Norfolk, VA
To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.
Most of Red Ranger's refit has been to replace out-of-date systems. Our logs include a lot of "Replace" activity. True, we've done some small adds: a bilge pump, a bilge pump cycle counter, two galley lights, a water filter, two solar panels and the stays'l tracks. But most of …
Sunday (after returning from Reedville), we had a bit of difficulty getting into our slip.
We -- I mean I -- misjudged the turn, the wind and the timing. We banged into the building.
And—most distressing: we -- I mean I -- bent the tang …
Let's review, shall we?
2009, December. Team Red purchases the old Chesapeake Eagle and renames her Red Ranger.
2010, Spring. We write huge checks to fix the deck and the rigging and make a few important upgrades. We learn about the "marina lifestyle": it's okay to stop and chat. Indeed …
We hung out in Reedville with Indefatigable.
First it rained. Then it cleared.
Then we fired up the grill and had tuna steaks, corn on the cob and a multi-bean salad. Plenty of good red wine (and beer.)
We didn't actually raft …
The Commodore Says "We need new snap-shackle lanyards".
Red Ranger has a fair number of snap shackles.
Four on various halyards.
Four on the Pelican hooks for the lifelines.
Two on the running backstays.
Four on the various blocks we use for …
The Commodore Asks "How can we monitor our holding tank?"
Red Ranger has a fair amount of tankage.
Two 90 gal. water tanks (and a third water tank that leaks)
One 70 gal. fuel tank (and a second fuel tank that may leak)
One 40 gal. holding tank
Two propane …
The Commodore Said "Those headsails are shot."
We took them to Baxter Sailmakers and had two new headsails made. This is a multi-part operation.
Measure. See Custom Tailoring. This starts Baxter on the route of laying out a pattern, getting pieces cut and sewing.
Rebuild. We had to install new …
The Commodore Says "That's the way it's supposed to look."
The cushions are—officially—done.
We've rebuilt the old cushions to provide suitable access below the various berths and settees.
And we've got new, nice-looking fabric.
And everything is clean.
And.
Rebuilding …
Things we find. Example: the old binnacle ammeter was both poorly installed (i.e. loose wire) and partially disconnected when I installed the new alternator (see "We Got The Power").
We did notice that the ammeter seemed to be stuck on zero.
Then, as I thought about it, the idea …
The Commodore Says "The underberth storage needs to be accessible."
Red Ranger has a boat-load of storage [snerk]. But some of it is difficult to access without having three arms: one to lift the cushion and two to root around in the compartment.
The saloon settee (or "salon settle couch …
The Commodore Says "This boat is built for guests."
Red Ranger has a sea-kindly motion, two heads (better than...), ample water and a large holding tank. Plus. A full bar in the saloon. And a beer cooler on deck.
For overnights, we can fit a couple or two friendly singles …
The Commodore Says "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." Actually, she never said that. However, it still seems to be true.
This weekend, we did a bunch of small repairs using only tools and parts that were already on the boat. We've turned some kind of corner where we can …
The Commodore Says "Jobs can wait; once in a while you need to have some fun." It's Memorial Day: a day to cease work and recall the sacrifices of others. And have a party to celebrate our veterans and the benefits of those sacrifices.
It was one of those too-perfect-to-believe …
The Commodore Says "We need reduce our dependence on diesel fuel." How do we cut our dependence on petroleum? How creative do we have to be? Are we going to revert to cave-dwelling?
The diesel auxiliary ("Mr. Lehman") for moving the boat is difficult to restrict. We can try to …
Lon said, "Hey! You're in Deltaville every weekend. Our place is right nearby on the Coan river. Come on up to ‘Almost Heaven' some weekend." Lon and Miriam have a Whitby, also, so they're a part of our Whitby family.
Red Ranger came with a winter cover. A great thing …
CA shares this:
This was posted in the Women Who Sail group on Facebook — some of them she'd already found.
Another interesting group seems to be Women and Cruising.
The essential power system rework is complete. Now we're (finally) in a position to start adding new features. Until we replaced the old, out-of-date equipment, it was difficult to add anything.
There were really only two small things to replace: the diodes and the charger But there were a lot …
Puffin, Red Ranger, and Indefatigable. Sailors. Drinking. Who'd have thunk it?
We're at Mordecai Booth's pub in the Washington Navy Yard, celebrating the 30 year career of Captain (now Mister) C―.
It was great to talk of the sea and boats. And—of course—to share Whitby-specific details.
As a …
We found this guy stowed away under the aft cabin hatch cover. He's been hiding there for perhaps a decade, maybe two. He looks like a retired Stunt Copter pilot. I guess he wants to see the world. He has the Team Red colors; we've taken him into the crew …