Ted655 – Coming down the Mississippi.

[Jordan]

Bravo buddy. Bravo. Send a big thank you to your friend for the awesome friggin read. That was beautiful. I wanna read book #2

[BananaTom]

There is more to come.

[BananaTom]

Right after Ted and Marybob returned home, the swamp was drained the Marybobber sat high and dry for many months. It was not until the new year that the swamp waters returned to float the vessel again.

Then one morning Ted learned the vessel had sunk.

This following posts are taken again as Ted wrote it:

OK, stop the madness! LOL.

We are SO touched & emotional about all this outpouring & support. Marybob is buying tissues in bulk. First she cries over the boat, then she cries over the friendship on this forum. She has to take salt pills.

Hey, everyone, we will be fine. JUST your kind thoughts are comforting. Thank you so much.

I let BananaTom know about the Merrybobber, in part, to give a ending to his thread. We humans have a need for closure. She is the "little boat that did".

Good by Miss Merrybobber.

Based on eye witness accounts, I'm 80% sure of what happened. A weird set of circumstance's that IF anyone of them had been absent, the boat would still be floating.

We, (our family), are presently in a set of circumstance's that we have never been in. While personal, I will share that they are, Health, Job cutbacks, Family pledges of $$ support, Domestic repairs, etc.. All issues we all have in common I bet. We are proud, resilient, resourceful hillbillys. We have found over the years, that when 1 door closes, another will open. We'll find that door when it's time & go through it.

Between sniffles, Mb has already concocted another plan & Steam Boat Willie is bringing her, (and mine), spirits up.

So here's the deal...., JUST, give a toast to the Miss Merrybobber. The rest will work out, I promise!

Thank you all friends, God Bless

[BananaTom]

Well the Houseboat Magazine Forum rallied. The Judge (Rusty) A real Judge in Tennessee, was ready to cancel court. He and I were headed to Butte La Rose, with helpers tagging along and the appropiate equipment and pumps to raise the Marybobber.

But Ted put his foot down and would not let us. So two days before we traveled, we canceled as Ted wanted.

[BananaTom]

Then Ted Replied:

Oh that we could have "plucked" her up within the hour!

But, that was not to be. I'm not a quitter, nor too prideful. My mind has not stopped reviewing our options, until sleep finally takes over. The boat & what to do, mostly fills my days. The local news has warned that another 7' of water will be here by April 10. We go today, to enter by window & try to salvage things in the salon.

Then, Miss Merrybobber will sleep with the fishes for awhile.

Think of what your gracious offer compares to. A wedding reception or a funeral wake. Either way, at some point, everyone goes home & back to their lives. Then it's just us. Us & a floating hulk, and ALL that entails. For the resoans I've mentioned, "we" are not up to the task.

Nearly all, have HBs. Think about replacing, (after removing), everything. Controls, steering, wiring, breakers, switches, flooring, cabinets, trim, gauges, on & on. By the time WE did all this, the engine & genset, with all their thousand parts, would be the easy part.

In our circumstance, it all will be done from the skiff, while floating. All the while, mold & mildew would be our constant shadow. I respectfully ask that the true circumstance of COMPLETELY rebuilding be looked at in a true light of day.

Look at our new avitar. THAT was Mbs dream to begin with. But, NOoooo, I had to have the "adventure".

At some point, (now), I have to quit throwing good $, after bad, nor allow others to....., and rethink the dream. Mb's dream this time. It won't be a HB, as ya'll have, but maybe I can share our new endeavor with you, from time to time. Stmbtwly is right, we need a bit of time first, thanks.

Wish I could give everyone a hug!, Ted.

[Jordan]

I'm sorry about the loss. Please give my thoughts, prayers, and condolences to Ted and his family and friends. Great story. Truely brought a tear to my eye ! Rest in peace ted !

[Dink]

Wow.......I feel like I made the trip with them.......I'm right down the road from butte la rose......wonder if its still down There? There are a few sunken houseboats in a pond near I-10.....hope Its not one of them.

[BananaTom]

Originally Posted by Dink

Wow.......I feel like I made the trip with them.......I'm right down the road from butte la rose......wonder if its still down There? There are a few sunken houseboats in a pond near I-10.....hope Its not one of them.

No, it is not still sunk.

It was raised as the pics above reveal, and repaired. It is somewhere down in the Bayous, making memories for new owners.

[BananaTom]

Bump by PM request

[iron man]

Great read!

[SLAB]

This is some good stuff. I really enjoyed reading


---
I am here:

Google Maps

Google Maps

[Finfeatherfur]

Wow, I have seen that houseboat a 100 times on the levee in Henderson! I think it is actually repaired and floating across from the bar/resturant. Next time I go run a boat I will look for it. Thanks for sharing the story, great time reading it and sorry to hear Ted lost his battle w/ cancer.

[gckid]

Great read. It is a very humbling experience to take a voyage like that. I brought a boat from Jacksonville Fl around to Fort Myers Fl and had a similiar experience. Hair raising at time, lovely at others. Great time and many joyful memories that we laugh about with the ones that are still with us. Sorry about your loss, but the adventure was worth time spent with them.

[BananaTom]

Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur

Wow, I have seen that houseboat a 100 times on the levee in Henderson! I think it is actually repaired and floating across from the bar/resturant. Next time I go run a boat I will look for it. Thanks for sharing the story, great time reading it and sorry to hear Ted lost his battle w/ cancer.

Thanks for giving me an update on the Merrybobber.

I always wondered what happened to her after she was raised, and Ted passed.

She's a famous boat, as many have read about her trip, with the Shelton's onboard.

It would be cool to see a pic of her, if you have the mind set and means to do so. It would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Reefman]

if you guys enjoy this type of reading may I suggest this site....www.greatloop.org

Look on the left hand side of page and click onto member's logs. Over a 100 captains give their account of making the Great Loop. I have been toying with the idea of buying a used trawler, 36-40ft, and doing this adventure over a 2 year period. Sorta a bucket list thing.....

[BananaTom]

Originally Posted by Reefman

if you guys enjoy this type of reading may I suggest this site....www.greatloop.org

Look on the left hand side of page and click onto member's logs. Over a 100 captains give their account of making the Great Loop. I have been toying with the idea of buying a used trawler, 36-40ft, and doing this adventure over a 2 year period. Sorta a bucket list thing.....

I have followed many Loopers over the years from the great loop website. I find one bout to start, save it to my favorites, and then follow them.

Some will do it in 6 - 8 months. One took 3 years to do it. They will either to the 5,000 or 7,000 mile trip. However, none tell a story like Ted655.

Like you, the Great Loop is a dream of mine.

[speck cc]

great story! wow, great story!

[Bluechip]

I read it originally when posted and took the time to read it again today. Awesome!!!

[Reefman]

This is on my radar....3532981_0_290320111715_1 grand banks.jpg

[BananaTom]

Originally Posted by Reefman

This is on my radar....Attachment 28118

It appears it has dual helms, am I correct?
Some only have the upper helm, without the lower.
It ain't fun in weather, to only operate from the upper.
It is nice to operate from the lower in heat, then you are in air conditioning. Or cold then you are in heat, or in the rain, then you ain't wet.

Is this a Grand Banks?