s/v YOLO Swabs Log Blog Day 297 Entry 070 Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 4

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:   Thursday March 20, 2014
Day 297 Entry 070

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 4

Wednesday, February 19, 2014, in preparation for going to Bimini we went to the municipal dock for water.  The wind was blowing a bit but not bad on the South side of the mooring field, but as we motored to the other side of the harbor, which is not as protected as we thought it was worse.  When we made to port (left turn) to angle into the dock, the wind hit us broad side.  Fortunately, some other cruisers were on hand to help us get to the dock, actually to help us from being blown INTO the dock.  They were a very big help, as the wind picked up and we really would have bumped into the dock or worse.    And we sat there for over an hour waiting for the wind to die down.  Even then it took 8 guys to help push us off the dock and keep us off the dock by really putting their backs into it!  Again, we very grateful for their help or we might still be there.

At 5 am Thursday, February 20, 2014 it was clear and calm!!!!!  Captain Steve and Captain Scott were both multi tasking!  Both were on the phone discussing the weather as the compared the weather computer models, as well as listening to the marine weather!  The predicted weather was the same for the next 4 days!  Temperature was to be in the mid 80’s, with winds 15 decreasing to 10 from the south, with 2 to 3 foot waves.  As Captain Steve hung up the phone he turned to me and said “It’s a go!”   OMG are we really going to do this????????

On Thursday February 20, 2014 the predicted weather was the same!    The plan was to head North via Hawk Channel for 45 miles to Rodriguez Key and anchor for the night.  Friday morning at 4 am leave Rodriguez Key, head north east for 70 miles across the reef and then cross the Gulf Stream. 

Captain Steve said ‘Stow everything and let’s go, we rendezvous at 7:30 am on the bay side of the channel!’

I did as I was told!  (Yes I Did!  Granted I don’t do as I am told often, but this is one of the few times that I did!)  One last thing to do before going on deck – Wake up my ‘Go to Girl’!!!!  

Hopefully we will find the very tiny island (it’s only 9 miles long and have heard horror, YES, horror stories from those who missed it!) called Bimini before dark!  So how many Hail Marys do you think it takes to cross to Bimini from Rodriguez Key?  A lot more than you think, especially when you have to add all the Hail Mary’s said from Marathon to Rodriguez Key!!!!

Sea u later!

 Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 5

s/v YOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 294 Entry 065 Vacuuming on YOLO

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Thursday, March 8, 2014
Day 294 Entry 065

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Actual Date:  January 27, 2014 Monday    
Weather:   Cold. Cold. Cold.  But no snow!   Temperature dropped to 52 degrees and the wind gusted to 30 mph.  But it is warmer here than most places in the country!

The real reason people should remove their shoes before boarding a boat!

Dusting and sweeping is the same as in any house.  Vacuuming is a little different though. Some sailboats have built in central vacuums. 

 s/v YOLO does not!   I have a small hand held vacuum, (my little Red Devil).

So instead of standing up while vacuuming the rug or floor, I vacuum on my hands and knees!  Not great, but do-able.  Honestly there really isn’t much square footage that needs to be vacuumed anyway.  I must admit though, that I do tend to postpone vacuuming for as long as possible, just like home!  

By now I am sure that you have figured out the real reason why people remove their shoes before boarding a boat!  It  is not so they don't slip on the wet surface; or not to scratch the fiberglass; or not to leave black scuff marks on the fiberglass!  You got it because I hate to vacuum!!!!!!!!!!!!!.   

Sea u later.

s/v YOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 292 Entry 064 PART 8 of 8 DRYING LAUNDRY

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Thursday, March 6, 2014
Day 292 Entry 064

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Actual Date:  January 27, 2014 Monday    
Weather:   Cold. Cold. Cold.  But no snow!   Temperature dropped to 52 degrees and the wind gusted to 30 mph.  But it is warmer here than most places in the country!

Now for the drying part of laundry!

On a sailboat the rule is that any one item must have at least 2 uses.  When we were discussing what to bring with us back in May I surrendered all and any holiday decorations.  It was agreed that if we had enough room that I could buy 1 decoration per holiday, which would be an extravagance of wasting space.  So when Halloween came around I bought a plastic pumpkin.  I put a light in it and hung it off the stern.  

I brought clothespins from home, but keeping them in a plastic bag was problematic.  So I needed something to keep the close pins in.  Then I thought of the jack o lantern!  It had a handle.  The top opening is wide enough for easy access to the clothes pins.  It is large enough to hold the clothes pins.  It can be easily stored in the laundry bucket when not in use.  I will be able to use it for 11 months out of the year.  I only to have to use something else for 1 month. 

I not only strung clothes line on the deck from the mast to the genoa and back.  I also strung lines in the v-berth, salon, and stern cabin. 

Also being in Florida the clothes dry in 2 to 3 hours.  If it is windy the close dry even sooner, but I have to use 10 times the number of close pins!

Drying laundry aboard YOLO in 30 mph winds!

Sea u later!

s/v YOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 290 Entry 063 Part 7 non automatic clothes washer

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Day 290 Entry 063

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Actual Date:  January 27, 2014 Monday    
Weather:   Cold. Cold. Cold.  But no snow!   Temperature dropped to 52 degrees and the wind gusted to 30 mph.  But it is warmer here than most places in the country!

Most of the non automatic clothes washers are made and sold by companies outside the US.  Now to find a US distributor who sold this brand.  I could not locate one in the US, but I did find two in Canada.  I contacted them both and found one distributor did not have any in stock and the other did.  Now, my next question was about the  delivery charges.  I expected the delivery charge would be half the price of the washer, but it was surprising low!  I placed the order and prepared to wait the 10 business days for delivery!

Four days later, one of the dock hands delivered my new non automatic electric Panda washing machine!   He put the box down on the dock in front of the boat and said ‘you’r going to need a bigger boat!’  The box was enormous!   Captain Steve and I looked at each other and thought I ordered the wrong machine!  Captain Steve said ‘this is never going to fit!’   The box was so big that he didn’t even think it would fit through the companion way, so he unpacked it on the dock. After removing the mountain of padding and wedges, I finally got a look at the machine!   OMG!  It looked like a child’s play toy!  Do you remember The Easy Bake Oven; the toy that every little girl, including me, had to have in the late 50’s and 60's?   

Well, if the company had made a washing machine, this would have been it!   

Although it was the model that I ordered, it was so small that it looked like a toy!   Needless to say, I really had very strong doubts about the efficiency of my new non automatic electric clothes washer!  I really never saw anything like it!
Captain Steve said ‘lets give it a try.’  He picked it up and carried it on board, unaided.  Yes it was that light!   He put it in the stern shower stall and it fit perfectly.  I looked for the directions in the box but there were none.  It’s so basic and simple to use that no instructions were needed.  Put water in the tub; turn the knob to agitate (either slow or regular); put the drain hose in the drain; turn the knob to drain; fill the tub; turn the agitator knob to rinse (either slow or regular); put the drain hose in the drain; turn the knob to drain; remove the clothes; place the clothes in the spinner; turn the knob to spin.  I expected the clothes to be a wrinkled mess because the spinner was so fast.  I was absolutely flabbergasted that the machine held the amount of clothes that it did!  Not only were the clothes clean but they were no more wrinkled then my washer at home!    There is a lot of truth to the saying, ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover!’  This little Panda washer is a dynamo!  I love it!

Sea u later!

s/v YOLO Swab's Blog Day 286 Entry 061 House keeping aboard S/v YOLO Part 5 The non automatic washing machine.

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Friday, February 28, 2014

Day 286 Entry 061

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10 

http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Actual Date:  January 27, 2014 Monday    

Weather:   Cold. Cold. Cold.  But no snow!   Temperature dropped to 52 degrees and the wind gusted to 30 mph.  But it is warmer here than most places in the country!

Subject:  Housekeeping aboard s/v YOLO. Part 5.  The non automatic washing machine.

Electric, non automatic clothes washer.  OK, so what’s non automatic mean?  I learned that it means, the washer does not automatically fill the tub with water, agitate to wash, drain; fill; agitate to rinse; drain and spin.  Basically, each cycle has to be manually set.  

There is a tub for washing/rinsing and a separate tub for spinning the clothes dry.  I found some models where the washer is a totally separate unit from the spinner.  So the individual units are smaller than the unit with the washer and spinner side by side combo. 

Because of my space limitations this is a great feature!   Powered by electricity so no plunging (therefore no blisters); no cranking; no bicycle riding!   This electric non automatic clothes was looking better and better.  The washer holds 7 to 10 gallons of water and 2 to 3 pairs of dungarees or 5 to 7 shirts or 1 king size bed sheet.  That's doable!  

So what exactly is the 'non automatic' process?   Basically it is manually intensive but definitely not nearly as labor intensive as the crank, cause I will still have use of both of my arms when I am done!  The water is added by the operator (me);  the operator (me) turns the dial to agitate the clothes for 3 to 15 minutes; when the time is up and agitation is finished the operator (me) places the drain hose in the drain (most probably the wash basin) and stand there to make sure it doesn't over flow; add clean water  to the washer for the rinse cycle and turn the dial to agitate (rinse) for 3 to 15 minutes;  then place the drain hose back in the basin to drain the water again and again stand there it make sure it doesn't over flow.  Then the clothes are put in the spinner or centrifuge for 2 to 10 minutes to extract the water.   Then hang them on the line to dry.  Since it’s a sailboat we have plenty of ‘line’, so that’s not an issue!  This machine is definitely not like the one home but a great deal better than anything else I've seen thus far!   This is doable!

Sea u later!