Since we purchased Belle-Vie, a 1991 P42, in 2002, all of our Thanksgivings have been spent with our sons and other family members. Well, this year it was the other side of the family that obtained our sons' attention so the admiral and I made plans to spend our first Thanksgiving on board.
A weather window worked in our favor so we sailed (motor sailed) over to one of the four Hope Island mooring balls in Skagit Bay for the long holiday weekend. Nice weather going over, but turned to stink last night and today on our return. Still nice being out on the water. We were the only ones there.
In between preparing our traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner, puttering, reading, listening to music, watching movies and enjoying the admiral's company I did manage to accomplish some chores. It was time to top off our house bank that consists of two 8D wet cell batteries. Any longer than two months risks exposing the cells.
Our Wallas forced air diesel furnace kept the boat toasty warm during our time on the lam. Still lots of marine life to keep our attention. Cormorants, Oyster Catchers, Snipe, Gulls, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron and a first time for me surprise, an American Bittern.
In the years since we purchased Belle-Vie in 2002, a 1991 P42, the bilge has always contained a certain amount of water; some fresh and some sea. I fixed the fresh water leak when we she was on the hard for some repairs in 2002. Check out the articles that I wrote in the Hunter Owner Modification tab above where I describe in detail how I fixed that leak.
Sea water flowed into the bilge from the stuffing box slowly dripping while underway. No big deal so I let the bilge pump scavenge the sea water overboard. The only trouble was it always left about an inch of sea water between periodic scavenge cycles; no worries.
Ever since we owned her there has always been a funky odor that would accumulate on our clothes and food. The admiral always thought it was diesel, but no leaks. Okay, so while cruising I kept scented candles, incense sticks, diffusers and other paraphernalia emanating scents to mask the odor.
Not to digress, but after the boat sat for a few weeks, the first time we used our raw water toilets the sea water had a rotten egg smell from rotting marine life in the line between the sea cock and the toilet. Again no big deal, just open the port lights during the first flush so as to diffuse the oder and all is well after that.
Finally to my point. Two weeks ago I came to the boat for some prep work before our holiday trip. While there I made an effort to remove all of the sea water from the bilge and wiped it dry. Marvel that when I opened the companion way hatch this weekend absent the familiar funky boat odor. Even my cloths smelled, duh normal. Even the bilge smelled, well nice.
All in all a very pleasant late fall cruise for the admiral and I. Another first is to sail over to Butchart Gardens just north of Victoria, BC CA to see the Christmas lights. Quite spectacular, so I'm told. We've been through the gardens during the summer season, but this time of the year would be special on the water. Butchart Cove a very pleasant place to stay.
Terry Cox
A weather window worked in our favor so we sailed (motor sailed) over to one of the four Hope Island mooring balls in Skagit Bay for the long holiday weekend. Nice weather going over, but turned to stink last night and today on our return. Still nice being out on the water. We were the only ones there.
In between preparing our traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner, puttering, reading, listening to music, watching movies and enjoying the admiral's company I did manage to accomplish some chores. It was time to top off our house bank that consists of two 8D wet cell batteries. Any longer than two months risks exposing the cells.
Our Wallas forced air diesel furnace kept the boat toasty warm during our time on the lam. Still lots of marine life to keep our attention. Cormorants, Oyster Catchers, Snipe, Gulls, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron and a first time for me surprise, an American Bittern.
In the years since we purchased Belle-Vie in 2002, a 1991 P42, the bilge has always contained a certain amount of water; some fresh and some sea. I fixed the fresh water leak when we she was on the hard for some repairs in 2002. Check out the articles that I wrote in the Hunter Owner Modification tab above where I describe in detail how I fixed that leak.
Sea water flowed into the bilge from the stuffing box slowly dripping while underway. No big deal so I let the bilge pump scavenge the sea water overboard. The only trouble was it always left about an inch of sea water between periodic scavenge cycles; no worries.
Ever since we owned her there has always been a funky odor that would accumulate on our clothes and food. The admiral always thought it was diesel, but no leaks. Okay, so while cruising I kept scented candles, incense sticks, diffusers and other paraphernalia emanating scents to mask the odor.
Not to digress, but after the boat sat for a few weeks, the first time we used our raw water toilets the sea water had a rotten egg smell from rotting marine life in the line between the sea cock and the toilet. Again no big deal, just open the port lights during the first flush so as to diffuse the oder and all is well after that.
Finally to my point. Two weeks ago I came to the boat for some prep work before our holiday trip. While there I made an effort to remove all of the sea water from the bilge and wiped it dry. Marvel that when I opened the companion way hatch this weekend absent the familiar funky boat odor. Even my cloths smelled, duh normal. Even the bilge smelled, well nice.
All in all a very pleasant late fall cruise for the admiral and I. Another first is to sail over to Butchart Gardens just north of Victoria, BC CA to see the Christmas lights. Quite spectacular, so I'm told. We've been through the gardens during the summer season, but this time of the year would be special on the water. Butchart Cove a very pleasant place to stay.
Terry Cox
