Shackled to the Slip

Since our last meeting much has changed. The most obvious and important: getting physical with the salty seas!

• Pro: Our beast of a boat floats!
• Con: Held captive in the baby pool.

Don't get us wrong, the heat vents and water wings have been fun, but we can't help but gaze towards the diving board in the deep end! First things first: you gotta learn to float before you swim, and there are still a few hurdles to clear before the sails can be raised.
The Cracked Pipe: When we first took the Beast out for a cruise about we noticed some appetizing diesel exhaust filling up our cabin below. The conclusion- crack in the exhaust pipe. We have contacted the original manufacturer and are on stand by for the new part, until then, we are shackled to the slip.

The Mighty Sea Beast: Not to be fooled- behind these 4 easy words, and 5 simple syllables, hides an alphabetic marathon of letters (17 to be exact)! We dedicated more time then we would like to admit measuring, making, marking, sketching, and then finally taping the lettering off for the paint job. The tape job itself was allotted the same amount of time as everything else put together, and then some. Nick took on the role as the taper boy. He lagged behind taping off swooping curves, awkward angles and worst of all...flared tips-on every edge! In the end, my over elaborate design resulted in Nick taping off my poor interpretation of the Sistine Chapel. That is why I am sure you can understand how quickly my ego deflated once Randy noticed the missing T in MIGHY!! At least the 3 thick coats of black paint were still waiting to be applied- phew!
 




For the past few day's Nick has taken the electrical bull by the wires. He has learned the ins and out of the fuse box (which from afar resembles an enraged wire monster), and even installed a power outlet. While Nick was taming the electrical bull I tackled the netting up on deck. Equipped with 200 ft of rope I somehow managed to secure the fish nets. Not only emphasizing her sexy curves, the netting also acts as a second line of defense against human projectiles.

West Marine: We have become semi regulars at the store in town. It is a tad bit more affordable compared to the Marina so we bike to save a buck. I guess the manager Bob had a kick at watching us time and time again bike to his store, grab a few items, whip out our visa's, and turn back to the Marina. Bob: a middle aged, overly friendly, slightly offensive, boat geek. His pockets are littered with terrible jokes that he is not shy to share. However, last week Bob decided to do the unthinkable... He let us purchase anything in the store at cost! Before we knew it, we were cracking jokes and giving high fives to Bob!! He sure saved us a buck or two and still does!!


Today we worked on installing some Velcro screen into the hatches. The breeze is very pleasant, but not when it brings a small fleet of fly's with it. The old Harper Magazine baton works wonders, but it was time to fix the root of the problem.



Over and out,
Em&N


Lat: 35.489153, Long: -76.958585 (VIEW MAP)
KM Traveled: 0

Taming the Beast (the first week)

In short:
The life of many lists.
Lists of things to do.
Once you cross one off
There are two more new to do...


Life has been busy busy indeed. However, we are getting a good handle on things and we are starting to feel more comfortable with the basics of the boat. Our biggest accomplishment to date - how to get water from our sink to the outside instead of under our floor boards...Yes we may have slept on top of Friday's spaghetti dinner dish waste.


We have met many sailing characters here at the McCotters Marina. They are all friendly and enjoy unloading advice to us 'youngins' - especially Ron; who somehow manages to tie you to a short leash and won't let you stray an inch until he tells you everything in exhausting detail. Our first conversation was about 2 hours and all I asked was how old his dog George was. Just today Nick skipped away to the Marina washroom and disappeared for over an hour...no mystery that he was cornered by Ron.


Folding Bicycles: We had an enjoyable ride to town on the bicycles for some odds and ends yesterday. The weather was great and the ride was smooth - one flat road for 10km. It was about a 45min bike ride to town and the half way point was marked by the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. They had a demonic head resembling Porky the Pig mounted on their roof; which at first glance would make any human shutter in fear at this odd Halloween prop. We were later troubled to learn that this was the Piggly Wiggly mascot and his smile lurks in every corner of the store.


Tonight we learned our boat is completely water proof as it is raining cats and dogs outside but we are as warm as can be. It usually gets pretty chilly during the nights, so we purchased a space heater that plugs into an external extension cord. It makes it cozy warm in the steel boat. I fear the day when I will have to part from my new found friend.


We made an aggressively large pot of pressure cooked chili that will hopefully feed us for 3-4 days. We are working off a beat up alcohol stove. We purchased a newer looking alcohol oven/stove combo from a used Marine shop but it has been causing a few head aches. We tried fooling around with this, replacing that, turning that knob, which snap that one off... we are ready to go at it with a bat and put it in the grave. 


The peeping neighbour: Jasmine. A friendly kitten that belongs to a neighboring boat. You show this cat a little affection and it velcros itself to you. It is not uncommon to hear this feline scurrying around the deck while periodically pressing its face into windows. We have let her in the boat a few times, but she seems to hide in the engine compartment. 


Tomorrow: we sand the propeller and paint the boat name. After that, she will be as good as gold to go in the blue!


Over and out,
Em&N
Lat: 35.489153, Long: -76.958585 (VIEW MAP)
KM Traveled: 0