-
Christmas Connections. Christmas
2016 aboard Seaweed was laid back and relaxing. I saw friends, shared
meals (am still stuffed!) and thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was
wonderful. In 2014 while enduring the engine swap I saw
not a single living soul on Christmas day. Trust me when I say that
was The Worst Christmas of my life. Ever.
Categories:
Boats,
Books, Characters,
Comfort, Galley,
Locations,
Wild Things
-
Naming Your Dinghy.
When choosing the name for your dinghy I'm full of free advice.
Today I offer things you should consider when naming the tender (aka
dinghy) for your home. Most important of all I will tell you what I
would never ever do, and why not.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Pets,
Security,
-
Hanging In the Head. Seaweed's
*head has had some hardware additions over the years. I've made it more
convenient and added little touches that might work aboard your boat
too. These are a few of the tweaks I've made. All are inexpensive.
They make my life easier and better.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Unmentionables,
-
Anchor Down by Noon (policy vs.
practice) Whenever I say something along the lines of "It has always been my
policy" it may be time to pull on the boots. Policy and practice
can
differ. Things change and life happens. Being adaptable is a
necessity in my view. My cruising style is evolving. I like it
better than ever now.
Categories:
Anchorages,
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Books,
Characters,
Gear,
Locations,
Wild Things,
-
Seaweed's Dryer Bar. I have a thick 100% cotton
area rug in
my cabin. I bought it in 2008 because I liked it so much. $15 was a
lot of money and it has served me well. The problem is that it has
faded terribly after numerous trips through the washer. It also
dries slower than a turtle walks through molasses at the North Pole.
I came up with a solution that serves me well.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Gear,
Pets,
Vignettes
-
Transmission Fluid in Bilge. The day started with a Good
Idea. A neighbor suggested we go for an outing on his boat. Like
prudent mariners, before starting the engine an inspection was taken
of the engine and bilge. One look told us the trip was off!
Transmission fluid was in the bilge.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Characters,
In the Bilges,
Locations,
-
All's Well aboard Seaweed. QUICK
NOTE: All is well aboard Seaweed! Skipper and I have been
having fun, going out regularly, anchoring and basically enjoying
life. I have been testing systems (please do not ask about the fan belt issue,
yet!) and finding room for improvement. Sigh.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Books,
Characters,
Gear,
Locations, Vignettes
-
Cup-holder Repair. One of my first purchases for
Seaweed in the line of decadence enhancement was an
Attwood Gimbaled Cup-Holder. It
was one of those fancy ones that remains level when the boat rocks. My caffeine
would be safe while underway. After years of use however it broke. This is
how I fixed it.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Characters,
Gear,
Locations,
Memory Lane,
Pets,
Wild Things,
-
Fast Window Curtains (a thrift store
recycle) Here in St. Pete one of my
favorite things to do is visit thrift shops. It is amazing the number
of items that flow through those doors. Some move aboard Seaweed. I
have been making a concerted effort to immediately use whatever I
acquire. This past week I took $2 and turned it into two window
curtains plus one valance the same day I brought the purchase home.
Here is how I did it:
Categories:
Comfort,
Locations,
Money,
Vignettes
-
Varied Recommendations
by guest author Rich Gano. I came to know Rich through his beloved woodie Calypso. She was a Grand Banks with emphasis on the Grand.
Cap'n Rich offers a perspective on boatyards and the work performed
therein. Enjoy.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
In the Bilges, Locations,
The Writer's Block
-
MIA in the Abyss. It has been an interesting month
here aboard Seaweed. I would like to be able to tell you I accomplished
lots of major projects. I would love to say the planned infrastructure
is finally complete. Goodness knows I wish I could say I had been out
cruising. The truth is more mundane.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters, Locations,
Vignettes
-
Sea Fever on Gutenberg. Aboard Seaweed reading is an
important activity. I love, love, love my
Kindle.
Books have always been a big part of my life. Now with the advent of
Gutenberg life really does not get much better. Thousands and
thousands of books are available, all for free!
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Books, Characters,
Vignettes
-
Gutenberg Books (for free) Often I am
asked what I do all day. I am always busy. Sometimes this is doing icky
stuff like cleaning. Other times I have lost myself in a good book. I
do a lot of reading. At anchor I have actually run out of books to
read. That was a serious event and it happened more than once. It is unlikely to occur
again now because I own a
Kindle. Gutenberg is my secret and today I
will show you how to get
thousands of eBooks for free.
Categories:
Anchorages,
Books, Characters,
Entertainment, Locations,
Money,
-
August Update. A website friend named Marty wrote
me this week. He said "I see it's raining down there today, and
will bet you're keeping dry and cool. But it's been three weeks
since last post so naturally I need reassurance you're ok. My
vicarious serenity requires occasional updates from the Mistress of
all she surveys." Here is what is going on in my world.
Categories: Characters,
Vignettes,
Wild Things,
-
Bolt Sizing Primer
(an adjunct to the
Moby-Cool a/c
cover Installed article which should be
read first) Lots of the fellows know all this
stuff and more about bolts. They learned in their
daddy's shadow as he repaired items. For the neophyte this vignette
offers a little bit of knowledge to get you started.
Categories:
Gear, Vignettes,
-
Moby-Cool a/c
cover Installed. A few days
ago I told you about my
Moby-Cool a/c cover Tweak.
This article will show you how it all came together. Here in Florida
between the heat and the humidity it can be miserable. I am at a
dock right now with access to a power cord. It is cool (read:
comfortable) inside my Seaweed because of the air-conditioner. Thank
goodness I have an interesting view.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Characters,
Gear,
-
Moby-Cool a/c
cover Tweak. It's
summertime and it is HOT. Blazing hot. Like many, Seaweed is on a
tight budget. A couple years back I bought the least expensive 5,000
btu air conditioner I could find. The problem was this: It was ugly.
The a/c unit was not attractive to my eyes. Installation looked
ragged and not at all nautical. The solution came from a company
called
Moby-Cool.
Categories: Characters,
Comfort,
Gear,
Locations,
-
Pan Scrubber Fail. I love a bargain. One thing I am
willing to do is try things. If the cost is low I will give a
product a chance. When I read online about pot scrubbers that
supposedly would work miracles I was intrigued. I splurged and spent
a whole dollar for two.
Categories: Galley,
Vignettes
-
Boat Buying Decisions (what is
important?) Often folks come online with basic
questions. "What boat should I buy? How much does it cost? Can I
live well on a small budget?" These are Normal for those in the
beginning stages of exploring the life I live. One has to have a
point to start refining wants, needs and desires. Buying a floating home is a
major investment. Spending wisely is the goal.
Categories:
Boats,
Books, Characters, Galley,
Gear,
Locations,
-
Marking my Paddles (dinghy safety
equipment) Being on
the water is fabulous. Having Stuff is okay too. Keeping my items
from the nefarious is an ongoing concern. This is a mobile
society. Boats come and go. I do not want my perfectly
good dinghy paddles to disappear with the town bum. To that end I have a
solution.
Categories: Characters,
Gear,
Security,
-
Safety Nets. In case you wondered life is truly
wonderful afloat. Now that my Betsy (the Kubota diesel) runs I
have been taking Seaweed
out for lots of day trips. Mostly this is just for a short couple of hours at
a time. I am working out the kinks in both me and the boat. Some
things that were fine on the east coast simply will not work here in
this area. Not for me anyway.
Categories:
Books, Characters,
Gear,
Pets,
Security,
-
Toy Bails Dinghy. I love it when a plan comes
together. First, for the most part I use a 12-volt bilge pump in
Algae. Because I already have a battery in there for the Newport
Trolling Motor getting the majority of rain that collects out is easy. However a pump can
only get so much of the water out. There is always a bit left in the
keel. Today I will show you how to solve that issue for a dollar. It
is
fun too!
Categories:
Gear,
Money,
Vignettes
-
Report on Colin (a tropical storm)
For my friends, here is the latest on Tropical Storm Colin: It's been
blowing like crazy, raining sideways and flooding too. High tide was
at 1300 (1 p.m.) and water was over most of the docks on this canal.
It rose about 2' over the normal high tides. What's been worst of
all though is the wind gusts.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
Locations,
Pets,
Security,
-
Hoops and Loops. It is a rough life out here.
Living in paradise is not just about sipping refreshing tea from a
glass brimming with ice cubes while the sun marches across the sky.
It requires effort just to get through the tasks of daily life. If
I'm nothing else I am efficient. I like to make things easy for me.
When the chores are easy they will be done quicker. Hoops and Loops
are one component in making my life sweet.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Comfort,
Money,
Pets,
Security,
-
Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Batteries. I do
not have to tell you I make
mistakes. For proof positive of that read the
Dealing
with Drunks (tool locker and dinette table)
article. This week I made another mistake, and a serious one at
that. Honestly it was a compilation of errors. Usually the initial
goof-up does not cause a catastrophic failure. The compounding is
what ups a minor problem into a major one. The fault lies with me and I was fortunate
that nothing serious occurred.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Books,
Comfort,
Gear,
In the Bilges,
Security,
-
Relief at a Dental Clinic. Bravery is displayed many
different ways. Soldiers are brave when facing an enemy on the
battlefield. Explorers charting unknown territory during inclement
weather are brave. Going to sea is considered brave by some. For me,
none of those things scare me as much as having to visit a dentist.
Categories: Characters,
Humor,
Locations,
Vignettes
-
Storing Nuts, Bolts and Screws. Aboard Seaweed I have a system for
sorting and organizing my screws, nuts and bolts. It works and is
easy to maintain. This is what I do, along with a couple of
suggestions on how my method could be better. Best of all, it's
totally free using stuff you already own.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Organizing,
Vignettes,
-
Hiring a Diver. Preparing
for departure takes many different forms. There are always "last
minute" items on the To-Do List that seem to be far more important
now than they were last month when there was that new book
downloaded to the
Kindle. Of late I
have spent a lot of time reading
and now it's biting me in the transom.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
In the Bilges,
Locations,
Vignettes,
Wild Things,
-
Red Fish, Green Fish (visual clues) I like
labels, tags and hints. Especially in times of stress having a visual clue
can keep me on the right track. It is also helpful for those new to
boating. Everyone can seem salty with the right reminders. Here is
what I do aboard Seaweed.
Categories:
Characters,
Entertainment, Gear, Security,
-
Label Everything. An online
associate named Jack who recently bought a trawler wrote "I'd
like to go through it and put some sort of labels or tags on
everything. Any suggestions?" He's definitely smart to want to label
his boat. Aboard Seaweed I mark even the "obvious" and for a very good
reason.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters, Galley,
In the Bilges,
Organizing,
-
Baby Wipes. A lot of folks both ashore and
afloat have discovered baby wipes are not just for infants. They are
refreshing and cool. They make me feel cleaner on those hot days of
summer. Simply wiping my face and neck with a moistened wipe makes a great deal of
difference in my comfort level.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
Comfort,
Locations,
Unmentionables,
-
Solar, Batteries and an Inverter,
the complete series.
This was a four-part series on solar power, battery storage and AC
power used aboard my boat. Sometimes I prefer smaller doses of
information and for those who do the separate articles are:
Batteries Store Power,
Solar Makes Power,
Power Used Aboard Seaweed,
and
Inverters Make AC Power.
This is the complete version with all the information contained in
the above four articles.
Categories: Categories:
Boats,
Books, Galley,
Gear,
Memory Lane,
Pets,
Wild Things,
-
Inverters Make AC Power (Part IV)
In order to use the power gathered by the solar and sent to
the batteries by the solar regulator I needed an inverter.
Originally I opted for an AIMS1000 from
The Inverter Store. It worked right well until I upgraded to a
microwave.
Categories: Galley,
Gear,
Memory Lane,
Pets,
Wild Things,
-
Power Used Aboard Seaweed
(Part III) I knew my refrigerator used a lot of juice aka
power. How much exactly was the question.
A Kill-O-Watt meter will tell you how much power your items consume. In
80 degree ambient temperature my reefer/freezer combination (the
smallest made, 3.1 cubic feet by
Haier) requires 60 amp hours in a 24
hour period.
Categories:
Gear,
-
Solar Makes Power
(Part II) I now have
a bunch of solar panels and could not be happier. Recently I added two
more 85 watt panels. They were a gift from Bucky. With those
it matters not if I am at anchor or at a dock. Everything works.
Except me!
Categories:
Boats,
Gear,
Wild Things,
-
Batteries Store Power
(Part I)
A boater wrote asking about solar power. Like many I have embraced
the solar movement. The price has come down on the panels. Nothing
moves so nothing breaks. It is quiet. What solar panels are not is
the complete package. There is more to it.
Categories:
Books,
Gear,
-
Air Conditioning. Last year
was much better than the summer previous in that I had access to a
power cord and was able to run a 5000btu Haier
air-conditioner. I bought the smallest and least expensive
wall-banger* unit sold. In checking it also used the least power at
455 watts. That was a big selling point.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Characters,
Comfort,
Gear,
Locations,
Money,
-
Boat Noises. Noise is a given when you live close to the water. You might hear
your bilge pump come on. Another time the anchor chain rattle. When
you know what the sound is caused by, it eventually becomes part of
the background and unheard.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
Locations,
Security,
-
Before Outfitting. When preparing for life afloat
some questions are bound to arise. Those who enjoy the social
aspects of life might find living on the hook (at anchor) an unwise
decision. Though I love solitude I know I need to interact with
others. For me, having access to the internet has been a huge
benefit.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Locations,
-
Paper Problem (having spares) All ladies have sat down at some point in our lives and
discovered to our chagrin a decided lack of toilet paper. This is not
fun. On boats storing extras of essentials can be a problem. Having access to a
spare roll simply takes a bit of planning. A nearby reachable nook
is a wonderful thing. In that regard aboard Seaweed I have just such
a place.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
Organizing,
Unmentionables,
-
Screen Update.
In a couple of previously
published pieces I have written about screening Seaweed. It is getting to be "that time
of the year" again so I will show you what worked. Also today I
explain what I had to do to make my $2 solution function a bit better.
I do like a bargain and this time I believe I have a hit.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Comfort,
Gear,
Organizing,
-
Spare Prop has Swap Potential.
During the process of changing engines it was necessary to replace
the old propeller. My original was fine and dandy for a big gasoline
engine. For the smaller diesel it was not. I ended up buying
another leaving me with a perfectly good albeit wrong-for-me prop. I
needed a place to stow the old one until I find a new owner. It has
Swap Potential.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Books,
Gear,
Organizing,
-
The Birds (ordering iced coffee) There is a certain joy in
celebratory meals. It is also fun to find a bargain. Enjoying a quiet
dinner with new friends is good too. Lately on the way to and from
grocery shopping a favorite stop has become McDonald's. Their
bargain menu appeals to my budget. Additionally, there is a nifty
place nearby called The Birds.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Entertainment, Money,
Pets,
Vignettes,
Wild Things,
-
Buy and Install Levels. One of my biggest failings is that
I buy stuff. That in and of itself is not a bad thing when the
budget can swing it. What is dreadful however is the accumulation of
Stuff that is not installed. On more than one occasion I have acquired
a sought after item, only to months later still have it in the box.
For proof positive of that, may I direct you to this photograph from
the
Inadequate Boat (Gulfport too)
article published just last month:
Categories:
Boats,
Gear,
In the Bilges,
Organizing,
Vignettes,
-
Three Keys When Hiring. Back in 2015 in the
Hiring Expertise
article I suggested we not be afraid to hire either tools or workers
for our boat jobs. I'll admit to an affinity to tools. I've got
lots, however I do not generally have the larger sizes needed for
some projects.
Categories:
Boats,
Boat Talk,
Characters,
In the Bilges,
-
Inadequate Boat (Gulfport too) A gent I recently corresponded
with is interested in joining the boating world. He wrote "Living on
the hook is free isn't it?" The one word answer is yes, with
caveats. Although dockage is always a Good Idea in my view for those
initial months after purchase. There are some things you can do to
rapidly get the costs down to a minimal level. Selecting the right
boat is important!
Categories:
Anchorages,
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Gear,
Locations,
Pets,
-
Fried Chicken.
This is a humorous item that tickled my fancy. After canning sixty
pounds of chicken [see the
Chicken Leg Quarters (canning times
and quantities) article] in two days I needed a
laugh. With perfect timing this arrived via email and I share it
here just for fun. This is not boat related.
Categories:
Humor,
Vignettes,
-
Chicken Leg Quarters (canning times
and quantities) This past
week a local grocery store offered ten pound bags of frozen chicken
leg quarters for 29 cents per pound. My neighbor and I bought sixty
pounds of chicken and this vignette details what I learned. I always
forget how much I end up with after processing. That is the reason
for today's post.
Categories: Galley,
Locations,
Vignettes,
-
Making a Towel Rack. One of my
flaws is I tend to complicate what would normally be an easy
project. I recognize that and still mess up. Just this past week I
created a Project that encompassed over two hours of frustration and
work. The final solution took about five minutes. This is what I did
wrong and right in making a towel rack in my galley.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Books, Characters, Galley,
Gear,
Money,
-
Freezer Ice Bag. Last month I had a great time thrift
store shopping with my friend Cheryl.
Cheryl cruises on a Schucker named Island Time. While enjoying a
lunch break at McDonald's we chatted about our freezers. I commented
on how much I love having ice aboard.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters, Galley,
Money,
Organizing,
Vignettes,
-
Electric
Drill Repair. I am
looking forward to the day when I can start a project and work right
straight through to the end without a something else coming up. This
time the drill shorted out. It was definitely time to fix this thing
properly. Replacement is not in the budget.
Categories:
Gear,
Money,
Pets,
-
Personalizing Your Home. I am
predisposed to want my trawler to be pretty. Having her clutter
free, neat and tidy are all important items for my contentment
level. Being able to leave immediately is critical to my happiness
quotient. Yet for my Seaweed it's the small added touches that turn this
boat into a home.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
Locations,
-
Making a
Treasure Chest. Gosh it was
wonderful to see my baby girl this past week. She flew into Tampa
for a course and was able to take dinner with me one evening. I
loved that. It was fun to catch up in person. I am very fortunate in
the Kidlet generally calls me on the way to and/or from work each
day. I like that a lot.
Categories:
Boats,
Characters,
Money,
Relationships,
-
DIY Bigelow Teas (and engine swap update) As many know I
am a real tea aficionado. I am also
a boater on a budget. As much as I enjoy a spot of Bigelow's
Earl Grey and
Constant Comment teas the
wallet is a mite thin of late. Three engines in two years will do
that to a gal. Fortunately I have a solution that is inexpensive and
easy to do.
Categories: Characters,
Comfort, Galley,
In the Bilges,
Money,
Organizing,
Recipes,
-
Falling Overboard.
I participated in the rescue of a
fellow who fell going from his inflatable into his sailboat. Bob
never knew how he it happened. One moment he was in his
dinghy and the next he was soaking wet. Fortunately this accident
was in the daytime and there were people around to haul his soggy
self out of the water. This is what occurred.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Boats,
Characters,
Gear,
Locations,
Security, Wild Things,
-
Boat Search for Beginners (DIY survey) Recently a fellow wrote. He and
his bride are coming to the United States. They wish to find their
Dream Boat, or at the very least eliminate ones that will not work
for them. When the gent asked if anyone had suggestions I piped up
with the following bits of advice.
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Comfort,
In the Bilges,
Unmentionables,
-
Getting Betsy Ready-to-Go. Betsy runs!
My engine is beautiful. Her name is Betsy. She is quiet and purrs along. What's left? The fuel return
line. The mechanic could not find the old one from the BOB engine so who
knows? Maybe the last engine did not have one though I believe all
diesels have a fuel return line. In any event Paul was successful in getting the
engine up and running. My prayers have been answered. Here's what's
been done by Sunrize Marine thus far:
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Characters,
In the Bilges,
Locations,
(this is the Archive for
2016)
2015 Archive
...
... 2017 Archive
The current year
Archive
can be found
HERE
|