Continuing the 'Now What'

Here it is April already. Still the only signs of Spring are with the trees and flowers blooming!! Where is the warmer weather? Can't complain though, at least the sun comes out once in a while.

March was a very busy month. We managed to get rid of a lot of stuff from storage and donated it to the Brownsville Yacht Club rummage sale. Some things we gave to the kids we thought they could use, other stuff we put aside in a keepsake box to hold onto, for when we settle somewhere after cruising.

The boat was hauled out of the water at CSR Boat Yard in Ballard, where she sat in the air for a couple of days to get three holes drilled in the hull to make through hauls for the air conditioning/heat pump unit. The watermaker was also installed. We haven't run the watermaker yet because you need to be out of the marina to get cleaner water. We'll do that soon. The air conditioner, on the other hand, has been working like a champ, except for when it sucked up a tiny fish into the seawater inlet. That was a lot of fun at 4:30am. It took a couple of hours to get the water flow back, but now it is working great. Dave took the original heating system out of the boat and sold it to our neighbor that needs it. The air conditioner puts out heat and when it reaches the max heat setting, then cool air blows through the boat. I really love it and I'm really glad we put it in. I have gotten rid of all the clip on fans and dehumidifiers, because the heat pump keeps the boat warm and dry. The other thing we put on the boat while it was out of the water, was a max prop. We kept the old one as a spare, but with the new one, the boat backs up straighter, and we go a little faster. The main reason for getting the new prop was to keep the shaft from turning while we sailed. If the shaft wears out it would spell disaster.

Spring cleaning has begun in ernest throughout the boat. I have gone through all the drawers and cupboards inside the boat to get rid of what is not needed. I can truely say that my galley is now ready for cruising. The walls and ceilings, have been cleaned as well as all the wood. Next step is to revarnish some of the wood to protect it from the elements.

We bought a new inflatable dinghy. It's light enough for the two of us to carry and lift it. It's awesome!! Those who know me and my back problems will understand my excitement!!

The major purchases are almost completed. We need two solar panels to attach to the top of our hard dodger. We also want to install a salt water hose faucet on the bow to wash anchor and chain off after using it. We are contiplating buying sleep systems for the staterooms. These are like sleeping bags that have removable sheets. One side is used in winter and the other summer. They are a little spendy, but if I don't have to make a bed, I will be a very happy camper. It's a royal pain in the you know what, making boat beds.

There is more to be done, but time is on our side. :-)