Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sovereign has a Vassal!
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."
Monday, April 12, 2010
Gotta Get Current!
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!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Everything fits on the boat!
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.
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.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
I Need Wolverine!
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.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Giving up and letting go
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.
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.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Victory - the white whale is dead
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
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
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Yet Another Major Setback
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.
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.
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