We launched the boat just before memorial day weekend. Now that Rebel Rouser was floating we started working on the long list of tasks that needed to be completed before our departure. Again, poor weather hampered our progress so we found ourselves moving from inside and outside work depending on the weather the day we worked on the boat.
When most people move into a new house they proceed to repaint and redecorate to make their new home really feel like its their own. We were no different with our new floating home. Rather than repainting we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. An afternoon was spent scrubbing the deck like it probably had not been scrubbed in a couple years. Inside the boat we cleaned and cleaned some more. Every storage locker and cubby hole was emptied and swabbed with the appropriate chemical to clean and sanitize. Cabin walls were wiped down with cleaner and polish, the bildge was cleaned to show-room condition, even the water tanks and lines were scrubbed, sanitized, and made safe to hold potable water. All this cleaning and organizing began to make the boat feel more like our new home.
In addition to cleaning we also continued to tackle the installation of new gear and other items that needed repairs or attention. The list of work was huge and as we dug further into different mechanical systems items seems to be added faster than they were completed. For example, while running wires for a new vhf radio into the steering pedastal I took the time to closely inspect everything I crawled and wiggled around. The result, I found loose and missing bolts that hold on the quadrant stop brackets (if these bracket had come loose, essentially the wheel wouldn't stop turning and the chain and cable could run off its gearing and sprockets and we wouldn't be able to steer the boat). I also found a ground wire that should have been attached to the steel fuel tank but appeared to have originally left the fatory without being properly installed. Throughout the boat I found wiring, plumbing, etc that was not supported or routed exactly to my liking. Other items we tackled were building a tower to mount the wind generator, designing and building a system to allow us to carry the dingy on its side on the stern of the boat, building and installing a stern mount for carrying the dingy outboard motor, mounting padeyes in the cockpit for safety tethers, and installing our new stereo, speakers, and vhf radio. I also installed the dodger, bimini, and connector and started working on sewing the side enclosures for the cockpit.
On June 19 we managed to take the boat from its slip in Muskgon to Grand Haven for a weekend to participate in the GRSC 8+8 cruising rally. Although the sailing event on Saturday was disabled by heavy seas and high winds we had a great time with friends and it was nice to sail the boat rather than work on the boat.
Outside of boat work we were trying to sell our house ourselves and had another entire list of personal business and financial items to arrange before our departure. We were constantly trying to keep the house clean and holding open houses, cleaning and showing, cleaning and showing. Just before July 4th weekend we called in a realator to finish the job so we could concentrate on other items. We were checking out options for health insurance and getting other documents in line like renewing drivers licenses, arranging for absentee ballots, consolidating and organizing all of our banking to assure everything was properly setup for online banking and bill pay. We held a couple yard sales to clear out the last items that were not worth storing and had to line up storage for our things (thank goodness my parents own a self storage business) and also since we're not taking our dog Sadie had to line up a place for her to stay (she's staying with my parents and sister while we're gone since she's not a sailing fan and needs much more space that what's available for her on a 36 foot sailboat.)
I posted this page on July 13 and we are 3 weeks from departure. Things are quite a blurr but the boat is nearly ready to go. We are packing up the house and getting ready to move aboard in 2 weeks. Its almost surreal that after a couple years of planning we are this close and SO READY TO GO. We're tired of all the work and planning and ready to ejnoy the true implementation of our goal.
Chad