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Last night in salt water for my 53

Discussion in 'YachtForums Yacht Club' started by Pascal, Jul 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM.

  1. Pascal, Jul 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
    #1
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,734
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    As I have mentioned we ve decided to move our 53 Hatteras to eastern TN, on Watts Bar Lake part of the TN river system

    9 days into the trip from Miami, I’m just south of Mobile at “Grand Mariner Marina”. Warning: names are not way the appear!

    I mean it’s cute and rustic. It was the cheapest fuel since Miami, the docks are serviceable like a surveyor would say, power is working and I am using every single of the 50 amps. The dock girl could not a line to save her mommas life and should I mention the Shrimp n Grits? You know Alabama is in trouble when a reformed French guy makes better SnGs!!

    anyway… tonight will be the last night my 55 year old boat spends the night in salt water having, afaik, always been in SoFl except a brief stint in Ga

    another 10 days to go, 17 locks I believe, although once we clear the TenTom in about 420nm the final 330nm ride up the Tennessee River should be pretty nice.

    If anyone wants to see what we re up to, here is a playlist on TY to which I am adding short daily videos, 2-3 minutes. If you prefer a 20 minute drama with wifey screaming and the old guy yapping for most of the time… this won’t be for you :)

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK1rJchGPrerRh-mIw0sMxF2EztrGMqi&si=8dzsQxmd6Q2dbmTJ
    leeky and Hatterized like this.
  2. DOCKMASTER, Jul 11, 2025 at 11:24 PM
    #2
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Location:
    Ketchikan, Alaska
    Nice videos! How many total miles will your trip be and how many days to do it in? Did you pre-plan each day and where to stop for the night or just taking it as it comes? You going to travel back/forth from TN and keep running the 110’?

    I’m saying goodbye to Alaska after 25 years in either late August or early Sept. I’m relocating my boat to Loreto, Mexico. I’ll make the 740 mile trip from Alaska to Puget Sound and am planning that trip now. The boat will get shipped to La Paz from VictoriaB.C. I’ll meet it in La Paz and make the run up to Loreto from there. I’m excited for the switch from the rain forest to the warm desert and blue waters of the Sea of Cortez.
  3. Pascal, Jul 12, 2025 at 6:25 AM
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    It s about 1400nm. I planned the stops, as much as possible. We ll probably come up every 5/6 weeks for a week and yes keep running the 110 in miami. We love the area and have bought land to build already.

    my dockage will be drop 6 folds and my insurance by 10.
  4. MBevins, Jul 12, 2025 at 6:39 AM
    #4
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    You'll find your maintenance drops dramatically as well.
  5. Hatterized, Jul 12, 2025 at 9:16 AM
    #5
    Hatterized

    Hatterized Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Annapolis & St. Pete
    Very nice, taking the back roads instead of the major interstates, thanks for sharing your voyage :)

    Scott
  6. Capt Ralph, Jul 12, 2025 at 10:21 AM
    #6
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
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    13,875
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    It is a different environment;
    2 years after moving to fresh water, our swim platform starts falling apart.
    45 year old mounting hardware, all sealant long gone, no more salt water.
    Fresh water rots wood, salt water does not.
  7. DOCKMASTER, Jul 12, 2025 at 10:24 AM
    #7
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2012
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    Location:
    Ketchikan, Alaska
    Safe travels! I have several friends looking for property in/around TN. I understand that area is growing rapidly. Enjoy the new adventures.
  8. Capt Ralph, Jul 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    It is a different environment (2);
    Look forward to hear what zincs you installed and how they are holding up.
    We kept the normal salt water zincs on and seem to be holding up well. We also have two bronze, big grounding plats.
    Our friend did install the lighter alloy zincs and their holding up well also.
    I don't know what this means but I'm sure brother Pascal has thought about it.
  9. Capt Ralph, Jul 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
    #9
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    It is a different environment (3);
    Look forward to hear how your bottom paint holds up also.
    Hard / Ablative?
    We still need a diver to wipe off the slime and grass.
    I was impressed how much was still on the paint after a boat trip to the bottom (upper keys).
    And now were back home, barnacles on the bottom..
    So much for that new (cheap) ablative paint we put on last haul.
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2025 at 10:34 AM