In The Grove

It has been a  busy month and a half with three trade shows and traveling all over the country.  We are now ready to get back to the cruising lifestyle.

At the Miami Boat Show, we purchased a new Tohatsu 9.8 with Electric Start for our dinghy.  The idea is to give Yammy some independence, while not having to worry if she will be able to start the motor.  Once the dock workers, in CA, decide to unload the ships, we will have our new motor.

Selling the Evinrude 2-stroke is anyone is interested.  Runs great.  1990 9.9 Evinrude at 74 lbs.

We also picked up a new Outback inverter/charger.   This is a big sucker that weighs 61 lbs.  It has a true sine wave inverter at 2000 Watt continuous and an 80 amp battery charger.  When we do get the cloudy days, with no wind, we can't stand listening to our generator run for hours to get our house bank up.  Our current charger averages about  20 Amps.

By the way, our single Valence battery is still showing no signs of degradation.  Still holds at 13.2VDC during normal loads with no charging current.

So when I mention getting back to the cruising lifestyle, that means spending the weekend pulling apart the boat to beef up the wiring needed to run the extra power.  As usual, the wiring was done all wrong and undersized for the 1500 watt inverter that is in there now.  But, I also needed to up the DC wiring for the new charger as well.

And, as they say, cruising is time spent repairing boats in exotic locations.  With 80 degrees and sunny skies predicted for the next 10 days, I would say Marathon is pretty exotic.

For the better part of cruising, we are excited that two of our kids are coming down in April.  First will be Rochelle and Kevin.  For those that don't know, Rochelle is pregnant with her first child.  Looks like we have another grandson on the way!!!  Then Tommy and Ashley will come for a week.  We can't wait to share our new life with those we love.

 During my trip to California, I was able to spend some time with Rod and Diane.  We stopped at the Lost Abbey  brewery so we could drink some Mongo IPA.  Yes, Rod is my twin and yes, I am standing on my toes to try and look taller.  We are the same height.

 Went for a walk on the old 7 mile bridge yesterday.  It was late afternoon, so we hit feeding time.  We saw schools of these spotted eagle rays.  Up to six in a school.  We also saw a small shark, but we couldn't get the picture.  

 If you zoom in, you can see the spots.  They stir up the sand looking for the crustaceans to eat.

While we were watching these, an older gentlemen came up and said a woman was killed by one of these a few years ago.  I said, they are spotted rays, not the stingray with the deadly tail.  He said these rays leap out of the water when being chased by a shark.  The women was in a small bow rider and was killed by one of these as it leaped away from danger.  Broke her neck.  What are the chances!  I see them leaping all of the time, but never thought about that happening.  Kind of like the asian carp in the Mississippi.  I did look it up and it really happened.

  

Water temperature is back up to near 77 degrees, so snorkeling is in full swing.  Drying the gear at a local rental and dive boat place.  By the way, the lowest water temp we have seen this winter, was 69 degrees.

Miami Boat Show

Today is the first day of the show.  I now use these boat shows as half pleasure half business.  Seem to be able to generate at least one lead for sensors at each show.

We will be helping Mark at Starboard Sun again today.  He sells the Superwind wind generator and the SunWare solar panels.  Don't forget, just mentioning my name, when buying from Mark, and you will get at least free shipping.

www.starboardsun.com

We sailed here over the weekend.  Always a challenge as we head against the prevailing winds.  We had to throw 8 tacks and spent 9 hours sailing to Rodriquez the first night.  Just happy we can tack to places now.  We were the only ones sailing NE that day. Everyone else just motored up wind.  If the old saying holds true, "Gentlemen don't sail to windward", I don't qualify as a gentlemen.

The view from our favorite spot near South Beach.  That is an Azimut 88.  A $6.5M yacht.  We have watched the house get built for the past two years.  If the boat costs that much, imagine the cost of the house.  

    

Full moon rising over the mooring field.  Picture was taken during our dinghy ride back from dinner at Burdine's.  The bridge is right at the south end of the mooring/anchoring area.  

 Our first annual birthday bash.  Wanted to make sure no one gets left out.

We're Back!

Just got back from two weeks of trolling for business up in MN, WI and IL.  Yammy stayed a week on the boat alone and joined me in Chicago for the HVAC show.

Good to be back to warm and sunny weather.  We are here a week and then head to Miami for the show there.  We will anchor in our favorite spot to be able to dinghy to the show.  We are looking at new refrigeration and a 4 stroke dinghy motor.  Finally going to get rid of the two stroke for the quieter running 4 stroke.  It will be nice to be able to carry on a conversation while in the dinghy.

We plan to gut and rebuild the salon this summer, so new refrigeration will be the basis of the layout.  Looking at the new drawer refrigeration/freezers.  We also have samples of a lightweight granite countertop that is used in private jets.  All the cabinets will be built with a foam cored composite from Coosa.  These lightweight materials should offset any additional weight gained in the new refrigeration.

 We stopped to eat in Islamorada and was greeted by Florida's Great Egret.  

 They take their golf carts seriously here.

Good to be home.

  

43' Sailboat for Sale

Don't get nervous.  Not Yasmine Ann.

We are helping Sid and Bonnie sell their boat, FIU, and we love it so much we just had to be involved.  If I was looking for a monohaul, this would be a perfect choice.

The boat was custom designed and built in France by CN de Soubise.  The boat model is, "Island Beneath the Wind."  

She is listed on 4 different sites right now, including EBay.

Ebay link:    http://www.ebay.com/itm/141541793592?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Yammy also did a YouTube Video:     http://youtu.be/z3Oja-8SckQ

If anyone is interested, let us know.  We would be happy to fill you in on more details.

FIU

 

Sun, Sailing, Snorkeling, Friends and Music

That and then some.

Between Christmas and New Year's we went with Kent and Jane to anchor at Horseshoe Key.  Incredible sunset with flat seas and no surrounding light to wash out the night sky.  We also bought some new snorkeling gear and consider it a whole new experience when it is all custom fit for you.

Some of you may or may not know that Eric Stone opened a restaurant here.  Eric Stone is the singer that Bob Bitchin (Latitudes and Attitudes and now Cruising Outpost Magazine) used for his TV shows and boat show music.  Our friend, Steve Hall is the lead guitarist and also plays in a great band called Fiddle Rock.  Cory and Ty are another band we like to go hear.  We go listen to live music a couple of times a week.

 Eric Stone w/Steve Hall

 Steve and Randy, Fiddle Rock

Love this Picture!  Randy, from Fiddle Rock.  Plays classical harp at some of his gigs.

I keep forgetting to post this one.  At Vero Beach, we had three former Katlynn Marina (Sodus Bay) boats at the same time.  From the left:  Pat and Walt Washer(s/v Waves of Grace). Yasmine and myself.  Paul and Debra Joseph (s/v Kelly Nicole), 

 Kent, Jane and Squirt on the PDQ 34 Rising Tide at Horseshoe Key

     Incredible sunset, and Yasmine Ann, reflecting on the still waters at Horseshoe Key

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.  We spent a little over a week of it traveling, but the highlight was seeing the kids and grand kids.

 Something we don't get to see very often.  Sunrise on our drive out of the keys to head north.  

 Local Christmas lights.  This one is at the power company next door to the marina.  

 These next two are at the park right next to the marina.  

 Mackerel Sky Sunset at our home in Boot Key Harbor.  Gets its name because the clouds resemble the markings on a King Mackerel.  You will be seeing more great pictures,of this sky, in future blogs.

Since I mentioned the King Mackerel, I had to include the photo of Yammy and her 30 lb catch from last year.  

You Can Keep Your Snow!

I hate rubbing it in, but we love it here.  We have had some mid 60's days, but that is warm with the hot Florida sun.  Yammy is out, for a boat ride, with her long time friends Maria and Blair.  They are originally from Fayetteville, NY and are staying in an RV down here.  One of those times when Facebook is great.  It brought them together after almost 15 years.  They have a 20' jet boat and are planning on water skiing today.  My work is winding down for the day and I decided to write a quick blog.

The rigger's have come out and inspected the rig with no problems found.  Once you have had a mast break, you tend to be even more paranoid.  They also fixed a sloppy boom gooseneck problem.  It is very common on cats due to the large mainsail twisting the boom.

We have gone out only once since we have been here.  Hit 8 knots close hauled at 40 apparent in 15 knots.  Still can't get over what the new sails have done for us.

We also went and sailed Sid and Bonnie's 43' french boat FIU.  He is selling his boat in an effort to buy a catamaran.  I wanted to see how it sailed and I was impressed.  43' long with a 15' beam and IOR hull shape, makes her very stable and fast.  It was built in the same factory as our Lagoon, so we feel a kinship and plan to help them sell it.  If anyone is interested in more info, just let us know.

1994 43' Custom, French designer Etarn and CNB built.  Swing keel with 8' draft with board down and 4'5" board up.  Stiff, stable, fast and huuuuge inside.    

Yamm'y friend Blair in the background.  He refuses to get his picture taken. 

 Tough day on the water for Maria

 Morning Yoga.  Can't do that in NY right now.

Being from New York, it doesn't really feel like Christmas here.  Hey, who cares!  Our sunset through the wreath,