2023-10-29 Dinghy chaps done (mostly) - Washer installed and running - heading south

As with last week, this week was boat projects.  Kris continued to work on the dinghy chaps, and Dean did some buffing and waxing, as well as helping with the chaps fitting and adjusting.

Kris finished the chaps - except the outboard cover, and shoe and life jacket bags.  Those can be done with the dink in the water.  Kris was tired of sewing, so wanted a break before starting on the bags.

Dinghy chaps finished (almost) - still have old outboard on.

All the cutouts were a pain to sew.  

Our friends Ed and Cathy on What If finished their work at the boatyard, so we rode with them to the boatyard on Tuesday, and drove their car back, while they brought the boat back to the dock.   

They graciously allowed us to run errands while having the car, so we stopped at a fabric store, Lowes, Walmart, Ace Hardware, United States Post Office, the UPS store, Publix grocery store - and to finalize the trip McDonalds.    Whew!    So nice to use the car, it was much appreciated.   We think we are pretty well stocked now for our trip south.  The pantry is full, plus extra in the V-berth.

Our pantry is stocked full 

We also got our washing machine fully installed, and have our door frames back on.

Kris reaching to hook up the hoses for the washing machine.

Isn't it pretty 😁

Our friends on Sojourn had been away from the boat, but came back, so it was time for a nice get together.  Everyone came over for Taco Wednesday (our schedule is a bit off)

Duane, Dean, Ed, Cathy and Karen.

3 Mantas at the dock.  A 38', a 40' and a 42'

We also put our new outboard engine on the dink.  It has been sitting in the cockpit for the past two weeks, so nice to put in on the dinghy.  Ed helped Dean get it out of the cockpit and down the dock and onto the dinghy - thanks Ed, could not have done it without you.

Jerry off of BlueJacket lives a couple doors down, and brought his small tractor over to help launch the dink back in the water.  Kris was excited, as the tractor was an old International Harvester tractor, almost identical to the one she spent many hours on while living on a small acreage while growing up.  

Duane on left, Jerry and Kris on right.  Tractor hooked up to dink.

With the dink in the water - it was time to see if everything worked.

Trying not to get the new cover dirty while getting in. 

Kris had started to make a pattern for a cover for the new outboard - you can see in the photos the blue tape on the outboard.  You can also see our old outboard is in the dink as well, where it will stay until we hopefully sell it in Carolina Beach, where we have a couple people who say they want it.

Success - the new engine started on first button push.  Kris so happy no more pull start.  

Dean got busy as well, and made a mount for our Starlink antenna.  We won't put it on until we get ready to leave the states, but we did test it and all worked well.

Mount ready for starlink antenna

We left the dock on Friday, saying goodbye to our friends until we see them further south.  Chilly morning but nice sunrise

Leaving the dock.  Last year we left on the 12th of October, so 15 days later this year.

We made a long motor trip of 60 miles, and anchored for the night, tired and ready for bed, but a boat came in late, went to motor behind us, and promptly grounded on the shallows.    They called SeaTow, who arrived around 9:30 p.m.    

Bright lights on SeaTow, as they converse to decide what to do.

There was lots of conversation about the best course of action, and we stayed up in case they needed us to move our boat, as we were in the path to deep water.   

SeaTow pulling - but no luck.

It was finally decided to wait for high tide early in the morning - which did work and the boat floated off.   Made for a late night for us.

We headed to Carolina Beach on Saturday - another long motor day, and seemed like the current was against us the entire way.  Lots of boats on the water on a warm Saturday.  Hopefully today we will sell our old outboard.

Looking south from our anchorage at the Carolina Beach Harbor

Its going to get very cold in a couple of days.  Although we would rather sail, we will most likely just motor down the ICW on Tuesday through Friday to get south to warmer weather.  The engines provide some heat to the boat, and moving is better than sitting and shivering.

We could get a spot in a Marina for the cold days, but diesel fuel is cheaper than a marina, and we accomplish two goals - staying warmish and heading south.

A high of 57 and low of 40 - just isn't fun