SPLASH

Except for one leak in the Air Con inlet screen lid First Light hit the water without a hitch. The crew pulled us out of the lift pit and tied us up to the pier, giving us all the time we wanted to poke around and make sure everything was as it should be. After looking all around for leaks I held my breath and hit the start switch for the port side engine. Less than 2 seconds of cranking later is was rumbling along at idle, all gauges in the green. That seemed like a good sign so I hit the start button on the starboard side. Same result. How about them apples? 

After letting the engines run for a while I checked that they shifted as they should. That done, we tossed the lines holding us against the lift pit pier, I started playing with the shifters, and we eased forward with a slight wind off the starboard side. It has been months since I moved the boat so the first few seconds were a little tense. I didn't touch the throttles until we were out of the marina. Even then it was just off of idle to move us out to anchor in the middle of the river. We set the anchor. Actually we set it twice having misjudged the wind. With the hook securely buried in the bottom, I climbed down from the flybridge sure something was missing. Oh yeah, anchor snubber. Snubber installed and lines secured, we just sat for a while, the boat swinging gently in the breeze. But we couldn't sit there long as there were still things to check and do.

First on the list was dropping the Dink in the water to see if there was any chance its engine would run. We were in a bit of hurry last fall and I don't think we did any of the things one is supposed to do before parking an outboard for the season. Given that our experience with outboards hasn't been all that encouraging, I was expecting the worst. The routine for dropping the Dink into the water was carefully reviewed because getting it wrong could easily lead to fingers getting squished in places fingers shouldn't be. The Dink plopped into the water without a wince. Then came remembering the routine for dropping the outboard into the water with even more consideration to not mashing fingers. Again success. All that was left was to see if the thing would start.

If I had been forced to bet on the thing starting within the next hour or so, maybe more, my bet would have been, “no chance”. On about the fourth pull the little bugger  sputtered, coughed, and then settled into an easy idle. How ABOUT them apples? The Yamaha 9.9 HP 4-stroke may be my favorite engine at this particular moment, even if it is a bit bigger and heaver than I think necessary for a Dink pusher. I gathered up my life vest, slipped the kill switch lanyard over my wrist, took the rig for a short run around the boat, and almost tossed myself into the river. I had forgotten that the twisty throttle on an outboard works backwards from the one on a motorcycle. I have about ¼ of a million miles on motorcycles. I have maybe 100 miles in a Dink. But I managed to get back on First Light without getting wet.

All that was left to get going was the genset. What were the chances that thing would run? We were batting 1000 up to that point. My experience is that batting 1000 on a boat is even rarer that batting 1000 with, well, a bat. (Actually, I have no idea where “Batting 1000” came from. I assume it is a baseball thing.) With the electrical panel set for GEN rather than “SHORE” I took a deep breath and toggled the gen switch to “Start”. Two seconds of crank, a “chuff” and another second or two of crank and the generator settled into a quiet idle, water flowing easily out of the exhaust. A look at the gauge showed a solid 120 volts AC being available. HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES!

We will be sitting here for a few days, waiting out some weather and getting our living on a boat in the water habits polished up. We are now "off the grid". Electrical power use considerations, water on board, and a constant weather watch are part of the life. We even remembered to hang our "anchor ball". (Well, Deb did.)

Mostly we are simply basking in the fact that we are back on the boat in the water. The next big step will be motoring down the river and turning left. As soon as we do we will be in new territory as this is as far north as we had ever been in Kintala. The first time we left here we turned south to start our cruising adventure. This time we will turn north on the Great Loop route. A new adventure and the first leg toward home.

Just a small change in our view. What a difference a couple hundred yards makes...

Hanging in the slings while we paint the bottom under the jack stand pads.

I realized too late that I had left my coffee cup on the boat.

Gone west...

At my urging, Deb arranged to pick up the rental car a day early. I wanted to head west as quickly as possible. While she went to get the car, Grandson Eldest and I took to getting on our way in earnest. Even though we had been doing prep work since the boat went on the hard, the “last minute” stuff would take hours to accomplish. It was hot and I'm sure my eagerness to get on the road was a bit of an irritation to my crew mates. But by early afternoon we were on our way. The first family stop was just a four hour drive. There we settled in for a couple of days of pure joy. After spending time in the company of PA based family we headed west once again.

The Zen House so named because we always come amid chaos and leave with total Zen

Along the way we stopped in the town of Washington, PA, swinging by one of the many houses we have lived in to show Grandson Eldest where his Mom had grown up.

The house the kids grew up in. We planted that maple tree in 1987.

Then, on a complete lark, we stopped by the airport were Deb and I had worked for nearly two decades. It turns out one of my friends from those days long past had become a major player on the airport. He was sitting in his office when Deb and I popped up at his door, a blast from the distant past.  After heartfelt greetings we jumped in a golf cart and got a tour of all that he had built or bought over the years. That included most of the hangars on the airport, along with the one Deb and I had worked in. He had completely rebuilt it, and I have to say it was perfect. His interests also included the Fixed Base Operation (FBO) that provides fuel and services to transient aircraft and a fleet of aircraft used for charter work, with medical trips being a good part of that operation. The medical angle had led him to start a foundation that raised money for kids who couldn't afford the care they needed. He was too modest to give me a $$ number, but a description of the kids helped and the procedures they needed suggested it was substantial.

The old hangar we used to work in all completely rebuilt now.

Along the way he caught us up on many of the people we had known back then. Since we were pretty young in those days, it wasn't much of a surprise to learn that many of the actors have shuffled off this mortal stage. The ones still around all seem to have done really well for themselves. It was a unique visit, totally unscripted, and one that will never be forgotten. I intend to stay in touch; the visit was just shy of being magical. 

Driving off, I couldn't help but wonder how our lives would have been different had we stayed rather than heading off when that job went away. My friend dug in and built something special. There is a good chance Deb and I would have gone along for the ride. But we headed west instead, me taking a job flying air ambulance King Airs in the AZ desert. After that were jobs with an airshow team, various charter and corporate flight departments, and with a stint at an airline stuck in there somewhere. I did air photo work, taught acrobatics and tail wheel flying, and ended up flying more than 200 different types of airplanes. The best I can come up with to balance the two possibilities is that the gypsy in me would not have been as content had we stayed in Washington for the ensuing decades. But the paths not taken will always be a mystery.   

After an additional 8 hours or so on the go we pulled up to an enthusiastic and joyous greeting from the crew of our St. Louis Home. It was a good sized crowd as most of our FL based family is here as well. Two grandparents, three parents, and ten grandkids all in the same place at the same time. Delightful chaos now reigns. Walks in the park to check up on my favorite trees look like a parade. There are always games and music being played. Multiple ukuleles, a piano, a couple of guitars, drums...all are available and most get used on a daily basis, though with me being the only active drummer in the group the drums are actually the quietest of the collection. Games are played, stories exchanged...it is hard to imagine that anyone is as pleased with their world as I am at the moment. 

This summer didn't go anywhere near like we thought (hoped) it would. Nor did we get the boat to its semi-permanent Alton, IL home port. We did what we could with what was handed to us, survived, and are moving along. That is about all anyone can ask of themselves. For the next many months we will regroup, catch up, and be a bit overwhelmed with being back living with family on a day to day basis while adjusting to city life once again. Any long term plans are as vague as they can possibly be. We will just take each day as it comes.

Grampy and eldest grandson enjoying some dirt bike and quad time.

I will be very sad when this tree at Oak Harbor Marina finally succumbs to some hurricane

Grandson eldest filming the rapids at Ohiopyle

The rapids at Ohiopyle in PA

Sunset at Oak Harbor Marina

Last Night on First Light

This is this year's last night at anchor on First Light. In celebration of getting this far, (and regardless of it being some 85 nm as the goose flies to big water) we broke out our conch horn to herald the setting sun. Though a bit warm (actually over 90 degrees according to the thermometer) the water is still, the boat unmoving, and the surroundings are filled with boats and trees...exactly what a sailor looks for when the journey is over. Few people in the world have had the opportunity to find such a place and sit contentedly, regardless of the chaos, regardless of the unrest, and unconcerned over what the future might hold because it is outside any individual's control anyway. The horn echoed over the water, wound its way around the boats and the trees, one simple note sent off and held as long as breath allowed in the hopes the universe would understand that we understand, and are thankful. 

We are still miles from St. Louis. Many months by boat, a couple of days by rental van. The van trip will start as soon as the boat is blocked secure on land and prepped for the winter. That effort will start in the morning with a short motor to the pump out and then to the lift pit. After that will come months on land. But they will be good months filled with some of the people we love most in the world and have missed every day of our journey. Word has it there is a job waiting for me that will help fill the coffers that took a bit of a beating this summer. There might even be enough left over to add a Uke or two to the collection.

Odd how that works, being just as happy to be in either of two places and just as sad at being away from the other, all at the same time. Then again there are a lot of people who, due to no fault of their own, never find even a single place in which to be happy. If I believed in a life after this one I would consider it an honor to contribute in any way to the balancing of the scales...wash their dishes, fix their boats, or fly them off to wherever they might want to go. But that too is outside of my control. So with the sun gone for the night and the stars just starting to shine, I will let this last day go with a smile. Tomorrow will bring what it will.

The view from my chair in the cockpit.

Yes, It's Still the Peeps

Back in 2015 we put Kintala on the hard at Oak Harbor Marina so we could go back to St. Louis and get our condo ready to sell. The renter had moved out and we were ready to be done with the trouble. When we came back to launch the boat, we were fortunate enough to have a group of friends close by to spend some time with. It's the one thing cruisers say over and over again, the fact that you can meet someone cruising then not see them for months or even years, then pick up just like you never left off.

This past week we had an opportunity to see some friends we haven't seen in eight years. They live close to where we were docked at Kent Island and they braved the traffic to come see us on the boat. It was like we saw them yesterday. Stories were exchanged, food was shared, and laughter abounded. It's still the one thing that has been the most important to me about this lifestyle—the peeps we've met along the way. I'm looking forward to having the boat in St. Louis near home, but I admit to realizing that I'll miss this part of the lifestyle.

Me, Tj, Wayne and Sue circa 8 years past

Wayne, Tj, Sue, Me and Roo circa 2023

October 19th, 2013

Three thousand six hundred and seven days ago we pulled the dock lines onto Kintala's deck, motored away from Oak Creek Marina, and headed out on our cruising adventure. Now, all those days later, First Light is anchored just a couple of hundred feet from those docks. And I swear that the trawler tied to the end pier is the exact same boat, sitting in the exact same place, as the day we first headed out.

It seems surreal to be here again.

The last leg of this part of this particular journey was near perfect. It was a bit after 0700 when we pulled out of Kent Island to take advantage of a day with wind forecasts of light and variable. Grandson Eldest had the helm, backing us out of the slip and out into the river like he had done it 100 times. Just before 1100 the anchor splashed into Rock Creek and settled into the bottom. It will be a quiet couple of days of sitting in a picture perfect and well protected little anchorage while waiting out the holiday weekend. After that, things will get pretty busy with the normal prep work needed to safely leave a boat on the hard for a winter.

I was hoping to never have to do that again. All the work that went into having a boat included getting it near enough to St. Louis to be a regular part of our lives. Pulling the boat when needed for bottom paint, and then only for a few days, was the plan. For the most part it would be just a short drive away, available for weekends, vacation days, and just plain hanging out for fun or when the need to be back on the water grew overwhelming. It will be close to another year before that is the case. Still, we make plans but the universe has veto power. So I will accept this last bit of sitting as a really pleasant way to end what has been a less than stellar summer. Living on a boat at a nice anchorage is, to me anyway, about the perfect vacation spot. So this is a mini vacation before having to get back to work. I intend to enjoy every moment of it. I intend to enjoy every minute of being back in St. Louis with most of the people I love most in the world. And I intend to enjoy being back here next year to splash First Light yet again, and get her “home”.

Dinner Sunset at The Jetty in Kent Island

The anchorage at Oak Harbor Marina

The view from my chair in the cockpit. I need to frame it and
sit it by the couch in the apartment.

A friend goes East…a friend goes West

It could be argued that our first year of cruising was our best year so far. An amazing confluence of coincidences gathered several people from Carlyle Lake, 800 miles to the west, in Oak Harbor Marina near the tip of the Chesapeake Bay. They became our first “cruiser clan,” helping us in uncountable ways as we struggled to get Kintala cruise-worthy and us launched into this new lifestyle. John was in that group, a solo sailor and new cruiser himself, working his way down the ICW for the first time in Ellida; his Hallberg Rassy 31. His wife, Mari, was completely supportive of his adventuring but open water sailing in a small boat was not her cup of tea.

John, Deb, Tim, Nancy, David  (The Tradewinds East Gang)
before we all took off from Oak Harbor Marina in Pasadena, MD

John leaving Oak Harbor in October 2013

John managed to drop his Oak Harbor dock lines several weeks ahead of us. We kept in touch and he became a kind of emotional scout, breaking the trail as we bumbled our way south that first time. Kintala caught up with Ellida in Biscayne Bay where we shared tales of mistakes made and near disasters avoided, feeling pretty good about making it all the way to Florida still in one piece. John was determined to continue on to the Bahamas but Deb and I were less sure of ourselves. Managing our Tartan 42 had proven more of a challenge than we had anticipated, even along the protected waters of the ICW. Our first open water / overnight jump from Charleston to Fernandina Beach had been both exhilarating and magical. It had also underlined just how steep a learning curve we had yet to climb to being a competent short-handed crew sailing a 42 foot boat far out of sight of land, and at night. We had decided a more modest approach to cruising would be prudent. Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys, and maybe the “Just Like the Bahamas” waters of Florida’s Great Bend would be our first year’s cruising grounds.

John was determined to make it to the Islands but, being a new cruiser himself, wanted company. Our company. Particularly our company on what would be his first overnight, open water jump from Biscayne Bay to West End. He began a subtle campaign to lure us east. His argument, like his approach to nearly everything, was easy going and quiet. The Islands were far closer than the West coast of Florida and a much easier sail. (He couldn’t possibly have known that to be a fact but the years have proven him completely correct.) We would spend less money living and sailing in the Islands for a few months than we would living and sailing in the States. (The cruising kitty had already taken a beating from delays and broken boat bits on the trip south.) And, well, we were cruisers and real cruisers went to the Islands for the winter. (It turns out that real cruisers do whatever they want, can afford, or can get away with; but we had not learned that lesson yet.)

John as we headed out of the channel from No Name Harbor in Biscayne Bay, FL

Waiting out water spouts off West End Bahamas

In the end he won us over and on Feb 21st Kintala and Ellida weighed anchors, headed out the channel south of No Name Harbor, and set sail for West End, Bahama. Ellida made much better time, John blasting through the storms that we elected to sail around. He was waiting at the dock at old Bahama Bay, greeting us with a huge smile. We had sailed to the Islands, how about them apples? We waited out some ugly weather then headed off to explore the Abaco Islands. Getting there meant our first passage through Indian Rock Passage north of West End. Kintala led the way right up to the entrance of the pass, where I chickened out in the face of breaking water to both port and starboard in the narrow, shallow cut. I had visions of us ending our cruising life right there.

John and Ellida heading to Mangrove Cay after going through Indian Cut in the Bahamas

John figured if everyone else could do it, we could do it too. Though Ellida was smaller than Kintala, she drew a bit more water. So long as she didn’t hit anything Kintala should be okay. John happily took the lead and I followed him through so tense I could barely breathe.

We passed with no problem at all.

Later that day John took the picture of Kintala that is at the top of the blog; sailing alongside us in the waters north of Grand Bahama Island. It was one of those magical sails, and one of the best we have ever had. The two boats stood nearly upright yet hard on the wind, ghosting over placid water so clear we could watch the bottom pass under the keels.

We traveled together for many weeks after that, anchoring together in various Cays, waiting out weather, and exploring our first Bahamian towns. It was every bit the adventure that we had hoped cruising would be. That trip set the tone and the goals, established the life style that we have been working to keep up with ever since. John left Ellida in the Islands after that trip, putting her on the hard for the hurricane season and returning home to Mari until autumn. We sailed back to the States, living aboard and sailing Kintala, working to match the joy and adventure of that first trip abroad.

We crossed paths with John several times over the years, as cruisers are wont to do. But we never sailed together after that. The last time we saw him was over lunch, he and Mari, Deb and I, at a restaurant near the Dinner Key mooring field.

Our friend John passed away a couple of days ago. His struggle with failing lungs had been evident from the first day we met, but he never talked of it much, made an issue of it, or let it stop him from realizing the dream of sailing his boat over the horizon. His quiet dedication to living life on his terms had a deep influence on our path, Our adventure would have taken a much different turn had John not lured us to the Islands that first year. Given some of the set-backs we have endured since, it isn’t beyond the realm of possibly that we would never have made it at all. And yet the impact of John’s quiet but unshakable determination, his indomitable heart and courage, went mostly unnoticed - right up until I sat down to write this post.

Unassuming and dedicated to minding his own business, he would have taken quite a bit of pleasure in that.

Fair winds John, and thank you.

Ellida at Sunset, Great Sale Cay Bahamas

Sunrise off Great Sale Cay

John blowing his water bottle horn in the shortest St. Patrick's Day parade, Green Turtle Cay Bahamas 3-17-14

The Good Guys

Any of you who have already read How NOT to Buy a Cruising Boat know that we're pretty hard on most marine professionals. Our experience with them, and most everyone we talk to as well, is pretty much unilaterally bad. So when we run into some good marine professionals, we like to talk them up. We had such an experience earlier this summer when we hired Art Johnson Marine Surveyors. Art was a consummate professional, and tempered our very bad experiences with all of the previous surveyors we had dealt with. Now that we're getting ready to leave Oak Harbor Marina and head south in the Chesapeake I thought it was a good time to talk about one of the best places we've been fortunate to have Kintala in the past 2 years.

Oak Harbor Marina, situated deep in Rock Creek on the northern Chesapeake, is a boat yard. If you're looking for a resort to pamper you with clear water pools and hot tubs and outdoor bars, this is not the place for you. If you're looking for a hard-core, hard-working, fair priced boat yard full of employees with integrity the likes I haven't seen in many others, this is definitely the place for you. When you first arrive, it's likely that the yard manager J.B.'s firm handshake and warm greeting will be the first you experience. If you're pulling into the haulout pit, his meticulously maintained sailboat will be the one you see alongside, a testimony to the quality of work you can expect.

Josh, A.J, Derek, J.B., and Chris

If you're coming for a rigging inspection or replacement, Chris will be your man. If you've followed the blog for awhile, you'll remember that this is where we launched our full time cruising adventure. It's where we replaced the standing rigging on Kintala, and where we chose to return for a rigging inspection this summer. Chris is careful and methodical in his inspections, a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed in the boating world, since many insurance jobs are sent here for completion. Chris is also a master at parts sourcing and has rarely let me down in obtaining any part I needed.


If you're coming for fiberglass work or painting, the very talented Josh is the guy you want. I had the chance to see his work up close and personal as a boat with a 10" or so hole punched right through the port bow topsides came to his shop for repair recently. If it wasn't for the repaired area being cleaner than the rest of the very dirty boat, you would never know where the damage had been when he finished.  Major or minor fiberglass repair or paint jobs are no challenge.

A.J. and Derek are the boat yard crew. No matter the time of day, the day of the week, the temperature, or their schedule, these guys are working hard. So hard, that it took me over an hour just to get all five of the guys in one place for a picture. No matter, they still manage to find time to greet you warmly. Clearly they love what they do because smiles and laughter abound during the work day. Derek even finds the time to race in the Wednesday club races and is an excellent racing captain.

On site at Oak Harbor Marina they also have a full-service engine shop, Anderson Marine. Nelson and his crew never seem to leave. They're the first ones there and the last ones to leave nearly every day. Fortunately, we haven't had to utilize their services but if you need it done, they're there for you.

Aside from the skilled people here, the thing that makes Oak Harbor stand out is the customer service. Ken and Barb Broman, the owners of Oak Harbor Marina, set the tone for their team, and it's one that puts the customer in the forefront. There is never any doubt that things will be done right, a rarity in the marine services industry. It was one of the main reasons we chose to sail all the way back north to put Kintala here while we went back to St. Louis to sell the condo and to work on her after we returned. As I think back on the two years since we left our home slip at Boulder Marina, only a handful of faces in the marine services industry come to mind. Craig at Tradewinds (customer service defined), Gerry at Cameron Marine Transport, the folks at Dinner Key Moorings and the guys at Oak Harbor. It's a small, exclusive club, and one that we've been happy to be on the receiving end of.

So if you happen to be looking for a great place to haul your boat for some work, consider Oak Harbor Marina. Now that Kintala is leaving, they may need someone else to keep them busy!

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.