Anchors away

The internet is such a great tool.  It allows you to do research, find stories, watch videos, and even buy stuff.  So after our researching and talking we took the next step and bought the SARCA Excel anchor.  That is the Sand And Rock Combination Anchor by the way.  The anchor is made in Australia and not many marine stores carry it yet in the USA.  We purchased it from Ground Tackle Marine in Victoria Canada and they shipped it via UPS ground to us.  I am not sure UPS has delivered many 47 lb anchors to Boise.

I told Kris it was her Mother's Day present and placed a big bow on it.  The anchor was wrapped with carpeting and plastic wrap but I "wrapped" it in a black garbage bag as well.  Since Kris was the one that ordered the anchor, it wasn't a big surprise but she still acted happy.  Now we have a 47 lb galvanized anchor in our family room as a conversation piece, and people don't think we are sophisticated.  We are planning on taking a trip back to the boat in September so will take the anchor to its new home then.

Reducing inventory

              

Both of us have engineering backgrounds and we have always been very aware of accumulating stuff. The saying "if you have the space you will fill it" and or "inventory is evil" has always been something we talk about and try and make sure we do not do. This is in the work life as well as in the home life. Many people would find our home decorated sparsely, if they thought it was decorated at all.   We are one of those people with a three car garage, with three cars that park inside it at all times.

10 months to plan projects, why so blue

If the boat was next door or within a short drive of us then doing some of the projects now would be possible. Since the boat is not close we are then forced to plan and dream how to do some of the projects. One simple project is our dodger.  The Manta Catamaran has a hard bimini, but  but between the bimini and the top of the cabin top it is open. Usually that area has a dodger with material and isinglass sewn into it so you have the visibility at the helm but are protected from waves, wind, and rain.

With the boat on the hard the need for this project is very low but when we get to the boat and put it in the water the need will be high.  The time we have now is large but when we put the boat in the water the time will be short.  We can get some local canvas makers that are close to the boat go and look at the project and bid it.  It would be better if we were at the boat and able to express our wishes and get a better plan laid out with the person that would be doing the sewing.   Since we do not have a final layout we are open to changes that would make sense when talking to an expert. 

One of the simple decision that also needs to be made prior to the sewing project is what color of material do we use for the sail covers and for the cockpit surround?  We have narrowed it down to a blue but go to sailrite, https://www.sailrite.com/, and see the many selections of blue there are.  We need to pick one but which one?

Being close due to Coronavirus or just being on a boat

If you have ever wondered or thought about going cruising on a sailboat for an extended time now is the chance to test that theory.  Not talking about sailing, or storms, or navigation.  Nope, talking about can you spend that amount of time close to your loved ones. Back in February people had the normal routine of going to work or school in the daytime, coming home for dinner, and then moving into bedrooms or family rooms to finish out the day.  This allowed for people to have space around them and to interact with a variety of people throughout the day.

Now you are stuck in your house/apartment for the full 24 hours and are seeing the same people for the entire day.  When working and not confined to your home you are around many people even if you do not interact them, they are around you and it breaks your day up.   With the Covid19 pandemic, forcing us to stay home we can watch television, or go on the internet to see people but for the most part we are just spending time with the ones we love.  It is nice but  we have been forced to do this and a good thing can often go bad as well.

Anchors

All boater have their favorite anchor and usually no other is acceptable.





Our first anchor was between a CQR and a Bruce claw.  At the time there was not a lot easy searchable info but we decided on the Bruce.  It did well on Honalee and we were happy.

Make a Plan

We are both engineers and tend to analyze and evaluate everything.   Some people find this irritating.  We tend to irritate each other on occasion as well, but in the end, it has been a tool used that has made our lifestyle possible.   We have kept complete records of all money spent since 2000 on a software program called Microsoft Money.  Before computers were an everyday item (yes, we are that old), we kept records on those old timely green accounting sheets, hand written and tallied, with of all things, a battery operated calculator. 

Imagine the horror. 

A Brief History

For those of you who don’t know us, we set sail on a 1968 Cascade 36 Monohull Sailboat in 1993.  Sailed from Washington state down the west coast and up into the Sea of Cortez.  This is when we were young, (somewhat stupid) and recently married.

It was a great trip and we learned a lot. Our faithful vessel Honalee, taught us much, and in 1995 we shipped her back to Washington and sold her to new owners, and started working again, with the plan to now start a family, and if everything worked out well, to take our child or children as the fates may decree, and go cruising again.