repairs and zinc replacements is now top of mind.  Gut Bay turned out to be a gut-wrenching experience.


Taking the Plunge



Leonard Washing Off