We’re about a week and counting. Trying to leave next Thursday, 10/6 (or so) pending weather, and whether we have all our gear packed, stowed and ready to go.
Been working very hard this week. Ann’s been cleaning and organizing down below in the cabin and I’ve been pulling cables and wire to get the two new solar panels and the 1000 watt voltage inverter running. Long story short, the panels are working (two Kyocera, 130 watt panels wired in parallel to double their amperage), a Blue Sky “duo” regulator (to run the panels and a water generator that we’re waiting for from Hamilton Ferris). Spent waaayyy to long in the Lazarette wiring stuff, but the result is pretty cool. I took us “off the grid” four days ago. The refrigerator runs all night and pulls the batteries down, but the panels, one of which faces the morning sun, power the boat back up and by 9AM, the batteries are completely full again. Really fun to watch how self sufficient we are becoming.
Here’s a couple pics of some of our work including the watermaker and THE LISTS! Everything at this point with only a week left is about lists.
Monthly Archives: March 2013
Work, Work, Work…
We’re in the water, but the boatwork hasn’t stopped.
We’re now at the “finishing” stage though. Not as in finished, but things like varnishing, oiling the teak, and other more cosmetic items. Two days ago we sanded the rest of the rails. Yesterday we bleached all the wood that has been sanded in prep for oil in the case of the cockpit where varnish is too slippery and varnish (cetol) in the case of the rails. Today we taped the rails in prep for varnishing (hopefully-weather permitting) tomorrow and Ann put the first of three coats of oil on the cockpit.
Taping the wood in preparation for varnishing
Taped and ready for varnishing tomorrow.
Getting ready to oil the cockpit wood.
Oil really brings out the color of the teak and helps protect it from sun and saltwater
Before the oil...
...and after the oil. We'll put on two more coats over the next couple days.
All this work has made for one messy cabin. Can't wait to be done and able to put stuff back away.
I also forgot to mention the other day that once we drove around to our spot here in the marina, I had the engine shop come and pull the injectors for cleaning. You’re supposed to have them cleaned around 1000 hours and Charisma’s engine has 2900 hours and to my knowledge they have never been cleaned. Crossing fingers they are good since it can get expensive to repair them.
Since it’s Sunday, we quit a bit early and Ann’s gone for a hike with her girlfriends Ann and Lisa. They have a five to six mile loop that goes up the river, into the hills and tops out above town with expansive views of Whangarei. Also since it’s Sunday, Ann made a delicious breakfast with farmer’s market fresh eggs, bacon and artisan bread. Yum, yum and yum!
The eggs are so fresh the yolks are almost orange.
SPLASH!!
That’s the sound of happiness! It’s also what we say when our boat goes back into the water-as in; “We splashed today” after 21 days. I can’t remember the last time I worked 21 days straight without a break. Neither can Ann.
Yippeee!
It feels so good to be back in the water. Charisma’s happy and we’re happy. Nice to not have to climb the ladder-up and down 10, 15 times per day, wipe our dirty feet on a mat at the base of the ladder and several other not to be mentioned indignities of being “on the hard”.
So-did I say we launched this morning? Here’s a few of the latest pics.
Here's our view from the last night. The crane was positioned Thursday night so we would be ready to go in first thing Friday morning.
All ready and the sun's coming up...
It's been fun (OK, not exactly) but this is a great yard and they have taken exceptional care of us. In case you can't read the crane; "Riverside Drive Marina" is the place to go. Just ask for; "Ray Roberts' place" and they will take care of you like family.
Like a dog when you pull out the leash to go for a walk. I swear she was ready to leap in the water herself.
All that's left of our spot is some red paint on the ground...
Yup, that's a happy (and highly polished) boat. She's floating much better on her lines with the new paint job at the boot top.
So, what now? I spent the rest of the day almost finishing up the sanding. Tomorrow I hope to bleach the raw wood (oxolic acid) so it’s all the same color then we start varnishing (cetol). Taping and at least three coats on each side plus midships trim-probably seven days give or take depending on weather.
Then we’ll spend at least a week or two touring New Zealand by car before we start thinking about next steps on the cruising agenda.
Oh and did you hear we decided to elope to New Zealand? Ann’s researching some spots where we might get married (we’ll have a reception back in the US in December some time).
So that’s today’s news from Kiwi-land.
A Feast Of Friends
Oops, around the South Pacific that could have the wrong meaning. Oh well, I think you’ll get my drift.
The other night we enjoyed meeting up with an old friend, catching up with newer friends and getting better acquainted with some even newer ones. All in the space of a couple hours (after another long day of boatwork).
Richard, a friend from our time in Baja (we call him an “old friend” ’cause that now seems so long ago) sent an email that he was visiting New Zealand and would we be around. “You bet!” was the obvious answer as we had so much fun with Richard and Cynthia from Tranquility while we were in La Paz.
The same day Richard was due, our newer friends Craig and Bruce from Gato Go who like Ann and me, sailed across the Pacific this last year and with whom we have happily crossed paths frequently were coming up from Aukland for the day and would we have time for a beer! “Absolutely!” We’ve had some great times with them on many islands between here and Mexico and haven’t seen them since early December.
Yet again at the same time we had already agreed to have a BBQ with some new friends, Charmagne and Michael who are formerly from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and have moved to New Zealand to start their adventure. They are still working and saving for the big trip and for now are living on their boat and working toward the day when they “cut the docklines”.
What this all has in common is a great evening in which all of the above came together at the same time, serendipidously, on Charisma (and then down at the BBQ behind the boatyard). We all shared some stories, a couple beers, some good food and a great (but a bit windy) BBQ. Charmagne summed up the evening best when she said; “What a great time. I needed that”.
So great to get to catch up with everyone. That’s another one of the pleasures and joys of cruising. People you’ve met, people you meet and those who you are going to meet. Many stories, a lot of “characters” and so much fun.
And Ann said my Chicken Teriaki was cooked perfectly.