![]() Walking down the dock, the crews of the four other boats were already into docktails, a long-standing tradition among loopers to bring your bottle or can and to share munchies. With 15 minutes before Enterprise closed, the truck was returned and the helpful sales associate took as back to Trilogy. With no secure way to lock it to the trailer, we hid it in plain sight hoping that it would be there when we see it again.Īnother trip to Walmart finished the provisioning and 10 gallons of fuel took the truck’s fuel gauge past the point that we got it. What to do with the ball and hitch? If we take it back to the boat but leave the boat on the hard, then another one would be needed. The trailer was then returned to its place under the steel roof in Ringgold, Georgia. Uber is very easy and convenient and is another improvement from 9 years earlier. After tying up and plugging in, a short walk took us to the Tennessee Aquarium where an Uber driver did a pick up to deliver us back to the truck and trailer. 75 a foot versus the $1.25 for others and get 10 cents off a gallon of diesel. When we did, the tug was pointed back into the current and eased into the dock with the use of thrusters. Trilogy continued past the dock and down the river only because we were not ready to stop. Hearing that gold loopers are often ignored by white flag loopers because they had “done it” and were not “doing it,” we wanted to be more welcomed and because Trilogy had not done the loop. We had completed the loop in 2014 on our Ranger 29 Tug, Andiamo. Trilogy was flying the white looper flag saying that the 6,000-mile trip was in-progress. There were four boats flying the gold AGLCA flag signifying that they had completed the loop. The feel of the wheel, being on Tennessee River again, enjoying the two-knot current and the sound and vibration of the engine and the water on the hull was exhilarating.Īt the center and heart of Chattanooga is a floating dock that is nearly under the foot and bicycle bridge. After another hug and handshake, reverse gear took Trilogy into the river current and pushed us the five miles to the dock at Chattanooga that took 35 minutes but felt like an hour. We would have lingered at the dock to say slow good-byes to Stacy and Paul and continue to acknowledge the gratitude of helping us but a bass boat was waiting in the river to use the ramp. With water being pumped out of the exhaust, the alternator creating 14 volts, forward and reverse gears worked and the two thrusters came to life, the initial systems were all good. The light went off in about two seconds, the key was turned to the second position and engine turned over and came to life. When the red light on the dash turns off, the fuel pressure is ready for starting. The key start switch has two positions and the first is activating the electric fuel pump. The engine had not been started since March, so there was some apprehension if the Yanmar 180 horsepower 4-cylinder block made by BMW would come to life. Some of the seams on the canvas were breaking and a repair job would be needed 20 minutes of cleaning with vinegar and water and liquid soap and picking with a sharp point cleaned out the issue. The zippers on the cockpit canvas did not make the project work list and were crusted with Florida salt. The tower was put up and one of the guy wire fittings had come apart 5 months earlier but all the pieces were still present. Away from the ramp, truck and trailer were parked to do the final prep. ![]() The Ford F250 easily and comfortably took us to the boat ramp. The next day, they dropped us at the Enterprise Truck Rental in downtown Chattanooga soon after it opened and 30 minutes later the 2017 Ford F250 was headed toward the storage yard in nearby Ringgold, Georgia to hook up the boat trailer. In early October, we flew from Seattle to Atlanta where friends Stacy and Paul met us and drove to Chattanooga. In the spring, the tug was moved and stored at the Metro Battlefield Storage in Ringgold, Georgia that is near Chattanooga, Tennessee. We had been back to Florida to take possession and worked for a week to get her ready for cruising. The beginning. This would be our first trip after buying the 2012 Ranger Tug used in Florida. Summary of Trip Data: 19 days, 741 miles, anchored 8 nights, 84 engine hours, averaged cost was $98 a day while traveling, averaged 8.82 miles per hour or 7.6 knots, and diesel fuel – 3.26 miles per gallon and 2.7 gallons per hour.
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