We've been running on one fuel tank nearly since we purchased LAMANTIN. The port tank was disintegrating and the particles it was shedding caused the fuel filter to clog, triggering a fuel pump overcurrent, shutting down one engine. After this left us stranded, towed and frustrated, we ran on only one gas tank for the trip from the west coast of Florida to the upper Chesapeake. Running on one tank solved that problem but after running out of gas for the second or third time, Alexi and I decided it was time to stop and get the port fuel tank replaced.

We were half way up the Chesapeake Bay when we made the decision. So, we continued for that day and stopped near Rock Hall, Maryland, in the upper Chesapeake. I started calling marinas in the area to see who might do the repair. Every marina I called was fully booked. I was told over and over again "We can probably get to you this winter." The idea of waiting until it was too uncomfortable to boat to start boating just didn't make sense to us.

Luckily, a friend recommended calling someone who knew the area well. He was a rigger but he might just know of a marina with some capacity. That was truly serendipity. I called the rigger on the day he was buying a boat yard - Lankford Bay Marina. He purchased the yard on Wednesday and we moved in on Thursday. Because the yard had been neglected, there were very few boats here. It was a perfect coincidence: he needed the work and we needed someone to do it.

While the work is getting done, we've been able to take advantage of the area. Lankford Bay Marina is on a quiet cove off the eastern shore of the Chesapeake, on a point overlooking a bucolic Chesapeake waterway. The cove is well protected and the weather is great (most of the time). There is a nice small town nearby and it is easy to order boat parts so that we can catch up on all the repairs.

We expect to spend the rest of the summer here while both old tanks are being removed, new custom tanks are being made and installed. We are also getting some other boat work done at the yard. Meanwhile we are fishing, sailing, kayaking, visiting friends, making new friends and enjoying the small towns around us. Check out the photo gallery for pictures of the tank work!