Going on the hook

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

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/RhondaMadeIt http://www.etsy.com/shop/jestersbaubles

Solar power!

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!

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!

A two Afghan night

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.

We Could Use A Break

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

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.

Sovereign went into the water today

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.