s/v YOLO Day 295 Entry 066 Washing Portholes

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

Posting Date:  Monday, March 10, 2014
Day 295 Entry 066

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!

Washing portholes (windows) is just a little different and a little tricky.

Due to the salt residue left by the dried sea water spray, the portholes have to be rinsed with fresh water before wiping.  If not the salt in the residue will scratch the glass windowpane.  Also, unlike house windows that ‘tilt in’ in for easy cleaning, portholes do not.  Most of our portholes are along the side of the boat just out of reach.  Even if I lay on my belly and reach over the side I can't reach them let alone see what I am doing. 

So I wash the portholes from the rubber dinghy, which is the tricky part.  Actually, the tricky part is standing in the dinghy.  Basically standing in a dinghy can be very precarious.   OK, I promised to be honest in writing this blog so, I admit no one ever called me or will ever call me, agile!  (FYI there will never be any pictures of me washing the portholes from the dinghy!   I promised to be honest regarding my words not pictures!  So I will try to explain in detail my experience so you can picture it!]    The first time I washed the portholes I found it very difficult to stand in a moving dinghy, while trying to hold on to the boat railing with one hand and wash the portholes with the other hand.  I should mention that I have to bend down to wet and rinse the sponge in the pail that is sitting in the bottom of the dinghy, therefore I have to let go of the railing.  All the time praying to my ‘go to girl’ that a big boat that creates a big wake does not go zipping by! 

Insert But Captain Steve was a big help as he sat on the deck!  He called to me to’ hold on’ every time, well almost every time, a boat went by, so I wasn't  surprised when the dinghy started to bounce from the waves caused by the boat’s wake.  What a guy!   But even so I fell into the dinghy.  Thankfully the dinghy is an inflatable, so my landing was somewhat soft, but not in the least graceful.  My landing was also very wet, since I knocked over the pail.   I decided that there has to be a better way of washing the portholes, short of hiring some one to do it!  Subsequently, I mentioned my problem of only having 2 hands to Captain Steve.  I was flabbergasted when Captain Steve had an immediate solution!  He offered to run a line known as a ‘life line’ along the side of the boat so I could hold on to it and still be able to bend down to reach the pail.  I very calmly asked why he didn't offer to run the line before; to which he replied “Our neighbors were enjoying your antics.  You were this mornings’ entertainment for the mooring field!”  I turned towards the 2 closest boats and bowed to each as they applauded!   

So the next time you complain about washing the tilt out windows on terra firma, think me washing portholes while standing or while trying to stand in a dinghy!   

Sea u later!

   

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 Log Blog Day 288 Entry 062 Housekeeping Aboard YOLO. Part 6 Non automatic clothes washer.

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

Posting Date:  Friday, February 28, 2014
Day 288 Entry 062

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!

Housekeeping Aboard S/v YOLO  Non Automatic Clothes Washer  Part 6

One had a water pump and one did not!  I never heard of a washer that didn't have a water pump.  How is the water emptied with out a water pump?  I didn't even take the time to find out!  I made my decision:  the Panda electric non automatic with water pump clothes washer and spinner combo was for YOLO and me.
Most of these non automatic clothes washers are made by non US companies.  Now to find a US distributor.   I was able to locate 2 distributors.  Now would the delivery charge be more that the actual washer.

After showing Captain Steve my find, it was his job to figure out if the electricity/ generator/ batteries would support my new appliance and how!

Well we measured the shower stall and found that 2 of the combo models would fit. 

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!

s/v YOLO Swab's Blog Day 270 Entry 060 Housekeeping aboard s/v YOLO. Part 4 Peddle Power!

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

Posting Date:  Tuesday, February  11, 2014   
Day 270 Entry 060

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 4 Peddle Power!

Let me explain why the bicycle powered washing machine was ruled out right off the bat!   We have 2 folding bikes on the sailboat that we use for transportation - on land that is.  Granted, s/v YOLO has very good walk around.  Just that; walk around, not suitable for bike riding.  

I totally understand the health benefits of bike riding.  I agree that energy produced by ‘peddle power’ helps the environment.  That’s all well and good – but not my way of washing clothes!   I didn’t even discuss this type of washer with Captain Steve; I just refused!  As I said to Captain Steve – “Gilligan can keep his ‘peddle powered’ washing machine!

 No Way!  Not Happening!  Not In a million years!  Don’t hold your breath!   Not at this stage of my life!   I’ll just through the dirty clothes over board!”

Captain Steve made no attempt to counter my statements.  I guess he got the picture!  We moved on to the next type of washing machine!

Sea u later.  Housekeeping aboard.  The Non automatic washing machine.

s/v YOLO Swab's Blog Day 269 Entry 059 Housekeeping aboard s/v YOLO Part 3 Manual and the Egg.

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

Posting Date:  Monday,  February 9, 2014   
Day 269 Entry 0059

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 3 THE EGG

The ‘egg’ which is about 2 feet tall, sits on a table top.  Therefore, it is pretty small and doesn’t hold much.  The clothes are agitated by electricity or manually turning a crank on the side of the ‘egg’.  

 After reading the fine print, I found that it can only handle only 1 shirt at a time!!!  I never found out how much water it holds.  Couldn’t be much, I guess.   Agreed, exercise is good for me but; the ‘egg’ has to be cranked 150 to 200 times, to wash the one item.  Then drain the dirty water, fill it again with clean water, and crank it another 150 to 200 times to rinse.   How long does 400 cranks take – 5 or 10  minutes?  How hard is it to crank??  Are they kidding??   Why bother??  To wash just 10 shirts, I would have to crank the egg 4000 times.  I don’t think it’s worth my arm falling off to wash just 10 shirts!   I guess it’s a good thing that a bed sheet doesn't fit in the egg, since I have no idea how many cranks that would take!   So, Captain Steve and I agreed that eggs are meant for the frying pan not washing machines.  There has to be other options. 

Sea u later.  Housekeeping aboard s/v YOLO. Part 4.

s/v YOLO Day 268 Entry 0058 Housekeeping aboard s.v YOLO Part 2.THE P!LUNGER

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

Posting Date:  Saturday, February 8, 2014   
Day 268  Entry 0058

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

Actual Date:  January 26, 2014 Sunday   
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 2 THE PLUNGER!

   
Lets look at the pros and cons of each type of clothes washer! We’ll start with the very basic  ‘plunger.’  I’m not crazy about standing over a bucket on the bow of the boat with a plunger hand washer.  Since the buckets that I have hold a total of 5 gallons of water, I might be able to wash 2 shirts.   Using 4 gallons of water I would have to allow for splashing due to agitation so I would have to reduce the water to 3 gallons.  That’s not much water and I have no idea how many agitations or 'plunges' would be needed to wash 2 shirts.  I have spoken to women who started out with this type of clothes washer.  The few that have used it said that after using it a few times they got so many blisters they gave  up and threw it overboard.  Actually I was told that a regular toilet plunger can be used.  I do not think that I can be considered 'high maintenance' even though I am quite repulsed by the idea of washing clothes with a toilet plunger that looks very similar to one used to unclog the toilet.  OK what’s next?

Sea u later!  Housekeeping aboard s/v YOLO Part 3.

s/v YOLO Swab's Log Blog Day 267 Entry 0057 Housekeeping aboard s/v YOLO Part 1

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

Posting Date:  Friday, February 6, 2014   
Day 267  Entry 0057

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

Actual Date:  January 25, 2014 Saturday   
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.

Performing basic housekeeping chores on a boat is pretty much just like home but with a few exceptions.  I don’t have a dish washer so I wash the dishes by hand – no biggie!  (Yes some sailboats have dishwashers.)   Cleaning the heads (bathrooms) are the same except for flushing the toilet.  On the sailboat, you just press the red button!

Dusting and sweeping is the same.  But vacuuming is a little different though.  I have a small hand held vacuum, so instead of standing up while vacuuming the rug and floor, I vacuum on my hands and knees!  Not great , but do-able.  I must admit that I do tend to ‘postpone vacuuming’, as much as possible!   But when trying to figure out how perform more involved housekeeping chores, such as laundry, I read multitude of magazine articles and spoke with women (crew) who were ‘live aboards’.  All said, “if you have room for a clothes washer, get one!”   I never really paid any attention to clothes washers; I’ve only bought 4 or 5 over the years.  So, I basically bought the one that was the least expensive and handled the biggest load of wash.  I really didn’t understand exactly what an ‘automatic washer,’ I thought all washers were automatic.  Well now I know that they are not!!  After looking at so many, over 20 types – really no kidding I had no Idea!  Actually I think I am an expert now!!!  There are so many different types from the manual stick type that looks more like a toilet plunger than a clothes washer;  

to a manual hand crank tumbler; 

to an electric ‘egg’ thing; 

to a washer agitated by bicycle power, just like the one on Gilligan’s Island

to built in apartment size automatic washer – dryer combos designed specifically for sailboats.  

The clothes washers ranged in price from $20. to $3,000.

We really didn’t want to go through the trouble of having the plumbing, and electricity reconfigured in order to accommodate a built in clothes washer.  These clothes washers were the most expensive and most expensive to install: so we ruled them out.  

Sea u later.  House keeping chores on YOLO.  Part 2.