Location: 29.40.15N/83.23.20W Sea Hag Marina, Steinhatchee, FL
Yesterday we were in Cedar Key. Our overnight anchorage was a good spot. We had a good bite on the bottom in spite of strong tidal currents in the area. We were anchored just southeast of the launching ramp so there was activity during daylight hours but it was quiet overnight. We left Cedar Key using the northwest channel. There was only one 4 ft shallow area between market 15 and 17A. Our passage from Cedar key to Steinhatchee was okay but it was a bit lumpy. We had a 1 - 2 ft chop with 3 ft swells coming from the west. We were spoiled from our previous days so the lumpy seas were not much appreciated. The real potential problem was the shallow water in the area where we were to transit. In some areas we had only 7 ft of water depth. We actually altered our planned course further west to give us deeper water. As the simple math would show in 7 ft of water at the bottom of a 3 ft swell it does not leave much water under the 3 ft, 9 inch boat draft. We should have outfitted the boat with wheels before we left!

One problem that we first noticed on the way to Cedar Key is that we were losing transmission oil on our starboard engine. It is a small leak at about 1.5 quarts over 8 hours. We recalled that our mechanic mentioned that there was a small external leak on the transmission cooler that he repaired. The transmission pressure is 300 PSI so it must be a very small pinhole leak. The transmission sump capacity is 1.2 gal so we assume that we were within safe limits and that there has been no risk to the gear. Our mission while we are here at the marina is to find the leak and repair it before making the 80 mile open water passage to Carrabelle.

Today, we plan to take the courtesy golf cart to tour the village and visit the grocery store. We just learned that there is also an ACE hardware store in town so that will give Tom a place to visit to buy more oil. More news to come from Steinhatchee.