Thanks to Fay's and Marine Patrol

[Slickcraft]

About noon yesterday we arrived at our dock on Welch with a load of supplies in the Slickcraft. Just after we docked on the island, we heard the sound of water gurgling in the engine compartment. Opening the cover showed the compartment half full of water and quickly filling. I turned the pump on and we jumped back in to race back to Fay’s at full speed leaving half our supplies on the dock. The water was coming in just a little faster than the pump could clear. I thought that the rubber out-drive bellows had failed so my wife called Fay’s to have them ready to haul the boat. She also called Marine Patrol to alert them that we were taking on water and we would soon fly through the no wake zone in front of their HQ. We made it to Fay’s just before the water was high enough to kill the engine and the boat was then hauled as they were waiting for us. Marine Patrol arrived to make sure we made it in ok. They would have towed us if we did not make it all the way

I turned out to be a good size hole in the exhaust manifold and a new one is being installed now. We borrowed a boat from Fay’s to run over and put our stuff away and our boat may be repaired by today. Great service from Fay’s.

The two MP Officers stayed a short while to learn what the problem was and to make a brief report. I explained that violating the no wake zone was our only option thinking that the bellows was compromised. They were understanding and very courteous. They said to call them whenever having a problem out there. BTW, when my wife talked to the MP dispatch the first question was do we have PFDs on. Yes, as we always wear the inflatable units.

So our thanks to Fay’s and the Marine Patrol.