signage after two years

Well it has taken a long time and a lot of work but finally there is a name for her. We were going to have someone do it for us but that did not get finalized so we ended up with someone in Florida. Yes, Captain John is the man who helped me by talking to me and sharing with me all his experiences with the installation. I was having a hell of a time with what was suppose to be an easy install. It just would not do what was said on the instruction paper. I could not sleep for two days and was very worried about damaging the art-work. After talking to the maker everything just became so much easier. Now get on with the swim platform. I have decided that it needs to be as wide as the back of the boat, so the teak swim step will become an insert so a frame will have to be made.

Princess Mariana

So I am trying to get gas and can not find the gas dock. Well as it turns out the Princess Mariana
belonging to the richest man in the world is parked right in front of the gas dock. Ok so I get gas on the other side... little manuvering and there I am. One of the deck hands wanted to talk to me about the Bagarre, of course, also I had Springers with me and she was all over the dock as usual letting everyone know who she is. Got fuel and off to the island. Coming back was fun because we just ran into all these ACBA members who were wondering how come we did not participate in the event. As it turns out they were having a gathering with all the classic yachts and they were showing them to the public...etc... etc. I told them that last year I was so involved with the boat that did absolutely nothing except worked. This year it is a different story because we go whenever we can and we love it. They knew what I was talking about. It was great to talk to them because they are the same kinds of people, loving the old and the unique. By the way guess how much it is to charter the Princess Mariana, note the Helicopter on top.

4th of July

Finally we had a full boat... lots of food and people sleeping everywhere. Kids were incredibly well behaved. Grown ups not so much... we had a couple of fights but nothing serious. Could not ask for a better trip and having Lynn on board after the Corsica trip was truly the best thing. She was so cute and dealt with everything like a champ. I have you know but just whispering that she has a bathroom phobia... but not on the Bagarre no sirie Bob. Glasspar's first trip performing excellently and don't ask me why. After the fourth I had so many things go wrong with her... I am still trying to find out how to tow her. On the way over to Catalina we lost her and found her and on the way back she almost flipped over, the outboard came loose and was held on by the remote control cables, completely under water all 143 lbs. of it. Anyway she is still hanging around...

Emerald Bay instead of Santa Barbara

Planned on going to Santa Barbara but can not figure out how to be there with the dogs and Darlene since there is not a beach. Might just have to do it when she is gone to New York. Leave the dogs with Mom for sure after all this will be our first time. Emerald was a blast we did not get out of the water for two days. Monday morning departure quite interesting as the wind came up and started blowing like 20-25 knots. So much for taking a shower a night before. Kept on blowing 17 NM out from the island. Very calm in Santa Monica bay. We left at 6:05 in the morning. Met some great ACBA members this weekend. Saw their boats but screwed up and did not take pictures. By the time I got ready they were heading back to the main land. Going to have to join the local club. Nice to meet people who are into older boats. Kristine had a Christ Craft from 1950... very nice indeed.

As you can tell we all had a great time!!!! Note special guest Barkley!

emerald bay

Anchor held very nicely and the harbor wasn't very busy since everyone was over at the Istmus Harbor for some wine and cheese festival. John the previous owner (from the sea scouts) came by and we had a great visit with him.... she liked her old friend, looking her up again. He could not believe and was very happy to see all the improvements. John had a piece of an apple pie with us. Last night (sunday) we had 3 other boat joining us and doing a nice job by anchoring so it was no problem and kind of event-less. I guarantee you it'll not be the same for the 4th of July. I think I am going to get a mooring so we can leave and not worry. Or perhaps go to Santa Barbara or the back side of Catalina, little harbor, oh how much I love that. Will see. I am looking into the whole swim step install and fabrication of the frame. Not in the budget right now but you never know...

back from Catalina

So we went and I haven't cleaned the bottom since we painted it (4.19.08) I wanted to do a little cleaning before heading out but did not find the time and got wrapped up doing other things. SEALIFE... well it is the best indeed. Got to emerald bay just as the sun was setting... what a crossing, just dreamy really. Anyway the morning got under the boat and could not believe how clean everything looked and was. This sealife stuff really is working out like nothing I have seen.
The weekend was great and I am planning a trip to Santa Barbara island. 40 NM heading 210 should get us there no problem. I am wondering about the dogs (since they will most likely be in the water as soon as possible) and the whole sealion population, would they want to attack them or what? Underwater photography will be just the dream... maybe next weekend. Looking forward to it for sure.

before the summer rush

Moving pictures, aren't they a hoot?

Basin G

This is what I look at every day and boy are we happy to have a view such as this. The development at the end of the basin is having a major problem like the whole project is sinking. They were suppose to be ready by the end of November 2006. Now a year plus later I hear that they are in court and God knows how long that is going to take. One thing for sure, once that Marina opens we would have a lot of vacancies all over and that will be a great time for us to look for an end tie. Have to become friends with June and we are on our way.

SEAMARK

Sweet home Baby. When the county decides to fix the floating dock we'll be so grateful. The issue came up and Reuben said that he'd do the repairs if the county supplies the material. I also talked to June and want to get on his good side but most of all just want to get on the top of the list for end ties.

v-berth

this is the next area where I want to work and do some of the painting and just making sure that everything is a 100%. Right now this is where I sleep with the dogs.

great meals

we spend so much time in the galley and I really don't know why but it must be all the great food which had been prepared over here. Darlene is a fantastic chef.

wheelhouse

Darlene likes to sleep here and when we have a guest they can share the room because starboard side opens up to a single bed.

inverter

After very much research I have decided to benefit from a pure sine wave inverter. Look the TV (when ever we get one) and all computer equipment will love it, not to speak about anything which has variable speed. So the installation was relatively trouble free and I have been running the fridge for 5 days and everything seems alright. We couldn't really find out if everything is just 100% because my portable generator is not meant to supply enough power to the charger part of the inverter (as I was told the unit prefers a very clean signal and because of it's sofisticated wiring it does not like what a portable is capable). Anyway everything was fine except when the batteries were fully charged, the third phase was suppose to occur and it is called float. Well no matter how long I kept on the generator (remember we have no electricity on the dock) it just would not go into float. OK so yesterday I had to go to Chase park because the boat just needed to be washed from all the boatyard dust and dirt and sure enough when I connect to shore power everything works out fine and the third phase, float did occur. This made me happy because I certainly did not want any over charging happening. Love the new unit and going to use it all the time. And just that you know the portable is only for us to make hot water and emergency situations but really mainly it is for hot water. After swimming to shore Darlene likes to take a hot shower. When Pete the electrician looked at the unit he made a gesture as to what a cheap unit it was, he just doesn't get it. First it is not cheap (well it is not a 7 thousand dollar unit that's for sure) and it is light which I wanted so that I can put it anywhere on the boat easily and it is perfect for what we need it for. OK enough about all this. Times are tough and I am just so proud and happy that we are where we are.

finished finally

so finally we can say that all the work is done, well not exactly but for the most part got survey and when you look at the boat you can see what we did. Must mention that there are thousands of little ittie bittie details are awaiting for me to pay attention to them... but I have to be realistic and prioritize everything when it comes to her. Hope she is happy. Must say like to be back at home, although I wish the county fixed our dock. It needs it for sure. Darlene still in New York having a horrible time...

4.18.08

Today we were also fortunate enough to meet a gentleman who is our new surveyor. such a relief when people know what they are doing. He is a licensed boat captain which makes things lot closer to reality. First things first, boot stripe and prepping all the metal work for primer and under coater. SEALIFE baby! I have been dreaming about this since I got the paint from Dave, my neighbor. If it is good for the racers and the tankers than it is my favorite... anyway...
I liked the prop in their original unfinished form but every one tells me that I'll get more speed and better gas mileage if everything is coated under the waterline. I decided not to paint the props and the shafts last time because a lifeguard boat was hauled out with all the bare metal showing. So I figured if it is good for them it'll have to be good for us.

haul out

Well here we go today was the day... she is out of the water without any "problems". The boatyard does not haul out any wooden boats, exception, boats they have known for a long time. This is certainly the case with us because Victor the general manager remembers everything about her and all 22 of her haul outs. What lines... right? Really shows off well when you can be at this angle. The reinforced bottom in the early 80's help regardless. Thank you Nicholas! God Bless.

1924

John McKusick is working on a boat from 1924 built for Henry Ford... how about that hard fact for you?

possible yards for a haul out

Well Dinko's in Long Beach has an elevator for a boat this size and he is well known amongst boaters for this type of work. Meeting the man was an experience I'll never forget. He wants $10,000. 00 certified check just for safety and first time dealing with us, we'll get that back once we finish our project (bottom paint and boot stripe). Also MDR Boatyard might do a haul out for us since they have history on the boat... for me it is much easier to schedule people to work with me at MDR. Long Beach would mean to stay on the boat and just camp out while the work is being done. I am scheduled for the 18th with Victor at MDR.

shifting hassle

No longer is the case. Was so frozen I had to fix it so it will not get stuck on me, plus I did not want the linkages to get broken up because something does not want to move. took everything apart and put it together. The frozen section was however by the sprockets where the chain attaches. No more.

it is getting very nice finally

Planning on visiting all the channel islands but can you say this is just fantastic? Easter weekend.

Happy New Year

Well, here it is 2008. The year of the RAT by eastern beliefs. Also this has been the coldest winter I can remember in "sunny" California (what a joke, this season). Could this be because of Global Warming? I certainly do not know. All and all doing much better and getting better as well. Before X-mas we took off to the island (Catalina) and had a very interesting 5 day 4 night odyssey. Very rough at times and absolutely beautiful at others. The wind generator had a work-out like never before. Next time Catalina Harbor where we'll be. Talked to the harbor master and he did say that is was windy but no swells... so there you have it.

Cat Harbor versus Isthmus, it is really hard to tell by these pictures how rough it was but let me tell you if it wasn't for Darlene who said: "I do not like Cat Harbor on the back side" we would have gone over to the back and enjoy the winds only. I love Cat Harbor and I like the back side, period...