S/V Free Spirit T-ShirtNext Level 3600 | Premium Ring-Spun Cotton T-Shirt
$26.99 This month is exciting. So much is planned as we attempt to get ready to leave. Notices were given on the 1st for our 30 days for the RV park, the RV was sold and the notice to vacate for the stroage unit.
Andy placed the knee wall into the Aft head... ok Andy didn't do it... his son did. But hey, progress is progess. Nancy has one more week of work and then we are full blown mode to leave, contingent on the engine running and as of today... it's not.... This engine was smaller that the Frankenstien (a Perkins 4.236) so we had to add some new stringers and the now the prop shaft doesn't fit... If it's not one thing, its another. In any event, we will continue on with projects to get the boat ready, empty the storage unit, rv and make the final runs to the contrainer to keep what we want and get this boat ready to go... should have more info in a week on the engine.
Hooray! The engine is running! This was a rough time as we needed more parts to get this engine secured and working. The gauge cluster is now in so that is good. Final items to be installed and sea trail is now scheduled to see if there is any adjustments needed to the prop for pitch and any other adjustments.
Nancy was not able to make the sea trial on the 10th but watched the boat go out and come back in from the marina on webcam. Wow, can she fly now! At least that is what it looked like. Sea trial revealed that we needed to adjust the prop some so off it went to be re-aligned and adjusted for pitch. Have we mentioned how much more quiet this engine is? Also, the isotherm freezer is broken, luckily we had room in the portables for the food in the main freezer. Once the freezer is back and working we can fill it.
Final trip but north but it wouldn't be a stop without stopping at the freezer for some delicious steamed shrimp. We are exhausted and the container is a hot mess but that is a later problem for us to deal with. We need to keep going and get back to the boat.
The warranty repair on the freezer is done and we are now ready to fill this bad boy up. Final non-perishables were purchased from both Sams & costco. Picked up meat, chicken, lunch meat, cheese ~ all to be broken down into smaller packages and placed into the freezer. I had to play tetrus to get it all to fit in there and I may have purchaed too much... so once again, we are eating what I couldn't fit... I mean really, is that a problem, I don't think so!
Boat was emtpied of anything that could be washed. Towels, blankets, pillow covers, cushion covers, sheets, etc. I went the laundry mat and got everything wash, folded and brought back to the boat to put away. The puppies are happy once I get the boat back to order. They didn't like I how just took off everything.
Final run for liquor and fuel, both gas and diesel to fill the cans so we can leave. Also, walmart and Publix run for more items needed. Final produce run will be next week before we leave the dock.
Of course after, I purchased all of the freezer food, it's not freezing so we forced the warranty to do a full replacement because we didn't have any way to move the food and return the freezer for more warranty work with us leaving and no ETA for the repair. Tetrus again with the new freezer. I got most of it to fit back in but not all...
The girls are coming down from college so we can take them on a day sail now that the engine is running. We would like to get a least one shake down cruise done to see what is broken and what needs to be fixed so we can determine if we can still leave on the 25th or if we have to wait a week.
Kids are here and we are heading out on a day sail with them. The plan is to drop anchor and that is where we will stay for the next week to get some full systems testing done. That way if something happens we still have a week at the dock to do repairs. Not really how we wanted this to happen but it is what it is.
Shake down cruise ~ where do I begin.... All of the kids got sick and weren't having a good time at all. We just about lost the dinghy as the block broke from the davits, the sunbrella protection on the jib was shredded. I even think the dogs were kind of feeling squishy. After about 4 hours, we came back and dropped the anchor for our new home for the week so we can finish testing the batteries, solar and everything else. Made a list of what needed to be fixed and broke during that cruise.
D~Day - we are up at 6am as we leave Clearwater and planned stops for overnight in Venice and Marco Island before arriving at Marathon (or so we thought).
Venice ~ Super tight anchorage and some shift sand in the channel so be careful if you are attempting to go thru there. Anchored at dusk, quick dinner and to bed for the night, we planned on getting up at 3:30am as the next was going to be a long one
Marco Islandd ~ great anchorage, lots of room and plenty of depth. Wish could have stayed here longer. Looks like a fun little place to stay for a couple of days. Will do that when we come back along the gulf coast.
Marathon ~ Well we thought we were going to Marathon but our buddy boat had other plans to go to another anchorage and not Book Key where we assumed we were going. We attempted to follow him but the water was too shallow and we just couldn't get the achor to set so after about 4 attempts we headed back out the channel and into the bay where we dropped the achor for the eveing. By then it was very late, no sleep from either of us, we hadn't eaten all day and it was super rolly that we were getting sick but the desire to sleep was more.
The next morning, we got ahold of the city marina for a mooring ball within Boot Key Mooring Field so we can have some calm water, cook, sleep, and get the dogs off the boat since they haven't been off in 3 days. Plus we have a slew of items that are no longer working and somewhere along the way got broken.
So what will May bring us? Stay tunded to follow the adventures and journey!
Well here we are about 8 weeks left before we are ready to go... pending a running engine and sea trial. In the meantime, here are the updates, we didn't record much because we were limited on time.
2nd ~ Today we installed the ceiling panels to cover up the installation. Wow that was a bigger job than palnned. This took several weekends to complete as we did both heads as well as the salon. We had some assistance from our friend, Colin with Sailing Bliss and the boy the following weekend.
8th ~ Nancy installed curtains as well to the salon which actually helps to keep the boat cooler during the day and provides privacy in the evening. We also have moved onto hte boat permanetly as well.
22nd ~ Today we brought all of the chain off the boat and painted in 20 foot increments. Once dried we put the chain back on the boat.
23rd ~ 1st provision run for freezer but not a full run yet. Also picked up the last of our meds for our medical kit as well.
29th ~ Made another run up to "Plan B" to begin the process of empting the storage unit.. Plants seem to be doing well and property is in good condition.
Plus in additon to all of that, Andy started the plumbing and got the granite counter top installed, along with the sink and drain and also installed the shower this month too. Tomorrow we will give 30 day notices to the RV park, storage unti land Marina so we can leave by the end of month. Nancy also gave notice to work and will be making her last day April 11th.
Next month is going to be super crazy busy.
1st ~ Time is flying by and it's time that we get moving on completing some of these projects. As of today, there is still no working engine. So we are still proceeding with getting progress done on the boat and acting like we are getting ready to leave so we can start our sea trial and shake downs once the engine is in. Today I made the effort to completely empty and re-organize the galley storage, provision boxes on the floor as well as the food storage under our settee and get a complete inventory of what we have, what is going to expire and needs to be eaten 1st. This process took me a whole 4 days to complete beause I was doing it after work then something would come up and stop me or I couldn't finish but after 4 days it was all done and organized.
3rd ~ Andy is up to his shennigan's again... This time he installed a sub wolfer and some speakers to the cockpit. All just because he could! We needed music to listen to while underway. Not sure how this is a priorty item but it was...
8th ~ Andy completed the plumbing and electrial connections to the washer! Yay! I can actually wash clothes on the boat in the washing machine now. I can dry them as well but then the time is 4 hours for one loan because it's ventless drying and takes a hot minute to do one load but hey, at least I can wash in 30 min and hang the clothes on the lifelines with pins and we are all good.
We also got our mantus bridle in today too that we ordered from the St Pete boat show that we went to a few weeks ago. So happy to have this as we will need it for anchoring.
15th ~ I finally was able to put up the curtains tht we needed for privacy in the salon. A little something can make such a huge difference
23rd ~ Back up to Plan B for a drop off from the storage unit so no work done on the boat. Clearing out part of the land for parking and fire pit and removing fallen trees is the task for the day.
Hopefully we can make some better progress next month.... And oh, before you ask.... no the engine is not working yet. It's been dropped in but we need all kinds of stuff, like mounting rails to start off because the newer engine is smaller so it's doesn't fit properly but appartently this is not a urgent problem for the mechanic to deal with at the moment so we are doing our best to be patient for the time being.
1st ~ Happy New year! We spent last night ringing in the new year with friends and as previous years, we all spent the night and into the morning, talking, laughing, drinking and celebrating the closeness we all share.
Jan 5th ~ We did what??? Plan B is now a thing. We both needed some security and have come up with a back up plan should this sail thing not work out. Plan B is a plot of land in North FL that is about .50 acres now with the potential for more that will in the future become our homestead when we are ready to come back to land. This was purchased for several reasons, because we live in an rv and have a storage unit, we still needed something that wasn't going to cost money to store the RV (in the event we don't/can't sell it) and needed to empty the storage unit so we aren't wasting money on that. We bouught this land and put a 40 foot shipping container on it. Added some lights, solar panels and batteries so it would be self sufficent for power. We also bought some plants in the hope that they can grow while we are gone. We have drip lines and water to them while we are gone. I planted some banana trees, blackberry bushes and papaya tree. Well the papaya tree didn't make it. The last cold front actually killed it since it went below freezing.
12th ~ Andy mysteriously was able to replace the wood panel that had dry wood rot and was able to match the color exactly. Then installed the new wood panel around the window so we didn't have to look at the fiberglass anymore. Next project on the list, the washing machine. Time to get those measurements and figure out where to intall it so it's not taking up the most amount of room and still have storage for items needed. This is going to take a minute to plan out...
18th ~ Andy installs the washer today! By install I mean putting up the brackets to mount and then hangs it on the wall in the aft head. Nothing goes fast on this boat as it requires a lot of planning and cutting of wood and measuring everything like 50 times. Also, the last of the canvas from Tangi's Custom Canvas were installed today. The enclosure is now complete and the boat looks amazing now. We even had them make some wench covers out of exrra material. Tomorrow we take the day off and head over to the St Peted Boatshow to see ourr sponors and if there is anything new or interesting that we might need for the boat (like a life raft or something).
Jan 26th - Back up to Plan B to get some shelving units put in so we can can start to empty the RV and the storage unit and bring everything to our new home. This is going to take several trips for us over the couple of months as we try to finish the boat and start the transition from RV to Land and Boat.
5th ~ Frankenstien was removed from the boat. The new engine has been ordered and paid for and now is the time to remove the old one. We were told this would be installed by Christmas so we can could begin sea trials and shake downs. Is this true???
10th ~ Tangi's Custom Canvas is here today to take some of the measurements needed for the new bimini and enclosure. Also working on some odds and ends and items that cant be seen that Andy completed without me being present.
22nd ~ A few days before Christmas and we were able to have some help to get the old salon windows out (all 9) and have the new ones. This was scary because 2 of the windows had fire damage from our e-bikes and now they are starting to leak when it rains. Let's hope this goes well. It was a multi day process (3 days) to get all of the windows replaced. Talk about boat yoga! How the heck did they get these windows in back in '74 when she was built? We finally got them and now you can't see iin during the day however, at night with the lights on, you can litterally see everything. I think I need curtains for some privacy at night and when the dogs are on board so they aren't barking when they hear people. This was a huge project to get completed but progress is moving forward.
24th ~ Surpise, part of the canvas is ready, well the sailbags are at least. Wow, doesn't Ms. Free Spirit look all spiffy in her new clothes?! Mediterrean Blue suits her well. The bimini top is also on now as well. Tangi did an awesome job for us getting this completed and I can't wait for the finished product which should be mid Jan.
29th ~ Say what? Andy put in a countertop in the aft head... he is kicking some butt and taking names. It's go time!
Andy has also done some clean up work in the engine room so all of the wires are now looking pretty, plus he also painted the wall that he glassed in a few weeks ago. Also changed out the last 2 port holes in the aft head so that is done as well. Now maybe the windows will stop leaking.
Also, haven't seen the mechanic for sometime time so I don't think it's going to be installed by Christmas! No surprise there... We will follow up and check on status after the hoidays. Can't do anything about it now and it's too cold to go sailing at the moment. Hoping next month is better.
