We settled on an S1 Wheel Pilot. It's a little smaller than what we ideally need but it was cheaper so we settled. We are excited to have one of our biggest expenses out of the way. Things are really coming together for us.
We're counting down the days we can get back to Benevolence. Things are coming together nicely.
It has been a relief to have Brett visit the boat two weeks ago. I am feeling much better about her.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thoughts of an Interview on Engineless Sailing
I have been listening to Furled Sails podcasts every day for a week. I have soaked in all the interesting people and ideas and experiences I have been hearing. But some that I downloaded didn't appeal to me so I skipped over them. Till today. I ran out of new ones so I scrolled back through and found one that I avoided like the plague. It was a two part interview with Jay Fitzgerald and his devotion to engineless sailing. This guy is adamant that sailors don't have motors, his opinions very strong.I believe that there is a medium with using a motor vs sailing.
I learned to sail a Hobicat without a motor (duh) and I also sailed our 20ft folding trimaran without a motor. But it seemed pretty logical to have a motor on our 37 foot, 8 ton mononull for pulling in and out of ports throughout the world. So I didn't want to hear his ranting about how only true sailors had no engines in their sailboats. But I listened anyway, desperate for some sail food while typing away at my monotonous job. I disagreed with most of what he said, rolling my eyes at his devout absurdity at not using an engine, ever. But I also learned a lot.
One thing I did hear in his interview was that engines take up at LEAST a year of cruising expense. Our trip down the ICW was extreme, as we had to motor all the way down the narrow canal but I started to envision the financial spreadsheet in our logbook that I kept while we were underway. And about 80% of our expense was.... fuel and engine parts. Huh.
Though Brett shares many of Jay's opinions about sailing without a motor, I also know that he would never part with his 40hp Westerbeke on our current boat.
I did find the interview very interesting and not abrasive as I thought he would be. He had a good sense of humor and listened to Noel's rationalizations for having a motor on some boats while not others. I learned to be open to people, even if you don't agree wholeheartedly. There are ALWAYS things to learn, even if you don't always agree. The world doesn't revolve around you so be open to others beliefs and opinions and you'll learn a lot and grow in yourself and your own opinions, whatever they may be.
I learned to sail a Hobicat without a motor (duh) and I also sailed our 20ft folding trimaran without a motor. But it seemed pretty logical to have a motor on our 37 foot, 8 ton mononull for pulling in and out of ports throughout the world. So I didn't want to hear his ranting about how only true sailors had no engines in their sailboats. But I listened anyway, desperate for some sail food while typing away at my monotonous job. I disagreed with most of what he said, rolling my eyes at his devout absurdity at not using an engine, ever. But I also learned a lot.
One thing I did hear in his interview was that engines take up at LEAST a year of cruising expense. Our trip down the ICW was extreme, as we had to motor all the way down the narrow canal but I started to envision the financial spreadsheet in our logbook that I kept while we were underway. And about 80% of our expense was.... fuel and engine parts. Huh.
Though Brett shares many of Jay's opinions about sailing without a motor, I also know that he would never part with his 40hp Westerbeke on our current boat.
I did find the interview very interesting and not abrasive as I thought he would be. He had a good sense of humor and listened to Noel's rationalizations for having a motor on some boats while not others. I learned to be open to people, even if you don't agree wholeheartedly. There are ALWAYS things to learn, even if you don't always agree. The world doesn't revolve around you so be open to others beliefs and opinions and you'll learn a lot and grow in yourself and your own opinions, whatever they may be.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
11/20/08 BRETT IS BACK TODAY
Brett spent the last two days checking systems on our boat. Everything is great. The batteries were drained and one wouldn't charge. But he was able to get a new one and the engine started right up. The dinghy was in the water so Brett rigged up a pulley system and was able to get Knot Yacht back on board. Even the plants were doing well. Yesterday, he actually ran into Keith, who had been watching our boat. He hadn't been there awhile but stopped by there on his way to work in Mississippi. We are planning on getting together with him when we get back.We have decided not to go to Montana for Christmas afterall. It's getting too close to us returning and we are quite behind in the savings department, especially with this unexpected trip to New Orleans we decided to take. But we both found out that we were only going to Montana to make the other happy. So it worked out.
11/18/08 - Brett Arrives at Boat
After a car ride, train trip, two flights with delays and a rental car, he finally made it to Benevolence at 2:00am his time last night. He called and was ecstatic to report that everything looked exactly the same except the dinghy was in the water and the batteries were low. He was not so happy to report the cold. He started the propane stove and dug up some chocolate pudding to munch on. I laugh as I remember that pudding. I had bought 42 servings of the hand-pak puddings because Brett liked pudding. We had pudding coming out of our ears while underway. LOLHis main goal today is to charge the batteries and find out if they are still good and to monitor the wind generator. He thinks that the bilge pump under the engine might have been pumping and that is what drained the batteries.But there is no mold. No army of cockroaches. We didn't lose our teak boards in the cockpit that were left ot brave the hurricane. Benevolence is in good shape and Brett is enjoying his time away to refocus on his goals and remember how blessed we are to own such a beautiful boat.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
More changes for us
Brett went down to check on our boat. He found her to be in great shape (thanks to Keith's help).
Monday, November 10, 2008
Positive Changes
We now have internet. I was able to find a modem through a cell phone company that I can travel with anywhere in the U.S. with so I am excited to stay in touch better, at least while we are in the U.S.
We decided to send Brett to the boat this next week for a checkup. The cold, wet weather has hit Oregon and it will be good for him to get out of it for a few days. We are both anxious about the condition of the boat's batteries and pumps. I will continue to work here in Oregon while he flies down there and back. He might also take her out for a test drive to see how the engine is running.
I miss my Palacios family much, but haven't heard from anyone lately. I hope they know they are forever deep in our hearts as our family and friends....
My aunt and uncle are replacing their home with a new one after thirty years. It's a huge undertaking and we're trying to help them when we can. Watching them pack their closest possessions into boxes and dig up all their loving plants reminds me of our own moving woes. Seeing them buy a new home sometimes makes my heart ache for a house but the boat is my home for now.
We have not been able to find a home for our cat and bird here in Oregon which breaks our heart. Especially because we had homes for them back in Texas. We may end up taking Benny back with us if we can't find a home. It is quite complicated to sail with an animal but we'd rather make adjustments for his happiness than to give him up to the humane society.
We decided to send Brett to the boat this next week for a checkup. The cold, wet weather has hit Oregon and it will be good for him to get out of it for a few days. We are both anxious about the condition of the boat's batteries and pumps. I will continue to work here in Oregon while he flies down there and back. He might also take her out for a test drive to see how the engine is running.
I miss my Palacios family much, but haven't heard from anyone lately. I hope they know they are forever deep in our hearts as our family and friends....
My aunt and uncle are replacing their home with a new one after thirty years. It's a huge undertaking and we're trying to help them when we can. Watching them pack their closest possessions into boxes and dig up all their loving plants reminds me of our own moving woes. Seeing them buy a new home sometimes makes my heart ache for a house but the boat is my home for now.
We have not been able to find a home for our cat and bird here in Oregon which breaks our heart. Especially because we had homes for them back in Texas. We may end up taking Benny back with us if we can't find a home. It is quite complicated to sail with an animal but we'd rather make adjustments for his happiness than to give him up to the humane society.
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