The Great Wander

Transiting the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW) has some advantages over going out into the open ocean.  Weather conditions matter, but not as much.  You’ve got easier access to marinas and docks if you need them.  Getting help is relatively easy.

It also has some disadvantages…like bridges.  It’s pretty well known that for most of the ICW in Florida, you can transit with a 60’ mast and not have to worry about clearing bridges.  You might need to wait for the tide to drop, but most fixed bridges have a 65’ vertical clearance.  

The bridges that are problematic are drawbridges.  You have to wait for them to open to clear the bridge.  Some will open on demand, some only open on the hour and half hour, some on the quarter hour.  Some bridges have times they won’t open.  Some won’t open at night.  It’s variable and when your planning departures, it’s helpful to know when the bridge will open. 

As we were departing our anchorage one day on the ICW, we raised the anchor.  As soon as the anchor was up and we were set to head out, Sandy told me we lost our port engine.  Not knowing what was going on, she told me to drop the anchor and we’d reset it and try to figure out what happened.

As it happened the throttle cable broke at the helm.  To fix that, we had to remove the throttle/gear controllers.  These are held in place by set screws.

We took the rest of the day to replace the cable, with the help of a friend who happened to be in the same anchorage. The next morning, we raised the anchor and were on our way.

After a couple of hours and transiting through several other bridges, we approached another drawbridge.  This bridge opened on the hour and the half hour.  We were in the que to go through on the next opening.  I’d been using the throttle/gear controllers to hold us in place since we arrived about a half hour before, just missing the last opening.  

Finally, the bridge was about to open.  I started to maneuver us into position and the throttle/shift controller fell off.  Mind you, these don’t just slip right back into place.  It takes some finagling to shove them back into place.  “One Life, do you plan to make this opening?”  comes over the radio as I’m trying to shove this controller back on.

“Negative bridge.  I’ve lost control of my port engine and I need to get that fixed.  Trying to drop anchor now to be able to accomplish that.”  The last bit was for all of the transiting boats.  The bridge tender could’ve given two shits about why I’m not making it, but I need the other boats to know why, so they will give me space as they come by.

I drop the anchor and it grabs quicker than expected, but we have too much chain out for this little space and we swing into the channel.  I quickly got the anchor up and now it’s time for plan B.  Unfortunately, I don’t know what plan B is right now.  

As I come back to the helm from getting the anchor up, Sandy stays there and starts trying to get us away from the bridge for a few minutes.  I’m also at the helm, trying to get the engine back into neutral so we can start it and we can get the controller back on.  

The problem on a catamaran is that the engines are almost 24’ apart.  So, we’re running on one engine, which is pushing us to the opposite side.  In this little space, that means pushing us into the rocks that are controlling the current for the marina behind us.  Trying to steer with just  the one engine is a challenge!  

There’s a rush of excitement, adrenaline, panic, and terror all at once.  How do we fix this?!  How are we going to get through this bridge and the next two bridges that are almost immediate from this one?

As I start to regroup myself and breathe again, Sandy is keeping us out of the way of the other boats that are now coming our way, and she’s keeping us off the rocks and the other shore.  

I find the position that will allow the throttle controller back on.  It’s not perfect, but it’s on there and I can now control the engine speed and forward and reverse.  I head away from the bridge for a few minutes, find a place to turn around and head back to the bridge.  

“Bridge tender, this is One Life requesting a spot in the queue for the next opening.”

“Copy that One Life.  Next opening in five minutes, please approach a little closer to the bridge.”

Closer to the bridge?  Are you kidding me?  Do you just witness what I went through to get there in the first place? “Copy that bridge tender.  I’m on approach.”

As I move forward I’m doing everything I can to minimize the movement of my port engine controller.  I’m terrified it’s going to fall off again.  

As I approach, everything is holding in place and my confidence increases that we are going to be just fine.