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Marine Life
Log Book
Our Family
The Crew |
October
2009, Palatka, Fl
Well
there hasn't been much to report. Same stuff different day for
months really. Lots of working on the boat, eat, sleep, lots
of working on the boat, etc., etc., etc.
However, as we
seem to be reaching the end of this mammoth project, I am inspired
to write an update. The interior of the boat, my domain, is
starting to come together and so is very exciting to me. As
beautiful sheets of varnished cherry wood go up and shelves are
installed, I can allow myself to start getting excited about it all
again. For so long we have just tried to keep ourselves motivated
to "get r done" as they say. Now, suddenly, we can see progress in
leaps and bounds daily.
It is fantastic.
We would love some cooler weather to work in because it is still 94
degrees but other than that, our spirits are up. We find ourselves
talking about the next steps instead of just getting through the
now. It is lovely.
The constant
rumors that we hear about the marina going under financially have
been scary to say the least. It is a very real possibility that
this place will go belly up. At least we can have ourselves back on
our boat and easily slip down the river if that is the case in about
a month's time.
The kids are well,
growing in mind and bodies. I really miss the toddler days. They
remind me daily that they are not babies anymore! I am so pleased
that we are having a great home schooling year. They are clever and
wonderful and I am not struggling to get them to do their work.
Pokemon cards are this year's bribery, oh, I mean to say,
motivation. Though I sometimes miss their toddlerness, this is a
neat age too. They can make their own breakfast, they ask some
interesting questions, they can play rummy with me, they can help
carry groceries and fill water tanks, and they make me laugh. Today
they caught baby toads and frogs. Then they gave them to various
grown-ups in the form of "open your hands and close your eyes and I
will give you a big surprise". They also brought me a huge bouquet
of wild flowers that they picked because I had a headache today. So
they can be thoughtful too. Aaron is a real chatterbox. He starts
talking when he wakes up and doesn't stop until he goes to bed. I
am not exaggerating. It can be exhausting sometimes for the rest of
us. Abi is our evil princess; never know which one she will be for
the day! Her Halloween costume choice sums it up. She is going to
be a Star Wars Jedi Apprentice with a light saber that can be both
green (for the good side) and red (for the dark side) - she really
liked the idea of that. I think it fits her personality.
The exterior of
the boat has been sprayed and is now being buffed. There are a
couple of areas on Yebo's starboard to be smoothed but they are
small. The rudder had a slight crack which has now been repaired.
The cockpit bimini frame has been welded back into place. We were
able to use most of the original frame. The trailer that Yebo
currently lives on top of has been modified with the addition of a
fifth axle, better tires and higher posts (in light of the discovery
that we actually have 4.5ft draft and not 3.5ft as we had thought
when we hauled out and skimmed out of the boat ramp).
The interior is
coming back together which is the more exciting stuff to see in my
opinion. Beautiful sheets of varnished cherry wood are going up in
the cabins. The engine compartments and storage areas are bright
and shiny with new coats of epoxy paint. We have started making our
shelves, nyda core sandwiched between 2 thin layers of fiberglass
topped with varnished wood. They are lovely and strong. We have
begun some of the wiring, basically just running it through each
cabin as we go. The fridge and freezer are in their spots. The
galley counters are finished and very nice. Soon the sink will be
calked in and the oven and hob installed.
We are looking to
be finished sometime in November.
We did some
horse trading and got a smaller dingy. We love Cool Blue but she is
really too heavy to take toting around the islands. As she is a
Boston Whaler, and just a wonderful boat, she should sell quickly.
Our new dingy is called "Sandollar" and is a Trinka. She weighs
about 70lbs +/-, a fourth of Cool Blue so I should be able to lift
her onto the davits which will be novel. Imagine having a car that
you need your husband to back out of the garage before you can go
anywhere. Well, that is what it has been like with our previous
dinghies but, no more. She can handle a small outboard but she can
be rowed as well which is something I have always wanted. The
inflatables never rowed easily. As "Sandollar is
fiberglass I will be able to row her all over various anchorages.
To the right
are some photos of fish caught back in June when we were fishing the
Intercoastal waterways and the Atlantic Ocean.
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