Oceanside Marina, Key WestT
he Junebug was a 54-foot Chris Craft Roamer that slept four comfortably and powered through the water pushed by two big Detroit diesels. The boat was usually slick topside, rigged for cruising, leisure activities or deep-sea fishing, but Commander Ralph “Steamer” Bartlett USN (Ret.) had draped a huge 300-gallon fuel bladder across the foredeck to provide extra juice for extended cruising in the Caribbean where obtaining reliable diesel fuel was often problematic. High above the weather decks was a glassy and classy flying bridge with a spread of sophisticated gauges, LED screens, and instruments that Shake could just barely understand.
“Damn, Steamer.” Shake looked around the control station that featured a plush Captain’s chair situated in the middle of all t
