We're Almost Ready to Go !

[sww914]

We've set a tentative departure date of Nov 3rd, weather permitting. I thought we'd be out of here a couple of months ago. Our project quickly turned into a refit and our 1-2 months of work escalated into 4 months of work.
The mast had to come down, we didn't expect that because it was new but poorly installed by the PO. We've had to go through nearly every component of every system. For example, on the freshwater system the only component that we left untouched was the water heater but we plan to replace that anyway with a propane unit, eventually.
I installed our solar panels last week and they're easily keeping pace with our requirements. I got 2 190 watt panels from Sunelec.com for about 1/4th of the West Marine price for similar watts.
Funny story there- I installed the panels one afternoon and I was still motivated to continue the electrical connections after it had grown dark. The next morning the "Harbor Masters" if you want to call them that showed up and welded lock boxes over all of the outlets. You see, we had all been stealing electricity from the City's light poles in the pier above the docks. I had thought that the boatyard was paying the power bill but the city had been on the hook the whole time.
The welder came down on the dock to inform me that he was un-plugging me permanently and I was able to tell him honestly that it didn't matter at all because my panels were putting out 3 times what my battery charger had produced. Before I had only had electricity when the automatic lights activated at night and lost it each morning at sunrise.
JUST IN TIME!

[READY2GO]

Good on ya, We left November 5th last year. You have a beautiful boat, great website too.

[Dhillen]

Great stuff. Nothing beats the feeling of finally escaping the boatyard. Unless it's finally escaping work... Heading to Mexico?
Cheers.
Dhillen

[Don1500]

Finally escaping work TODAY! It is my last day of work, tonight I will be retired. Now I need to finish cleaning out the house and then I head for the boat. I am in California, the boat is in Annapolis. I need to make stops in North Dakota, Kansas, and Tennessee, before settling into the boatyard for what I hope to be a short recommissioning period. With luck I will be able to splash the boat and get to Hampton, VA in time for Thanksgiving.

[captain58sailin]

Congratulations another sailor set free!

[Dhillen]

Shake hands with a free man!
Best of luck.
Dhillen

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by Don1500

Finally escaping work TODAY! It is my last day of work, tonight I will be retired. Now I need to finish cleaning out the house and then I head for the boat. I am in California, the boat is in Annapolis. I need to make stops in North Dakota, Kansas, and Tennessee, before settling into the boatyard for what I hope to be a short recommissioning period. With luck I will be able to splash the boat and get to Hampton, VA in time for Thanksgiving.

Well done, Don.
I'm envious as hell.
Watched your journey with interest because we've been on a very similar road, but you've gotten there first!

[Don1500]

Originally Posted by VirtualVagabond

Well done, Don.
I'm envious as hell.
Watched your journey with interest because we've been on a very similar road, but you've gotten there first!

Only on the road, not at the destination yet.

[Don1500]

Survey set for Nov 22nd. I will be there! Hope to get it all done in one shot. If the bottom can last a year I will just splash her and do it then. If not I'll talk to the yard about having it done now. Maybe they'll give me a break on a pull & paint after the sea trails.

Having a full survey, including an aloft rig inspection. Mike Previti will be doing it.

[sww914]

Our boat is virtually ready, we just need to stow a bunch of crap that we'll throw away eventually but can't trash yet. We're just waiting for weather, it looks like three or four storms in a row over the next eight days.
I can't wait for $.70 fish tacos!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Bon Voyage!

[River Cruiser]

Don enjoy your retirement, best thing ever invented & even better on a boat.