Boat Stuff & Catching Up

Well, we have been here almost two weeks and the memories of the crossing are fading.  The weather here has been great and we are enjoying retirement.  Our new philosophy of "never doing anything today that can be put off until tomorrow" seems to be working well.   However, we can't stop spending money. 


Bob supervises the barge moving in with clipboard (sans hardhat)

We had a "Slidemoor" system installed on our dock. Unlike Watergate Marina, our dock is not floating -- it's not even wood -- it is concrete.  Tends not to move too much. The installation involved having a barge with a huge hydraulic crane/hammer snuggle up to the boat; removing two pilings and installing two taller pilings to which was attached the system that will allow the boat to rise and fall with the tide. They worked around the boat, moving it forward or back as required. 


It is pretty amazing.  The boat is only "fastened" to the dock at 2 points on the new pilings (as shown).  No fenders or other lines are necessary.  The boat only can move up and down with the tide -- there is no yawing at all.  We were told that you could secure it with shoestrings, however, we chose 1/2" lines.  



Top of the world!

As mentioned in a previous blog, our  jib fell when we came into Charlotte Harbor.  Greg from UK sails went up the mast and we caught a break for a change.  The shackle had actually bent and come apart allowing the jib to fall.  After reattaching and hoisting the jib, we are back in business.   We may do some sailing over the Memorial Day weekend.

As if we don't have enough clocks, barometers and thermometers already in the house, Bob has installed a new wireless weather station with its own control panel.  At any moment we have time, barometric pressure, wind speed, gusts and direction, temperature, humidity, wind chill and a rain gauge.  Graphs and charts too. The local TV weather guy has us on speed dial for updates.

In the middle of all this, my stove broiler quit.  It would cost about half the price of a new stove to fix it, so we upgraded and have started the galley "road to stainless steel."  :)

And last but not least -- Bob has been wanting to replace our dinghy for some time.  It has a high pressure floor rather than fiberglass and it has finally sprung a leak.  After some computer research, he found a lightweight AB dinghy that has an aluminum floor.  We drove to Naples and ordered it.  It is 9'5", smaller than our current dinghy and will be easier to handle.  We plan to get our current dinghy repaired and sell it.  We sure don't have room for 2.  Need a dinghy?  No sense in letting a trip to Naples be entirely business -- we

checked out the City Marina and had lunch at The Dock. 

                                   

We have joined the local civic association.  We attended a "meet & greet" last night and met new PG residents from all over the US (and Canada).  They have several clubs within the organization and we plan to join a sailing club and a social club.  It seems to be a great way to meet new people with common interests.