I 💗 Stock Island

Stock Island or "Stock Rock" is the next key northeast of Key West across Cow Key Channel. It is basically Key West North and even uses Key West's zip code, 33040, since there is no post office. It is believed the island got it's name because livestock were kept here -- horses, cows, chickens, pigs, etc. And why isn't it called Stock Key? Maybe "Island" sounds better? On one side of Overseas Highway is an 18-hole golf course, a hospital, a college, a botanical garden and nice homes. The other side of Overseas Highway is underwhelming to say the least.

Dilapidated mobile home parks abound. There are dozens of industrial park type businesses and large fenced in lots with lots of 'stuff'. People seem to use the side of the road as a dump. The whole island just seems 'run down'. But that's also part of why it's loved! It hasn't been developed yet although I'm sure that's coming soon. 

Stock Island is probably most popular with tourists for Hogfish Bar and Grill. We love Hogfish but to get there, you travel down a road that feels like you're in a third world country. But Hogfish isn't the only 'gem' on Front Street. There's The Jerk on one side of the road and Yahmon's on the other. Both are authentic Jamaican food mon! Further down the road from Hogfish is a parking lot next to Fishbusterz. In the parking lot is a red roof structure that sells fresh off-the-boat seafood cheaper than anywhere else.

Front Street - the road to Hogfish. It's narrow
and some people find it sketchy.

The Jerk

Jerk chicken and pork. Amazing!

Our favorite fresh fish stand.

This trip we discovered Roostica's Wood-Fired Pizzeria. Their happy hour is excellent! Their meatball sliders are so good! Right around the corner from Roostica's is Croissants de France! I can't even begin to tell you how good it is! My all-time favorite restaurant is El Siboney (Cuban). We have been to the original on Catherine St. in Key West numerous times. This is the new one on Stock Island -- same menu but much nicer inside. El Mocho is another Cuban restaurant and a little known hole-in-the-wall. Chico's Cantina (Mexican) is on Overseas Highway. We haven't tried it yet but looks promising. 

For waterfront dining/drinking there is Stock Rock Cafe at the end of 5th Ave. The food is good and generous but they only sell beer and wine. Another one of our favorites is Hurricane Hole. The chicken tenders are fantastic!

Besides The Jerk, there are numerous food trucks around the island and all very popular. Unfortunately we usually eat a late breakfast and early dinner so we skip lunch and didn't try them. Maybe next year!

There are numerous campgrounds -- Boyd's being the biggest and nicest and two resorts: the Perry Hotel/Stock Island Village Marina is where we spent two months (Jan/Feb). They have two heated swimming pools, two tiki bars and a nice restaurant. We tried the Sunday brunch at Matt's with bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys. It isn't cheap but well worth the splurge!! 

It's art dammit

The other resort is Ocean's Edge where we spent the month of March because Stock Island Village Marina was booked solid. We are on the waiting list to return to Ocean's Edge next season.

One of six pools at Oceans Edge Resort

What else is on Stock Island? Fishbusterz for seafood -- the fish dip is amazing! There's Dion's Quick Chik for groceries and is famous for their fried chicken. There is a CVS and even a West Marine. And they actually sell parts vs T-shirts! There are plenty of charter fishing boats and Air BnB boats to rent. We love Key West but this has been a great island to really get to discover.

This year has been especially fun. We have gotten to hang out with friends from last year, met a lot of new friends, and have had friends and family visit. We both feel so fortunate to have this chapter and experience in our lives.

Engine Problems! 💩

Imagine being in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. You're at anchor and ready to leave first thing in the morning. You turn the key and nothing happens. That's what happened when we were anchored in Cape Sable, the southwest tip of Florida off the Everglades. After checking the battery and few attempts, the engine fired up and we had a nice run to Marathon. While in Marathon, I started the engine a few times and felt all was 'good enough' to make it to Key West. 

After a week in Marathon it was time to travel 4 1/2 hours down Hawk Channel to Key West (actually Stock Island). The engine fired up and as we were untying the lines, it died. I looked nervously at Sharon and said, "Ummm... that's never happened before." While trying to restart the engine, the starter problem happened a few times. I cracked the injectors to bleed any air out of the lines. As I was loosening and tightening the injector nuts, Sharon turned the key to try and get the engine started. Then we heard a clicking sound somewhere in the vicinity of the injection pump and the engine started. Whew! I bled each injector individually while the engine was running to get any remaining air out of the lines. We let the engine run 20 minutes before untying the lines and taking off. Other than a million crab/lobster pots to avoid, it was a nice trip south and the engine ran fine.

After a few days at Stock Island Village Marina, I contacted Key West Engine Services right down the street from us. John, the owner, told me someone would be by later in the week. Later in the week came and went. I stopped by the shop the following Monday and was told someone would be by later in the week. This kind of service is typical in the marine industry. So... later in the week I get a call that a tech would be to our boat in a few minutes. Good thing we happened to be ON the boat!

Good old Eric showed up. Naturally the engine fired up but he started troubleshooting potential problems. First he discovered a lot of resistance in the ground wire from the starting battery. A quick cleaning of the lugs (ends of the cable) and that was resolved. Starting battery was over six years old! (Didn't I just change that!?!) But, amazingly, checked out perfect. Finally, the starter wouldn't start while Eric was checking out the automatic magnetic switch (fancy name for a solenoid). As I suspected, it was going bad. Eric showed up the next morning with a new OEM part and replaced it. We tested it by starting the engine a few times.

All good? Well.... no. A few days later, I tried starting the engine. It started, died and wouldn't restart until I bled air out of the fuel lines. I waited another day or two and the same thing happened. This time, I didn't bleed the fuel lines and contacted KW Engine Services. Back came Eric a week or so later. He spent several hours troubleshooting, replaced the [fuel] lift pump (that was replaced last summer) and discovered some potential problems (fuel tank vent had some clogging and the hose barb off the lift pump was 5/16 vs 3/8). Once we got the engine started, he checked pressure in the fuel lines. Everything checked fine and once the engine was running, it ran fine. 

The next morning he showed up and installed some clear tubing in the fuel lines (supply and return) to check for air bubbles. There were some but nothing that wouldn't get bled off. He drained the Racor filter bowl (I had already done that) and the engine started. Hmmm... couldn't be that easy but, fingers crossed, maybe that was it. It wasn't. 

Eric running straight from a can of diesel

This was installed between the lift pump and injection pump
to check for correct pressure in the line.

Eric checking pressure readings at idle and fast idle

One of the suspected issues was our fuel tanks were a little low and the pick-up tube may have been sucking a little air along with fuel. So.... I manually added 125 gallons of fuel -- four 5-gallon cans at a time. There were a lot of boaters wondering and asking what the hell I was doing! Naturally the fuel dock was no where near our boat but after 4 1/2 hours, fuel was added but the engine started and died. 

Bowl of Racor 900 had some dead microbes but nothing significant.

Next Steve showed up after a week or so. This was week seven of being at Stock Island Marina and we had to leave March 1st -- the Monday after week eight! We bled air from the fuel lines and got the engine started. Next he installed clear lines (again) on the supply and return lines. He and John (the owner) were pretty sure one or more of our injectors was bad and allowing air to 'back-flow' once the engine was off. In addition to the clear lines, he was going to install a check valve in front of the lift pump to keep fuel from running out of the engine. Naturally, they didn't have any in stock but luckily, our polishing system has a valve that isolates the engine from the polishing pump, Racor filter and fuel tank. Once isolated, I waited a day and started the engine. Varoom! It fired right up and ran great. I did the same thing for 72 hours. Varoom! It fired right up and ran great again!!! 

Of course, right after Steve left, the Yankee Freedom, the boat that takes tourists to the Dry Tortugas blew an engine which was their major contract. Guess who took a back seat? The next step was to now open the polishing valve to see if the problem persisted. I said no way because we had to relocate to another marina in a few days.

Monday, March 1st, it was moving day. We started the engine and let it run for at least 20 minutes. We got underway and had no problems going to our new marina at Oceans Edge. In addition to the 125 gallon added, I topped off the tanks with another 100 gallons at Oceans Edge fuel dock. Once in our new slip, I kept the valve open for 48 hours and varoom! the engine started and ran. I let it sit for 72 hours and varoom! it started and ran again. Steve finally returned, installed a check valve as a safety measure and removed the clear tubing.

Conclusion: It looks like our tanks were just low enough that the fuel was siphoning out of the engine and back into the fuel tank. There is supposed to be a check valve of sort in the Racor but obviously isn't reliable. (The Racor 900 is less than two years old and I even took it completely apart and rebuilt it). Hopefully the newly installed check valve will prevent this EVER happening again -- along with me not letting our tanks get as low as they were. The good news is the engine was completely checked out last summer and again this round with a few discrepancies discovered and resolved. And the really good news was we made it to Key West with plenty of time to get it resolved.