Category: 2022-10 (October)

Up at 7, breakfast, the net and then Reneé started the sheets in the washer, and I started working on the blog. Reneé is off to the Refuge of Hope to volunteer for the day, we will do our bible reading when she gets back. After the sheets are done, I am going to run the water maker and fill the water tank.

As of 4 pm, Reneé is back, the water tank is full (138 gallons, about 1/2 tank). I wish the level gauge worked! This was 10 days use since last filled. So, bible reading then happy hour at the pool.

Back to the boat for dinner and then off to game night Mexican Train at the the lounge. 

Up at 7, had breakfast then off to the bus stop where we met Jodi and headed off to church. Normally this usually took us close to an hour, with up to a 15 minute wait for each of the two buses. Today, there was no waiting, so we got to church at about 9:30, and the service started at 10. After church we walked to a new restaurant, and then back to the bus and back to the boat. We said goodbye to Jodi when we got off the bus and she walked back to Paradise Village and we went back to the boat. I took a nap and Reneé read her book.

The guy who bought the solar stuff was back today and picked up the panels and now all that is left is the frame. Then off to the pool for happy hour.

When we got back we had dinner, got showers and watched a movie “The Sunset Limited”, then bed.

I think we will shift our normal wake up time to 7:30 instead of 7. It seems to be easier to get out of bed after the sun is up, or at least close. (Sunrise this morning was 7:53). We watched the movie “Cliffhanger” from 1993. It was ok, but I really don’t like heights and a bunch of this movie involved heights. Listened to the net, and did our bible reading. 

Today we don’t have anything specifically planned. So, perhaps we will do some cleaning or putting away of things. Or maybe go for a walk?

Well as of noon, we have searched for the porthole knob (we have the tool to replace it and we bought three of them, even though we only need 1) so far no luck. Cano came and looked at our keel coolers for the refrigeration both are clean, and worked on clearing the hose for the aft AC unit. The hose is clear, but the AC heat exchanger is plugged. 

Off to the pool for happy hour. While there we met a lady by the name of Jodi, we invited her to church with us in the morning. Then back to the boat, played a game of Rummy 500, then showers and bed.

We got up a bit late and barely made it to listen to the net. Then after breakfast we read the Bible and then talked about what we were doing for the day. One concern was when we would see the guy about the solar panels and controller. That was about the time that he called and we coordinated him coming over after lunch. We got ready and went to the pool for aqua aerobics. 

While at the pool, we talked with the other cruisers about getting a part for the AC unit. One of the people there will be in Los Angeles next week. So, when we got back the to the boat I started into ordering the part. 

Brian (for the solar panels) arrived and we discussed the sale. Renee’ got a ride to Walmart and got groceries. By the end of the day, we have an agreed price on the equipment and the groceries were put away. 

After an early dinner, we went to the pool for happy hour. Then back to the boat.

Reneé checked her email and we found out our insurance broker needs to know what we did to increase the value of our boat if we want to insure it for more than we paid for it. We had a survey done for the insurance last season, and part of the survey is an estimation by the surveyor of what the boat is worth. His appraisal of the boat was about 50% higher than we paid for it. We are asking for our insurance to cover 25% more than we paid for it, so we have to justify this increase. Part of the increase in value is because the boating market is high right now, and we have really taken care of our boat fixing everything we can as we find issues. As a result he rated our boat as “Bristol”.  The survey from when we bought the boat did not give it an overall condition, what they said was all systems were in “Good or Satisfactory Condition”. This list is what I found on the internet to explain the ranking.

• • • • “Excellent (Bristol) Condition” is a vessel that is maintained in mint or Bristol fashion – usually better that factory new – loaded with extras – a rarity.
      • “Above Average Condition” has had above average care and is equipped with extra electrical and electronic gear.
      • “Average Condition” is ready for sale requiring no additional work and normally equipped for her size.
      • “Fair Condition” requires usual maintenance to prepare for sale.
      • “Poor Condition” substantial yard work is required and devoid of extras.
      •   “Restorable Condition” enough of the hull and engine exists to restore the boat to useable condition.

At this point we are only giving them the list of what we did, if they ask we will make the effort and figure out how much all of this cost.

Here is the list we came up with: 

• • • Standing rigging replaced (2019)
    • Running rigging replaced (2021)
    • Main, Jib and Staysail replaced with North Sails 3Di (2021)
    • Preventers for mainsail run from cockpit with stops to end of boom (2019)
    • Canopy, bow to stern with one side screen for shade.(2021)
    • Covers for toe rail and “eyebrow” (2021)
    • Cockpit cushions (12/2020)
    • Replaced windows in Dodger with Strataglass (2022)
    • Stainless steel tubes welded life lines. (2020)
    • Stainless Fender racks 3 port and stbd forward (2020)
    • 4 Stainless jerrycan racks aft port,(2 diesel , 2 gas) all jerrycans in sunbrella bags. (2020)
    • Stainless Propane tank rack aft stbd tank in sunbrella bag.(2020)
    • 10 foot dinghy with chaps and cover (2022)
    • 20 horse power Suzuki (97 lbs), (2019)
    • 1,100 watts of solar (2022)
    • Victron Energy multi plus charger/inverter (12/2020)
    • 600 ah LiFePO4 Battleborn, 6 batteries) (new 12/2020)
    • SiriusXM antenna (2019)
    • Iridium GO! (2019)
    • Cell amplifier, with antenna at top of mast (2019)
    • Water maker 20 GPH. AC powered, (new June 2019) upgraded to 33GPH (2021)
    • Life raft Rescyou Pro 6 person (2019, recertification 2022)

Then we watched a movie and went to bed. Another day on the boat.

Up early (6:30) we had to get the dinghy prepped for the chaps and cover. Ivete from “A stitch in time”) is due at 8 am to start work on it. We had our breakfast and we were on deck with the dinghy down by 8 am. Then spent the next hour or so going over the stuff that Ivete needed, finally deflating the dinghy and getting it up to her truck to go away for a couple of weeks.

Gareth Clark the refrigeration/AC guy got to the boat about 10:30 or so, and started in to the refrigerator and then the aft . AC unit. 

Reneé headed off to the store. She has to get something for the potluck tonight. 

By the end of the day, we now know that the fridge has a small freon leak. It has been recharged and is working much better. The Aft AC unit has a bad thermal switch, and all three AC units need to be cleaned (water side). This will require Gareth to return with chemicals, hoses and pumps for this job. The thermal switch is available in the states for a $1.55 price from a salvage company, or $33 new. In both cases plus shipping, I will call the surplus company about shipping to Mexico tomorrow.

Reneé is back from shopping, and we will head off to the pot luck around 5:45. 

We had a good time at potluck and rekindled the relationships we had started at the end of last season. Then back to the boat relaxing and bed.