Plot Your Own Course

⚓ Every delivery has a beginning, a middle, and eventually a final handoff.

As my part of this delivery comes to an end, the focus shifts from making miles to making sure the vessel is ready for the next chapter.

🔧 Before stepping off, I’ll be completing one final walk-through of the engine room and vessel systems, checking all fluid levels, and making sure everything is exactly where it needs to be before the owners arrive.

🌦️ This trip has been a great reminder that yacht deliveries rarely go exactly according to plan. Weather changes, parts become unavailable, and unexpected issues can appear—but the ability to adapt, communicate, and make the right decisions is what keeps a delivery moving forward.

🤝 Throughout this trip, constant communication between the captain, owners, vendors, and crew has been the key to keeping everything on track. Having a plan is important, but having the experience and flexibility to adjust that plan when needed is what makes a successful delivery.

🛠️ From diagnosing and repairing systems, completing preventative maintenance, coordinating parts from across the country, and working through each challenge along the way, the goal has remained the same: leave the vessel better than we found it and ready for the owners to enjoy.

⚓ As I step off and the owners prepare to step aboard, I’m confident the vessel is ready for its next adventure. While my part of this journey comes to an end, my commitment doesn’t. I’m always just a phone call away if the captain, crew, or owners need anything.

Every delivery is another opportunity to learn, adapt, and earn trust. I’m grateful to have been part of this one and look forward to the next challenge.

🌊 Until the next adventure…

⚓ Not every day on a yacht delivery is spent making miles. Sometimes the most important progress happens while tied to the dock.

🔧 Sunday morning’s routine engine room and systems checks revealed that a hydraulic seal on one of the stabilizer locking actuators had begun leaking more than we were comfortable with. While the vessel was still fully operational, we made the decision to pause our trip in Naples rather than push forward. That’s what professional yacht deliveries are all about—addressing small issues before they become bigger ones.

📍 With Naples being one of South Florida’s major yachting service hubs and just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, it was the perfect place to stop and coordinate repairs. We spent the day performing a thorough bow-to-stern systems inspection, contacting manufacturers and suppliers, transferring fuel, replacing a few underwater lights, installing a new float switch, and lending a hand to the deck crew with a full washdown to keep the yacht looking her best. We also used the downtime to prepare the vessel for departure so that once the repair was complete, we could get underway with minimal delay.

📞 Monday brought some good news. After speaking with the actuator manufacturer in Washington State, we learned they had just shipped a batch of seal kits to Fort Lauderdale, with delivery scheduled for first thing Tuesday morning. Sometimes it’s all about making the right phone call at the right time.

🚗 So, what does Plot Your Own Course do?

We removed the hydraulic actuator from the yacht, rented a car, and made the trip across Alligator Alley back to Fort Lauderdale. We dropped the actuator off at a hydraulic shop where it will receive its new seals first thing tomorrow morning. While we were back in town, we also took the opportunity to restock provisions and crew supplies before making the trip back across the state.

🐶 The trip back to Fort Lauderdale also came with one important stop… getting to see my four-legged crew member for the night. She may not be on the boat for this delivery, but she’s always part of the Plot Your Own Course team. ⚓

🛠️ Tomorrow morning we’ll pick up the rebuilt actuator, drive back across Alligator Alley to Naples, reinstall it, complete our final system checks, and get back underway to continue the journey north.

💡 Sometimes the best way to keep a delivery on schedule is knowing when to slow down. We always build extra time into our trips because the goal isn’t simply to arrive—it’s to hand the owners a yacht that’s ready for them to step aboard with confidence.

🌊 Stay tuned… the journey north continues soon.

Day 2 of the delivery. ⚓

After a great night at Stock Island, we topped off the fuel tanks first thing this morning and settled into a much more relaxed cruise for the 125 nautical mile run to Naples.

Not every day on the water is wide open throttle. Sometimes the best days are the ones where you can enjoy the ride, keep an eye on the gauges, and watch the miles disappear.

Another beautiful day doing what we love.

When your customer says, “Can you take care of a few things?”… and a month later you’ve basically become part of the crew. 😂⚓

Over the last few weeks we’ve:
🔧 Serviced the twin MTU 12V2000 mains
⚙️ Serviced both Kohler generators
⛽ Rebuilt every Racor housing onboard
🌊 Rebuilt seawater strainers
🚿 Installed new hot water heaters
🍽️ Installed new dishwashers
🪵 Brought the gangway railing back to life with fresh varnish
…and tackled a whole lot more.

The best compliment you can get? Being trusted to help deliver the boat when the work is done.

So we’re taking this beautiful 87’ Johnson from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, with a little stop in Key West along the way. Doesn’t get much better than that!

At Plot Your Own Course, we don’t just fix boats—we keep them moving.

One of the bigger projects we worked on recently was assisting DB Diesel of Fort Lauderdale with the removal and installation of a new 20KW Phasor Generator for one of our regular customers!