tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post2712950020752901194..comments2024-03-23T04:16:23.861-06:00Comments on Cruising the Great Loop: The Raging Gulf CrossingPhil Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058829414678272086noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-43259599358000107632014-07-17T09:39:43.229-06:002014-07-17T09:39:43.229-06:00sends Phil a extra cross bow an a picture of Burt ...sends Phil a extra cross bow an a picture of Burt Renyolds when he was younger to display on the bow happy sailing M8s from Capttrinity top of the ROCKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-34008693136383899392014-07-17T08:57:07.204-06:002014-07-17T08:57:07.204-06:00What a perilous morning! Having been there myself...What a perilous morning! Having been there myself, I know the adrenaline was peaked!<br /><br />Your Chris-Craft is a WOODEN hull? I had a 1965 34' Pacemaker. Carvel-plank hull.<br />She took on water too - near the conclusion of a four day cruise. We took her from Cuba Landing, down the Tennessee River and up the Cumberland. Landed her at an Old Hickory Lake marina on day 4.<br /><br />On the final day, just a mile below OH Lock & Dam, the river currents were the strongest I'd encountered. My normal 8-9 knot cruise speed became a stiflingly slow 5 knots. I so happened to go below & check the engine room (I did that ALLOT). The bilge water at an alarming level - lapping at the engines! The bilge pumps obviously weren't keeping up, so I put a sump to use in order to extract the bilge water down to a comfortable level before locking through. We finally landed a few hours later and that magnitude of water intrusion never occurred again.<br /><br />Later on, I'd surmised that the additional water I'd taken on came from the heavier river currents pushing water higher than normal up on the bow planks - WELL above the boat's normal water line. Those planks (from the gunwales down to the water line) are normally dry and therefore weren't "soaked up" like the planks below the water line are.<br /><br />So...my pittance of a higher than normal river current...and your six foot waves (!) may both be attributed to the mere fact that a wooden-hulled boat will, by design, LEAK!<br /><br />Keep those bilge pumps WORKING!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05434080432628689432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-32155464910512394272014-07-10T20:26:28.232-06:002014-07-10T20:26:28.232-06:00Glad you all made it through it okay Uncle Phil......Glad you all made it through it okay Uncle Phil... I promise you are a better man now for it. Just like TrevorF, I got into bad weather (and then thick clouds) many years ago as a new pilot. I remember the hopeless feeling so well! I really thought I had screwed up and killed myself. All the thoughts that go through your head at a life or death time like that are almost enough to make you have a mental breakdown (how could I be so stupid, what is this going to do to my family, will I die instantly or will I suffer, etc, etc). The other thing that makes weather so bad (whether in the clouds or on the pitch black sea), is that you are completely blind and can see ABSOLUTELY nothing. The loss of vision only makes your ears work that much better... meaning the roar of the engine, and every little groan of the structure is amplified about 100 times. But... with all that said Thanks for making the trip. I had been working on my wife for a couple of months about us doing the Great Loop before you announced your plans. Once she heard you were doing it, it gave my hair-brained idea a lot more credibility (although I'm going to try to keep this little "incident" from her... so please don't mention on the show anymore, I don't think she was listening today :-)Steve in the Boronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-20311320498415400512014-07-10T17:00:12.384-06:002014-07-10T17:00:12.384-06:00I knew when the show was a "rerun" yeste...I knew when the show was a "rerun" yesterday that things didn't go quite as planned, but I didn't expect it to be that eventful. Glad to see that you hung in there like the proverbial hair on a biscuit, Uncle Phil.Wareaglealumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13681068898499298166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-33929403707079776922014-07-10T16:15:03.854-06:002014-07-10T16:15:03.854-06:00Man, I was too drunk to realize I was listenin'...Man, I was too drunk to realize I was listenin' to a best of show! That Ol' boat loved that crossing! Like old folks in the pool at the Y', gotta keep them joints moving! Awesome adventure Uncle Phil. I can hear Ms. V' though, "you just bought it...don't break it!"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433556481297905255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-39350342732142238632014-07-10T14:16:40.168-06:002014-07-10T14:16:40.168-06:00I guess you can never be prepared enough. Glad yo...I guess you can never be prepared enough. Glad you made it ok. Doug Johnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06888567487405378198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-42477128871922069902014-07-10T13:37:19.122-06:002014-07-10T13:37:19.122-06:00Uh oh the rough seas took out the Mac. No live sho...Uh oh the rough seas took out the Mac. No live show???. Bummer. Wishing you prayers my friend. Hurricane mark I say dittos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-6027572333513488662014-07-10T10:37:59.633-06:002014-07-10T10:37:59.633-06:00I was so worried yesterday when it was "best ...I was so worried yesterday when it was "best of" all day; I decided you must've just been delayed, didn't honestly expect you to have gone thru that. I've been on a boat in a storm and taking on water (bailing with a beer case box LOL) and that was plenty excitement enough--at least we could swim to shore. Can't imagine being in the "dark", basically, and having the sense that it'll all be lost any moment. Glad you are safe. God speed. TBSergeant7https://www.blogger.com/profile/08259229821302532369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-13338997558944673962014-07-10T09:07:16.670-06:002014-07-10T09:07:16.670-06:00When it get to rough for the rest of'em it'...When it get to rough for the rest of'em it's just right for us! Proud of ya boy!Hurricane Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-38405748382792022772014-07-10T08:47:01.454-06:002014-07-10T08:47:01.454-06:00Can you imagine being unable to figure out the pow...Can you imagine being unable to figure out the power to get the engines up? Bob this pepsi is on me.<br />a1mds.comDrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525224043530421492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-73333671619244296192014-07-10T07:20:32.454-06:002014-07-10T07:20:32.454-06:00Sounded like a seen from a movie! May have sucked ...Sounded like a seen from a movie! May have sucked but it will make a great story for your grandkids! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07332021745888597010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-91052011502374878282014-07-10T07:00:44.474-06:002014-07-10T07:00:44.474-06:00Just....sit right back and you'll hear a tale,...Just....sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip......<br />Glad to hear you made it through what must have been a scary experience for you. Some years ago I was caught in bad thunderstorms in a light aircraft so I can imagine just how you felt. Hope the rest of the trip is relaxing by comparison.TrevorFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-21335785035354282242014-07-10T06:29:22.090-06:002014-07-10T06:29:22.090-06:00Having been out there many times, I can attest to ...Having been out there many times, I can attest to how fast things can go from beautiful to "damn it man!"<br /><br />Heading out into the Gulf in a 1968 model wooden boat that has been moored for some time takes big brass cohones Uncle Phil. You guys are crazy! So glad you made it! <br /><br />When I was little and we would take our boat outside into the Atlantic when the big swells were tossing us around my dad would grin and say: " I can't drink all of that damned water son! Maybe we oughta head back in."<br />blurredvisionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06706611536105934249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-49300185597220391822014-07-10T05:23:58.648-06:002014-07-10T05:23:58.648-06:00The Perfect Storm comes to mind. Kudos that you d...The Perfect Storm comes to mind. Kudos that you did not have to call the Coast Guard. Glad you are safe and wishing you God Speed on your return to TN.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08030751243301706900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-48566016745463424522014-07-10T05:14:05.919-06:002014-07-10T05:14:05.919-06:00as I had said there was a low system in the Gulf t...as I had said there was a low system in the Gulf that was hanging around and I knew it was going to get you captain Phil. I'm glad you made it . you almost sound like you didn't but that was close real close so I know she probably got banged up. you get back I can fix a generator. in the meantime be safe get home and I hope to hear you live tonight to hear about your famous tale ot the gulf. Jimmy ShelbyvilleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-66868848593745872252014-07-10T00:48:53.516-06:002014-07-10T00:48:53.516-06:00Tennessee is calling you home, Phil... and sounds ...Tennessee is calling you home, Phil... and sounds like the Gulf of Mexico served up some fine excitement for ya'll. The roughest seas and most arduous boat ride I have ever endured was out there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-44433406872236361362014-07-10T00:30:47.660-06:002014-07-10T00:30:47.660-06:00Wow, I was sitting on the edge of my seat reading ...Wow, I was sitting on the edge of my seat reading that. Sheesh uncle Phil... That sounded more like a nightmare than a vacation... haha. Glad you guys are still floating. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252621832300451372.post-6234177138797176702014-07-09T23:44:12.873-06:002014-07-09T23:44:12.873-06:00a very dangerous situation in the gulf well done c...a very dangerous situation in the gulf well done captain and uncle phil stay safeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com