New 12-Volt freezer

We just added a 12-volt compressor to our freezer. When we bought Questeria, she had a freezer that ran on 110 a/c. It worked great at the dock when we were plugged into shore power. And it was okay while cruising if we ran our generator a couple of hours a day. The freezer has a cold plate so the compressor only runs a few times a day and the food stays frozen. But considering our plans to go to the Bahamas, we didn’t want to be dependent on a generator.

On our first “big trip” from the FL Keys to NC, our generator went out and we couldn’t keep our food frozen. Later, we bought our Honda 2000 generator and we were able to keep our food frozen when away from the dock. We discussed replacing it with a 12-volt compressor, but the one we had worked well most of the time. It was inconvenient, but we learned to cope with it.

One day somebody suggested that we just add a 12-volt compressor to our existing freezer. That is what we did. We ordered a Frigoboat system, meant to be self installed. We got an air-cooled Capri 50 compressor, a 160F evaporator and a freezer mechanical thermostat from Marine Warehouse. We measured the freezer and determined that this compressor and evaporator would work.

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12 Volt Evaporator
12-Volt Evaporator

We lost some storage and freezer space, but overall we are happy with how it turned out. One more item that we can check off on our Bahamas to do list.

Bahamas Bound

We have wanted to go to the Bahamas for a long time, but other things kept coming up. We think we are  almost ready. We are planning to leave around the last week of March  or the first week of April, weather permitting and plan to stay 4-8 weeks.

We are getting serious, and are talking with S/V The Journey. Our plan is to leave from Marathon, FL and go to South Riding Rock, or maybe to Rodriguez Key and then to Gun Cay. From there we will go to Northwest Channel, then to Bird Cay and then to Nassau. From there we want to visit the Exumas one day at a time.

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Last year we purchased a number of charts and guidebooks. We are using these to plan our routes, and have purchased even more.  I will also discuss these in later posts. I have been studing weather and ways to get weather predictions when you are off the grid. I will talk about this in later posts as well.

It’s Been Awhile

We’ve been pretty busy the last 6 months and I’ve neglected the blog. I’ll recap the last 6 months in this post.

July

In July we drive to Charlotte NC and then fly to Chicago.

Sailboat Race

We fly up to Chicago and meet our friends at Hotel Burnham in preparation for the Chicago-Mack sailboat race. Ron leaves on Twisted and Fran goes to Mackinac Island, by car, with Brandy and Angela. We don’t have much wind the first night and fall behind many of the boats in our class. The wind picks up the next night but we can’t catch up. I learn a lot doing this race and enjoy myself immensely.

IMG_2321.JPG
Twisted
Mackinac Island

After the race we stay on Mackinac Island for Dick’s 75th birthday party. Then we rent a car and drive back to Chicago for family time with my parents, sisters and their families.

Arch Rock, Mackinac Island
Arch Rock, Mackinac Island
Chicago Vacation

Our annual family week in Chicago is derailed due to my mom and dad falling and being put in the hospital. My mom is released the next day, but my dad has to go to Radford Green for rehab.

August

We go back to the Keys for a couple of weeks and then turn around and come back to North Carolina for our annual Beach Week.

Chef and the Farmer

We drive to NC a few days early to visit with James. On the way there we stop in Kinston to eat at Chef and The Farmer. We get there right as they open and find a seat at the bar. We are not disappointed with the food.

Chef and the Farmer
Chef and the Farmer
Ocean Isle Beach

Our annual beach week with the children and grandchildren is fun, as usual. Greg doesn’t get there since he cannot take off from work, but we see him on the way up and back. We get meet Krissi and Audrey. Michelle, Suzy and Nicole visit as well. Fran’s best friend, Sandra passes away unexpectedly this week. So it not as happy a time as in the past.

Beach Week 2014
Beach Week 2014
Leland, N Myrtle Beach and Jacksonville

After a week at the beach we are ready to drive back to the keys. We go to Leland and hang out with Daniel, Shannon, Gracie and Lawton for a few days. We also visit with Steve and Erika.

Next we go to North Myrtle Beach and spend time with Ryan and Audrey. Then we stop in Jacksonville and spend a night with Greg.

September

Our September plans revolve around Allison and Krystian’s wedding.  My dad has just come back home after his rehab in Radford Green. He is getting around great with a walker.

A Day at the Races

Steve, Erika, Fran and I fly to Chicago for the wedding. The day before we go to Arlington Park Race Track. It is a beautiful day until a micro burst hits and takes down the power lines. The weather clears and they restore power to the race track. We stay for one more race before we leave to pick up mom for the rehearsal dinner.

Races
Races
Wedding

It is a beautiful wedding and great reception. You wouldn’t have guessed that the power was out at the reception and everything was powered by a generator on a truck.

IMG_2576.JPG
Mom with her granddaughters

 

The only bad thing about the day was that my dad had to go to the hospital. Fran and my mom missed the wedding but made it to the reception in the nick of time.

Hospital

My dad did not improve and we fly back to Chicago. He is released to hospice in Radford Green

Funeral

Paul H. Olson January 29, 1925 – September 16 2014.

We have a nice service and all eight grandchildren are together for this solemn occasion.

Grandchildren
Grandchildren

October

We plan to stay in FL and work on the boat in October. Plans are changed with the words “Grandma, can you come to my birthday”.

Fuel Tank

We are starting to see diesel fuel in the bilge. We decide it must be coming from the bottom of the tank. We have the fuel pumped out and stored in two 55 gallon drums. We remove the tank and have it repaired. While its out we decide to have a sending unit installed so we can have a fuel gauge. We get the tank back in and put 12 gallons in so we can get to the boat yard.

Boat Yard

We are overdue for a bottom job. We need to sand all the old bottom paint off and put down a primer and two coats of new bottom paint. We also need a new cutlass bearing. We bring it to Outta the Blue boatyard in Marathon. You can do all of your own work here but we pay them to do everything. They do a great job, but it takes 2 1/2 weeks.

Jackson’s Birthday

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Jackson
Jackson on a train

November

Naples and Fort Myers

We come back from NC and stay with George and Nancy while Questeria is in the boat yard. After a while we decide we want to go somewhere new for a couple of days. We drive up to Marco Island, but decide we will have more fun in Naples.

We get a hotel near the downtown district and bar hop, trying several different appetizers.

The next day we drive to Fort Myers and look at RVs. We book a night in the downtown district and repeat the night before.

We go back to Marathon the next day and Questeria is done. We splash her the next morning.

Thanksgiving

We find out that Adam and Ava will be in New Bern NC for Thanksgiving. Also Fran’s two nephews, Patrick and Chris will be there. Alicia, Jeff, Jackson and Oliver decide to go as well.

Ava, Grandma and Jackson
Ava, Grandma and Jackson

We have a great Thanksgiving with lots of family. Then we go to Leland to see Daniel, Shannon, Gracie and Lawton. We also see Erika and Steve. We go to N. Myrtle again and visit Ryan and Audrey.

December

We decide to stay in the Keys for Christmas. This will be our first time spending Christmas in the Keys. We buy a rosemary Christmas tree and decorate it with LED lights.

Rosemary Christmas Tree
Rosemary Christmas Tree
Day Sail

We have done a lot to the boat and want to try it out. We go out for about an hour, turn around and come back. Everything worked great.

Leaving marina
Leaving marina

track20141217.kmz (download and view in Google Earth)

Christmas Eve

The people in the marina have a Christmas Eve party. Everybody brings an appetizer to share. We make Swedish meatball. They turn out great.

Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Exploding Rib Roast

On Christmas day we sleep in and have bloody mary’s. Later we visit with people in the marina.

We have standing rib roast to cook in the oven. We prepare it in a Pyrex baking dish with beef broth and red wine. We put it into the oven at 450, for 20 minutes (as per instructions). After about 18 minutes the Pyrex baking dish explodes, red wine and broth pour out of the oven and the boat fills with smoke.

We manage to clean up and clear the smoke. We put the roast in a cast iron skillet and continue cooking it. Luckily there was way to much meat for the two of us so we cut the bones and bottom off before we eat. Everything turned out delicious.

Prime Rib
Prime Rib
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Almondine
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Almondine
 New Year’s Eve

We have another party on New Year’s Eve. We celebrate at Marathon Midnight (which is 9:00PM to the rest of the world). Some of us do stay up and celebrate at midnight.

January

We don’t need much of a reason for a party in our marina. So NFL football play-offs are an important time here.

Football, Friends and Meat

Besides the smoker, we now have two rotisseries (rotisserii?). We have been going all out with brisket, chicken, ribs and bratwurst for the play-offs.

Brisket and Chicken
Brisket and Chicken on Smoker
Spinnaker Halyard

We had a growing list of items that needed to be done up the mast. Besides that we wanted to add an external halyard that could be used for the spinnaker that we bought a few years ago. We contacted Keys Rigging, in Marathon. They helped us figure out what we needed, came out and installed everything at a very reasonable price. They pointed out some problems and fixed them as well.

We now have a spinnaker halyard and a tuned, problem-free rig.

 

Jacksonville, FL

It seems like we just got back to Marathon, and now we need to leave again. Our van is still in Fernandina Beach and we have plans to be in Chicago and Mackinac Island in July. We also want to see Greg in Jacksonville and Alicia, Jeff, Jackson and Oliver in Charlotte.

We rent a car in Marathon and I pack it up while Fran gets her hair done. We get underway about noon time. Traffic is a heavy and there are scattered storms on the way up to Jacksonville. We get to the hotel in Jacksonville around 6:30pm.

Greg meets us at the hotel. He is on a four-month internship in Jacksonville and lives 10 minutes away.

We have to move all of our luggage and our dog, Sandy, to the hotel room. It is on the fourth floor and it takes us two trips, with a dolly.

Next we have to drop our rental car off at the airport. It is about 30 minutes away and we need to fill up the gas tank on the way.

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After dinner Greg drops us off at the marina. Our van starts right up. We drive back to the hotel (about 45 minutes).

It has been a long day. But we got everything accomplished that we wanted. It was good to see Greg and we had a great meal. Tomorrow we will get up in time for the free breakfast, pack the van and drive to Alicia’s house. Then on to Chicago on the 17th. I am crewing on my friend, Dick’s boat for the Chicago to Mackinac Island race on the 19th. My friends Joel and Robert are crewing as well. The race should take about three days.

Fran will ride up to Mackinac Island with Angela and Brandy. Then on the 23rd there will be a big party for Dick’s 75th birthday. After the party we will rent a car and drive back to Chicago. There we will spend time visiting with my parents, sisters and their families.

 

Smokin’

Pork Shoulder, Ribs, Chicken and Bacon

 

While we were off cruising Robert and Joel got a fire-box added to the smoker. Our first test is a pork shoulder, four slabs of ribs, six chickens and bacon.
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For one of the sides we make potato salad. We try to recall the recipe that “Fudge Man” used. We modify it slightly and all pitch in so we name it Village Potato Salad.

The smoker works great. Next is brisket for July 4th. The last three pieces of brisket are big so we start them around 4:00am. We also make breakfast sandwiches. We try to fry eggs on top of the fire-box, but it is not hot enough. We do smoke the bacon. We also make Village Potato Salad and other sides.

Home

We wake up early to watch the sunrise. We get a surprise and get to see the moon rise as well. It is still a little rough and there are thunderstorms in the forecast so we decide to go home and not play with the paddle board or dinghy.

We leave at 7:00am and see some storm clouds along the way, but they pass by us.

We get to Bonefish Marina at 11:00am. Joel helps us with our lines and there are balloons and streamers waiting for us.

After the boat is tied up in our slip we hook up the power cord and turn on the AC. It keeps stopping. I back-flush it and Fran sees lots of mud come out. Maybe this was our problem in Biscayne Bay.

When back-flushing, I accidentally leave a hose unconnected with the thru-hull open and before we notice we have a bilge full of seawater. Now we spend about an hour cleaning up. At least we have AC now.

Next we try to start the Honda. It sat there for three months. The battery is dead. I take it out and hook it to the charger. The next day I try it and it still won’t start. Eventually I take it to the auto store. They charge it and check it. It is still under warranty. I get a new battery. I put it in and it starts.
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After a while someone tells me that the brake lights are on. This could explain why the battery wouldn’t charge. I see the problem. There is a switch on the top of the brake pedal that closes when you step on the brake and opens when you release the brake. The little spacer is broken, with pieces laying on the floor mat.

We take the Honda in to have the switch replaced. Things are almost starting to get back to normal, but we have a big pile of laundry waiting. Fran decides to use the washer/dryer on Questeria.

A while after the first load has started I go into the front head (laundry room) to look at something and I notice suds. The drain hose from the washer has come out of the drain and put soapy water all over the boat. Now we clean that up. At least its better than seawater.

By Saturday we feel we are starting to catch up. We still have a list of things to do, but we get a chance to relax a little.

track20140625.kmz (Download and open in Google Earth)

Indian Key

There was no wind all night so it was hot, muggy and buggy. We don’t plan to go far today, but we head out early so we can stop and let the boat cool off. We want to go to Indian Key and play with the paddle board.

We go through Angelfish Creek out to Hawk Channel. We get to Indian Key at 2:00pm. There is no wind until we try to get the mooring ball. Then it starts blowing, making it hard to get the line.

There is only one mooring ball. We have been here a few times before and there has been three or four moorings. Later we find out our friends were tied to one ball and it pulled out completely. When we go to tie to the line we see that it is chaffed more than halfway through. We pull the line through and cleat it. We think about anchoring, but we are not sure if it is allowed. The wind and the current make it really rocky with the short line to the mooring. We should have anchored anyway.
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We decide that it is too rough to paddle board. Instead, we decide to pour our four jerry cans of diesel into the fuel tank. At least the wind is keeping us cool and keeping the bugs away. Maybe we will try paddle boarding, or take the dinghy to Indian Key in the morning.

track20140624.kmz (Download and open in Google Earth)

Ocean Reef

We sleep in until 6:30am. We take our time getting underway. We don’t plan to go very far today.

We have some current against us for a while. The wind picks up around noon and we put up the sails and turn off the engine. We aren’t going very fast, but it is great.

We start the engine and drop the sails to anchor in Ocean Reef anchorage. This is near Angelfish Creek, which will take us out to Hawk Channel tomorrow.

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track20140623.kmz (Download and open in Google Earth)

After dinner, the wind completely dies, and it is very hot below deck. We start the generator and run the AC. It doesn’t run so we clean the strainer. It still doesn’t run long enough to cool down before the generator overloads.

Key Biscayne

Today our goal is to make it outside from Lake Worth to Miami without encountering thunderstorms. This will be a challenge because there are thunderstorms likely in the afternoon and it will take us over 13 hours. We will leave early. When we get to Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), we will go inside if there are thunder storms around.

We get up at 4:30am and leave before 6:00. There is no wind and flat seas. We motor all the way.

There are no signs of storms when we get to Port Everglades. Shortly afterwards we see a storm coming behind us. The winds and seas are building so we are slowing down. As we get closer to the inlet we see a storm building in front of us as well.

A storm hits as we enter the inlet. The storm hits hard and heavy but doesn’t last long. It has completely cleared by the time we anchor in Marine Stadium.
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It has been a long stressful day. We treat ourselves to a shot and a beer. tomorrow we will sleep in.

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track20140622.kmz (Download and open in Google Earth)

Lake Worth

Yesterday we anchored in Fort Pierce so today we go could out the inlet and go in at Lake Worth Inlet. This way we avoid seven draw bridges and Saturday boat traffic. When we get up we check the weather. The forecast is for thunderstorms likely after 1:00PM. We decide to continue going south down the ICW so we can pull over and anchor and wait out any storms.

There is a lot of activity on the waterway today; sailboats, power boats, kayaks, paddle boards, and people swimming. It is really crowded as we pass Peanut Island. There are even boats selling beer. (We resist the temptation to pull over and have a few.)

Nine and a half hours, and seven bridges later we get to Lake Worth anchorage, just in time for the storm. It doesn’t rain, but we see wind gusts of 25 knots (29 mph) which makes it very difficult to anchor. After we get the anchor down, we leave the engine running for a while so we can re-anchor if we start to drag.

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It has been an exhausting day, opening bridges and looking out for clueless/drunk boaters. We go to bed early because tomorrow we will get an early start. We want to go out the inlet and get to Port of Miami before the afternoon thunder storms. We expect it to take over 13 hours.

track20140621.kmz (Download and open in Google Earth)