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.
Documentation is officious nonsense; there is a lot of documentation. What -- precisely -- is the point of a "Documented" vessel? Primarily, the USCG agrees to recognize our name. They agree so strongly that they assign a number as a surrogate for the name. That's right. The privilege of documenting your vessel's …
The "Five F's" include Flood, Falling Overboard, Fire, First Aid, Famine. Let's wring our hands over flooding. This is a subject which can make one very distraught. It takes some work to be optimistic.
Red Ranger has a number of holes in the hull. All of which are fairly serious …
Part of boat buying is The Survey. Part of the survey is to identify and disclose any "issues" with the boat. One of things our survey disclosed that "Foredeck exhibits excessive moisture and deterioration of core material from bow to aft of windlass and houser, repair and install better backing …
For our 28th anniversary, we did something new and different: we went camping. Camping isn't all that new. But we spent our first night on the Ranger. No water. No heads. Limited electricity. Delightful.
[The Emily Post list of anniversary gifts: 1st paper, 5th wood, 10th tin, 15th crystal, 20th …
We grew up in houses, on land. We've lived in cities as well as the ‘burbs, and we felt pretty well acculturated.
But marina life is still very new to us. The standards and conventions are not what we're used to. It takes a bit of work to fit in …
Changes feel like they're coming at us in waves. Back in December, all we had was a marine survey with dozens of things that absolutely had to be done. The insurance company (of course) has to see all the known problems resolved. Some of these are objectively slow: weeks of …
The waiting is hard.
FoGoBo says "Don't wish time away."
Rather than pacing around, beating a tattoo with our fingers, we should really be doing something. Sadly, the boat is layed up.
Since December, we've been "playing boat" just about every weekend. Partly, it's what we do to get out …
Red Ranger's "ground tackle" (anchor and rode) weighs over a hundred pounds. Our primary anchor is a 44 pound Plow. We have a few hundred feet of BBB chain, at about 1 3/4 pounds per foot. Our secondary anchor is a thirty-pound Danforth. We also have a little 10 …
The guys at the boatyard called it "muck". It's the rotten wood sandwiched inside the foredeck.
There's more than what's showing in the picture.
Okay, so there was some rot. We knew that going in to the deal. It's a bit more rot than we'd hoped. But, we had lowered …
No, really, it was unbelievable. When you have the right tools, the job isn't all that hard. Until you understand the tools, the job is impossible.
Yesterday was a day of gloom and despair. I had been defeated by two through-hull fittings. I spent hours fiddling around with things that …
Frustration is having a long job list and icky weather. Coping with this can be tough.
We spent the summer busting a hump: painting, repairing, packing.
We moved and we had to get organized, find our way around, "get settled". Maybe 5 or 6 weeks.
Then a quick boat shop …
Finally got some jobs checked off as "done". As in "completely 100% done."
Engine Room Light; shown above. Done.
Polarity Indicator; shown to the right. Done.
Replace domestic wirenut on bilge pump circuit; lower right. Done.
Some jobs are mostly done.
Sink Drain Hose; lower middle. Mostly.
Seacocks. Port side …
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a Ford Lehman engine.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 2 full berths.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 3 little anchors.
On the fourth day …
Life is full of little anchors that tie us down and hold us in one place.
Some anchors are good -- friends, family, church, school, work. These are part of our social context. They give us a foundation for who we are and the things we do.
Some anchors are not …
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