Little by Little Progress is Made

I got back to the cold weather on Sunday after spending a week down on Skylark. The weather was fantastic and it was really nice being in the warm sun after a few weeks of freezing temperatures. It actually felt like spring but I know the cold stuff is still on it's way. Between now and then though, there are a few things that are in the works and I hope to have it all done by the end of  January.

Good Old Boat Shirt Pic

As I mentioned previously, the engine work is basically finished although there are a few things that still need to be tweaked. That should be wrapped up this week though and I can officially cross the Atomic 4 refurb off the list. Skylark already seems happier that her innards are back together. She sits so much better now that the 400 or so pounds are back where they belong. When the engine was out, we bobbed like a cork in any bad weather. But between the engine and a full fuel tank, she is so much more stable. It's amazing what adding a little weight to a boat will do to her feel. 

In addition, my buddy Trevor will be painting the deck, an item on the to-do list that desperately needs to be done. I have decided to go with white on white since the light blue got so hot in the summer, it was crazy. So after a recommendation from someone who has cruised all of the Caribbean, white on white it is (thanks Ralph.) I am really excited to see how she turns out. The hull had recently been done right before I bought Skylark and still looks good, so once the deck is clean, she will look real great.

On top of that, the fresh water tank will be fixed or replaced, so my water woes will finally be behind me. If all goes to plan, the next time I get down to the boat, I will be ready for the first cruise of the year. I know you can't see it, but I am smiling from ear to ear. Trevor and I have already figured out a few places to buddy boat  while running sea trials. It's been way to long not being on the hook. I can't wait.

I also got lucky and found someone selling brand new, in the box 75w solar panels for a great price, so I picked one up. I don't have a cold plates at this point, so my power requirements are really low. A 75 watt panel should do me just fine until I replace the refrigeration sometime later in the year or next. I will post pics once it's installed as well as the type of controller I go with. Something simple should work for now.

So that's the update. I will post more pics of everything once I get things a little more sorted. 

Fair winds...

Happy Thanksgiving

Santa's Vacation Pics...

Been a busy couple of months, but I wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Can't believe Christmas is right around the corner and this year is coming to an end. It's been a quick one to say the least.
Good news is the engine will be done by the weekend, so maybe, just maybe, I will be able to get out at least once this year. Being able to spend so much time on Skylark has been fantastic, think all together its been about 4+ months on board, but it's not the same. We both are longing for miles under the keel. Here's hoping to an agreeable 2012.
Enjoy!

Atomic 4 Ready to Go Back In

I ordered the last couple of necessary gaskets from Moyer Marine last week, so we should be good to go to get everything back together and in Skylark. If the weather cooperates, it looks like Scott will be able to come mid-next week or so. He figures it will take about 2 days. The first day he will tackle the new gas tank and the wiring that needs to be redone in preparation for the engine. The second day, he will set-up the A-frame and lower the new engine back in place. I can only hopes it goes that smoothly but regardless, no matter how it goes, Scott will get the engine back in and running great. If there is one thing I know for sure, Scott does not give up. If you need further clarification, please see the entry, Morehead City, NC to Jacksonville, FL. :)

Needless to say I am excited. We are just now starting to see a slight change in the weather, so the engine will be ready just in time for the best sailing of the year. I have been able to work through all of the other tasks needed before the first sail, so hopefully, this is it.  YeeeHaaa. Well, except the bottom being cleaned. That needs to be done before the sea trials so it will happen soon. I am quite sure the prop looks like a bowling ball. The diver will have his hands full...

Does not include heel repair.

For all you Buffett fans out there, I came across a very useful bit of information the next time you "Blow out your flip flop, stepping on a pop top."  Thanks to whomever created this wonderful new invention. :)

More to come. I want to thank everyone who has been following along and bearing with the nonsense in preparation for the engine install and the horizon. I can only hope I will have more for you now that things are back in order. It's been fun, don't get me wrong, but it will be so nice sharing pics from the cockpit underway.

New (old) Atomic 4 Replacement Found!

Just a quick update on the engine situation. Scott (gotta love Scott :) alerted me to a good condition Atomic 4 for sale and the arrangements have been made. The engine will be picked up next Saturday the 16th and hopefully installed in the following weeks. Very happy how this came together, lets hope it all goes to plan for a change.
More to come...

The Wish List

A lot of folks keep asking me what's left on the "to-do" list. Basically, there are just a few to-dos that need to happen prior to the trip down to Florida and I had recently mentioned most of them in a previous post. But of course, there are a ton of "love to haves" and that falls into a completely different category...the Wish List.

Now, the Wish List is a whole other animal and I thought I would run down a few items I had jotted down the other night. This exercise, I admit, is a bit depressing as the cost of all these wonderful wishes would certainly make most folks cringe. But it was good to see where my head was and if nothing else, I can prioritize a bit and maybe get through a few of them a little at a time. So in no particular order, here is the official "Wish List" for the sailing vessel Skylark...

Mast Head Wind Vane
Mast Head Main Halyard Pulley
Main Halyard (switching from cable to rope)
Dodger (Have the skeleton need the canvas)
Bimini (Have the canvas, need the skeleton)
Solar Panels and Regulator
Davits (Arch set-up to secure solar panels)
Inflatable Dingy
Outboard for Dingy
Port Light Replacements
House Battery Bank (4 deep cells)
Rebuilt Atomic 4 or replace
Fuel Tank
V-birth Mattress
Quarter Birth Mattress
Refrigeration Rebuild
Hot Water Heater
Pressurized Fresh Water System
Second Bilge Pump
Chartplotter
Standing Rigging
Windless
Air Conditioner/Reverse Heat Pump
LED Light Fixtures
Rail Mounted BBQ Grill
Deck Gelcoat and Non-Skid Painting
Shower Sump

So there you have it. If you know anyone who is looking to give away money for no particular reason, please let me know. In the mean time, I will continue with my plans to win the lottery.