s/v YOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 253 Entry 0055 No Man Is An Islan But Our Boat is! Part 4

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Thursday, January  23, 2014   
Day 253 Entry 0055

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

Actual Date:  January 17, 2014 Friday. 

Subject:  No Man Is An Island But Our Boat Is!  Part 4

So basically the boat is set up as its own island!   We can live ‘on the hook’ (translation for land lubbers - at anchor, or not attached to shore electricity) for 3 months. Based on Captain Steve’s calculations the diesel fuel should last more than 3 months, but we don’t want to get caught short!   There are so many remote places that we want to visit and in order to go there we knew we had to be totally self sufficient!   

So we can be totally independent for as long as 3 months or as long as we are still talking to each other – which ever comes first! 

 We are ready to set out to find those remote places.

Sea u later!  Now when and where to go! 

s/v YOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 251 Entry 0054 No Man Is An Island But Our Boat Is! Part 3

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Tuesday, January  21, 2014   
Day 251 Entry 0054

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

Actual Date:  January 17, 2014 Friday. 

Subject:  No Man Is An Island But Our Boat Is!  Part 3

Since we have a reverse osmosis system (aka water maker) we don’t need to go to a dock to fill our water tanks.  I was very leery about desalinated water – really very leery.  I thought that we would just use it only for washing and not drink it.   While on the dock at Boot Key Harbor I met a man from Point Pleasant, NJ (no less).  During the conversation he mentioned that he worked for the water department at Ft. Dix.  So I asked him about the desalinated water systems – he said that it works great!  He said that the armed forces use reverse osmosis systems extensively for drinking!   He has a system on his boat!  After mentioning the system we had – he volunteered that your system is much better than mine!  So drink up!  Well I thought I would give the reverse osmosis water a try!   I was very surprised that it is crystal clear!   We conducted our own taste test using 2 identical glasses (yes I had to 'barrow ' form a restaurant) 2 glasses (OK 2 small brandy snifters) for this test  since we only have plastic glasses on the boat!   We each took a turn filling one glass with the bottled water and the other the desalinated water and then the other would drink it.   Neither Captain Steve nor I could tell the difference!  Can you tell the difference????

Sea u later!  
Subject:  No Man Is An Island But Our Boat Is!  Part 4

s/v YOLO Day 247 Entry 0052 No Man Is an Island, but Our Boat Is! Part 1

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Friday, January  17, 2014   
Weather:  Beautiful, blustery cool and crisp!  Sweat shirts, Long pants and socks required!   53 degrees going to 64.  Breezy 5 to 7 mph out of the east.  Perfect Polar Day!  

Day 247 Entry 0052

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

Actual Date:  January 17, 2014 Friday. 

Subject:  No man is an island, but our boat is!  Part 1

The boat has the systems to run with out shore power (hooked up to electricity).  s/v YOLO has a generator to produce electricity and 12 batteries to maintain it for up to 48 hours.  Using this stored power we run all systems and appliances with 2 exceptions.  The generator is turned on every day (usually in the morning) for 2 hours, which requires less than a half gallon of gas; to charge the batteries.  I can operate all of the house appliances such as:  the coffer maker; microwave; toaster oven; electric fry pan; and slow cooker; washing machine; water heater; both TV’s; 

Captain Steve hoisting the TV antenna!

reverse osmosis; use all the electrical outlets; turn on all the interior and exterior lights and most importantly the electronic toilet for 24 to 48 hours. Longer, if only a few of the systems are turned on.  This is in addition to all the boat and navigational systems such as:  navigation lights; bow thruster; electronic hoist; reverse osmosis (water maker) and electronic winches and windless (anchor.)  There are 2 exceptions to this though!   The exceptions are the electronic dinghy hoist and the clothes iron.   

Sea u later!   No Man Is An Island, But Our Boat Is!  Part 2

s/vYOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 232 Entry 0041 Celebrate like a local! 2

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Thursday, January 2, 2014  

Day 232 Entry 0041

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

Marathon in the Middle of the Florida Keys

Actual Date:  December 31, 2013 New Year’s Eve, Tuesday

Subject:  Celebrate like a local!  2

It was my job to think of something to do to close out 2013, while Captain Steve cleaned the filters on the outboard motor, which is a Mercury four stroke 6.0 engine.    http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/4-6/  Boy oh boy does my Captain Steve love to clean filters!  Thankfully there was just a little gunk in this filter and no presents left on the salon table!

So what to do till midnight?  I thought of what we can’t do:  invite friends over – we don’t really know anyone here; can’t watch the ball drop in New York’s Time Square – we don’t have cable TV. http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/index.aspx

OK enough negativity – I have to look at what we can do!  Some of the local restaurants and tiki bar establishments, that are accessible by dinghy, were having parties.  The prices varied from $50 to $150 per person for dancing to live bands; none of which were familiar, unlimited food and open bar.    Paying that kind of money to be with very drunk strangers, is not my idea of the way I wanted to close out 2013, which was a very good for us!  We would have 2 drinks at the most!  You can not be drunk and get in and out of a dinghy, let alone start the outboard, navigate through unfamiliar territory, keep site of channel markers and locate your white boat amongst 200 others at night with only a hand held flash light to guide you! 

So where do people in the keys go to party?  Everyone goes to the Conch Republic - Key West!  http://www.conchrepublic.com/welcome.htm

Sea u later.  Subject Celebrating like a local. 3

s/vYOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 230 Entry 0039 On the Move.

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Day 230 Entry 0039

New Years Eve

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

Marathon in the Middle of the Florida Keys

Subject:  On the move. 

Captain Steve and I decided to move the boat to the mooring on Friday.  We had some chores to do which are easier to do at the dock then on the mooring so we got up early on Friday.  While Captain Steve worked on down below I was topside.  While Captain Steve cleaned the water  intake filters and screens on the engine and generator, I worked topside, hosing down the deck.  The deck did not need to be scrubbed, since we did that when we arrived from Miami.  After the trip down from Miami the boat was encrusted with salt from the waves and sea spray.  The railing around the boat was completely covered, as though it had been dipped in salt.  Picture the rim of a 48 foot margarita glass!  But at this point the boat just needed a good rinse and some tiding up!  I pulled the dinghy up and secured it.  I got the mooring lines out and secured the chaffing guards.  When I finally went below, Captain Steve had this little present for me spread out on a paper towel on the salon table.  When I saw it on the table I started yelling to get it off the table (since we eat there!)  He kept saying 'It's OK it's on a paper towel!'   'It's only sea grass, there are no dead fish or fish parts in it.'   OMG!!!  Are you kidding???   (I ,ll let you assume who said that!) Then he said take a picture – no one is going to believe this.  So I did exactly that!   But just this once though!

YUCK and more YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!  According to Captain Steve the bright green leaves are a clear indication that the water is clean!  I am not convinced!

Captain Steve thinks that we picked up the sea grass while we were anchored in Biscayne Bay for a week! 

We finished our chores.  Let go the lines and started up river to the Boot Key Harbor and Marina mooring ball W10.  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/
Ready for our next adventure.  Happy New Year!!!!!

Sea u later.  On the mooring!