KEY-LIME-PIE IS O/S

[KEY-LIME-PIE]

GOOD MORNING SFC...WELL LETS JUST SEE WHAT KIND OF MORNING IT WILL BE!!! AFTER TWO DISASTEROUS DAYS OF FISHING COULD IT GET ANY WORSE??? OF COARSE IT CAN...

TRAVELING BACK TO OC FROM THE SAUSAGES YESTERDAY. THE SKY IS SUNNY,CLEAR AND JUST A BEAUTIFUL DAY OVER ALL. THE SPEED IS 29KTS, NEW FOUR STROKES SINGING THEIR QUITE SONG "JUST LISTEN TO THE SPRAY OF THE WATER" BECAUSE THATS ALL YOU HEAR. GOOD FRIENDS "NO FISH". THE WIND ON MY BALD HEAD. "LIFE IS GOOD".

22 MILES OUT "DISASTER" SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE A 55 GAL STEEL DRUM POPS UP OUT OF THE WATER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! SO CLOSE, "NO TIME TO REACT". I THROUGH THE MOTORS INTO NEUTRAL JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION MUCH LIKE THE ONE TITANIC EXPERIENCED.

THE KEY-LIME-PIE STRIKES IT HARD. THE MOTORS ARE QUITE AS THE STEEL CULPRIT GRATES THE BOTOM STARBOARD UNDERSIDE OF HER BELLY. I CAN FEEL HER SCREEM IN PAIN. THE BARREL ROLLS OUT FROM THE UNDER THE PORT MOTOR. THIS IS NOT GOOD! MY GUT IS TELLING ME I GOT PROBLEMS! I JUMP DOWN FROM THE HELM NOT SURE WHAT THE TOTAL DAMAGE IS. MY MIND STARTS PLANING FOR ABANDON SHIP. AT THIS POINT SAFTEY IS MY MAIN CONCERN.

HOWEVER MY BODY WILL NOT JUMP INTO THE WATER WHERE TWO WEEKS EARLIER I CAUGHT THREE SHARKS!!! WE SIT DEAD IN THE STILL WATERS. A QUITE EARIER PRESENTS HAS SURROUNDED THE KEY-LIME-PIE. WILL WE SINK TO THE BOTTOM OR LIMP BACK TO SHORE? I CHOOSE THE LATTER. I THROUGH OPEN THE HATCH TO THE BOTTOM EXPECTING TO SEE THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF LIFE STEELING SALTWATER REPLACING THE AIR FILLED VOIDS THAT KEEP THE BELOVED KEY-LIME-PIE UPRIGHT AND AFLOAT!

MUCH TO MY SUPRISE...WHAT DO I SEE??? NOTHING NO WATER AT ALL SHE IS DRY AS THE SUNBAKED MOHABI DESSERT IN THE ORANGEGLOW AFTERNOON THAT CRAVES FOR MOISTER, WITH CATUS SO DEHYDRATED THAT THEY HAVE SHRIVELED AND DIED!

I GIVE HER TEN MINUTES AND STILL NO WATER. NEXT ITS TIME TO OBSERVE DAMAGE TO THE TWINS, I RAISE THEM OUT OF THE SUBSTANCE THAT WANTS TO TAKE HER TO THE BOTOM. VISUAL REPORT "I DONT SEE ANY DAMAGE" THE PORT MOTOR HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE COSMETIC SCRAPES TO HER LEFT SIDE. A GOUGE ON THE FIN HALF WAY UP FROM THE PROP. VERY SUPERFISAL.

KEY-LIME-PIE I'M TAKING YOU HOME OL GIRL.. THEN THE TWINS FIRE UP WITH THE TENACITY OF A 1ST ROUND MIKE TYSON HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT. BUT WE'LL GO SLOW AND EASY. THE MUSCELS OF THE KLP RESPOND WELL......THAT IS UNTILL SHE PLANES OUT......DISASTER SHOWS HER DAMAGE, AND THE BLEEDING OF THE KLP BEGINS.

WITH NO VISUAL DAMAGE SEEN. THE KLP LIST HARD STARBOARD. I LEAP LIKE A LION PREPARED TO ATTACK ITS PRAY, THOUGH OPEN THE HATCH, AGAIN EXPECTING TO SEE WATER FILLING THE BELLY OF THE KLP. BUT NOTHING IS THERE. THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

I RAISE THE TWINS AGAIN...NOTHING IS DIFFERENT! I BEGIN THE JOURNEY BACK HOME. I HAVE TO GET THE KLP AND HER CREW BACK TO THE SAFETY NET OF LIFE. SHE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION AND NOT THE KIND I CAN GIVE HER. I TRY TO PLANE HER OUT AGAIN, AND AGAIN THE SAME THING...SHE LIST HARD STARBOARD.

I MOVE ALL THE WEIGHT TO THE PORT SIDE. STILL THE SAME RESULTS...THE KLP'S BACK HAS BEEN BROKEN. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT IT CANT BE GOOD.

AS I TRAVEL THROUGH WHAT SEEMS TO BE TIMELESS AIR AND SPACE VOID OF WORRIES MY THOUGHTS WANDER, IS THIS HER LAST TRIP OUT TO THE BLUE WATERS SO PRISTINE AND CLEAR? THE KLP IN HER OWN WAY LETS ME KNOW SHE HAS LOVED ALL HER FISHING VOAGEGES WITH ME AND ALL THE HAPPY TIMES.

REALITY SHAKES MY THOUGHTS, TRIM THE PORT MOTOR UNTILL I BALANCE MYSELF...DONE! SHE SWIMS UPRIGHT FOR THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME.

BACK ON SHORE SHE GETS ON TO THE TRAILER THAT NOW SERVES AS AN AMBULANCE STRECHER . THIS IS GETTING LONG I'LL GIVE YOU ALL A FOLLOW UP AFTER I CONVERSE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY...BOAT US...TOM

[O-SEA-D]

Sorry to hear that Tom. I am so glad you made it back to shore safely though.

Please let us know what the damage was. What was making it lean to one side?

[ocnslr]

OUCH! Very sorry to hear of your problem. Particularly as it could happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

I hape that the next installment of the story is all good news...

Brian

[Bert Rodgers]

Even your disasters take the form of a novella. Good luck, I hope it won't keep you at port too long or cost to many $$$.

Bert

[Double D]

Jeez Tom, I hate to hear this. Sounds like you did everything you could.

Keep us updated, we are all hoping for the best

[Finesse]

Wow ...

Tom ... most important you got home safe ...thats what counts

How was the wheel on the port one ?? Since it sounds like that engine had tangled with the drum.

[BBunker]

OUCH!!! Glad you got her home safe. Please let us know what the Dr. says.

[Bite Me]

Yikes, good job getting her and crew home safe and sound......hope it's just a bent trim tab.

[anthony]

Tom, very sorry to hear about that. I'm with Lou, hopefully a bent or malfunctioning trim tab.

[Proheat]

Tom- Sorry to hear about the bad news but at least you got back safe!
I'm guessing the same as the others- Trim Tab.
Even though it is not a good report, I have to commend you on your wording in your posts- great wording!!
You have a talent with wording- Keep up the good work and I hope you get the KLP back on the water soon!