Eagle One is Rescued

We’ve spent two days hunkered down in the rain in Little Diversion Canal. Our traveling

companions, Loopers Rick and Kris from Occanow VA on Eagle One can’t get the starboard engine started. This is a terrible situation. We are 100 miles from any place that can help.

https://youtu.be/kMpvKPmmRGs

Tow Boat US couldn’t help. Their closest tow boat was on its way to Memphis. Rick and Kris had the Coast Guard on speed dial and spoke to every police station within 3 counties but no one can help. Then Sunday night we talked to Fern Hoppie at Hoppies Marina who suggested talking to the dockmaster at Green Turtle Marina, our destination two days away. He was most helpful.

He referred us to Brandan, a diesel mechanic servicing tows. Brandan said he could help!! He is not allowed to work on pleasure craft because his insurance only allows him to work on tows. So he could bring the materials and Rick and Kermit had to install it while Brandan gave instructions. We spent Monday morning working on logistics.

First Brendan obtained the supplies. Rick needed a new 8D battery which weighs about 175 pounds and a new battery charger. Then they had to figure out how to get it to us. That is not an easy trick. Little Diversion Canal is a drainage ditch for Cape Girardeau. It is not near much of anything.

Brendan thought he could load the heavy supplies into his bass boat then put the boat in the water at the ramp just west of us on the Little Diversion Canal. But that ramp has been undergoing some construction. There was no guarantee that he could launch the boat.

Putting out more fenders

So Brendan found a tow boat operator with a bit of time on his hands willing to take on an adventure in the rain. Did I mention it has been pouring down rain for the entire two days?

It is really raining & the engine
compartment is open to the elements.
Kermit (yellow) is helping

Old battery removed

Curtis Moore coming
up the channel

We all put on our rain gear and started getting Eagle One ready for this operation. We put fenders all along the port side of Eagle One. The tow would bump up against the port side to disgorge its precious cargo – Brendan and the battery equipment, which is quite heavy. Then Rick removed the old battery and prepared the engine room to receive the new battery and battery charger. This would reduce the amount of time for the operation.

 

Here they come to save the day!!
Kermit is turning the boats to be perpendicular to the shores

Here they come to "dock"
next to Eagle One

At around 2:45pm the tow, Curtis Moore, turned the corner into Little Diversion Canal. We all whooped, never having seen such a wonderful site! Ok, no one was in danger and we were just delayed but still we were thrilled to see that big tow turn the corner!

Brandon in brown jacket
comes on board to assess
situation

Kermit leaped into action. I was on the bow of our boat watching the anchor chain as Kermit turned on our engines. We turned both boats on the anchor so the boats were perpendicular to the banks with Eagle One’s port side available to the tow for docking.

Curtis Moore slowed down and gently bumped up against Eagle One and Brendan came into view. When he was talking about coming out to help, he said, “You sure I can get in that engine room? Because I am kind of a big boy.” “How big are you?” “Six feet eight inches and 340 pounds.” Brandan is a big man! He must have played football for someone.

Brandon tossing around the big 8D battery

Brandan handed his tool bags and the battery charger over the side. Then he handed the new battery over to Rick and climbed aboard. He was pleasantly surprised that the old battery was already removed. 

Brandon picked the old 175 pound 8D battery like it was nothing and tossed it on the tow for disposal. See how good preparation makes good friends? See how valuable a big man can be?

They installed the new battery. Then they tried the engine. It worked!! Then they set about installing the battery charger to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

While this was going on, Kermit and I chatted with the Captain and crew of Curtis Moore. This tow has Detroit Diesel 1271s which is a few sizes bigger than the 871s on Good Karma boat.

Kermit moving the two boats to
maintain the right position

They change the oil monthly on a regular preventive maintenance instead of counting hours. They previously used synthetic oil purchased by the 55 gallon drum. Recently the boss discovered that the synthetic cost $2200 per 55 gallon drum! They changed to straight 40W oil for the engines, transmissions and everything. The captain has not noticed any difference in operation with the change in oil weight and type.

We gave the crew our basket of Halloween candy. You should have seen them run, just like kids!!

It was interesting to observe the order on that tow. Each crew member has an assigned spot. If they moved around to do a chore they returned to their assigned spot at certain places on the two story stairway. The captain remained at the 2^nd story window where he could see everything and talk to the crew as needed. It was clear he was absolutely in charge.

It took less than one hour to complete the mission! Brendan left with the advice to be sure to fully charge the battery charger to avoid this situation in the future. We waved good-bye to our heroes and they turned that tow around and steamed back to the Mississippi.

What did we learn?

Eagle One finally under way!

• Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, sometimes from unexpected places. 
• Be persistent to pursue answers. The person who can help is just around the corner if you persist.
• Preventive maintenance is not just empty advice.
• Sometimes the most you can do is just hang out and be supportive when a fellow boater is having trouble.
• A good meal and bottle of wine can lift spirits and make everything all better.
• The sun always comes out the next morning after a storm!!

We resume our journey on Tuesday morning November 6, 2018, bound for Paducah KY municipal wall. Stay tuned for more adventure!