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Part 2 Travels with Roland:

12/15/2006 — General Maritime

When you have a last name like; “Schultz,” it is rather difficult at times, to escape your heritage. Should you have the given name of; “Roland,” it only compounds things further.
     At a young age, I took to introducing myself as Ron, to avoid the ridicule, and harassment that I received during early grade school. Often it would range  from; Rolland; Rollie; Rolls & Woland. At times, there would be an additional sing song of:
“Rollin, Rollin, Rollin;” from the TV series Rawhide, or “Rolling on a River;” from the song by Ike and Tina Turner. I pretty much resigned myself to just being called: “Ron,” until being stationed in Germany while in the military. In that society, they would often do a double take when I presented myself as “Roland. It would be then, that began appreciating my given first name..
      While I never cared much for the song; “Rolling on a River, “do to bad memories,
I now very much appreciate the words; “People on the River are happy to give!”
     Last June while enroute from Traverse City to Charlevoix, I observed a severe vibration aboard “Restless” at normal cruise RPM. Pulling back the engine cover, would
reveal a propeller shaft very much out of alignment. Further inspection, after limping into Charlevoix under reduced power, would divulge a broken lug on a flex coupling.
     Having had no previous problem with, or knowledge of the age and history of this unit, I wrote the incident off to age fatigue (remember we’re taking about a 68 year boat). With the installation of a spare unit, and a new engine alignment, I was soon on my way.
Problem “Fixed,” or so I thought.
      Several months later while exiting Marseilles Lock on the Illinois River, the same scenario would raise its ugly head. The problem here however, is where does one go with a severely vibrating engine, in a narrow river, with current, maneuvering tug and barges that prevent anchoring just anywhere, gives few options. In this case, a command decision would be unnecessary, as the entire Flex Coupling would totally fail, making me a vessel adrift and a out of command. (to be continued)
    

Capt Bob |11:46 EST |Comments (0)

 

 

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