Southeast Alaska 2012 with Jay, Jo-Lee & the Hunkydory

I have our generator & Steve's ceramic heater going & the rain inside the boat is turning into a light mist.  In not to long should be dry again.  Steve, I carry a box of those dry chemical heaters & know the value of them, having saved me from frosts bite several times & both of us from misery in Wyoming.  Also borrowed Steve's saw saw & have the opening enlarged now for the new heaters arrival tomorrow (hopefully).  Good news on the heater is with shipping & the option of pan holders the cost was $2370 .  There was a discount for being a prior Wallas owner.

The generator fits perfectly on top of the new containers we now store the eight, six gallon extra fuel containers inside, the exhaust going straight out the stern across the splash well & for us a better set up then adding a holder in the splash well.  The cockpit cover top is keeping the generator dry even in the pouring rain now coming down.   The containers also work great for setting  two West Marine quality stadium seat style seats on for relaxing in the stern with cockpit side covers up when the weather allows.

Mary, thanks for the nice comments

Harvey, with generator & ceramic heater working out so well will be buying one before leaving Juneau even with a new Wallas.

Jay
 
Gene, Jody & your experience with the Wallas 85 was like music to my ears. Only hope mine will be similar.

Jay
 
I am starting my 4th season with my 85, flawless so far. It fired up on the 1st try last month after sitting for 6 months in the cols Alaska winter. Just hit start and off it went.
 
Jay,
I had hoped your trip would not turn into a Wallas referendum. If I hear one more I never had a problem with my Wallas post I'll restart the twins versus single debate, along with can I tow my C-Dory with a Honda Civic thread. Sorry, anyway how are you and Jolee doing? Just so you don't feel like snakes are following you around I'll share something with you from our month long trip to Florida in March. We were waiting for a slip assignment in North Palm Beach at the top of Lake
Worth (Old Port Cove Marina)and they must have forgotten about us as we were out bouncing around for awhile the wind had picked up quite a bit. all of the blow boaters in the anchorage were trying to get into the mariana as a 40 knot blow was forcast. I was idling into the wind and had my port side window about half open. The marina called on the radio and gave me directions and a slip number I spun the boat around without thinking about the window and took a wave broadside which put some salt water on my laptop. Not good. Since I use Coastal Explorer for our blog and navigation. I headed off to Best buy and bought a replacement computer. Two days later a cup with some ice water spilled on the new computer and I lost some key functions from the new computers keypad. Fortunately the folks from Rosepoint Marina who provide Coastal Explorer introduced me to the charactor map function which got me by the rest of the trip until i could get both laptops repaired.
The Quakers say bad beginning good ending. I hope the heater stories are a thing of the past, don't ever brag about the new stove. Stay dry and think about taking a trip to a warm place some day.
D.D.
 
Hey. Has anyone ever installed twin Wallas heaters?
Went for a walk with the dogs along Indian Cape last night and saw Hunky Dory anchored with steam coming out the windows and no activity on board. Threw a few rocks at her but couldn't get close enough to roust anyone. Fingers crossed that the stove arrives today. Message me and let me know, Jay. I am off tomorrow so can help with the install if you don't finish today. Good luck. Be at home.
 
Hunkydory":2hz67dgj said:
I installed  one of Painless Tom's centrifugal clutches in the Mokai & I really like it.  Great being able to stop without shutting off the motor.

Jay
Click to expand...

Jay
So do you think it would be easy to take the clutch on and off when you wanted to. When I'm trolling I wouldn't want it on because I would need a bigger bucket to slow me down to fishing speed. Just exploring it looks like it would be pretty handy.
 
I hear there is Wallas Heat on Hunky Dory. I anticipate a departure to less traveled areas quite soon.
 
DD,   We'er doing fine & thanks for asking, just looking forward to continuing the adventure from the present stage.  It's all relative & quite luxurious here in this boat cabin wet or dry compared to past adventures. 

Good story on the computers & kinda similar to our computer loss in 2004 at Fords Terror, but don't feel we have snakes after us.   ?4&! Happens!! Just have to deal with it.

Jody,  10 minutes maybe less To change back & forth.  Still it's pricy for the way you use it most of the time & perhaps not worth the cost.   

Wrote the above this morning & couldn't get a connection to post then got busy putting in the new Wallas.   All done now & it's purring along putting out the heat & a big smile on Jo-Lee.    Will be heading back to Hoonah, Elfin Cove, Pelican & to the outside waters when the weather cooperates after some time with Steve & Colleen in the morning.  The C-Brat's are great at solving problems & helping on the web, but even better is the hands on help such as was provided here during this bump on the water. 

Jay
 
Jay and Jolee just pulled anchor and left the cove headed for Hoonah after a few cups of coffee. I took a spin on the Mokai and can see one in our future. Had just a nice time with them here and hope to be able to meet up with them somewhere out and about later on.
 
Glad to hear all systems are go! :thup Have fun up there. :D

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Following a good morning chat & coffee with Steve & him checking out the Mokai, we bid adeau with hopes of meeting again out here on the water before our Alaska sojourn this year ends.   From Steve & Colleens we headed the short 2 miles over to the Auke Bay Harbor & got rid of all the stove packing & then to Hoonah at displacement speed.  About 8 hours later at 9 pm tied up to the dock.  Had one of the best yet Dall Porpoise shows crossing Icy Strait & several whales along the way.   Smooth water with more sun than clouds except for some chop just as we were leaving Auke Bay made for a beautiful run.   During the last four days there was lots of wind & rain, so felt very good to get a weather break just as we were ready to leave.  VHF weather is calling for a gale out of Cross Sound Saturday, so will be looking for a place to sit it out tomorrow. 
49 miles today 531 total
 
Jay,
I was wondering about all the cups of coffee then the Mokai trip. Do the new model Mokai's come with bathroom facilities? Glad to see you are moving again with dependable heat. If that new stove dies on the vine please promise not to tell the C-Brats about it. Caught any fish yet? It's such a pain to be trapped too long in one spot by weather. I don't know if they have Mexican food and beer up there but Saturday is the Cinco de Mayo :beer how's that for needless info. Happy Trails :D
D.D.
 
I say go for it, DD! Where do you stand on single versus twin Wallases, and how many Wallas can you tow with a Honda Civic?

Jay, glad to hear your new 85 is purring along! Stay warm!
 
DD

Yes with all the coffee Steve's Mokai ride was short.  We ended uptaking Harvey's advice & bought a new ceramic heater at Hoonah this morning to connect to the. Generator.  Hopefully never again on this cruise will we be without dry hear.    I also was wrong on dock electrical fees as most places are $7.50 instead of $15.00 for 30 amp service.  No fishing yet as on the move to much.

We'er presently bobbing along at about 5 knots with a 15 knot wind on our stern with 3 footers & about 5 miles from Adophus Point with destination of Elfin Cove  or Pelican area tonight.  Going  real slow to time Inian South passage so current is down under the 8 mph max this afternoon.   Is a ebb tide & the wind with it so waves not to bad.   May have to pick up speed if they increase much more with them coming from the stern.

Gale on the outer coast has been changed for Sat to Sun, so have plenty of time to choose good spot.

Thanks Pat, & we will be staying warm now :lol: :thup

Jay
 
Now in Cross Sound about to enter Lisianski Inlet.  Through Inian Pass in a 8 mph ebb tide close on the stern of a large landing craft, so had a very smooth passage.  First time we have tried that & it does work well.

Jay
 
Looks like your making headway again.
Spot.sized.jpg

Please describe what the large landing craft looks like.
 
Looks like you weathered the last couple of crappy days ok and you ought to be tied up at Pelican any second now. That's a nice base for cruising out there. Hopefully you are warm and dry and there will be some nice weather moving through soon. I was going to splash the Mooner yesterday but it was just too cruddy out to motivate. I am pretty sold on the "Spot" now, after seeing how well it works to track your trip and report back. I will probably get one but will have to remember to not have it on when I go to the marine store or fuel dock so the admiral can't track me. Where I see it being most handy around here is for when we are out and about in areas with no cell or VHF and we have a problem that is better taken care of by friends rather than a rescue or CG issue. Especially handy on those times when timely arrival home is not possible because we are anchored safely waiting for a weather change. Looking forward to your next posting and the bear report. Take care.
 
5-4-12

Arrived at the dock & forest service cabin on Lisianski Strait in the evening in a pouring rain.  Very content to stay on the boat enjoying the new heater & reading until ready to hit the sack.

Only one whale in the 69 mile cruise & that off Point Adophus.  Very different from a little over a week ago when we saw at least 30 spread out over the entire way.

This morning while  Jo-Lee & I   where away from the boat taking showers & paying docking fees a visiting mink pooped all over the cockpit.  What a mess!  Not as much as a Otter can leave, but near the same stinky results.  Like to watch them bouncing about the boat, but no more mister nice guy if they try to board.

69 miles today & 601 total

5-5-12

In the morning slow cruised down Lisianski Strait then up Stag Inlet where we anchored at the head for most of the day.  Rain off & on & the temperature maxed at about 48, but still a good day slipping around the bay head & a short way up the river Inlet in the Mokai.   Seals, sea lions,  river & sea otters, deer, ducks, geese, eagles & many other birds in abundance to enjoy.  Had a good stretch of the legs walking about the shore with a tiny bit of adrenaline flowing knowing there were  bears about even if not in sight. 

  In late afternoon shortly after pulling anchor & starting the slow cruise back 7 miles to the wilderness dock saw our first bear of the trip.  Looked like a young 3 year old not long from his moma.   It was thin but not starved looking with a beautiful shaggy dark chocolate brown coat of fur.   The bear season is on now & we have seen hunters out on their boats, but think this one safe this year due to the hunters looking for the big males.   I have zero interest in hunting them with a large interest & enjoyment in watching their behavior in this type of natural setting, but realize that others have different views ranging from enjoyment of the hunt to not wanting them or their habitat disturbed in anyway some being unhappy even with the little interaction I enjoy with the bears on their turf.   I think overall Alaska is doing a good job maintaining a balance in their management of habitat & the peoples differing desires of how they want to interact with the wild creatures.   Personally, I love these remote wild places where there is no one looking over our shoulders to hall monitor every move we make whether it's for our personal safety or anything else.  

The expected gale arrived just before dark with the accompanying high winds & pouring rains.  Thought about staying up at the head of Stag Inlet at anchor, but we decided the night would be much more enjoyable secured to the dock.

14 miles today & 615 total

4-6-12

Winds howled & the rain pored all day.  It must have really been booming out on the open coast, because we had wave action come all the way up to the boat, the 12 miles or so even with angles to slow them on Lisianski Strait.  It's late evening now & the wind has quit & rain more gentle with thick fog moving in.  Both Jo-Lee & I have an abundance of books with some on the IPad,  so are quite content relaxing & reading here in the wilderness, while being  warm, dry & comfortable with good food & me some Captain Morgan's when the night arrives. 

During the day had a whale pop up just off the dock, but with it going in the direction of the strong current disappeared quickly.

In these cool wet temperatures of  36 to 40 at night in the boat & outside temperatures of 42 to 50 during the day am very pleased with new stoves heating ability & fuel usage.  Have it on for 12 to 16 hours a day & using during that time only about 1/2 gallon of diesel.   Would take several gallons of gas to accomplish the same with the Honda 2000 generator & ceramic electric heater.

Procedure in the morning to obtain quick heat & at the same time coffee is to first start the propane buddy heater, 2nd start the generator so motors don't have to be started to fire Wallas.  When Wallas combustion process quits reducing need for high voltage turn on the ceramic heater.   10 minutes or less later turn off the buddy heater & when the coffee is done the ceramic.  Can then sit back & enjoy the coffee while warm, dry & comfortable.

0 miles today & still 615 total
 
Well, Doc Steve tracked us right into Pelican on the dime.  We'er sitting at the little restaurant enjoying homemade cookies & fresh roasted coffee & they have Internet service, so I'm catching up.

Jody,  the craft is maybe 150 to 200  feet with a high rear pilot house & oversized square bow that drops into a ramp.  It would be able to access the beach to load or unload heavy rolling equipment.  That big flat front end worked great in smoothing out breakers where south Inian passage meets cross sound.  It kept very close to shore & took the long route behind the islands to Pelican bypassing as did we Elfin Cove.  I think it's shape & high structure doesn't fair well with big rollers.

Still pouring rain today & will be looking here on the Internet for outside weather report.   Kinda strange, no VHF whether channels for this area now, making it difficult to know when to head to the outside.   Really looking forward to getting back to the Chichagof Wilderness.  I can hear Sister Lake calling, but won't leave until we know conditions are right.

Jay
 
Talked to a guy here who told us the VHF weather channel has been down for some time. Checked on the Internet & nothing but rain & wind for at least a week.  Looks like highs are going down to 41.  Can see why most cruisers wait to late May for this area.   Looks like we will be getting good use out of the stove.

Jay
 
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