Bringing the boat home

[440 Jim]

Let the reality of the story set in before reading about the adventure…… To be a part of a crew that mustered three men from three different generations, and all from the same family, WOW!....... I told the young master onboard that one could probably count on a couple hands how many times a Grandfather, a Dad, and a Son ventured on the same new boat from the Southern Seas, all the way to Long Island Sound. That is a novel in itself, something Hemmingway would use as a foundation and turn into a masterpiece……”Old man of the Sea, who sat back and watched”. You see how I jumped into the lead role there.

Riding with Brad and crew was more like being the Admiral on the Flagship. I had all the credentials but not much of a task. b.arrington is more than capable of running the “Jennifer B”, so my difficulty became where to prompt my foot up in the companion seat for most the duration. Our strong suit was everyone knew what to do at each docking, or when crew was needed. Grandson and Grand Father on the deck handling lines and fenders, can ya imagine! That Lad already has bucket list boxes checked off and is just beginning.

We planned our work and worked our plan. In doing so we were able to make even better time and distance than expected, so we gained more ground and tried to extend each day by a little. I make it a huge point to keep in contact with marinas to ensure our arrival, or to cancel early enough to be forgiven, and we were boogieing! Had to adjust navigational options to side-step weather but even on the bad days we were able to maneuver around, or tuck in the avoid the worse.

The only single engine vessel I have driven in years is my Sea Ray Laguna, and that thing has red and green paint on the rub rail from me rubbing up against buoys in Canaveral, catching my favorite Tripletail. I bump things because I can not drive a single engine boat! Again, justifying my breathing space here, Captain Brad knows what he knows, and how to find out what he doesn’t. That is huge when making long ventures. My travels rely on relationships along the way, that knowledge alone is like the best PFD ever. His crew is top-shelf and I see years upon years of the Jennifer B being apart of that family. The Back Cove impressed me at every turn. Single engine yes, but 24knts burning in the low 20’s gph…..come on! I am used to vessels burning 90+ to run like that, Lordy! She took everything we hit on the nose, and a few of those bad boys were in the 6’ range. The lower Delaware pushed back due to the flood time coming in hitting an out-going river, straight up waves and the Back Cove took’um like a champ. The boat also has a very simple bilge (1 engine!) access to everything, shaft prop, can’t get easier, I like it !

I started with the adventure part, then to the navigation, followed by how much I liked this boat, now I conclude where I started, the crew. Yes, the Captain is capable of any destination. Traveling the ICW can be and will be as treacherous as any route. Brad conquered what signs, markers and sounds mean, and did so in tight quarters. He will have a stern sounding board in the Grand Father, he is the best! Long Island and New England stories from before I can remember. Yankee’s history from the Bambino days, loved it! While Brad was driving off the coast in NJ with me assuming my normal half supine position, the other two were on the IPad watching the Yanks season opener. It was like listening to two kids at the ballpark, each with a glove in hand! I sometimes look at the young kids today and when I’m able to see their strong suits, I kind of tell them to go with what they are good at, or to enjoy life the most. The young man on this boat was as studious as Einstein and quick witted as Dangerfield. He bantered with me like a person with many more years under their belt and I so enjoyed it. The lad is also a ball player (pitches and plays the 3 spot), and is on the wrestling team. He asked me at one point if I remembered the Higgins Landing Craft” of D-Day times….dang near brought a tear to my eye. Most young people I meet have limited options in their skill sets. This young man has as many opportunities lying ahead as any grown person I have ever met. It was a real treat for me to see firsthand that all is not lost with young’uns like him coming up. Smart and an athlete, with a great personality..I will see from him again!

I have said it before and I truly mean it, boats are boats…it is the people in our community and those who travel our paths that make all the difference to me. What a change of pace for me, and what a crew to totally enjoy a trip like the one we just accomplished.

I am on a L650 today in Oriental NC, after coming from Myrtle Beach and traveling out in the big pond all day. Yes, I am wondering why I’m burning 95gph when just a week ago I did the same in a cool a__ Back Cove consuming a quarter the fuel.

Capt. Arrington, thank you for allowing me to intrude on such a journey with your family. You guys have it going on and I am honored to say I ran the Eastern Seaboard upon the Jennifer B!


Capt. Rusty Higgins

AMEN Rusty!

 

[440 Jim]

Our maiden trip after purchase from Wilmington to Savannah was with my son and two nephews. Two day ride, overnight at Charleston harbor. It was one of the best times I've ever had in my life. The old dude and three 30yr olds got it done. Wonderfull weather and seas both days. Rarely have I been more personaly satisfied then that trip with family. We had done 2 sea trials and took it out in Cape Fear once for four hours ourselves, then we bugged out. What an adventure for all of us. "It don't get no better"