Jane and I found a new world of adventure
awaiting us in the shallow bay waters and mangroves of the Florida Keys.
We discovered that one man’s garbage may be
another man's treasure. Hundreds of derelict and abandoned vessels litter the Florida waters. Many are
from the huge influx of Cuban refugees who came across the Florida Straits from
Cuba to Florida in anything that would float. Hurricanes sent many wooden sport fishing
boats and old wooden cabin cruisers that were past their prime
to the bottom to feed the sea worms.
This ancient
bronze Sampson post with no foundry markings and lots of nicks from a long life
of hard service arrived in the south Florida
waters on a Cuban refugee boat.
When we recovered it from the sea bottom it was
green and heavily oxidized giving the appearance of rubbish.
A little tender
loving care brought it back to a thing of dazzling artistic beauty, and it
became our treasure.
This stainless
steel dinghy boat anchor is made of a collection of items from an old sport
fishing vessel left to die a slow death at the hands of Mother Nature. The
flukes are rub-rail, the shank is a water pump drive shaft, and the eye is a
bolt. A few minutes with a hack saw, a file, and one stainless welding rod, and
I had another treasure from under the waters of Florida.
This fun-filled
pass-time in the tropical waters generated a huge collection of anchors, chain,
and marine hardware that helped to support our cruising life style.
The only semi
precious metal we ever found while diving in the Florida Keys was silverware,
and it wasn’t old…no gold.
Read the rest of this story in
Sailing the Florida Keys: Travels of Dursmirg.
Available in paperback and Kindle. Click here for more information.
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