Moving day.

Today we moved the boat from the yard to the slip. First time in 7 months we were together on board.
After sitting for so long the boat is in a mess topsides as well as below.
Plus the new shinny aluminm fuel tank won't fit thru the companion way. Oops, guess I should have measured that as well.
Its a bittersweet moment. I have so much to do, but then mess up by one or two inches on the fuel tank measurements...
I got some thinking to do as to what our options are. But still glad to be back at the dock.

Wow a working engine....

Finally after 7 long months, Sarah Claire has a working engine. The newly rebuilt Perkins 4-108 with 1 hour on the meter sits nicely in the engine room waiting for good weather to motor the short stretch back to her slip.
Spent part of the day installing the primary bilge pump, with 2 more to go. Once back in the slip, the rewire starts. New 50 amp 125/250 shore power, new breakers, new fuses, wire.. it is a big pile of stuff.

But first, prior to the move, the new aluminum fuel tank needs to be put back in the bilge, and the stringers tied in. Next week hopefully, (but will probably be next month.)  the water tanks will go back in, and new plumbing will hook it all  up with the  Isotemp water heater.. man is that sucker huge...   Will be replacing shower drain hose as well. Speaking of hose, was putting on new hose for the aft cockpit lockers when the plastic thru hull snapped off.. ouch. Not good. I didn't have time to mess with it so I had the yard install a new one... cost only 1 arm.
Weather here is rain like we haven't seen in a while, high winds and the bay is very choppy. Maritime weather.
Pictures to follow.

Sailing off Miami

Over 8 years ago, Julie and I took a ASA sailing school class in Florida.
http://www.bwss.com/ It was a week long course, with a few others we didn't know. Don't remember the boat to much, but it was a tartan or a Erikson 38. The captain was a good sailor. Taught us a lot in a short amount of time. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to find out was cruising is all about. You can get our ASA bare boat certification. The course emphasises coastal navigation, anchoring, maneuvering in tight places, reading charts, etc. Just make sure you bring something for mal de mar. This photo of us was taken off Miami, Fl. on a beautiful day. If I wasn't already hooked on the sailing life, this would have done it.

Anyone can love sailing....

On our Nor'Sea 27, Max our beautiful Rotti, and Daniel, loving every minute of being aboard.

Annie, our other Rott, was hiding out in the cockpit when this was taken in 2001.