I know we have spoken to many of our friends and family recently and I think just about everyone knows that we are safe in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, but I thought I would get back to regular blogging as it is a chronicle for us to keep.
David had replaced the water pump, the muffler, the belts and the starter and the generator worked for a day or two and that was it. We went back to square one and asked one of the diesel places if they could recommend any other mechanics. So we contacted this one guy. He was willing to come to our boat and look over the generator. He was determined and left to get a new ground cable. He returned the next day and within an hour or so the generator was finally running! And it has been working ever since (which makes about 3 weeks I think)! All in all, our major repairs were the outboard and the generator and now both are running well. I know it could have been much worse.
So it seems we have finally made it through the "shakedown cruise" and unfortunately we feel it is too late in the season to attempt a crossing to Mexico during hurricane season. Though we are considering possibly leaving in late September or October depending on the weather. We do not want to wait until the winds change (November/December) and end up with a north wind pushing us against strong current - makes for BIG waves! Not want we want or need to do. We are still disappointed that we have not yet made it to the Dry Tortugas, but perhaps we will do that in October or November.
We have learned a lot, about the boat. . . how it sails, motors, what the batteries will run and what they won't! No big surprize, but finding knowledgeable repairmen is almost impossible. We learned a great deal about what is important and what is not, a lot about anchoring, mooring, ground tackle, what we wouldn't do again, what we can still do to make it more comfortable, what we can live without and what we can't. . . LIQUOR! (LOL!)
I still have a hard time not cooking large meals. I am accustomed to make meat, starch and vegetable or stews/soups, but I'm resisting the temptation to make enough for leftovers . . . most of the time; it is a daily challenge for me. Hey, I like to eat and I like to cook, and by the way, even though he complains that I make it more difficult that it needs to be, he ALSO cleans his plate and looks for more. (we went out for pizza last night because it was pretty late, 11 pm, and he didn't want to eat canned soup, go figure!) I am learning to be more creative with canned chicken at least - did you see my recipe at the very bottom of the blog? Even though it has been in the 90's most of the time, I cook at least 5 out of 7 days. . . I've just got to make more salads or sandwiches!!
We have met a lot of nice people, some not so nice and some very scary! You have to take the good with the bad and the UGLY! And everyone's got an opinion too!
It has not all been fun and there have been a few times that we both have considered throwing in the towel. It is not easy living with your mate 24/7 in a 38 foot boat, not to mention, the heat, and therefore lack of sleep at times. . .who doesn't get grumpy when they haven't had enough sleep? I can see why some marriages go the wayside when cruising. It ain't for SISSIES! Excuse my grammar!
Let's be fair, if David weren't so knowledgeable about sailing, weather, navigation, engines, generators, a/c, etc., we wouldn't be cruising. He has spent years learning all this stuff! It's a quest of a lifetime, and even so, we have at times said why are we doing this? We could fly around the world for much less. . .but where's the adventure in that? As they say in Lats & Ats magazine "Don't dream your life. . . live your dream"! And "the difference between an adventure and a disaster is ATTITUDE!"
I do my best to support David's efforts and to assist him. I take care of the cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping, but he is involved in those tasks as well since I don't have my own "dingy"! (hint, hint)
It has taken us three+ years (counting the former boat) to get where we are. . . in improvements, repairs, and knowledge to take on this dream of cruising and though we are a little disappointed that we haven't made it out of the states, everything happens for a reason and Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala will still be there in the fall.
We are taking this time to make some things "more comfortable" for us like shade screen for the cockpit, and also will probably still make a few more improvements to the boat, like solar panels and maybe new and more batteries and FANS! The air conditioning will run on the generator, but we need to upgrade the raw water pump. We are currently replacing new sound proofing in the engine room to cut down on genenerator and engine noise. As all of our friends that have boats know, "it's never done "!
This weekend we hope to leave in the AM and sail out to Sombrero Reef. We're looking forward to the experience. We talked to a dive captain who gave us great directions to a mooring ball in 30 ft of water right off the reef !! Sounds cool! We may even catch some lobster for dinner. . .sounds like a plan to me!
We recently came to know about a 37' sailboat for sale in Key West and our good friends Glenn & Carolyn from Melbourne are coming down for Labor Day Weekend to see it. Hamp and Denise may also join in the fun, but we are still planning the event for now. It will be cozy to say the least!
Stay tuned!
