Sorry I haven't kept the blog up-to-date. We've been busy (see below for the task list).
We left home in Minnesota on October 16; arrived in
Indiantown FL on October 28. Our
boat was on-the-hard in the marina's work area until November 8 (launch date).
Mainly getting the waterline (& bootstripe) raised, removal of the VC-17
fresh waste bottom paint (which did not work in hot salt water, like they have
down here), touching up the epoxy barrier coat, and getting new (better, we
hope) bottom paint.
We were hoping to leave here by now; but there is Hofstadter's
Law ("Everything takes longer than you think it will, even if you take
into account Hofstadter's Law …")
Recursive, of course.
But we are almost ready – possibly will leave here the end
of next week. Most of that time
will be working on installing solar panels (to feed the hungry 5 amp
refrigerator), so we can travel for extended times without using the yellow
cord (which isn't long enough).
Hope to do a better job with this blog, after we (finally!)
get out of here. [Said the Joker to the Thief …]
---------------------------
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE BOAT - Late Summer through November, 2013:
Plain font – done
Underline – stuff to
buy
BOLD – do NOW
Italics - maybe
At Indiantown marina,
Florida –
by boatyard mechanics,
before launch
1. Bottom paint – strip off old
fresh-water paint and barnacles; raise waterline; apply barrier coats and new salt-water
paint
2. Saildrive – strip old paint off
saildrive & propeller; prime and paint with salt-water paint that is safe
for Aluminum
3. Improve the Racor (primary diesel fuel
filter) to allow drainage from bowl; change filter
4. Add vacuum gauge (to monitor filter
clogging)
5. Transmission oil change
6. Install
better engine high-temperature / low pressure alarm?
---------------------
by Bob & Ilona
Pull Precision boat from
Lake City Marina; bring home; winterize & cover
Find EVERYTHING we brought
home from the boat last April; put in a single place; load camper
Also find CLOTHES, etc.
Fill medical prescriptions
for entire trip [6 months]
Get cash for trip
Set up house-sitter/checker
Notify important contacts
about where we are and how to get a hold of us
Cancel U-Haul Trailer
reservation
Prep house for extended
absence – batteries, filters, etc.
Turn off house phone
& Internet; newspaper; thermostats; smoke alarms;
winterize
lawnmower; car & van maintenance
Notify bank &
credit cards about travel dates and locations
Check all faucets,
showers, toilets, washing machine, outside faucets – for leaks
Check out marinas for
eventual return to the Great Lakes –
Duluth/Superior
& Bayfield (Apostle Islands)
Get and study books on weather (Chris; David Burch)
Set up blog to be directly
publishable by E-mail
Study and pass Ham Radio
exams for Technician and General Class Licenses
Update computer & chartplotter
software & charts
Confirm Work order for
Indiantown Marina for 10/2013: bottom paint, transmission
fluid,
fuel filter vacuum gauge & relocate; add temperature & oil pressure
alarms
Get and study charts, chartbooks and cruising guides
for the Bahamas
MN dinghy registration
thru 2015
License tabs for camper
van & trailer for 2014
US Customs & Border
Patrol Decal for 2014
Update BoatUS
insurance (to include Bahamas coverage)
US Coast Guard Boat
Documentation for 2014
Voice recorder (for
recording phone calls and weather broadcasts) – use iPhone
US CBP SVRS [Small Vessel Reporting
System], 2014: paperwork & phone number – to re-enter USA from Bahamas in
2014.
US CBP 2014 sticker for boat
Buy iPad &
Lifeproof waterproof case for it; install Garmin Bluechart app, charts, Active Captain
Buy WiFi booster antenna, amplifier & wireless
router; run 12 vdc wires from switch pane
at navigation station, through boat, to Ubiquiti Bullet amplifier and antenna, mounted
on Bimini supports.
Run yet another 12 vdc wire through the boat, for
whatever, later.
Buy mobile computer
printer (w/ battery, 12V charger, paper, color) & paper & ink
Buy paper pads, folders
– to keep all those loose papers in
Buy SONY AM/FM/SSB
receive-only radio (to listen to Chris, etc.)
USCG EPIRB
registration update & decal renewal
Near, Far, and Exumas
Explorer Chartbooks
Starpath: Universal
Plotting sheets, CelNav worksheets, emergency nav card.
Gather and copy all
documents needed for entry into the Bahamas:
USCG Document & MN Boat Registration
(copies!)
Passports
Dinghy registration
Boat Insurance papers – incl. rider to
cover Bahamas
Dinghy motor: make, hp, serial number
Bicycles: make, model, serial number
Drivers licenses
Other?
Alfa WiFi booster for
MacBooks
Print Bob's custom Weather
Logbooks
Buy West Marine 610 Epoxy
& caulking gun; extra mixing nozzles
Buy pizza stone & paddle
Buy new shoes
Check out: Dan Sullivan,
Abacos Inn, Hope Town [friend of Rob Hoffman]
Buy Aeropress
mini-espresso maker
Buy WaterwayGuide-Bahamas
2014.
Remove boat cover; store
in storage locker
Change secondary diesel
fuel filter
Change raw water pump
impeller
Furlex (jib furler) – drill out and replace broken
screw; replace bottom spool cover; add grease
Charge all boat batteries with shore power
New rotors and brakes (front end) for camper
[Check out poles to mount 3 antennas – Seaview pole attachments or custom
Bimini-bar? Arch: ATLANTICTOWERS.COM / Solar controller: ACDC PRO]
New Sunbrella Lifesling
Bag
Port visors for portlights
(windows)
Think about but do
not get: Honda generator – with 30amp marine socket ?
Order, receive,
activate: Iridium 9555 Satellite
Phone Deluxe Savings Bundle (sat phone, prepaid
airtime, optimizer (router),
X-gate e-mail
Take (almost) everything from the climate-controlled
storage locker; reload the boat
Fill water tank; test
water for taste
Inflate and test dinghy
Put on Sails, Bimini,
Dodger
Check (fill) batteries
with distilled water
Antenna mounting bar
on Bimini? NO
Remount external VHF antenna for AIS - on Bimini or solar panel mountings
Remount GPS antenna for AIS - on Bimini or solar panel mountings
Screen for companionway –
replace, sew, add chain to bug netting
Buddy boats – check on
plans for Bahamas with:
s/v
Utopia
s/v
Tranquility
Test ALL electronics:
Depth,
speed, log
Chartplotter
– charts (Bahamas ok?), boat position (internal GPS)
AIS
– send, receive
MarineTraffic.com
– receives AIS signal?
Battery chargers – shore power, engine alternator
Navigation
and interior lights
WiFi
booster
Satellite
phone
STILL TO DO
Solar
panels: Design, buy parts, make
mounting supports (1" stainless-steel tubes) to hold 2 solar panels on top
of the Bimini; Buy and install solar panels; wire from panels through the boat
to a new controller, then to the house batteries.
Test
battery capacities
Change
Joker valve (in marine head)
Program
depth offset (sensor to waterline; sensor to bottom of keel)
Activate Iridium 500 min.; e-mail compression, and firewall
software for Sat Phone
Buy
2 ea. 6 gal Water Jerry Cans; install board to mount on lifelines/stanchions
Clean
& fill diesel jerry cans
Inflate
& test Kayak
Put
on Van 2014 license tabs
Rig
SSB antenna; try to actually hear Chris with SSB receiver radio
---------
Maybe: WeatherNet (data
source & compression for Internet & Sat Phone), GRIB Explorer &
Metmapper display software for other weather data
FILL
all 3 propane tanks (for galley oven and range)
FILL
both gasoline cans (for dinghy outboard)
Put
on Dinghy 2014 registration tabs
=> Verizon- unlock phone; buy SIM card in Bahamas OR use BaTelCo
phone
(thanks,
Jerry)
Groceries
& supplies – buy and load boat – enough food for many days
Park
camper van for the winter; give spare van keys to Indiantown Marina Office
and
to Wrights
[do in 2014: MN canoe & Precision-23
registrations for 2014]
Improve
the 110 vac internal wiring – switch to marine-grade 12/3 wiring
Test
circuit breakers & GFIs [Ground Fault Interrupts]
Adjust
depth gauge offset on Raymarine tri-data
Check
speed / log wheel
Buy? Dodge-Abacos 2014
Buy? Abaco Ports of Call ?
Buy? Lewmar Winch rebuilt kit
Buy? iPad mounting bracket
Buy? Second Kayak
