Unfortunately on the trip leaving Clearwater we lost the STB(starboard, right side engine) transmission while waiting for the Cortez Bridge to open just outside of Bradenton. Jen went down into the engine room to check and found oil under the STB engine.

We quickly pulled up Aqua Maps and found a marina just on the other side of the bridge. We pulled into Bradenton Beach Marina, where they cleared off a spot on their side wall for us. We were able to limp in on just our Port engine, and docked safely.

After cleaning up all the transmission oil, Mike found out it was the pressure relief valve on the top of the pressure gauge that blew. (think China had some influence here…LOL) A few hours in the engine room and a Lyft ride to both Autozone for oIl and Home Depot for a pipe plug, we were back running again. I put the pressure gauge from the port motor on the starboard just to make sure it was not an over pressure situation, and used a pipe plug temporally on the port side where the gauge was removed.

After our stressful evening, we ordered food from DoorDash. It all worked out okay, we were mostly sad we missed a chance to anchor with our friends on C. Marie. We will catch up with them again on the East side of Florida, and get a chance to catch up.