The Ant's and the Grasshoppers.......life in a weekend marina.

Keeping the faith when your stranded on the Lot Dock! 

It's best to prepare for the days of necessity

Ok, I'll admit it....by Sunday of this past weekend, I had enough of that "F-ing Boat".  Tom and I are the marina ants.  It's been 4 summers.  We work in the parking 'Lot-Dock' (which is easily 5-10 degrees hotter than in the water), we (Tom, Spirit and I) sleep in a 2-man tent (sometimes cozy, sometimes not) and we toil away on our boat projects all weekend desperately trying to check off yet another task on the never ending list.  Sometimes, we take the occasional 10 minute break to throw ourselves into the pool to cool off, or drink a much deserved beer.  Otherwise, it's work, work, work....   Then, there is everyone else.  The Grasshoppers.  They come down on Friday night, step on their boat (in the water), turn on their magical air conditioning, and then go out for a fun weekend of sailing and socializing.  Am I bitter?  No.  Sometimes a bit envious?  Yes.  

We were tired this weekend, it was humid and nothing was going right on Luna Sole.  Tom had re-painted (for the 4th time) the head of the boat, and just like in the past, it got the orange peel look thanks to either the flattening agent we used to dull down the paint shine or the humidity level, or both.  Disheartening after so much work to say the least.  Unfortunately, it is what it is.  It's time to check off "Paint the Head" on the list and move on.  We'll just call it "anti-skid" for the head to any prospective buyer who inquires. After all, it can get a little rough down there sometimes so you need some "gription" when you're doing your business.  (ha ha)  Actually, even with the less than perfect paint job, it looks really great, and once the head, sink cabinetry and teak floor grate go back in, you really won't even notice.  It's just the principle of the thing...grrrrrrr     

I was working outside the boat on re-sealing the deck to hull joint.  I had pulled out all the old caulk because it looked awful.  Completely cosmetic, but hey- a pretty boat sells faster than a crappy one right?  I then spent about 45 minutes taping one side so as to get a perfect seam.  Went up on the ladder and proceeded to run my bead of sealant and then smooth it with my handy dandy tongue depressor.  What happened?  It refused to flow.  The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got.  I did about 1/3 of the area when Tom came down and said "Stop- just let it dry.  Take it out and start over".  AUGH!!!  I glanced over at the sparkling blue pool and all the grasshoppers......sigh. 

Why is everything on a boat so hard and take so darn long?  

I know that we have a different dream than the other residents of our marina.  99% of our sailing mates are working professionals.  They work very hard (or have worked hard and are now retired) and are able (and choose) to pay the yard staff to take care of issues that arise on their boats so that they can enjoy their weekend relaxing and sailing.  We work hard at our day jobs also. However, we want to be cruisers.  We don't plan to live at marinas where there is access to mechanical help.  We also don't have the desire or luxury to pay someone else to do something we can do ourselves.  Not only from a $$ standpoint, but more importantly because we want to know that the job was done right.  When your travelling across oceans, the difference between a good job and a great job can mean your life.  Working on Luna Sole these past 4 summers means we have learned to fix things and be self sufficient.  There is no price you can put on that education.  

So, after our less than perfect work session, we then did what any hard working couple would do.  We quit working and went to the pool, with beer in hand.  Sometimes, you just have to be a grasshopper.  

Life's little moments and blessings...

When you can't see the sea......

I had one of those life altering moments this morning that scared the crap out of me.  Fortunately though, it also showed me what really, really matters.  It was my blessing for the day.

About 6 days ago, I did something really dumb.  I was diligently working on boat projects (what's new?) and was sanding the first coat of new Perfection paint on my helm pedestal.  I was in our garage, door closed because it was stinking hot outside, no fans, no mask, no brains.  I've sanded 2-part paints for years with no issues.  Sure, I wear the 3M Cartridge mask when I paint or use solvents, but this was just sanding- bah! No worries!!  Hum....  Well, about 20 minutes later, I started losing my voice.  I could feel my eyes swelling up and my throat constricting.  Fortunately, we had Benadryl in the house or I might have been making my way to the local ER (NOT in the High Deductable Health Savings cruiser fund I might add!).  It took another 30 minutes before I could breath normally.  The swelling in my eyes lasted to varying degrees for the next 5 days.  Over the weekend, I went back to sanding and painting the head project (previously mentioned) on Luna Sole.  I was careful to wear a full face mask this time (Darth Vader has nothing on this look) and had plenty of ventilation.  Should have worked right?  No dice.  Over the next 2 days my eyes and upper lip started swelling again.  Back to the Benadryl I went.  So, here's the life altering stuff....

I was driving to work today (I have a 48 mile commute one-way and drive on major highways ie: I don't go the speed limit).  I pulled onto the turnpike, and within seconds lost all sight in my right eye. BOOM- just like that!  I freaked but managed to pull the car over in a safe spot, while driving with one eye, and sat there waiting to see what happened next.  After what seemed like an hour (which was probably less than a minute) thankfully, my vision returned.  I was left with a groggy head and lingering slight headache.  What I realized though, was that during all this, the first thought that came to mind was "No God- please don't let me go blind- I can't sail a boat and do my watch if I can't see- our dreams will be gone".  I wasn't concerned that I could not longer drive to work, or do my job, or any of those other things that used to be so important.  All those things that used to define me- I was concerned about losing our dream.  It was that moment of clarity in the midst of terror that helped me realize what is really, really important.  

So, I'm off painting and sanding duty permanently....Tom says that our new cushions (which I'm sewing from scratch) better be freaking amazing. :-) 

post note: I visited an eye doctor and after a thorough exam it was determined that my eye's are completely healthy!  The Doc said she would be surprised if it ever occurs again- Great news!!! 

The optimist in all of us....

Getting Down to Business in your Head.....

"Oh my God!!! I'm flying...."

Well, it was hot, and we are still not rocking...in the water that is.  Another weekend passes with more boat work- but we are getting closer (1 month to launch....maybe- Optimistic Grin).  This past weekend, I concentrated my efforts on "the Head" (aka boat bathroom).  One of the things we discovered early on was that the head floor was not connected to the, sole floor (chin bones connected to the neck bone ..opps... sorry, I digress) which means that any water that was in the head (it has a shower) was running into the core of the fiberglass flooring both inside and outside of the head area.  In layman terms, what that means is a soggy floor with structural integrity issues.  We cut out the offending floor areas, and have been trying to finish fixing it for...well almost 2 years now.  Bigger issues got in the way, it was handy to have open so we could plug up the holes in the bilge (don't ask) and it wasn't a "have to fix" item at the moment.  Tom did a fantastic job replacing the floor, and created a whole new shower pan area using fiberglassing products from West System (http://www.westsystem.com/ss/) so it will drain appropriately.  Then it's my turn to take over and start painting.  It's a tedious process.  I had to sand and primer paint, then sand that primer off because it didn't lay right (my fault- not the product), then primer paint again.  This weekend I start the actual gloss coat of Perfection by Interlux (http://www.yachtpaint.com/usa/diy/ask-the-experts/video-perfection.aspx) which I highly recommend for any marine application.  3 coats of paint and then we can re-install the drain, the toilet and the sink!  Woo Hoo.  Progress baby!  Photo's and detailed "how to" instructions to follow in a upcoming DIY segment.

So, as you can imagine, while I'm spending hours sanding and re-sanding the head, I had a lot of time to get into my own "head".  I usually think a lot of  happy thoughts while working on the boat because it's better than entertaining the murderous ones that sometimes creep in during boat projects that never end.  I am an optimist by nature.  The Ying to Tom's Yang so to speak in critical moments.  But, every optimist can use a bit of help sometimes.  I recently read a great book by Gretchen Rubin called "The Happiness Project". (http://www.happiness-project.com/) It was a documentary of sorts about a 12 month project she undertook to see if it was possible to escalate your own level of happiness in an otherwise comfortable world.  It's interesting reading with some funny outcomes and good food for thought. Some of the tips she gives are wonderful and I've put a few into action in my own life.  Guess what?  They do make you happier- BONUS???  Give it a look- you might be surprised!   Life lesson:  Even when things seems "in the toilet:, anyone can find happiness if they just know where to look.  So, the next time you are doing doing something "shitty", get into your own head and find your happy place.  You'll be surprised what's in there.  

A little R&R (Rum Running) to soothe the soul......

God knows I love my life and I thank Him every night

But sometimes I feel the knife of responsibility.

And the struggle and the strife, what's wrong and what's right

Has got me searching for the light and my place of peace.  - kenny chesney

Last week we took a break from boat building to sit back and sample the sweet island life for a few days.  It was my Man's birthday over the holiday so we took off for a little Key West  Rum Running (R&R).  Part of me felt guilty not working on my Luna girl.  So much to do, so little time...gotta get it done, gotta get it done. But then, I got a potent reminder of why you need to take the time to savor life...  I received an e-mail from a dear friend telling me that she and her husband were selling their beloved 36' Gozzard Yacht s/v "Seaberry" because it was time to move on...I could tell from her words that she is feeling so sad and lost.  Health, family, and life all play a part in their difficult decision and, while it will turn out to be the right one, I know it doesn't feel like that to Stephanie.  See, she loves being on the water.  Loves to sail, loves the peacefulness and stillness of a beautiful calm sea and the craziness of a brisk breeze.  Sailing is in her blood.  It gets her through the winter, it soothes her soul, and now?  She's just lost.....  My heart is breaking for her and I miss them already.

Off to Key West.  I let myself enjoy.  We stayed true to the calling and ate only local fish for dinner, drank maybe too much Rum (is there such a thing?  Mohito's anyone?), stayed....yep, you guessed it- on a 41' catch for a hotel with a view and went sailing!  Figured if we aren't working on a boat, we might as well sail one.  That's what it's all about right?

So, the next time you feel the "knife of responsibility" make sure you take a moment to look around you and refocus on all you have to be thankful for.  Tools will sit quietly and life will rest for a brief moment while you catch up.  Just remember to savor each day....and drink a little rum!

Recent Photos:  

Spirit the wonder dog! 

He's a fan of the marina!

Tom & I sailing with our friends on "Windward" in the Bahamas- January 2013

If you make a plan, plan on having to change it! 

Forgotten but not lost..that's the theme of my blogging thus far.  So here we are, June 28, 2013.  Let's bring things up to date:

1) Luna Sole- STILL not done...sigh...planning to launch in 1 month (but we have seen how that has gone so far).  I'm projecting maybe Mid August.  More on this below. 

2) July 2012:  We lost our little girl Miss Buffett to cancer.  Such a sad time.  My heart broke.  She never got to sail on the boat she so patiently sat under for 3 summers while we worked away at the dream.  However, thanks to our wonderful marina friends who loved her too, she did get to sail on their boat.  She would have been a great boat dog.  RIP Buffett Girl.

3) October 2012:  We pulled Eclipse out of her slip, removed the mast and sent her down the road to Rewers Boat Works to have her bottom re-done.  She will stay put for many months while she is peeled, dried, re-fiberglassed & barrier coated.   While we were removing the Bow Pulpit so she would fit into the shop, Tom noticed that the Bow Sprit seems to be.......I don't even want to say it.....ok...here goes....Rotten!  What? Again?  Unbelievable that we could possess 2 boats and both have rotten Sprits.  Sigh...here we go again. 

4) We adopted a new golden boat dog named "Spirit".  He is about 2 so, god willing, he will be with us for a long time and be a happy boat dog.  I love my little boy, but miss my Buffett Girl every day.  :-( 

5) Winter came, and it was FREEZING up here in the great Northeast!!!  We spent about 6 weekends going back and forth to Rock Hall working on Eclipse (removing said bow pulpit and sprit, removing prop shaft, etc.) in preparation for her bottom job before it just got too cold to work.  After that we worked primarily at home on new cushions for Luna Sole.  This is a tougher project than I imagined and I've done a lot of ripping out/starting over.  I think they will be lovely though when finished! 

6) SPRING!  Ahhhhhhhh (Imagine Angels with trumpets playing overhead...)  Back to work on Luna Sole.  We had originally said "We're done- finished.  May 1st- whatever is done is done and we are putting her up for sale".  Then, as plans go, it was freezing all winter and we got at least 2 months behind.  So, May 1st is now sometime this summer.  Once we started working, and it was apparent that Eclipse was going to be out of commission for the summer with her bottom job & new rigging needs, we took a hard look at what $30K would buy as far as new equipment for Eclipse- Water Maker, Wind Generator, Solar Panels, Batteries - and decided to keep on keeping on.  What's a few more months right?  :-) 

So, here's the list of what is done thus far.  When you see the bottom paint go on, you'll know we are launching and pretty close to finished- keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer.  :-) 

Completed

Replace Bow Sprit & Bow Deck- Rotted Repair Deck to Hull Joint issue in Bow Re-varnish all existing teak- exterior Re-bedded handrails & made covers Re-caulked mast & new boot Re-bedded all chainplates Replaced missing tightener screws on all stantions Reinforced foresail with new fiberglass G-10 backing plate Rebuilt furler system Rebuilt cockpit winches Replaced eyebrow's with new teak strips Replaced existing plastic deck & scupper drains with Bronze fittings Replaced traveller deck with new teak piece- rotted & split Anodized traveller & cleats Replaced rubber durad vents with Stainless vents Removed & repaired cockpit floor with new Fiberglass platform Repainted cockpit floor Re-positioned steering mechanism to work more effectively Replaced cracked holding tank with new tank Repaired and cleaned water tank Painted Lazarette & locker areas Repaired all fiberglass cracks in the bilge area  Replaced Engine with new Beta Marine 25 HP Model Fabricated all new engine mounts Removed & repaired head floor & repainted head area Replaced Head floor drain Designed and installed new toilet mount Repaired & improved Propane Locker Ran new hose & replaced valve on Propane tank Changed out all gate valve thru hulls with Bronze Groco valves Changed out all wooden thru hull backing plates to Fiberglass G-10 plates Added proper lightening protection system (plate and wiring) Replaced aluminum Helm mount with Stainless mount Replaced aluminum chalks with new Stainless chalks Replaced exhaust thru-hull with new one and added fiberglass backing plate