Thursday.. Edwin called me back last night and said he would be bringing his trawler over in the morning after all, two deckhands that he usually uses would be available this time to join him, so everything looked to be a go..
I went over a few hours early today (about 7am) and didn't want to fight another hard current in my inflatable. I went in from the side of the island as usual, as there is an open path through that marsh, and you can still get back out during low tide..
Brought a Kodak camera along this time, though I was hesitant since I already ruined both my Flip video camera and my cellphone in the past week over there, but I really wanted some pictures.
Some of these pics were taken at about 7:30, and the others were taken at peak tide at about 10:00.
Yesterdays 9.1 peak tide produced about 3 or 4 inches standing water surrounding the boat, Tybee Road (Hwy 80) was closed for about an hour because of it, but as you can see in the first 'pic below, today the peak tide of 8.8ft when this pic was taken left the area around my boat almost completely dry..
You see a big square white house in the background --it's really yellow but looks white in these photos, but that house is the direction we were pulling the boat….
Yesterday both Jay and myself noticed the mast appeared a little bent and twisted, but today with the weight off it, it looks ok.
Here's a few shots showing how it's strapped..
This is the clamp piece that got broke which holds on the rudder, I was surprised there is no pin or anything that goes through it and the shaft.. It just clamps around it, and to remove it you just slide it up and off the top of the rudder shaft… doesn't seem to secure to me, but I guess it held for 40 years like that, but it still seems odd to me.
And lastly, here is a pic of Edwin's boat that did the pulling, at high tide I'm able to see his boat which is farther up river and around the bend; that's where he keeps it and lives aboard.
At about 9am Edwin called to say both his deck hands were ill and throwing up, he said it was probably something they ate.. (But knowing Tybee, I suspect they may really be hung-over.. But I'm just assuming).
I waited till peak tide just to get some pictures, then returned home.
I've not gave up, but I really don't know what's next. I have no more cash flow to work with.
Next month the highest tide will be 8.8 on the 13th, same as it was today.
I think that's too long to wait. It's been way too long already.
Feeling a bit helpless.