John V. G. Mayton's Blog – December 2011 Archive (5)

Arrived in Florida late last night.  We are getting an early start on loading up the boat and doing a number of chores.  We have to rig the cockpit covers, put up another solar panel, check engine oil, battery water, fuel transfer pump fuse, paint depth markers on anchor chain, replace the mizzen topping lift line (Marina will be going up the mast for that), get propane tanks filled, check the raw water impeller, go to Wallmart for food, and whatever we can…

Marina and I spent the evening working on charting our trip North from Florida.  We plot the a course up the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) for each day determining things like, two or more possible anchorages for a night’s stay (because we are not sure how much progress we will make each day partly from a lack of experience with the vessel as well as other unknowns like currents, weather, bridge opening delays, etc. because we don’t want to get caught trying to find a place drop the hook in…

We went and did it.  We are now the excited owners of a 37 foot sailing Ketch.  We have a couple of odds and ends to wrap up in the morning such as insurance and USCG documentation then back to the boat to button it up for a couple of weeks until we get back down to sail her back to New Bern, NC.  There is a strorage shed full of boat gear that came with the purchase that needs to be transfered back onboard, so we will most likely head back south a day early to get…

Marina and I spent the day looking over the boat in more detail.  Yesterday we did sea trials, so that took up much of the time.  So we really dug in deep, looking in every nook and cranny, tracing hoses, electric cables, trying to ID everything we could.  The learing curve is very steep right now.  Some of the systems we need to understand before we bring it home are, engine, DC power production and storage, anchoring gear, fresh water, and propane/stove set up. …

Heading down to Stuart, FL to look over a Northern 37 Ketch.  The recent Survey looks very good, so if Marina likes the boat, we'll buy it.  Then it will become hectic; insurance, slip rental, collecting up what boat stuff I still have, renting a car, drive back to FL and then get the boat ready to sail her home the first of January.