THIS is why

Future Sailor! Photo courtesy of Tiffany McCormick

It has been far, far too long since Kintala last filled her sails with wind and danced across the water. But today that dreary trend was ended with a marvelous sail. We have family here, Matt and Tiff and their two daughters. Two years ago they provided good support during the crush of getting our old Tartan ocean ready and on her way, but we never got a chance to take them out on the boat. Another consideration was that their daughters were much younger back then. Two years do not mean as much to a 60 year old cruiser as they do to a (then) two-year-old. This time around, with Kintala fresh from a summer's worth of work and having proved herself over 4000 NM, two trips to the Islands, and a trip down and up the East coast, they were all looking forward to seeing what we keep talking about.

The forecast was for less than 10 knots worth of wind. Just about perfect for a shake-down run and introducing people to life on the water. The Beast rumbled to life, we cast the ties away from the friends we are rafted with, who also kept the Dink so we didn't have to load it on the deck or drag it along behind. (Something that we actually never do.) We haven't sailed Kintala sans Dink since leaving the Midwest, and that turns out to be a good idea when one is scraping the rust off of sailing habits. I had to make a couple of trips to the bow and it is sure easier when the Dink isn't in the way.

My nephew Matt getting a feel for the helm

Out on the Bay we found a little wind from a direction where we could hold a close reach, perfect conditions for flying every bit of canvas available aloft. It took a minute or two, and the aforementioned trips to the bow, to get all the lines where they needed to be. But eventually I worked out all the tangles, sheeting everything in tight. I swear Kintala damn near did a pirouette of pure joy, lay the port rail near the water, and took off. Boat speed climbed into the high 8s.

This is why we came this way.

After a while our youngest guest grew a little unhappy with the angle of heel. Apparent wind was just touching 20 knots, which is about the max for flying everything anyway. We rolled in the big jib, tacked around, and headed back toward Rock Creek at a much more sedate 5+ knots.

Getting the boat out on the water was a kind of festival day for all of us. It turns out this is the last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow the girls report to class rooms and Mom and Dad, who both work in education, take up their own end-of-summer challenges. Deb and I see summers from the other side. For us summer is a season to hide from hurricanes and labor away at keeping Kintala a ship in shape. We closed out the day with a trip to the ice cream parlor, our raft-up friends joining in to enjoy the tasty treats.

This is why we came this way.

Cheese curls are better than sailing any day!

Photo courtesy of Tiffany McCormick

Reply to a reader

Many of the people who read "How NOT to Buy a Cruising Boat" touch bases with us afterward.  Since it is a modest number we are able to keep up with the correspondence which, it turns out, it one of the coolest things about having written a book.

A recent reply to someone who has wandered in the higher offices of a boat manufacturer (and who agreed with our take on the industry) took off in directions unexpected and turned itself into a blog post.  So I figured I would post it.

(No permission asked so Name not Included),

I am glad you enjoyed the book and thank you for the kind words. Virtually everyone we know, and who lives full time on a sailboat, has horror stories of dealing with the marine industry. Stories that go far beyond those of dealing with any other industry. It is a shame really, and I often wish that our story of "How NOT to Buy a Cruising Boat" was one that didn't need to be written. The cruising life, though not for everyone, is one that respects the realities everyone on the planet is learning to face. A cruising boat can be, and many are, nearly energy independent. Power is point produced and consumption is balanced carefully against that production. There are waste water treatment systems that allow the cruiser to leave the water behind them cleaner than it was. Water makers are common and getting ever better, allowing the cruiser to produce fresh water rather than lining up to consume the rapidly depleting store found on land. Both waste treatment and fresh water making are onsite capabilities that do not rely on complicated, expensive infrastructures vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters.

Cruising boats, at least the ones most of us can afford, are extremely efficient living spaces. We estimate Kintala has about 400 square feet in which to fit our lives. Yet it is all that we need to live well whereever we want to be. The "bigger is better" mentality of America will soon be passé, if it isn't already. Downsizing is a step forward in the quality of one's life, not a step back. Greed is not good, and "mine is bigger than yours" is the most childish of empty boasts. It is an illness of the heart that Mother Earth will cure one way or the other, and future generations will be better for it.  

Cruising boats are, by their very definition, mobile. Rising sea levels may impact the marinas we visit, but they will not be flooding our basements and reducing our boats' "property value" to zero. Boats can, and many of us do, simply move with the seasons to avoid the worst of the storms and weather. This isn't to say that everyone should be a nomad, but nomads do ease the burden on the earth.  When it is hot we move to places that don't need air conditioning.  When it is cold we move to places that don't need heat. Those rooted to one place are, in no manor, inferior to those of us who wander. But the reverse is true as well.

Which is the long way of saying that the marine industry could be, and should be, on the leading edge, the proving ground, of designing, manufacturing, delivering, and supporting, the kinds of efficient, infrastructure independent, yet comfortable and safe housing that the world needs to face the future. Instead it has become the playground for knaves and thieves of all sorts, profiteers and hustlers.

"How NOT to buy a Cruising Boat" is our story, but it is also a story of an industry that is missing a huge opportunity to do good things in the world.

Thanks again, maybe we will see you somewhere along the way.  Kintala will turn her bow south in the next week or so. With any luck she will be in No Name Harbor again, long before the year runs out.

Tj

Mornings

The clouds whirled past the v-berth hatch, slowed, then spun the other way. That isn't something most people see when first waking up in the morning. Clouds don't move that way. But boats riding to their anchor swing.  If it is a smooth motion the illusion is that the v-berth is still and it is the clouds that are swinging around. It is a fun illusion and a good way to start a day.

Coffee is a good way to start a day. Coffee in the cockpit of a small sailboat sitting easy to its rode and surrounded by water makes the coffee taste better. Add a gentle north wind that has dropped the temperatures to perfect-for-coffee and wrung some of the humidity out of the air. That is going to be the best cup of coffee in the world.  One should not hurry through the best cup of coffee in the world.

Unless there is a need to be moving the boat early in the morning to catch a tide or a weather window, there are no alarms set on Kintala. We go to bed when we feel like it. We get up when we get up. There is no time clock to punch, no Boss gazing over the warren of cubicles, watching to see who is the first to arrive, who is the last. Sometimes there is a good day's work to get done, but it is rare for such work to dictate an actual start time. The relentless lash of the clock has been replaced by the natural unfolding of a day: sun rise and set, moon rise and set, and tides. Starting a day on the sure footing human kind evolved to know, is a good way to start a day.

As is the want of many people living in the west, checking the news is part of starting a day. I don't usually get far into that. Four or five headlines in is all it takes to know that not much has changed in the world. There is nothing to be gained by slogging through the details. Move on to the weather, something that does matter to those living on a small boat. Look at the sky, see if it looks like the weather forecasters have any clue as to what they speak. Decide if plans need to be modified or the boat prepared in some way. Making the decisions that directly affect living for that day, not a bad way to spend part of a morning.

A boat check goes right along with a weather check. It is a good idea to check on the battery condition / solar panel output once the sun is well and up. Once in a while a little boost will be needed, which usually means bringing the little Honda gen-set into play. Another good idea is a slow walk around the deck, coffee in hand, just to see that all is well with our tiny floating home. It is rare to find anything amiss, but missing something amiss will spoil a day sooner or later.

I don't remember mornings being as pleasant when we lived on land. But I have grown pretty fond of them since moving onto the boat.

So long as they don't come too early in the day.

The List

Just a little while ago, when the sun dipped below the horizon, we blew our conch horn to celebrate the fact that we finally got off the dock at Oak Harbor Marina today. Even though we're only anchored just a few boat lengths from our previous slip, there's a mental boost to finally hanging on the hook. As I'm wont to do when we have reached some particularly impressive date, I did some assessments. We did pretty well on completing our summer project list and I got to thinking that since we did pretty well on those, I would take a look at The Master List which I hadn't done for awhile.

A long time ago Tim turned "The List" over to me. He got so frustrated with the fact that things were getting added on to the bottom of the list faster than he could get them off so he just stopped tracking it at all. Whatever project bothered him the most at that particular time on that particular day was what got tackled. I only took over the list because I do the finances and needed to have an idea what we were going to spend. As I perused the list I was a bit taken aback by everything we have done. Somehow (thank the good Lord) I had just put most of it out of my mind.

I'm sure that The List is not complete, that I've forgotten to put some things on it over the years, but I thought you might still like to see what it's like to maintain a cruising boat for 4 years. Keep in mind that this list does not include any of the regular maintenance items like oil changes and lemon oiling the interior teak and routine changing of the zincs and polishing stainless. Any item without a complete date is still on the list to do, but they are precious few and they are going to wait for awhile. We're going sailing.

	Item	Date
		Repaired
1	Cracks in Spreader Brackets	April 2011
2	Remove speaker wire from bilge	April 2011
3	Loose wires in A/C cabinet	April 2011
4	Gel coat repair Starb. Hull	April 2011
5	Touch up bottom paint	April 2011
6	Remove Loran	April 2011
7	Floor loose at cabin table	April 2011
8	Clean, dry, inspect bilge	April 2011
9	Install screens on dorad inlets	April 2011
10	Install screen on anchor locker door	April 2011
11	Bimini straps badly frayed	April 2011
12	Seal Screw holes in Sump Tank	April 2011
13	2 Fwd screws on teak walkway leaking	April 2011
14	Lights in head inop	April 2011
15	Several teak slats loose on aft cockpit seat	April 2011
16	Ignition switch loose in panel	April 2011
17	Install screens on hatches	May-2011
18	Sump Tank switch missing	May-2011
19	All deck fittings need new "O" rings	May-2011
20	Lazy Jack bracket has sheared screw	May-2011
21	Helm needs refinished	May-2011
22	Sump Pump impeller needs replaced	May-2011
23	Install non-skid on steps	May-2011
24	Install GFI outlet in galley	May-2011
25	No Main Sail	May-2011
26	Cap line in holding tank	May-2011
27	Salon table lights inop / broken / wires disconnected	May-2011
28	Install track in Mast	May-2011
29	Replace inner forestay halyard	May-2011
30	Remove / Replace Nav chair	May-2011
31	Re-stitch Bimini	May-2011
32	Port / Aft Corner of hatch needs repaired	May-2011
33	Install new cap in holding tank flush fitting (anchor locker)	May-2011
34	Head door hinges need repaired	May-2011
35	Sump pump shorted	May-2011
36	Roller furler line needs replaced	May-2011
37	Replace 2 halyards	June-2011
38	Add 2 mast head halyards	June-2011
39	Top of jib torn at luff cord	June-2011
40	Water line at water heater needs replaced	June-2011
41	Water line Check valves need replaced	June-2011
42	Sump float switch needs raised	June-2011
43	Install interior LEDs	June-2011
44	LPG Bottles need replaced	June-2011
45	Build companionway screen	June-2011
46	Replaced ignition and pre-heat switch with new	June-2011
47	Forward Cleat Starb side loose	June-2011
48	Make mail sail cover	June-2011
49	New mattress for V-berth	June-2011
50	Light in head needs replaced	June-2011
51	Polish Plexiglas ports	June-2011
52	Companionway trim needs repair clean & Paint	June-2011
53	Rebed Starb Center Bimini mount	July-2011
54	Salon hatch leaking - needs re-bedded	July-2011
55	Make foredeck and cabin boom tents	July-2011
56	Reseal toe rail edge to deck	July-2011
57	Sand and oil dorade boxes	July-2011
58	Rebed port bow cleat	July-2011
59	Rebed port fowd lifeline stantion	July-2011
60	Lazerett aft hinge loose	July-2011
61	Sand and oil toe rail	July-2011
62	Gally foot pump faucet leaking	July-2011
63	Alt belt or water pump squealing	July-2011
64	Two open hoses in engine compartment / use?	July-2011
65	Secondary Fuel filter missing nut	July-2011
66	Swim Ladder brackets loose and missing nuts	July-2011
67	Stbd winch cleat leaking at mount bolts	July-2011
68	Replace broken interior trim at mast	July-2011
69	Redo cockpit aft storage area / remove radio	July-2011
70	V-Berth hatch leaking / port latch?	July-2011
71	Sand and refinish trim at fwd hatch & companionway interior	July-2011
72	Head door top frame piece needs secured	July-2011
73	Sand and oil hand rails	July-2011
74	A/C control head intermit	July-2011
75	Forward hatch gasket leaking / replace all hatch gaskets	August-2011
76	Replace engine covers sound dampning	August-2011
77	Sound deaden 'fridge compressor	Sept-2011
78	Install storage box under aft hatch and fixt hatch hinge	Sept-2011
79	Toppinig lift broken	Sept-2011
80	Installed Lavac Head / installed new waste water lines	Oct-2011
81	Replaced floor under head with 1/2' Corian	Oct-2011
82	Plumb in deck wash fitting / port side	Oct-2011
83	Remove and replace engine mounts	Nov-2011
84	Sheared stud in aft / starb engine mount	Nov-2011
85	Aft Cabin hatches - inside trim needs sand and stain	Nov-2011
86	Re-stitch Bimini	Dec-2011
87	Build storage / seat box for nav station	Feb-2012
88	Assemble and install hatches (4)	Feb-2012
89	Fwd Comapnionway trim split and rotting	Mar-2012
90	Installed hinge on 'fridge lid	Mar-2012
91	Fab & Install spash guard in galley	Mar-2012
92	Build and install spice rack for aft galley wall	Mar-2012
93	Build and install sliding cutting board / counter for stove top	Mar-2012
94	Water lines need replaced	April-2012
95	Install light bar over sink	Mar-2012
96	Replace fan in V-berth	Mar-2012
97	Replace fan in aft cabin	Mar-2012
98	Replace manifold for hot water system	Mar-2012
99	Paint aft hatch frame	May-2012
100	Repair muffler	June-2012
101	Install light bar over fridge	July-2012
102	Construct dodger	Aug-2012
103	Install new sink drain	Oct-2012
104	Replace windlass gypsy	Dec-2012
105	Replace salon cushions with new	Jan-2013
106	Build bulkhead table to replace existing dining table	April-2013
107	Repair shaft coupler to transmission	May-2013
108	Complete 8 month replacement of V-drive and Transmission	June-2013
109	Construct tool room/workshop	July-2013
110	Install new propeller	Aug-2013
111	Install holding tank monitor	Aug-2013
112	Install new Mantus anchor	Aug-2013
113	Repair mast weld	Aug-2013
114	Repair smile crack	Aug-2013
115	Sand paint blisters off	Aug-2013
116	Paint bottom	Aug-2013
117	Build shelves in Tim's closet	Aug-2013
118	Begin Cape Horn installation	Aug-2013
119	Repair rudder tube	Sept-2013
120	Repair rudder	Sept-2013
121	Install inline water filters	Sept-2013
122	Install drinking water filter/faucet	Sept-2013
123	Repair rudder shoe	Sept-2013
124	Repair fuel injection pump	Nov-2013
125	Replace glow plug relay	Nov-2013
126	Rebed galley sink	Nov-2013
127	Rig preventer	Jan-2014
128	Repair and rebed traveler	Aug-2014
129	Repair and rebed aft cabin port	Aug-2014
130	Repair large soft spot in forward deck	Aug-2014
131	Add staysail roller furling	Aug-2014
132	Replace oven thermostat	Sept-2014
133	Rebuild heat exchanger	Sept-2014
134	Install solar panels	Jan-2015
135	Repair dinghy leak	Jan-2015
136	Build phone rack	Feb-2015
137	Finish aft cabin sun lights	Feb-2015
138	Rebuild winches	May-2015
139	Replumb galley sink drain	May-2015
140	Rebed forward cleats	May-2015
141	Add charging plug to V-berth	July-2015
142	Repair improperly installed alternator bracket	July-2015
143	Paint bottom	July-2015
144	Install autopilot for wind vane	July-2015
145	Install inverter	July-2015
146	Install propane sniffer	July-2015
147	Install LED strip lights in salon	July-2015
148	Recover pillows and sew slip covers	July-2015
149	Convert pilot berth to shelving	July-2015
150	Recover nav seat	July-2015
151	Replace raw water pump with new	July-2015
152	Change exhaust clamps	July-2015
153	Re-skin bimini	Aug-2015
154	Rebuild solar panel mounts	Aug-2015
155	Add new solar panel	Aug-2015
156	Design and construct connector between bimini and dodger	Aug-2015
157	Add chafe protection to edges of dodger	Aug-2015
158	Replace improperly installed bow chock	Aug-2015
159	Service windlass	Aug-2015
160	Refinish cabin floor
161	Repaint non-skid on deck.
162	Repaint non-skid in aft cabin
163	Add remote oil change system
164	Add LED strip lights in aft cabin
165	Replace anchor chain
166	Sew enclosure
167	Install overboard plumbing

Our new canvas connector between the dodger and the bimini.