Day 9. Another day in paradise?

Cloudy, windy with intermittent periods of sunshine.  What I'd give for a full day of sunshine.  

We've had some questions posed to us.  How do we get water when sailing off shore?  Zephyr carries 265 gallons of water.  That's a lot by any standard.  We're looking into a water maker.  They can make any where from a little to a lot.  There are a few draw backs to having one of them onboard.  First they require lots of power.  The engine has to be running to get enough energy to make it work properly.  Second, they need to be flushed and "pickled" (what ever that means)if not used regularly.  It really allows boaters to stay out as long as they have food to eat.  You can't run them in harbors as there is to much water contamination.

Yes, the boats goes lower in the water the more you add to it.  Zephyr starts out at 32,000lbs empty.  She weighed 38,000lbs at the haul out back in August.  After we are done provisioning for the voyage, we figure she will hit 42,000.  Big slow but well equipped.

Lunch was a bit strange today.  We were out running errands and stopped by a typical roadside diner just south of Newport that specializes in fish--go figure.  Typical roadside diner--old picture on the walls, hand made wine bottle stoppers, postcards and peeling linoleum on the floor and lots of fish on the menu.  Strangely, they were playing Ravel's Bolero, Moonlight Sonata and other classics in the background.  Good food but unlikely music playing in the background. 

We plan on ordering a new water pump tomorrow.  Nothing that will fit the bill here in Newport.  The current pump pumps fine but just won't pressurize the system.  It is supposed to get pressure up to about 45 pounds and shut off.  This way, we have lots of water(both hot & cold) when the faucet is turned on.  It is supposed to kick back on when the pressure drops and re-pressurize the system.  It worked the way it is supposed to once since we got here but now just runs and runs and runs.  Time for a new one.

The replacement Direct TV unit came today.  We've had the last one for 11 years.  The new one is less than half the size.  Now we can get all the local channels.  Boy "Survivor"was great tonight.  We may be on  a boat, but there is no reason to do without the simple pleasures of life(TV?).

Down to three boxes plus the wine.  YEA!!!  The end is insight.

Day 8

Another day of fun.  Two more boxes down.  Four plus two loaded with the fruit of the grape (wine) to go and then the odd stuff.  Generator(for when we are away from the marina), air compressor( for those odd needs to blow things up), plus lots more tools.

Another day of organizing what has come into the boat.  Files, folders of information on how to do things, etc.

The water pump for the fresh water seems to be dying.  When I turn it on, it fills a tank and keeps it under pressure plus fills the hot water tank.  When both tanks are full and a certain amount of water pressure has been achieved, the pump shuts off.  When you turn on a faucet, you have instant water under pressure.  As the pressure drops, the pump turns back on and the system gets re-pressurized.  When you turn the water off, the pump runs until the tank is re-pressurized.  This goes on and on.  It's not like a cities water supply that always keeps the pipes under pressure.  This is pressure on demand.  It uses less battery power that way.   Our pump just keeps on pumping.  Never shutting off.  We plan on filling the tanks tomorrow and see if that might fix the problem, but we doubt it will do any good.  Three of the tanks are at half full and the fourth is down to about a third.  Each tank has a valve that joins all the tanks into one big system.  We have no idea what valve goes to what tank.  We plan on turning off one of the valves and see what tank stays full.  If we do this over the next few fill ups, we will know what valve goes to which tank.  Another piece of the plan.  We set forth on the search for a new pump tomorrow.  There are several stores we plan on hitting here in Newport.  If none suitable, there is always the internet.

With luck, the engine mechanic will be here tomorrow.  We await his call.  Still no call back from the electrician.  I'll try him again tomorrow.

We took in two fire extinguishers for testing and refilling.  One had somehow discharged.  Once they are done, we will take in the rest.  Our insurance company wants them brought up to date.  Can't say as how I blame them.  We also have to update our propane system.  Currently, one pipe goes into the boat then splits into two lines to separate appliances.  Thaw was fine in 1982, but it's not up to code now.  Each appliance must have its own line.  Several more things need tweaking but nothing big.

That's about it for now.  Tomorrows another day.

Day 7--week 1

First week down and still more to unpack.  Boy it's getting old.  Got two from the shed but only got to one today.  The other is waiting on deck.  

I spent a great deal of today organizing the many manuals and instruction sheets that Bill Gardner (Zephyrs previous owner) had kept.  Thank God he did!! It will make my life here on Zephyr much easier if I can pull one of the manuals and see what is what and what is where should anything break down.  You never really appreciate the manuals--God forbid we should actually read one of the things when we are trying to install stuff--until you need to refer back to one and can't find it.  Bill  had them all arranged in nice plastic organizers.  All I had to do was consolidate and label.  I had to lay them all out on  two big tables to get them all set up.  Once that was done, label each file and put a second label on the box they will be stored in and I was done.  Took several hours but I only have to do it once.  Again, Bill, if you are reading this--my thanks!!

Ate dinner from available stores we brought with us.  Tracy found a box that you add several breasts of chicken to a mixture of potatoes and cheese that comes in the box and cook at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.  Came out a bit stuck to the bottom of the pan even after using Pam. Tasted fine though Tracy was a bit concerned that the cheese stuff she put on them was quite brown and not the normal color of cheese.  Of course the fact that the expiration date on the box was January 2000 had nothing to do with that.  Since we are still alive, I guess the expiration date was no big deal.  Hey--what's 8 years past due?

We had to download shows off the internet tonight as the Direct TV replacement hasn't arrived and there were some shows we really wanted to catch up on.  The small dish on the stern of the boat does make it easier to get the internet out here in the bay.  I'm well over 1000 feet from the WiFi broadcast antenna for the marina/rv park.  Amazing what a bit of technology can do for you.  I don't have to  hike up to the laundry room to get on the internet.  With the wind howling at 15-20 knots, it does make it easier.

Our Winslow life raft will be here in about three weeks.  It will give us a much better sense of safety having it strapped to the stern of the boat while we go out sailing.

The engine mechanic called back this pm.  He thinks he will be by on Thursday or Friday.  I'm not going to even turn over the engine till he finishes looking at it.  No reason to stir up any sediment that may be in the tanks or laying in wait at the bottoms of the filters by the engine. Since there is no hurry at this time to take her out sailing, waiting is the best option.  

I still have to go up the mast and check the rigging and lines and the equipment to do that won't be here till at least Friday.  Plus, I still have to have a stainless steel plate made to go under the inner forestay so the front deck doesn't bulge if we hoist the sails at the bow.  One of the joys of Zephyr is that she is "cutter" rigged.  That means she has two sails in front of  the mast.  If you only have one, you are a sloop.  With two, you can have more sails up--go faster.  Or furl the big sail on the bow (genoa) and put up a smaller sail farther back on the boat, but still in front of the mast, and have better control when the wind and seas really begin to blow.  It allows a boat to take on much more serious sailing in higher winds instead of doing without a sail on the bow of the boat.  

Tomorrow--more wind and 20% chance of rain.  Where are you sunshine?

Day 6

Another day, another box.  They just keep on coming.  Down to 11 and counting.  All in good time.

Had a flat tire today--or at least a nail in one.  The front two tires were just about flat when we got here.  The front right was all the way gone and the left was close.  Luckily, we had a pump in the trunk and got them re-inflated.  Had them checked today and there was a nail in the right tire. Amazing that I made it here back in December with it as it hadn't been driven since I left.   At least I didn't have to buy a new tire.  I've always tried in the past to get nails in the side walls so that I have to buy a new tire rather than in the tread so I didn't ;-).  It could just be fixed this time.  Nice people at the tire store.  Didn't even charge me for the fix.

Went to the Coast Guard offices today to see about trying out some of my flares that I carry on the boat.  Some date back to the year Zephyr was made--1982.  Long since out of date (only good for three years).  I figured who better to show me how to set them off than the Coast Guard.  It's comforting to have them on board, but I don't want to have to stop and read the instruction on how to set them off while my boat is sinking underneath me.  I'm not sure the Coast Guard people actually believed me.  They're just used to people taking them off the coast and setting them off to see how it's done.  Said to just bring them by and they'd  light them up it they could.  We were both in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for several years and even they didn't teach us how to do it.   Should have time over the next few days.  Windy again today--sunny but quite windy.  

Had lunch at Volta Deli--Bakery and Gumbo shop in downtown Newport.  Had all of three tables.  Specializes in African/Caribbean food.  I had Turkey Gumbo and Tracy had Seafood Gumbo--which amounted to Turkey Gumbo with  some crab thrown in.  Now visualize this all you folks from Colorado--It came to the table boiling around the edges of the bowl!!!  Just try and get your food that hot at Colorado's altitude.  There are some advantages to having your food served at sea level.  It stays hot a whole lot longer!!  Was quite tasty.

Did laundry today.  Boy what excitement!  Brought us back to college days sitting in the laundry room.  Unfortunately, no pinball machine to play with.

The rigger we had contacted called today.  He inspected Zephyr last week.  Agrees its time to change it.  The wires don't look bad, it is just time.  Most rigging gets changed every 7-10 years.   For those of you out there that don't know what a rigger does--he replaces the wires that hold up the mast.  It's much better to have the mast vertical than have it horizontal.  If it goes horizontal--it means you're in a heap of trouble.  After getting them changed, he "tunes" them so that they hold the mast at just the right pressure.  A sailboat in the America's Cup last year cracked in half and sank because the wires were much to tight.  Think of the mast as an arrow pointed down, right at the center of the boat and the wires as the bow string.  Pull them to tight and the mast will go right through the boat--BAD!!  He has only rigged about one boat a year and recommended taking down the mast and sending the wires to Portland to have them measured and replaced.  He would then "tune" the rigging after it was re-installed on the boat.  With that kind of limited experience, we will probably have to take Zephyr back to Washington and have it done.  Its just to risky to have it done by anyone but a very experienced professional.  We don't want to be 800 miles from shore in  a big blow and suddenly hear a loud twang.  You can be sure if it happened, it would be in the middle of the night just for kicks.  So it looks like we will be heading back to Seattle some time this Summer.  I've already made contacts there for the job.  

Hung more pictures today.   Even a calendar.  God knows what for.   Zephyr is fast becoming HOME!!!

Day 5

Got lots done today.  Installed the Direct Tv  on the boat!!!  All the comforts of home!  The unit we have is so old that Direct Tv couldn't reprogram it for Oregon so they are sending us a new unit.  Verizon said the same about the telephone program we were on.  It was discontinued years ago.  It suited us just fine.  Amazingly, the new program cost more.  What a surprise?  Didn't figure it would be cheaper.  Oh well--the joys of progress?

WINDY today--sunny but wind of 15-20 knots all day.  Kept quite a chill in the air.  Tomorrow is to be better if you actually believe the weather people(yeah--right).  

We picked up one of the boxes from the storage unit and got it put away.  Hope to do one a day if possible.  Space is getting limited so we will be doing our best to find all the available nooks and crannies.  

With the freezer/refrigerator so small, we are going thru the frozen food we brought with us.  County Line ribs from New Mexico.  Just couldn't leave them in Aurora.  That would have been a crime!!!

Blue took her first walk on deck today.  Or at least in the cockpit.  Didn't see any sea gulls, etc so she was fine.  Had to shoo her back in later.  Now considers going outside her birth right.  Stands at the top of the companionway and meows.  Lot of good that will do her.  Snowshoe also went out but really doesn't care.  Had to shoo him back in also but he never asked to go out again.  He knows where the food is.  Smart boy!!

More coming.

Day 4, missed day 3

Sorry I missed yesterday.  Just to busy and to much to do to get the time.  It was suddenly midnight.  

Rented a storage space and unloaded what was left.  Got the truck back to Toledo, OR and kept trying to get the boat organized.  Boy have we got a lot of stuff.  Most of the cupboards are full and we still have a lot to go.  At least there is no real hurry.  Take it slow and methodical. 

Still trying to get internet at the boat.  The new antenna works fine on deck but not inside so I bought more cable to hopefully get it to connect.  I'll be trying to get the Direct TV dish installed this pm if the weather clears up. Overcast and about a 20 knot wind.  

Newport is celebrating "Liberty Day"  The main drag is shut down and with the current weather--wind and spotty rain, it should be fun. The parade goes all afternoon.

The kids have settled in with only the occasional spat.  Not to bad all in all. 

Well, back to the boat--lots to organize and stow.  Monday starts the calls to the mechanics and electricians, etc.  Oh Boy!!!

Day 2, Year 1, same location

Boy what a day!!! Went at the truck with everything we had.  Just couldn't finish it.  Finally rented a space at a local storage place about a mile from the marina--if that.  Got about 80% done but since we have to return the truck by 11am tomorrow, there was just no way.  The big job--moving in the Select Comfort bed into the master stateroom was a whole lot of fun.  The previous bed was just to firm, even with a foam panel on top.  We already had the mattress, we just had to take it with us and get it installed here.  Not hard, but of course it sprinkled all day.  Finally quit just after we got the bed in the boat.  Was nice this evening.

Tracy has been unpacking all day as I brought more boxes to her.  She brought a lot down to when we were returning to the boat from errands.  Most of the holds are just about full.  We will be eating at the boat for quite some time--at least after we get her back in ship shape and everything stowed.  

Got the navigation software back up and running.  Now we have charts, GPS and AIS(automatic identification system) running of the lap top computer.  The AIS is great!!! It identifies commercial boats around us.  They have to had a radio transponder on their boats broadcasting who they are and what their course is plus lots more information.  Make it easier to radio them if they are barreling down on us.

The kids are just about back to normal  Blue still snipes at the other kids, just not quite as much.  She remembers the new bed from the house and as soon as it was setup, she moved right on in.  Took it over.  Heaven help the other cat that tried to be on the bed with her.  A few hours have passed and now the others are allows on the bed.  Makes for a much happier boat.

Tracy crashed just after 10 tonight.  She is whipped.  No surprise since she was going at it with everything she had.  Hope she sleeps well tonight.  She just couldn't stand the boat so disorganized.  With a storage place, we can at least get Zephyr more ship shape before we open another box.

Keith--the man that was watching Zephyr over the Winter stopped by this afternoon while we were taking more things to the boat.  His being there really gave us great piece of mind and a really nice feeling of security.  We were both glad he helped us out while we were gone.  Our hats go off to him for all his help.

That's about it for tonight.  More to come as Newport celebrates "Loyalty Day" over the weekend.  Not sure what it is but we expect to be there with all the other Newporters.

I've been so busy, I haven't shaved since we left Denver on Monday.  I look like a bum!!

Bill