The Sea Gypsies

Food+energy+water

2012-01-22T13:04:00.001-05:00

Food = basic food + energy + waterSo, for those wondering how we eat and what we eat, here is our blog. For the most part, we only eat one meal a day. The first thing required for a meal is the basic ingredients of, well, hmmm food. We are saving our canned goods at the moment. We had a windfall of money from my last week of work and we splurged. Mike bought sausages, spaghetti, and spaghetti sauce.This is my 6 day meal plan,Take 1 lb. of ground beef, 1 onion, 3 tbsp. of chopped garlic (4 cloves), 1 can of mushrooms, and 1 jar of spaghetti sauce. Brown the hamburger, mushrooms, onion, and garlic until brown. Turn off that burner and start another. Boil about 1/2 a pot of water in a 5 qt enamel pot with approximately 3 tsps. of salt and some garlic powder. Cook spaghetti noodles until they are close to tender. Move the spaghetti noodles into the pan of sauce. Leave the water boiling. Add whatever spare vegetables you have left to the boiling water. We use the bags of cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots when we can afford it. Take three ladles of spaghetti sauce and add to the boiling water. Add 4 good shakes of Cajun seasoning. Add 1 package beef sausage and 1 can of corn. Cook for another 15 minutes.Sprinkle Parmesan cheese before serving.We warm up the leftovers everyday in a little 12v oven.With one small bowl each day, we have a fairly healthy meal.Our average consumption of energy for the initial meal is about a 1/4 of a 1 lb. propane cylinder.A 1 lb. propane cylinder lasts us about 4 days. That includes hot water to bathe and cook with. Snacks, well - Saltines keep us from feeling hungry. We also buy small bricks of cheddar cheese when it is on sale.The main thing is that you have to be aware of all of the elements that go into making food. Water has to be hauled from shore or captured in our rain trap. Propane has to be brought in and is expensive. There has to be either enough sunny days or windy days to use the 12v oven to warm up food and run the refrigerator. Ingredients for food must be bought. Hopefully, we will be in better waters to catch fish, clam, and conch.

Sovereign finds a new friend

2012-01-17T08:40:00.000-05:00

It has been an interesting week. For those following us on Facebook, you may have seen my post on a narrowly diverted disaster. Several days ago, we were awakened to a strange grinding sound. Climbing quickly out of the v-berth, Mike went to the hatch and poked his head out. "Katie, I need your help." When I looked out the hatch, there was a brief moment of confusion, a boat was on our stern and the grinding sound was where our solar panels touched its pulpit. It was dark and misting rain. I thought a sailboat had ran into us. I turned on the engine. After moving quickly to the stern to start pushing the boat away from us, I realized that we had drifted into a well-anchored boat. Mike moved to the bow and started heaving up the anchor. The anchor buoy line was tangled around the anchor chain. I kept my arms stretched out between the two boats trying to save our solar panels and minimize the rubbing. An eternity later, about 10 minutes, Mike finally got the anchor up. We then motored safely away from the boat that we drifted into and the mast of another boat that sunk a long time ago. With me at the helm, Mike gave directions to get us into the channel. I'm so short that I can't see directly in front. Mike has to stand watch when I'm on the helm.We took the time to drink some water and smoke a cigarette. The rain was starting to come down harder. We motored past the Coast Guard station and then I turned her back towards the harbor. We took our time finding a better spot to anchor and finally maneuvered into a nice open spot and set the anchor again. As soon as we were sure the anchor was set, we started assessing the damage. Our solar panels were fine, we had acquired a solar lawn light from the other boat and the glass cover was shattered all over the transom. It was a miracle that I hadn't cut my feet.Once all was calm, I went down and started the water boiling for coffee. Of course, we didn't really need caffeine to wake us up. The rain stopped about the time our first cup of coffee was ready. Mike kept a watch for the owner of the boat we nudged. He finally dinghied over and left a message explaining what happened attached to the still functioning solar light and some money. Several days later, Capt. Lee came over. He told us how much he appreciated the message and we were totally forgiven. We now have a new friend. Lee is around 60 and has been living on boats since 1976. He has lots of great stories and was kind enough to give us one of his propane heaters.Maybe Sovereign knew that we needed a new friend with lots of experience.

Going on the hook

2011-12-29T10:38:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a while. We've been working on getting everything ready to go on the hook. Work has slowed down and we won't have the money to pay slip rent for January. We went on a short and exciting cruise toward Fort Sumter last week. After about an hour motoring in the harbor and getting used to the feel of our boat, steam started coming from the engine compartment. We decided to put up the sails and killed the engine. It was a wonderful time and we finally tacked back to a good area and dropped anchor. We watched the sunset and listened to the quiet. It was so different from the marina. With no more traffic noise from the bridge, the only sound was the slapping of waves against the hull and the purr of the wind generator. Note: Bob, you were right. Mike got thwacked on the head by the wind generator. There wasn't any blood, but it did give us a new respect for the whirling blades.The next day, Mike figured out that raw water feed wasn't cooling the engine. We called BOATU.S. for a tow back to the slip. The wind and tides were not good for sailing back to the marina. The towboat operator was experienced and brought us safely back. Mike started digging into the engine and found that the impeller was missing a piece of metal/key. He created a fix from an old screwdriver and got the motor up and running again. Mike still has to go up the mast to install the masthead light. Then we go grocery shopping one last time using the courtesy van and fill up on diesel. After we finish prepping, we will be going on the hook in the harbor. We will pay the dinghy fee so that we can tie up our dinghy at the marina and get fresh water and wash clothes at the Variety Store. Mike will have to bicycle to Harris Teeters for any groceries. By the way, a big thanks to everyone who sent us Christmas cards. A big thank you to Thomas who sent us a wonderful food basket. We are still enjoying the fruit and treats.Happy holidays to all!

A note for Christmas shopping

2011-11-06T10:34:00.001-05:00

I strongly urge all friends and family to consider shopping from local, small merchants and from individual artisans this Christmas season. Two of my friends have stores on Etsy. These friends provided moral and monetary support for us in our darkest times. They have beautiful and inexpensive handmade items that would be perfect for gifts and stocking stuffers.The links to their stores are:http://www.etsy.com/shop/RhondaMadeIthttp://www.etsy.com/shop/jestersbaubles

Interviews

2011-11-06T10:17:00.001-05:00

Recently, we have had several radio interviews and a news report about our lives on the boat and how we got here. Mike's contact on the Friends of the Unemployed website suggested us as person's to talk to about major lifestyle changes. If you are interested in hearing the story or seeing the boat, here are the links. KCAA: The Many Moods of Vince Daniels: KTAE Podcast Player10:57am Nov 6Katie and I got our interview is 00:32 to 00:60 on the timer. http://kcaaradio.celestrion.net/kcaa-podcasts/moods/20111105.htmlkcaaradio.celestrion.netKCAA Podcast PlayerSwiss Televisionhttp://www.facebook.com/l/5AQA1T8gq/www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=aeff028a-716a-491f-b1e5-9e0d52445b74

A lesson in engineering

2011-10-25T15:02:00.002-04:00

Winds got up to almost 40 knots last week. This was enough to knock down our wind turbine tower, surprisingly enough. It failed at the wooden base, so that will have to be redesigned and rebuilt. The fall also bent the main tower, which I think was too tall anyway. I will be building a new tower of stronger materials, with a much more robust base, and a shorter stance by about 3 feet.

Just a cup of water

2011-10-08T15:39:00.002-04:00

Water is a precious commodity on a sailboat. Bathing, dishwashing, clothes washing, and drinking are nearly impossible without a goodly supply of freshwater. In the old days, before Sovereign, we had a dishwasher, a refrigerator with a cold water and ice dispenser in the door and 2 mini-refrigerators, 2.5 bathrooms (2 full baths with showers), a huge double-sink in the laundry room, an inground pool, and a clothes washer.Presently, we have a 65 gallon water tank, no hot water, a Coleman plastic folding double-sink, a bucket and washboard for clothes, and an antique refrigerator about half the size of those used in a college dorm room. All of our water comes from a water hose at the marina dock. A recipe for bathing – First I boil 4 cups of water and pour into one of my two blue and white camping pots. Then, I add enough cold water from the garden hose to make it warm. I take the pot into the cramped water closet where everything is moved out of the way. I then pour the first ½ cup of water onto my head. I shampoo first and then scrub the rest of my body with soap. I normally use another ½ cup of water during this process. Then, a ½ cup at a time, I begin rinsing from head to foot. Finally, I tip the pot over my head and it almost feels like the fleeting memory of a full shower. Total water used equals approximately 6 cups. The final part is turning on the head bilge pump to whisk the grey water away. I sometimes dream of bubble baths.I’ll describe dishwashing, drinking water, and clothes washing in the next post.

Just a cup of coffee

2011-09-29T11:37:00.000-04:00

Morning arrives in Charleston and the boat is gently rocking. The sound of traffic from the bridge overhead is a constant thrum and the air conditioner blocking the hatch is on full cool. The sound of water trickling into the cockpit from the unit is a worrisome sound. Anytime you hear water trickling on a boat, you have to check where it is coming from and to where it is going. Mike has been awake for a while and has already boiled the water and made coffee using the French press. The Senseo coffee maker died a year ago and while missed, was totally impractical for our use. The pods were expensive, the maker itself took up quite a bit of room, and most importantly, it ran on AC. This means that when we are not on shore power, we would have to run the generator in order to make coffee. So, boiling water and the French press are the best solution for the start of the day. While we are in port, we can venture to the Harris Teeters grocery store to buy their excellent store brand ground coffee. However, we have a cache of Community Brand coffee beans and a hand-crank coffee grinder for emergencies that we will use when we finally set off on our cruising adventures.Mike hands me a steaming cup of coffee as I power up my laptop and get ready for work. As I start reviewing my documents for the day, I realize how much I appreciate my husband. The act of making coffee for me in the morning is one of the many kindnesses he blesses me with throughout the day.

Life on board

2011-09-29T09:18:00.000-04:00

We have lived on Sovereign for almost three years now. My sister-in-law suggested that some people may have an interest in how we live on a 33’ sailboat and manage the daily business of survival. What has become the norm for us is so radically different from our former lifestyle that I imagine it might seem interesting to others.Dishwashing, bathing, laundry, cooking, working, and grocery shopping are some of the normal things that people do without much thought. For decades, I had a dishwasher, electric or gas stove and oven, refrigerator/freezer, full bath with tub, washing machine and dryer, a car that I drove to work each day, and easy access to a grocery store. That has all changed.I am a technical writer and I wish I had the flare that my brother or husband have in creative writing. Please bear with me as I give you insight into what it is like to live in our new reality. I will write a bit each day on the small, but significant changes that we have made over the last three years.

Wind Turbine added!

2011-09-25T07:37:00.001-04:00

We added another piece of handy gear to the boat: a big wind turbine. Wattage will depend on the wind, of course, but it's a solid unit rated for 300W peak. I had the option to wire it directly to the batteries and ground but that would waste a lot of the power, plus it might interfere with the solar charge controller. I decided to treat it as a clean power source and get the most out of it. A bit of research led me to a nice 50-amp bridge rectifier for 3-phase input which would smooth the turbine output to ripple DC. The DC then goes to a second charge controller to regulate the voltage further, and then finally to the batteries.I've been testing it without an ammeter so far by watching the change in the primary solar controller output, but I am definitely going to add a meter to the system.

Downwind pole added!

2011-09-16T20:22:00.004-04:00

We recently added a spinnaker pole to our kit. A 13-footer, kind of heavy but just about right for the boat. So we are now set for downwind runs with either the genoa or the spinnaker. Lazy times!

It mounts nicely on the mast almost like it was made for it, and it's easy to deploy after a little practice.

Ta-dah! Let me just rest on it a moment with a smoke.

So, we're another major step closer to being offshore-ready. More updates to follow.

Cookin' With Gas!

2011-02-08T15:34:00.002-05:00

After almost two years without a real stove or oven, we have a working galley again. Three-burner propane Shipmate with oven, found it on Ebay.

A few weeks ago I'd picked up what I thought was a decent oven as part of a swap/salvage deal. Turned out to be very leaky, so I had an expert look at it. All the parts would have had to come from the UK and it would've cost about 3/4 as much as a brand-new one. So, I decided to go shopping.

Found this unit in Sausolito, California, for about 1/3 the cost of an equivalent new unit. It is now installed and temporarily plumber for the little camping bottles. I'm planning to upgrade it to a larger 10- or 20-pound aluminum tank with pressure gauge, regulator, the works. But! It works now! That's our first boat-cooked meal in quite a while: two nice ribeyes (on special) with mushrooms and onions. YUM!

Solar power!

2011-02-08T15:31:00.004-05:00

We are closer to cutting the shore lines! The latest upgrade, SOLAR! Two Kyocera 135W panels, plus a 1500W PSW inverter and a 25A charge controller. We're getting there.

Oh, and dangling below it is the new dink "Serf." I tried selling "Vassal" and finally ended up donating it to a church with a sailing program for at-risk kids. So, we now have an excellent deflatable slung in the davits, solar panels on top, and new lift rigging (clean white lines for the win).

The Lone Dolphin!

2010-11-15T10:22:00.003-05:00

We just got a visit from a dolphin, sporting around the boats here on K dock. One of the perks of living on a boat!

2010-09-10T08:23:00.002-04:00

The latest home improvement project, turning the sun-tarps into a "Conestoga" type sun shield for the boat. A few scrap fiberglass rods, lots of experimentation with tying it down, and the end result is pretty decent:

Both can be rolled up and lashed to the deck for travel, and I'd say--now that I have the method--that they can be put up in under 15 minutes.

Taking (on) a Leak!

2010-08-01T08:48:00.002-04:00

Well, the change in water temperature has opened up the leak around the raw water through-hull. This time it gets a permanent fix. I've put one layer of two-part marine putty around it, which has slowed the leak dramatically. I'll be putting a second round of putty today as soon as this storm passes. Then tomorrow, the final stage: glassing it over. I'm also going to teach Katie how to mix the epoxy and lay the glass!

Delivery, Part 6: Sag Harbor, Long Island, and Manhattan!

2010-06-22T14:39:00.012-04:00

Our final sunset, over Butter Fish Hole south of Long Island. I know, sounds like a badly-thought-out Long John Silvers dish, the butter fish hole:

Our last day at sea, and my last watch is 0300-0600. Easy seas, mild winds, and the breakfast of champions:

We motorsailed into Long Island Sound, greeted by the remains of an old fort. I looked it up later, it's Fort Tyler aka The Ruins:

Finally, after 12 days sailing, we brought Sled into Sag Harbor, none the worse for wear. Here she is tied up to her new summer home in New York:

Coda!

The owner, David, met us at the harbor while we were hosing down the boat. Brought us coffee and bagels, really a super-nice guy. He then drove us to his home in the Hamptons where we had showers, watched deer, and set up flights home.

Jerry and Sherry got flights out the same day. We dropped them off at LaGuardia and then headed into Manhattan. Since I couldn't get a flight until the next day, the owner put me up at the Guest Apartment ( http://www.baeblemusic.com/theguestapartment/ ) at his Greenwich Village home/studio/office, a five-story building with a view of the Empire State Building from the roof:

I'll say it again, he was an amazingly nice dude. I hung out with his family and ate 2" thick New York Strip steaks, and in the morning he had "a car"--a Lincoln limo--drive me to the Newark airport.

Final note, USAirways will screw--I mean nickel and dime--you quite nicely. The ticket did not include the cost of...luggage! $25 extra, good thing I stuck a blank check in my passport. And! Just like Spirit Air, everything beyond basic pressurized air is extra. And! They lost my luggage; it arrived at the marina the next day.

So, thus endeth the journey, my first job crewing a yacht delivery. I think I'll do it again.

Delivery, Part 5: Open Seas, Animals, Strafing Runs

2010-06-22T14:24:00.005-04:00

With Bermuda behind us, we set out on the second leg to Sag Harbor. We got into a hell of a squall shortly out, with sustained winds over 30 knots. At its peak, for an hour or so, we had winds at 40 knots, gust to 49, and seas up to 20 feet. Oddly enough, I was never scared. Nor was I able to get pictures.

I learned also that foul-weather gear is only semi-waterproof; it does not let the water back out. Here is my damp grumpy face the day after:

We saw all sorts of ocean life on this leg: lots of porpoises and Atlantic spotted dolphin; bluebottle jellyfish galore; a 12' bull shark that cruised by about 3' from the boat. The problem with photographing random encounters is that animals, generally, are very damn fast.

Supersonic jets, on the other hand, are not. This guy buzzed us about a day out of Long Island, a Navy F-18. He did a slow pass, rolled and gave us a wing-waggle, then pulled up almost into a stall--a Pugachev Cobra, I think--then dropped his nose, powered away...we heard him go supersonic shortly after that. There's a dot in the pictures that's the jet, I assure you:

To be continued!

Delivery, Part 4: Bermuda, Stealing Showers, and Racers

2010-06-22T13:47:00.006-04:00

Having made it into the eye of the needle and beyond, we settled into Saint George's Harbor. First stop, Customs. Piece of cake. Noted one of Jerry's business cards was already on the bulletin board there. We then found the local harbormaster--Sandra--and found a place to tie up...right next to the big freight shipyard:

Having cleared Customs and found moorage, the next two most important items: showers and drinks! Sherry knew of a small marina--not to be named in this blog--near the town where the showers were usually unlocked and unguarded. And so they were. Fully clean, we then headed for the White Horse Bar and Grill. Oh, in penance for stealing a shower, I did leave an unopened bar of Irish Spring as a payment offering. So don't give me any crap. Heh.

After some hot wings and Coronas, we went exploring. I stupidly left my cameraphone on the boat, since there was no T-Mobile service in Bermuda. But we met up with some interesting British characters on a racing yacht, the Vision 46 Nasty Medicine, a hypersonic-missile-looking sloop made entirely of carbon fiber, and crewed by 10 people, some of whom were also apparently made of carbon fiber. 10! On a boat half the volume of ours. Anyway, we had a few drinks with Steven the owner, Dick the captain, Tim the crew guy, and Leah the ship's dog, who regaled us with stories of tropical storms in the boat--which weighs about as much as a Starbucks coffee cup--and culinary tales of pot noodles. Not what you think; it's British for Ramen.

Brawl With the Locals!

Not. But it could've been. Back at the White Horse, closing time. Jerry and I are in reasonably responsible condition. Sherry, not so much. She decided it would be fun to ring the big ship's bell over the bar. She reached for it... Jerry and I both dropped into Matrix slow-motion... "Nooooooooooo....!" She rang the bell. Which of course means, "Buy a round for the bar." Jerry and I turned around to count heads. Seven. Long story short, he and I convinced the bartender that she'd bumped it accidentally. And skedaddled.

Leaving Bermuda!

23 hours after arriving, we went back to sea.

Outside the markers, we saw a beautiful barque heading into Bermuda, the school ship Europa:

Second leg of the journey has begun, Bermuda to Sag Harbor, Long Island NY.

To be continued!

Delivery, Part 3: Neptune, Phosphorescence, and Bermuda

2010-06-22T13:15:00.004-04:00

A few days out, we made the traditional toast and letter to Neptune. Wishing for fair seas and a safe journey, and of course putting our emails on the letter in case it actually got found. The letter got double-wrapped in zip-loc bags and sealed in a Grey Goose vodka bottle. Sherry's iPhone does not like taking pictures on a moving boat:

Jerry cuts me a break!

After a few event-free watches at the helm, Jerry told me--because I asked him--that I actually did pretty bloody well on my first watch (previous post). He said most newbies didn't last an hour, and I made it to almost 3. So I will definitely have to thank Mid-Ohio Raceway and my Miata days for that. He then explained the secret of keeping the boat on course in heavy seas and strong winds. No, you don't get the lesson for free. Heh.

That night, Jerry and I threw the autopilot on, did a visual and radar sweep, and shut off all the nav lights. We then sat on the swim platform--boat going about 7 knots--and dangled our feet in the phosphorescence kicked up in our wake. Awesome experience. Learned to identify several constellations, plus Mars and Venus.

Weird dreams, part two!

We got pulled over--in the dream--by a USCG cutter at night, blinded by their searchlights as the boarding party came over to us. They were very polite in the dream, professional, with very sharp working uniforms. They were also anthropomorphic iguana-men. As I said, they were very polite. They inspected our passports and ship papers, took all of our hard-boiled eggs, and wished us a safe journey.

Bermuda!

We made it. The entry channel is very very narrow. Here we are heading into the murder hole into Saint George's Harbor:

To be continued!

Delivery, Part 2: USVI to Bermuda!

2010-06-22T12:45:00.004-04:00

Having left The U.S. Virgin Islands behind, the next stop planned was Bermuda. We had already secured the boat for sea, storing all items that could go crashing about in the forward head. We ran up the sails, leaving a reef in for now, and said buh-bye to Saint Thomas:

Six Days At Sea Begins!

Quite a learning experience for me; I quickly learned two astoundingly handy new knots, how to steer a compass course--more on that shortly--and how to plot our course and position on a chart, as well as becoming familiar with the boat's extensive electronics. I also got used to the 3 hours on, 6 hours off watch schedule. That worked quite well once we started sleeping in the cockpit of the boat. It also rotated the chef duties: whoever finished watch at 1500 cooked dinner.

Weather kicks up, and I drive the boat!

My first-ever watch steering a compass course on the open ocean: nighttime, 20-25 knot winds, 8-10 foot seas, and unfamiliar boat. Captain Jerry had to take the wheel and get us back on course four times, finally relieving me of helm duty 15 minutes early. I felt like a complete idiot and knew the next two weeks would entail me being basically useless.

Weird Dreams at Sea!

They say people have weird dreams at sea, and they're right. Once I got to sleep, I had very odd--but kind of sexy--dreams about Katie and me on our boat, sailing this bizarre phosphorescent sea on the S/V Sovereign. In the dream, we saw a giant sperm whale breach, but it had bright South American poison-arrow-frog coloration. Why, I wonder, would a 60-ton whale need markings that say, "I'm poison, don't eat me?"

Close Call!

My afternoon watch the next day, there's a blip on the radar. It becomes a spot on the horizon. Then a ship. Then a big ship. Then a big ship that's on a stinkin' intercept course! We hailed her on the VHF for 10 minutes. No response. We finally had to turn off-tack to avoid being run over. Much FCC-approved verbiage from us over the radio. Finally they acknowledged our existence. Beware the freighter Fre Pride out of Milan:

To be continued!

Delivering a 52' Sloop from Saint Thomas to Bermuda to Sag Harbor NY (part 1)

2010-06-22T12:00:00.009-04:00

Where to start, where to start? Well, I got the opportunity to crew a delivery finally, a 2006 Beneteau 523 Oceanis, the S/V Sled. Here she is at Sapphire Bay in St. Thomas:

Here's the crew: First Mate Sherry Burger--a captain herself most of the time--Captain Jerry McCarthy in the middle--260k sea miles, 11 ocean crossings, 2 circumnavigations--and deck hand Me.

And here are provisions for 12 or so days at sea, just in case we needed to skip Bermuda ($641 USD):

Jerry and I flew out of Myrtle Beach on Spirit Air, where they charge extra for water and pretzels. We met up with Sherry in Fort Lauderdale for the second leg, landing at the bustling aeroplex in Saint Thomas:

Before leaving, we ferried over to Tortola in the BVI to hang out with friends, Cris and Thorpe:

Both of them are also experienced captains, so I just kept quiet and listened. The club was a jazzy little place with a visiting band from...New Jersey! And they rocked.

After spending the night at Cris' condo on Nanny Cay, we ferried back to Saint Thomas...or so we thought. Our return tickets got mis-keyed and we ended up at the wrong ferry stop with no way to ferry to the right one. We spent 55 minutes waiting in the Customs office, standing in line while they had lunch or something. After that, we grabbed a ride in one of the $3 taxis shuttles that cruise around the town. The shuttles are neat: pickup trucks with bench seats bolted into the bed and a bimini top overhead.

But finally, we got underway! A quick stop to fuel up and top up fresh water, and off we went. Saint Thomas behind us, next stop Bermuda:

To be continued!

A two Afghan night

2010-06-03T06:38:00.002-04:00

Before Mike left to go sailing, he removed the wind scoop and put a tarp over the v-berth hatch. The theory being that tarp would keep rain off and I could still have the hatch open to keep it cool. It works really well if the rain is coming straight down. There are a few small holes in the tarp but not enough to cause a problem. However, the tarp is so low and tight it is a struggle to get the hatch closed. The hatch is a big, heavy piece of fiberglass and awkward to move at the best of times.

At 2:15a.m. I woke up to the sound of thunder and flashes of lighting. A big thunderstorm was starting. I jumped up and closed the forward hatch as the wind started driving rain in. Then went back to the v-berth to close the hatch. The rain started in earnest as I reached up to start closing the hatch. I struggled for five minutes with rain whipping at my face and shoulders. I couldn't get the hatch to budge. My hands were slippery, rain was coming into my bed. The lightening began striking closer and closer. I grabbed my big, blue afghan and covered as much of the hatch as I could. I held it in place until the wind died down a bit. After about 15 minutes the Afghan was damp enough to stay in place. I dried off and got back into bed hoping the afghan would hold.

At 3:15 a.m. I feel the splat of water hit as the afghan reached total saturation and began dripping water into the v-berth. It is still raining. I grab a new afghan, push the saturated afghan out of the way and cover the hatch with the new afghan. I hold it in place until I'm sure that it isn't going to blow away. I finally get back to sleep ignoring the occasional splat of water. The alarm goes off at 4:19 a.m. and I hit the snooze button. I do that several times and finally just turn off the alarm clock.

I wake up at 5:30 a.m. I'm not going to work today. I have to empty out the hatch cover, take the tarp cover off, empty the dinghy before it sinks, and take the afghans to the laundry, What a marvelous start to a Thursday morning.

I haven't heard from MIke since Friday. I'm worried that he has been going through some of these thunderstorms at sea. I bet he isn't having fun either.

12-Volt rewire is finally underway!

2010-05-15T14:33:00.002-04:00

So far, I have rebuilt the new switch panel that I rebuilt several months ago--added a second 12VDC outlet and made it smaller. Both sides of the boat have their house circuit totally rebuilt--no more incandescent lights! We have 8 new light fixtures, all LED, and three low-power-draw (360mW) fans. Eight terminal blocks allow economy of wiring with the 14AWG bus lines carrying power to the 16AWG breakouts, so there's a minimal line loss for the weight. Power from the main battery switch is carried on three 14AWG duplex wires to the three switch panels.

No pictures yet, as the panel is just kind of leaning against the space where it will be mounted, in violation of all sorts of OSHA regs no doubt. Shh.

Pulling the old wiring was, um, interesting. This boat has apparently been wired and rewired several times by Han solo and other previous owners. Bits of extension cords, single-strand wire, lamp cords, speaker wire, and something with hieroglyphs on it that seemed to be insulated with papyrus.

Anyway, the second-hardest part is done: the house wiring. The hardest part will be the mast wiring. The remaining onboard electronics will be less of a challenge, comparatively speaking.

Motor Vessel Vassal!

2010-05-10T08:02:00.005-04:00

S/V Sovereign is now properly served by the T/T Vassal. I found a 2006 Tohatsu 5hp outboard. A bit more power than the little dink needs, and it does push the bow up quite a bit, but it's in great shape. Even came with a manual!

Looks a bit big from this angle.

A better perspective on the size. That's Professor Bob's excellent RIB next to her.

Been years since I handled an outboard, and the little hard dink is a bit unstable. But we'll get used to it. So, another small step towards independence!

Blue Angels Show Over Charleston!

2010-05-10T07:53:00.005-04:00

Okay, this was a couple of weeks ago, but I've been busy. We got to anchor out in the harbor and check out the Blue Angels airshow. We went out with Professor Bob and his girlfriend Andrea on his Island Packet 35. Great boat, great view!

Katie chilling in the cockpit:

Me on boom watch:

One of the beautiful boats out for the show:

It was a good day with good friends. Thanks, Bob and Andrea!

Sovereign has a Vassal!

2010-04-13T15:27:00.003-04:00

Okay, maybe it's a little trite, but hey. S/V Sovereign now has her tender named. May I introduce the T/T Sovereign, "Vassal."

Gotta Get Current!

2010-04-12T15:00:00.002-04:00

It's been too long since we updated this. We finally have everything we need to do the 12VDC rewire. Terminal blocks, lighting, fans, outlets, the panel, and 500' of wire in 14 and 16 gauge. Wish us luck!

Everything fits on the boat!

2010-02-17T10:42:00.003-05:00

With the giving up of our car, we are now able to put everything we own on the Sovereign. Two bicycles are our only land transport now. And we finally took a picture of the hundred-dollar dink:

The two bikes are great, way more gears than we need--hers 18, mine 21--but they were freebies:

So, a sailboat, a dinghy, and two bicycles. Life just got simpler.

I Need Wolverine!

2010-01-31T06:44:00.002-05:00

The latest problem--I mean opportunity--is that the propshaft keeps slipping free of the balancer. The retaining bolts can't keep a grip on it. I tried drilling some dimples into the shaft and the special steel-drilling drillbit wouldn't even scratch it. It's good to know we have an indestructible propshaft that was either forged in the mines of Moria or in some special secret Canadian supervillain factory, but I've got to find a way to either drill or grind some notches into it.

Giving up and letting go

2010-01-28T16:24:00.000-05:00

I am amazed that the things I have strived so hard for through out my life, the long hours, and the dedication to my employers have gained me nothing. I am 51 and have nothing to show for my years of service. I have no pension, no 401k, no medical insurance, and no prospects for further employment.

What I do have is my loving husband and partner, our boat, our wonderful son in Mississippi, a loving family, good friends, and three useless cats.

Since February of last year, I have worked exactly 2 1/2 months. We have survived this year because of the generosity of our family and friends. Mike's father and my mother have consistently helped us throughout this year. My mother, brothers, sister, nephews and nieces, ex-brother and sister-in-law, and friends in the technical writing community have supported us both financially and emotionally.

I count our family and friends as the miracles that have kept us going. Thank you.

Now the letting go. Our goal over the next month is to be able to live on the hook. Mike has met a person that is a genius with diesel engines. He and Mike worked on the engine for a full day and he did not ask for anything but beer. He identified what needs to be done to get the engine running. As we fix something new on the engine, the next system shows it's new problems. So far, Mike has fixed the o-rings on the injectors, fixed a screw that did not have the correct opening to allow the fuel to come out, and changed the thermostat. The next step is rigging the prop shaft so that it does not fall out of the transmission when the engine is running.

We had three major finds. A friend at a different marina had a dinghy that he sold for $100.00 We had to pick it up, literally, from his mother's azalea garden. It was covered in dirt, spiders, and vines. The only thing it needed was drain plugs. Mike fixed it and it is now parked beside our boat. We needed a gas powered generator and Mike found one. The man he is working with now went to a pawnshop looking for a vacuum cleaner and Mike spotted the generator. He talked them down from $150.00 to $125.00. It is an older model but it works and fits nicely into the cockpit. The third major find was a bimini cover that fits Sovereign perfectly. It was a trade for an old Gateway desktop computer that we no longer have a use for and was so old that the pawnshops would not buy it.

Now all we need is enough wire and about $100 in additional lighting and fans to complete the DC rewire. Mike already has the DC panel ready to go. We've changed out the old light fittings for new LED lights that draw less power. We have a new automatic bilge pump that is keeping up quite nicely with the bit of water still seeping in.

Mike also has is eye on a high gain antennae to help with our WiFi access, we hope to be able pick up enough writing contracts to keep us alive and sailing.

Let us know where you want us to go and if you would like more stories about sailing and living on a boat. Oh - and thanks to Steve, we have a new digital camera and as soon as the memory card comes, I will be able to finally capture pictures of dolphins playing in Charleston Harbor.

Victory - the white whale is dead

2010-01-02T22:25:00.002-05:00

I've been struggling over a post for the past two weeks. Today is a good day. Michael and Adam (the engine whisperer) have made our diesle engine work. Yes - today I am heady with the possibility of adventuring outside of Charleston harbor.
After another cold and long day - Delilah is working. The engine has started and run until we were out of fuel. One step closer to living our dream. Thank you to everyone.
Oh - to my family - I love the microwave. I made hot sandwiches and soup for Adam and Lisa today. Happy New Year to all.
Without you - none of this would be possible.
God bless and keep you.
Katie and Mike

Yet Another Major Setback

2009-10-13T17:31:00.003-04:00

Well, we're probably going to be chained to, or evicted from, the dock soon. Here we go...

Katie's contract job ran out last week. After spending several hours determining which state was actually paid unemployment taxes--long story--we found that South Carolina, despite its best efforts, was responsible for paying Katie unemployment until the next contract. However, after waiting 90 minutes to talk to a representative, she found that the taxes are paid quarterly, which means she can't even file until January. She cried. In public. Because once again, we're fresh out of hope. Back to normal for us.

Meanwhile, one guy that owes me money for work I did still hasn't paid up, and he threatened me--and Katie--the last time I confronted him about his debt. So, that's money we'll never see and precious time down the tubes. The new guy I've been working for hasn't had work for me in weeks, and still owes me a ton of back pay. I suspect he's going to stiff me as well. What is it about people in the boat world, that apparently everyone but us can get away with not paying for anything? How do WE achieve this Exalted Deadbeat status?

Anyway, we're out of money and pretty well out of hope. Again.

Windscoop > Air Conditioning

2009-10-02T09:09:00.002-04:00

Our windscoop arrived, and it is an excellent addition to the boat. We said goodbye to air conditioning, giving that anchor to a good friend here in Charleston who can use it. No more big metal brick to muscle around. It's only useful with shore power anyway, and we really intend to live out on the hook as much as possible once we leave Charleston.

The windscoop is a great idea, and a good value if you buy from Amazon rather than West. Funnels air in through the V-berth hatch quite nicely. It does need a bit of tweaking to be used properly; in our case, a new crossbar and respaced screw eyes, plus a pair of lightweight bunji cords, made all the difference. It needs to be tailored to its hatch, is all. No sewing or other high-skill requirements, just a couple of screw-eyes and a fiberglass rod...and some padding and electrical tape.

Shore power system is complete.

2009-08-31T07:07:00.003-04:00

Katie and I rewired and rebuilt the whole shore power system this weekend. We now have a 30A main breaker with polarity warning, an AC voltmeter, four 15A breakers--one for each outlet--and four GFCI outlets. One in the v-berth, one in the main cabin, one in the galley, and one in the engine bay/sail locker.

I made the breaker panel out of a piece of bookshelf fronting left over from a previous project. I know, I know, it looks tacky as hell. But it's solid and a perfect fit. Eventually it'll be the template for a new panel made from something untacky. Or maybe I'll just paint it. Right now, I'm pleased as punch that it works.

My Jaunt Up the ICW.

2009-08-09T12:12:00.005-04:00

So, I volunteered to go with my good buddy Will in his Hunter 30 up to Georgetown SC to haul out. Sand and paint the bottom while the Hazzard guys replace his propshaft gland. It was a great experience for me, made me even more sure that we can really do this. It was a five day trip overall.

Day one, Tuesday, we left the city marina early, about 7:30. Got to the Ben Sawyer swing bridge precisely as it was opening, did not have to hold and wait for an hour. Then I went below to check the phone and...WHAM. The whole boat thunked and heeled over. Apparently a channel marker leaped out in front of Will. Big scuff down the side, chunk missing from the rub-rail. I drove for a while after that.

Stopped in McClellanville for the night (below) and bravely decided, Nah, we don't need shore power for one night, we don't need A/C. Wrong! Mosquitoes galore, and they chewed us up while we were sleeping.

Day two, Horsefly Hell Day. They were all over us. But we got some actual sailing in...until the South Santee River. We were towing the dinghy and getting good speed, up over six knots under sail with the motor idling, and all of a sudden we slowed. Hard. The inflatable had nosed under and turned into a sea anchor. Too heavy to lift and pour, so Will circled the boat while I got into the thing and bailed it out. Then we strapped it to the deck.

No trouble getting into Georgetown, and Hazzard Marine was great (also below). Georgetown is a nice little place, but its economy consists entirely of restaurants that close at 3 in the afternoon, and art galleries that don't serve food. We found one of the two places that bravely flew in the face of societal norms and stayed open in the evening, had some burgers and Cokes. Definitely hooked up shore power that night! Average speed over days one and two, just over three and a half knots.

Day three, Haulout Day. Again, Hazzard Marine rocks, hats off to Sam and Jasper. We hand-sanded the hull, wiped it clean, taped it off, and painted...fast! Once the can is open, anti-fouling paint starts curing right away. It had the consistency of grape jelly by the time we got it onto the jackstand patches and the brace spots under the keel. We also noted that the seawater intake for the engine was nearly painted shut. I cleaned it, carefully repainted it without globbing it up.

Checked out the other place that stayed open that evening, Buzz's Roost. Great spot, decent prices. Listened to some excellent open-mike acoustic guitar.

Day four, Getting Lost Day. The channel markers in Winyah Bay definitely want to send you out to sea; finding the ICW entry takes a bit of work, even if you've just come out of it two days earlier. We found plenty of chop, plenty of shallows, and plenty of wind out in the middle of the bay. We did finally get into the Ditch about two hours later than we'd hoped. We started making good time, 5 to 6 knots; the bottom job, gland replacement, unrestricted intake, and clean prop added up to a big gain.

Stopped briefly in McClellanville again for ice; they were nice enough to run us into town again for smokes. Talked with some folks in a pair of little speedboats that were transitting a goodly portion of the ICW, staying in B-and-Bs along the way.

Farther down the Ditch, we threw the hook in a little slough, the convergence of Long Creek and Bull River. Fantastic anchorage, muddy bottom but otherwise very good. Plenty of dolphins, plenty of pelicans, plenty of quiet. That was my first night on the hook, and it sold me on this whole lifestyle.

Day five, Rude Boaters Day. We made good time again, a little over 5 knots until we hit Isle of Palms. Eleventy-seven speedboaters a minute, all waking us. A few were nice enough to slow down, but all but one of them then gunned it too early and waked us anyway. Sullivans Island was no better. I wonder, do powerboaters have a blind spot for sailboats? At least nobody hit us.

Had to wait 40 minutes for the Ben Sawyer swing bridge this time. We idled to it as long as possible, still had to turn back upstream to buy time. The bridge operator was nice enough to warn us on the handheld that he was about to open the bridge and that we should make our turn and get going.

South of the bridge, more rudeboats. But then we got into the Harbor, got sails up, and made it home. All good! It was a great learning experience for me, and I have no doubt that Katie and I can do this now. I spent maybe a third of the trip piloting, two thirds acting as lookout and naviguesser.

Oh! And a closing anecdote. IOP and Sullivans were swarming with bikini babes, on shore and on boats. Apparently they're attracted to rude powerboaters. Anyway, tons of eye candy. Will's a single guy. I'm married, but I have permission to look and comment. And the only sexy sight that we found worthy of comment in all of that mess was on a northbound sloop near the bridge. "Will! Look! In-mast furling!" "Oh, man...beautiful..."

Leland Oil Marine Review...Great!

2009-08-09T12:10:00.003-04:00

Stopped in McClellanville for the night at this little spot. Lots of shrimpers, but otherwise nice and quiet and out of the way. Cheap as well, buck and a quarter a foot if I recall. One good shower, they sell ice, and they will drive you into town for smokes, beer, and stuff from the Dollar Store. Only downside, at low tide you have to climb an eight-foot wooden ladder.

Hazzard Marine Review...Great!

2009-08-09T12:06:00.002-04:00

When it's time to haul out our boat, if we're still in North America, we are definitely going to Hazzard Marine in Georgetown SC. Fantastic place. Will and I sanded and painted his boat bottom there. Out of the water at 8:30, back in at 3:30, while his propshaft packing gland got replaced in an hour and a half by Jasper. Nice dock, small store, great showers. Overall, just a very good marina/yard.

What do the simple folk do?

2009-06-10T18:35:00.002-04:00

I remember going to see Camelot in the theater for the first time. I remember watching my brother standing up and yelling "Run boy, run."
Grand dreams of a life greater than the small person that we are and dreams of what we could be. The young boy listened to the tales of Camelot. Mesmerized by the tales he was sent out to tell the stories to all. For one brief shining moment...
But the tale started with a boy, a dreamer, and ended with a memory. Love gained, honor earned, a brief shining moment of beauty.
We want to spread the story of independence, of the beauty of living on the ocean, of independence from foreign oil, but the reality is that we don't have enough money to have enough food for one more day. We need a miracle. We need the one brief shining moment. Please, if you have an ear to hear us, if you want to share our dream, be our sponsor, be our Merlin, gives us the strength to pull the sword from the stone and live.
Katie and Mike
Sovereign
C/O Charleston City Marina
17 Lockwood Drive
Charleston, SC 29401

Death of a Thousand Cuts

2009-06-02T21:41:00.001-04:00

Depression sets in. The engine still doesn't work, the wiring is failing, a dozen tiny failures are accumulating and multiplying. I love being on the boat, but having no money to fix anything...I have no idea what to do anymore.

I can do this!

2009-05-05T20:17:00.002-04:00

I Can Do This

Michael S. Roberts

Halyard, windlass, jib line, spring line…Christ, I’m never gonna figure all this out! Buying this boat was a big mistake. Too damn late to back out, though. I’m gonna have to shell out a fortune for lessons from a pro, three hundred bucks a damn day. Minimum!

At least it was a decent day, weather-wise. High sixties, a steady 12 knot breeze, no clouds.

“Mike! Get ready to hoist the main!” That was Will. Good guy, crazy Boston Irish, taking me out on his own boat for my first day sailing. Didn’t even ask for a six-pack in return. We’d become friends my first day at the dock. Turned out he likes Coronas, too.

“Which one’s the main?” I saw two big windlasses and more lines than I could track. Not a label anywhere.

Will pointed at the base of the mast. “Bottom one.” I wrapped the line around and heaved. Nothing. I’d wrapped it backwards. Slapped myself on the forehead, rewrapped it, tried again. And…the main sail began to climb up the mast! I was doing it! I ran the massive thing all the way up, cranked it tight, and secured it to a cleat with the simple tie-off I’d learned just a few days before. It hung there, limp, flapping a bit at the trailing edge. Proud of myself, I threw Will a grin and thumbs-up.

He gave me a wink from the helm. “That was the easy one, man. Now the jib.”

The jib? What the…okay, time to figure this one out, too. I knew the jib was the sail on the front, at least. “Okay, where’s the line for that?”

***

Just thinking back to how I got here, since I had no idea where that jib line was anyway. We’d made the decision, my wife and I, to buy a sailboat and cruise the world. Great dream, right? The reality was, this was an endless barrage of information and problems.

We’d found a real deal after a lot of searching, a 1968 sloop, designed and built by Bill Soverel, 33 feet long, sitting up on metal stands at a boatyard. Well, we thought it was a real deal. Turned out to be more of a fixer-upper than we’d thought when we inspected the thing. We knew all the good stuff, that it had new standing rigging—we knew what that was, at least—and a freshly rebuilt engine. We knew it had new paint, including the special bottom paint. And we learned later that it was overbuilt, like a floating armored personnel carrier, because back in 1968 engineers didn’t believe fiberglass was as strong as it was…so they used a lot of it. We found out later our boat weighs about half again as much as a newer boat its size. All that extra fiberglass, right? And a heavier keel to keep the thing from leaning over too easily.

Thing is, we didn’t really know all that right off the bat. We just kind of jumped at the boat as soon as we saw it. Spent about two hours looking all through it and grinning at each other, while the man selling it told us all the good stuff. It was our dream boat. We bought it the day we saw it.

Fixing it up was a nightmare, and a hell of a learning curve to boot. Okay, listener, imagine you’ve just inherited a beautiful old mansion way out in the Louisiana swamp. It’s gorgeous…from a distance. Up close, there’s moss and mold and mildew and mice. Oh, and there’s a sleek 1962 Jag in the garage…that hasn’t been driven in 30 years. You have nowhere to live but that house, and nothing to drive but that car, and you’re dumped out there in the swamp with nothing useful like even a Seven-Eleven within walking distance, much less a good hardware-and-parts store. That was our first boating experience. The boat had issues. No, scratch that, it had a subscription.

***

“Jib line’s here in the cockpit, Mike,” Will yelled. “Just help me pull out the sail!”

“Like how?” I started knuckle-walking back toward the cockpit—didn’t want to risk standing all the way up and getting pitched over the side. Where’s the lifejacket…oh, yeah, safe and dry in the sail locker. Nice.

“No, man, just help me heave the line there! Stay where you are, lend me some muscle!” He started heaving on one of the two big lines that run along the sides of the boat, one per side. Hey, jib lines! I knew what they were now. I gripped the one he was pulling, started heaving in time with him. The big foresail came rolling off of the furler and flapping like a pennant.

“Now what?” I swiped at the sweat in my eyes. Wear a hat next time, smart guy.

“Now we kill the engine and catch some wind, man.” Will pulled the kill switch, the engine starved itself out, and the boat got quiet, starting to slow now that the prop wasn’t spinning anymore. He threw me an upside-down wave, motioning me back to the cockpit. “Okay, grab the wheel, right? You’re going to turn us away from the wind before we lose momentum.”

“Dude, you want me to steer? I race cars. I might lay this thing over.”

“Told you, man, you’re learning to sail today. We got about five hours of daylight, so grab the wheel, right?”

So I did. I stood behind the big city-bus-sized steering wheel, Will pointed off to the right, I spun the wheel right—starboard, think starboard!—and the sails started to curve and fill with air and…

***

“Crap! Damn wiring. I think this boat was owned by three generations of idiots who all inbred with each other. And learned electrics from a cereal box.” Talking to myself helps sometimes. The wiring, that was one of the biggest issues, no doubt. A hundred different wires, none labeled, some of them obviously clipped from extension cords or made out of scavenged speaker wire or stolen from some Pharaoh’s tomb. At least a third of them went nowhere. Didn’t help that it was twenty-odd degrees out, my fingers were clumsy-numb and hypersensitive at the same time, and the wires in the boat were braided together by a macramé artist with attention deficit disorder.

Diagnosing the electrical issues was only a part of the repair process. As I said, the boat had more than a few issues. Just removing the stove had taken a full day. Yes, the stove! That evil thing, another throwback to the glorious pre-OSHA days. Big, rusty, and alcohol-burning, it squatted in the galley like a malignant poisonous toad, daring me to challenge it. “I’ll bite you,” it said, or so I imagined. “I’ll bite you and give you lockjaw if you try to dig me out of here, and I’ll blow up like a daisy-cutter if you leave me on board. Your choice, pal. You gotta deal with me.” I prepared to do battle. Heavy gloves in lieu of gauntlets, denim jacket making do instead of chainmail, and a rubber mallet as a mace. The stove…I’ll give it credit, it didn’t die easy. Four huge rusty bolts clearly designed to keep a rocket from leaving its launchpad, a Byzantine tangle of hard metal tubing to feed the rusty toad its precious alcohol, and the carcass itself weighed as much as a box of encyclopedias. But I’d beaten its challenge. Sweat-soaked, lacerated, bruised, and triumphant, I gave it a respectful ceremonial burial in the dumpster.

***

Flap-flap-flap-FWAP! Both sails suddenly ballooned out, tight and full of air, and made a beautiful sound like snapping a bedsheet on laundry day. The sailboat was sailing, and I was making it go where I wanted!

“Okay, see that green house way over on the Battery there?” Will pointed. “Just keep the boat going that way, more or less, right?”

“Right!” I kept a knee pressed against the wheel to steady it, using both hands to nudge it left and right. The boat wouldn’t quite stay in a straight line. I worriedly pointed this out.

“No problem, Mike, this isn’t a racing sloop, it’s a cruiser. It’s gonna wander.” Will didn’t seem worried, so why should I be? Then he grinned, Irish-crazy. “We’re gonna tack! Get ready to swing her!”

Oh crap.

***

Finally putting the boat in the water was as exciting and confusing and nerve-wracking as making love for the first time. Except it took a lot longer, and it involved a lot more people, and it cost a lot more money.

The wiring was functional. Messy, but functional. The demonic stove was gone. The paint was dry. The sails were onboard, folded neatly away. There was no excuse for the boat being on land anymore. The boat wanted to be on the ocean and so did we.

Over the course of an hour—like I said, way longer than a teenager’s first time—the big boatyard carry-all lifted our precious dream boat, trundled it across a hundred yards of gravel, and set it in the water, a bride on her marriage bed. Yeah, I wax poetic, but it was a stirring sight. There she was, floating, bobbing gently in the river swells…home.

***

“Tacking! Swing us left! Hard port!” Will shouted as he loosened the main boom so it could swing and knock somebody over the side. I leaned back to avoid the roundhouse slugger while Will ducked under it. I spun the wheel, the boat turned left, the sails fluttered and went limp…then filled with air again from the opposite direction. FWAP! “Straighten her up! Aim for the Coast Guard station for a while!”

Took a little practice, but I was getting the hang of keeping it in a straight line, more or less. Like Will said, it wandered a bit. But I’d made my first tack, letting the sails shift from one side to the other, getting them to bite into the wind again.

I realized I hadn’t thought, “Can I do this? What the hell am I doing?” for several minutes, at least.

Then I noticed, “Hey Will, we’re getting’ kind of close to the Coasties. You want some nice fifty-cal holes in your boat or what?”

“Yeah, go ahead and tack, right?” He loosened the main boom line. “Do the wheel and the jib line this time, okay?”

“Ummm…okay. You know the Coast Guard is totally gonna board us when I flub this up.”

“No problem.” He pointed at the left-side—port side!—jib line. “You’re gonna spin the wheel hard right and haul that line fast as you can. Soon’s the sail catches the wind, secure the line and straighten the wheel.”

Okay, I thought to myself, sounds doable. And it was. “Tacking!” I yelled. Spun the wheel, hauled the line, listed and watched for the...FWAP! Another successful turn. I felt like I was actually getting the hang of this.

“Yo, Mike, check it out.” Will was pointing at the water near the boat, just aft of midship on the port side. I was just pleased to have been able to identify where he was pointing and describe it later. “Good luck, right? Dolphins.”

Sure enough, there they were, four of them. Breaching close aboard, puffing air and then diving back down. They dove shallow and slipped right under the boat, still visible on the starboard side. Didn’t breach again, but there were four flashes of grey-bronze less than a fathom down.

I knew the superstition: Dolphins are good luck, simple as that. And I saw them my first day sailing, about as close as you can get and stay dry. Probably they were just playing, or chasing a school of mackerel, but I like to think they were welcoming me to their turf…and keeping an eye on me.

I can do this. I turned the boat toward home.

Little Miracles

2009-05-03T17:54:00.003-04:00

At our darkest hour, several miracles occurred. We received two gifts from relatives. Our slip rent is paid for the month and we have propane to cook our food. Thank you. I don't think you will ever know how amazing and wonderful your gifts were to us.
Mike was talking to Tom about our DC problem. Tom asked what size fuses we were using? We said that there was 2 amp fuses. Turns out, we should have been using 20 amp fuses. We still haven't figured out what is wrong with the two overhead lights but the other lights and fan are working now. We still need to rewire the entire boat but that can wait for a little while.
The engine still doesn't work. We've added a new fuel pump, sea strainer, hoses, and fuel filters. It might be delamination of the old fuel tank. It is the original fiberglass tank from 1968 and is integral to the boat. We may try a portable diesel tank and see if that makes a difference.
Mike put in the missing cotter pins so that our mast won't fall off.
The garage AC unit is now in our main entry way. Yes - cool air is flowing through our boat. The bad news is it totally blocks the entry. The cats don't like it a bit. They haven't figured out how to get over to the outside. Pequat is sulking.
Last week Mike worked hard labor sanding and waxing mega yachts and sports fishers. I cleaned interiors and mildew off of canvas coverings. We will do any work as long as it is legal. It doesn't pay well but will keep us in cat food, kitty litter, and coffee.
Adventures aren't always easy and I suppose the best memories come from making it through hard times. If we didn't do this as a team, we wouldn't be able to do this at all.
Did we make the right decision? I still say yes. I finally saw an otter swimming yesterday morning. I was walking to the bath house at 6:30 a.m. and there was a smallish one swimming from dock to dock. Next time I'll bring my camera.

We Could Use A Break

2009-04-25T14:27:00.004-04:00

Three nights ago, one of the overhead lights went out. We thought it was a bulb and we replaced it. It still didn't work. The next night, the second overhead light went out and minutes later, the fan in the V-berth went out. Ten minutes later the fan in the AirHead toilet and the light went out in the bathroom. The only DC power available is going to the masthead light outside and the fresh water pump.

We knew that we had to redo the entire DC wiring system but it couldn't have come at a worse time. It will cost $460 for the DC panel and about $200 for the wiring. Mike can do the rewiring but we absolutely don't have the money to do it right now. Slip rent is $625 and due on the 5th. We won't even talk about the boat and car insurance, cell phone service, and the car payment.

Mike has been doing side work to make as much cash as possible while he waits to see if the company that is interested in hiring him actually gets the defense contract. I'm going to try to pick up side work interior cleaning luxury yachts.

I've been looking at Guru.com to try and pick up technical writing work but I'm up against Bangalore, India pricing. I'm thinking of advertising on Craig's List. How about, technical writer will work for food and wiring.

It's been a rough week. Last night I looked up through the screened hatch in the V-berth. I'd just finished giving Mike a back massage because he is sore from detailing yachts. I could see a star and I made a wish. Let the wind be strong and steady. Then I asked God to bless and keep us.

I know this will pass, it just seems overwhelming right now.

Slack Tide, No Wind, A Miracle Occured

2009-04-23T19:51:00.007-04:00

It was perfect. The sun was setting, the wind had died down to nothing, and we were at slack tide. Jim, our new friend who lives on the hook said, Let's try it. Tom, a seasoned sea captain who has been twice around the horn said, Now or never. Will, one of my adopted bachelors, answered my phone call.

Will, we are moving the boat. Mike really needs you now.

Will asked, How are you going to do this?

I told him that Jim was going to use the tender and we need people on the dock to grab the lines. I think he could here the urgency in my voice. He was over to the T-dock in a flash. Ross, a nice young man who lives aboard, came over to see the commotion.

Will shook his head and said that the little inflatable didn't have enough power.

Well, I said, we need to get to our slip. The marina office needs the T-dock for a catamaran that just came in. No more stalling. We either have to find a way to fix the engine tomorrow or get the boat to our slip.

Tom jumped onto Sovereign and the bystanders became the crew. Ropes were loosened, I was at the wheel, Jim's tender was tied to our port side. He started his engine and we left the dock. At that moment I realized that Mike was still on the dock. It's just Tom and me on the boat with Jim in his tender. A small panic attack on my part but I didn't show my fear to Tom or so I thought. Tom stepped up to the wheel and said, Why don't I take over here and you move those ropes out of the way. Get ready to throw ropes when we get to the dock.

We started puttering away from the dock. At that point, Jim said, I don't have enough power to do this. All I could think of was, I guess I will be calling Boats US again to tow us out of the harbor or we will hit the bridge or one of the nice million dollar yachts in the next marina.

Tom said to Jim, Just point it straight, we are going to head under the bridge, get room to maneuver, and then bring her back in. I'll steer from here - we just need momentum.

And that is what happened, Tom steered us under the bridge, we looped in the roomy part of the harbor, and smoothly slid into our slip on K dock. The guys were there to grab lines and keep us from hitting the dock and it was perfect. Thanks to Tom of the Slocum, Jim of the two masted boat that we don't know the name for, Ross, Will, and my husband.

We are now safely in our slip and all is right with the world. In fact, one of the dolphins came to make sure we were welcomed to our new home. For our celebration party, I made smoked sausage and kraut. We fed the awesome people who helped us and then I properly beat Tom, Will, and Mike in Texas Hold 'em.

Life is good. Now, Mike will be working on the 101 problems with the boat. The engine, the wiring for the lights, the water that pumps in spurts and soaks me when I wash dishes, and more.
Ah well, that's life on a boat.

The Cats Are On The Boat

2009-04-04T14:25:00.002-04:00

Last week we brought the three cats onto the boat. Although I wanted to change their names to Chum 1, Chum 2, and Sharkbait, Mike refused. So, Pequat, Arwen, and Sparkle are now getting used to their new home. I had to return to Knoxville to pick up and sell more things and Charleston got hit with some really bad weather. Poor Mike. Two of the three cats got seasick. My cat, Pequat, was fine. I feel a little guilty because I wasn't here to help.
Today, the weather in Charleston is perfect and the cats are happy. Will is coming over for poker tonight. We will have some cold sweet tea, bruschetta on grilled bread, and maybe some jambalya.
I missed the boat (and my husband) the entire time I was in Knoxville. I can't wait until that life is over and this one is really started.
No - the boat engine still isn't working. Mike hasn't been able to work on it with the boat rocking.
Bad news. Will has been accepted at MMI in Orlando. He is leaving next week to start marine engine repair school. Ah well, we just keep making friends and I know that we will see him again.

Sailing with a friend!

2009-03-31T08:37:00.001-04:00

I went sailing yesterday with our new friend Will on his Hunter 30. Weak wind, but a good experience for me to see how the lines and sails work. Got up to a blistering two knots! Made me much more confident that yes, we can do this.

Our front yard in Charleston

2009-03-18T20:23:00.000-04:00

The Airhead is in, the Airhead is in!

2009-03-18T20:00:00.006-04:00

I successfully cut a hole in the boat, installed the fan, and sealed it up. Rain test showed that it does not leak. More importantly, we have a fully functional toilet! It'll take a month to see how the composting thing works. But here is the final head installation:

And this is the fan install. Note the sleeved wiring!

So, one major project down and done!

Editing: Looks like I reposted the AirHead victory. But the wifi at the marina is sketchy at best, and it looked like Monday's post didn't take, many failure messages. Well, I'll leave 'em both up, what the hey.

Update on Repairs and Life on the Sovereign

2009-03-18T19:35:00.005-04:00

Well, Mike has been very creative in fixing problems on the boat. He has finished the AirHead installation, installed the fuel pump and raw water strainer, and put up the safety netting so the cats will be a little less likely to fall in the water.
We had a really rocky night last week with the waves pounding us against the T-dock. It lasted from early afternoon until about 4:30 a.m. I woke up when it stopped and checked to see if we were still tied up to the dock. Mike did not get to sleep until around 1:00 a.m.
He was afraid that we would lose a cleat and be floating away. No - we are fine and the ropes and cleats looked just the same the next morning. I think that we will be a little less nervous next time the weather turns.
I'm really glad we got the gold membership from Boats US. We've been cycling a lot of money into West Marine.
I've successfully cooked omelets, soup, garlic toast, and shrimp and sausage jambalaya on the Coleman propane stove. Our new best friend, Will, is a live aboard and he likes my cooking. We had a fantastic St. Patrick's day dinner on his boat. Danny, who has been living aboard for 30 years, is a new friend with lots of useful information. Will grilled steaks and served a delicious pasta and we told jokes and laughed a lot.
I do have just a bit of boat envy. Duane, our neighbor for the moment, has a gorgeous boat with a galley to die for. Ah well, Sovereign will be there someday. Until then, my little galley is just fine.
Katie
Note: for those considering living on a boat, stop considering and do it now. Even the problems that you have to deal with are nothing compared to the joy, good sleep, team building, and good people that you will meet.

AirHead Installation

2009-03-16T06:43:00.004-04:00

The scary part was cutting a 3" hole in the side of the boat. Once that was done, the rest was fairly easy. I'd already routed the exhaust hose up through the shelves to keep it mostly out of the way and allowing just the minimum bend radius. Wiring in the 12VDC to the fan was not a problem, either. Here's the fan mount, up and running:

After a goodly bit of vacuuming--lots of fiberglass dust--we finally have a fully functioning AirHead composting toilet:

So, we are one step closer to enviro-friendliness!

Beware of Contractors Bearing Gifts

2009-03-08T20:32:00.005-04:00

As Katie said below, there are still problems with the boat, but at least it's home...or within sight of home.

The tow home was cold and exciting, probably a lot more work keeping our boat lined up behind the tow vessel than just steering it in a reasonably straight line would have been. Good practice, though, and good exercise. And we do now have power and water and urinal facilities.

The engine is all kinds of clustered, thanks to our former contractor who will remain nameless (I'll just call him Harry Lenderson). It ran and idled fine after a bit of work bleeding the lines two weeks ago. Then...Harry stripped the threads in the primary filter housing while "tuning" it, so we had to replace that. At his suggestion, I disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the secondary filter; now it leaks air. And Harry then removed a hardline in order to bypass said secondary...and took it with him; it's gone. He also broke the fuel pump by continually futzing with it; that piece is on order, too. So the engine can't run right now.

When it does run, it bogs down and stalls in forward gear...apparently because the zinc collar Harry installed is too large and binds up the shaft in one direction. So we get to pay a diver to remove it, then a machine shop to grind it down (though I could likely do it myself if I had access to a bench grinder), then a diver again to put it back on and hope it fixes the problem. Then we can swing about to our actual home slip and throw a welcome mat on the dock.

Despite all that, I'm very happy. I sleep very well on the boat, and I smile a lot more. All these problems shall pass...to be replaced, of course, with new ones, but hey! C'est la vie afloat, right? It's all good.

Almost Home

2009-03-07T18:26:00.003-05:00

We finally moved to the Charleston City Marina and almost made it to our slip number. It is a long story but there are a few more things that need to done before she can cruise on her own. The contractors (not the Charleston City Boat Yard) broke or did a poor job on several necessary items and we ended up having to have her towed to harbor. We have a new fuel pump on order through Superior diesel and then we have to get a diver to go in, take off the zinc collar, and have someone grind it down so that it doesn't hit against the propeller shaft when she goes forward. We are at the end of our dock and have started meeting the neighbors. It is a quiet little neighborhood but the people are helpful and friendly. As Greg at the boat yard said, liveaboards have to help each other because no one else will. So, friendly advice, it is better to pay $85 an hour and get quick and guaranteed work than to pay $60 an hour and have more things broken than fixed.
We both kinda of wish we could stay at the end of the dock. The dolphins love to play near where we are and watching them is great fun.
The Charleston City Marina is convenient and the dock hands are very helpful. They let us borrow a splitter so that we could hook our 30 amp to the 50 amp at the end of the dock.
Oh - the AirHead is in. It isn't completely installed yet but can be used for #1. That is very helpful since the bath house is about a 5 minute walk. Mike says that I'm losing weight already!
Lots of walking and the natural pilates of the rocking boat seems to be doing the job.
We are back in Knoxville trying to sell more things. The Miata sold yesterday, thank heavens. Now we have to get someone to buy the house and our timeshare.
Oh - we are getting the best sleep on the boat than we have had in years.

Getting closer to the Marina

2009-02-26T19:58:00.003-05:00

After a lot of work by contractors, the Charleston City Boat Yard, and my dear husband, the boat is almost ready to go to its new home. McKenzie Estes at the Charleston City Marina has a spot picked out for us.
Meanwhile, our AirHead composting toilet is sitting in our office. After we sell a few more things this weekend, we will be heading back down to Charleston to make all of the final arrangements.
Randy "Cousin Randy" is a seasoned sailor and will be taking us down the river, through the harbor, and finally to our slip in the marina.
Waking up this morning on the water was wonderful. The boat was gently rocking and the view was beautiful. I turned off the little space heater so that I could make coffee. I'm so glad that I will be able to keep my Senseo coffee maker.

How much does it cost?

2009-02-23T16:32:00.007-05:00

Here is our running total for our home

33' Soverel - $6,000
Survey - $578.00
BoatUS membership - $157.00
Documentation - $198.00
Compliance Survey - $225.00
Boat Name Painting - $300.00
Boat US Insurance (liability only) - $270.00
Charleston Marina deposit - $400.00

Non-boat yard labor and parts for:

Bottom painting (paint and labor)
Replacing all hoses and clamps
Removing old diesel oil
Removing old water
Removing and capping sewage system
Zinc installation

Total: $1,800

Boat yard repairs and parts:

New bilge pumps
Plumbing
Sea cocks
New water pump
New electric wiring to pumps
Rudder packing
Pulling back out for compliance survey

Total: $3,000

Repairs and equipment by Mike:

Fuel pump plus gasket
AirHead Composting toilet
Sea strainer
Flares
Klaxon Horn
Life Ring and brackets
Coleman propane stove with griddle
Leak repairs (handrails) with help from cousin Randy
Trash and oil placards
Wet/Dry vacuum
Safety Netting
SOS distress flag
Bleeder hose

Total: approximately $1,900

Must have books:
Sailing for Dummies (used at McKays)
US Coast Guard Rules of Navigation (new at West Marine)
Chapman's Piloting, Seamanship, and Navigation (used at McKays)
The Live Aboard book (used at Amazon)
Other miscellaneous books on marine diesel engines, electrical systems, etc. (used at Amazon or McKays)
Total: $100.00

Running total: $14,928

Sovereign went into the water today

2009-02-23T15:06:00.002-05:00

After a year on land and working every weekend for the past month, Sovereign went into the water today. Special thanks to Neil Haynes-Blue Water Surveys, Larry Knapp - Charleston City boat yard, Randy Thompson, Mike of Mike and Larry, Boat U.S., and Brian Davey. Larry Knapp at the boat yard is a great guy and gave us a lot of good advice and excellent service.
Our next step is to bring her safely to the Charleston City Marina. I'm waiting here in Knoxville for the new Garmin hand-held GPS with Charts. Mike is making sure that everything is going well in Charleston.
We've ordered the AirHead Composting toilet. I can't wait till that comes in. Climbing down the 10 ft. ladder in the middle of the night and walking to the restroom is not fun.

The long-term plan, in broad outline...

2009-02-11T09:18:00.001-05:00

...is to go all-green eventually. Compost toidy for clean sapient emissions. For electricity, lots of solar cells and a wind jenny, maybe a towed impeller as well. Eventually ditch the diesel and go with a ~30hp electric motor, gang up a bunch of batteries, and presto! No fossil footprint at all, minimal chemical footprint as well. Then a desalinization device of some kind for fresh water at sea.

A beautiful name

2009-02-11T08:04:00.002-05:00

Brian Davey is a remarkable artist. Brian came to the Charleston City Boat yard last Saturday and painted our boat's name and port city on the back of Sovereign. Brian is a wonderful person and gave us a lot of good advice on marinas, sailing, and the Charleston area. He also helped us check our sails and showed us how to properly fold and stow them.
If you want a skilled and professional artist to handpaint your boat's name, use Brian.
Brian Davey can be reached at bdavey55@comcast.net or 843-557-0558.

Sunrise on the Dry Boat

2009-02-11T07:51:00.000-05:00

Electricity and Poop

2009-02-11T07:38:00.000-05:00

Research is fun.

Currently--pardon the pun--looking into chargers, inverters, and charger/inverter combos. Thinking 40 amps DC is a bit of overkill, but better to have it and not need it. For AC, 3kW seems to cover our needs. So we're looking at about a grand and a half for power system upgrades thus far...not counting new wiring, terminal blocks, grounding blocks, gremlin traps, and such.

As for the head, we're going with a composting toilet. Got the idea online, along with the idea of using coconut bricks for the compost base. Maybe we can even use the compost to grow catnip for the feline crew.

Making Ready

2009-02-11T07:33:00.000-05:00

Well, the boat is not yet wet.

Spent all of last weekend working all day every day to fix the myriad things a-wrong with her. The wiring needs to be redone and I'll be working on that. Many hoses are rotted and need to be replaced and I'll be working on that too. Needs a very thorough cleaning and--wait for it--I'll be working on that as well.

Heading down to Charleston for a solo weekend of boat maintenance.

The Beginning

2009-01-19T17:43:00.001-05:00

A poem by Richard Harvey
The Sea Gypsy

I AM fevered with the sunset,
I am fretful with the bay,
For the wander-thirst is on me
And my soul is in Cathay.

There ’s a schooner in the offing,	5
With her topsails shot with fire,
And my heart has gone aboard her
For the Islands of Desire.

I must forth again to-morrow!
With the sunset I must be	10
Hull down on the trail of rapture
In the wonder of the sea.