Plot Your Own Course

09/27/2026

🔧⚓️ Weekly Update! ⚓️🔧

Another busy week keeping commercial and private vessels running safely and reliably!

🚢 Commercial Passenger Vessel
Completed a full service and inspection on a pair of John Deere 6068AFM main engines, including:
• Engine oil & filter changes
• Engine zinc replacement
• Gear oil changes
• Full visual and operational overview inspection of both mains

We also serviced the vessel’s generators with oil and filter changes.

⚙️ Hydraulic Steering System on a 42 foot Wesmac
Replaced the clevis pin and bushings on a hydro-slave rudder system, restoring proper operation and addressing wear in the steering linkage.

🛥️ 87’ Johnson Motor Yacht
Continued the hydraulic hose refit, including running new hydraulic lines to the stabilizer system.

We also replaced the steering cooler and relocated it to a much more accessible location, making future zinc inspections and servicing significantly easier.

From routine maintenance to larger refit projects, the goal is always the same — keep the vessel reliable, safe, and easier to maintain. ⚓️🔧

09/17/2026

🚨 We haven’t posted in a while… and there’s a pretty good reason for that! 🔧⚓️

We’ve been BUSY! 😎

We’ve had several projects going on at the same time, but this 87’ Johnson Motor Yacht has been one of our biggest! 🚤🔧

After the owners had a great trip aboard, we were brought back in for an extensive summer maintenance project to keep this 17-year-old yacht in tip-top shape. 💪⚓️

⛽️ Fuel System

We’re replacing fuel fill hoses on all 4 fuel tanks, including hoses routed behind walls and cabinets, along with the fuel transfer lines.

We’re also rebuilding both fuel transfer pumps and both fuel transfer manifolds. 🔧

🔧 Engine Room

We’re cleaning up and rerouting hydraulic lines, electrical cables and fuel lines that were originally bundled together, making everything more organized, accessible and serviceable.

🚨 Emergency Bilge

We’re also replacing the emergency bilge pump hose and rebuilding the emergency bilge pump manifold.

🤝 Teamwork Makes It Happen

A project this size takes coordination between multiple vendors, and we want to give a shout-out to JR Marine Solutions, who has been working with us to crimp and install the new hydraulic lines. 🔧

We’ve been coordinating the routing and moving lines around so everyone has the access they need to get their part of the job done properly. That kind of teamwork makes a big project like this go a whole lot smoother! 🤝⚓️

There’s a lot happening behind the scenes on this one, and we’ll be sharing some pictures of the work along the way! 📸🔧

And this is just one of several projects we’ve been working on! 👀 We’ll be sharing some of the others soon.

17 years old and still plenty of life left in her! ⚓️💪

Plot Your Own Course LLC
⚓️ Marine Mechanical • Preventative Maintenance • Yacht Services

07/30/2026

⚓ 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…

07/30/2026

07/30/2026

⚓ Every delivery has a plan, but every good crew knows the plan sometimes needs to adapt.

🔧 Tuesday morning started in Fort Lauderdale, where I picked up the rebuilt stabilizer locking actuator and began the drive back across Alligator Alley to Naples. Once back at the vessel, we reinstalled the actuator, tested the system, and confirmed everything was operating properly.

📦 We also received confirmation that the additional seal kit ordered directly from the manufacturer in Washington State was scheduled to arrive Wednesday morning. While waiting, we continued preparing the vessel for the owners’ arrival—restocking provisions, organizing crew supplies, and making sure everything was ready to go once the final repairs were completed.

🌦️ Wednesday morning, with the seal kit delivered and preparations underway to depart, the captain completed another detailed weather review. A front moving across the Tampa area was bringing several days of rain and thunderstorms. While the vessel was more than capable of handling the conditions, the goal of every delivery is not just to make miles—it’s to provide the best possible experience for the owners.

After discussing the forecast and options with the owners, they decided to begin their trip in Naples and then work north as the weather cleared. This gave us valuable extra time to continue fine-tuning the vessel and make sure everything was in top shape before they stepped aboard.

🛠️ Since we now had the additional seal kit on hand, the captain and I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and proactively replace the seal on the second stabilizer fin locking actuator. Preventative maintenance is always better than waiting for a problem to happen.

The actuator was removed, the seal was replaced, and the system was reinstalled and tested in just a few hours. Another potential issue addressed before it had the chance to become a problem.

⚙️ While continuing our systems checks, I also addressed the engine room ventilation system. A newly installed variable frequency drive on the engine room blower required additional troubleshooting to properly communicate with the vessel’s Delta-T control system.

After working through the controls and verifying system operation, I was able to restore proper blower operation while the final integration is completed.

🚤 With those projects complete, we moved on to the next item on the list—repairing the jet ski garage roller system so the tender could be properly secured and deployed when needed.

Every day on a yacht delivery brings something different. The key is staying ahead, making smart decisions, and using every opportunity to leave the vessel better than you found it.

⚓ The journey continues…

07/27/2026

Leaking hydraulic locking actuator on the stabilizer fin

07/27/2026

⚓ 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.

07/26/2026

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.

07/24/2026

Just off 7mile bridge and Marathon!

07/24/2026

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.