Cay Player

Improving the hanging compartment, starboard aft berth

2011-06-12T14:39:00.002-04:00

This weekend's project is removing the old insulation from the compartment in the starboard aft berth that's shaped for hanging shirts, jackets, etc. And then putting in the new insulation layer to make it usable. Barry already did that work on the port side; now it's time for the starboard side.

This is the same compartment on the port side, already being used for hanging clothing:

Cleaning the winch handle holders

2011-04-23T17:30:00.002-04:00

Simple - cleaning these by removing them, then soaking in water with bleach. Really helped.

Cockpit table

2011-04-23T08:00:00.004-04:00

I wouldn't have bothered to post about this addition to the boat, except that Barry noticed a folding table on the West Marine (BoatUS) catalog for $120. Fortunately I'd already bought this table - which looks exactly the same! - for $20 at Target, about three weeks ago. We'd never have bought it at the $120 price! A lot of the other items we're putting into the boat also were bought at Target, Lowe's, etc. (And then there's friends Sandy & Kelly who are procuring via eBay and the like ... smart!)

Blossoms and all those dinghys

2011-04-20T07:35:00.005-04:00

Views along the marina this morning -

Eating well on board

2011-04-19T21:25:00.007-04:00

Thanks to Barry, we are definitely eating well on board! Recently, Barry sliced up and marinated a couple of steaks (marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, olive oil, Montreal steak seasoning, and some BBQ seasoning), before putting the slices like pieces of ribbon onto long skewers and grilling them. He's doing great things with the grill mounted on the stern railing (using a propane canister for fuel).

A few days later, he grilled up a couple of steaks along with kielbasa dogs:

Last night, he grilled catfish, shrimp, and bacon-wrapped shrimp, served with sides of potato salad and "seafood salad":

April 29 - another grilled dinner:

More storage/organizing gizmos in the head and the main berth bow prong "closet"

2011-04-17T16:26:00.009-04:00

My own weekend project was to install organization into the head, and into the main berth bow prong to create clothing storage (a "closet" area). The improvements in the head fromt his weekend are organizing items installed to create storage or places where things can be placed without taking up counter space. I created a liner row of wire-basket holders (they're portions of a shelf-organizer set I found at K-Mart which I repurposed for this project - they don't hang totally right, but they'll do for now, and I'll locate and install a rail along the bottom to push the bottoms out to hold items better plus provide more support). Plus, I finally found the best place to locate the shower handle holder when it's in use. Now, it's located right next to a hanger holder (from Lowe's) I put in, to accommodate wet bathing suits, drip-dry clothing, wet towels, etc.

For that bow prong area - here are photos (below) demonstrating the progress made after tearing down all the old headliner that had been up there. After installing the new insulating layer, I ended up painting it with PermaWhite instead of installing the new headliner fabric over that. Maybe we'll have time in the future to do that, but for now, the white paint makes the closet area more visible (reflects light much better) and gives a better surface than the insulation fabric provided.

In the new "closet" in the starboard bow prong, the first basket was affixed way up front, to a shallow but strongly Fiberglas/resin reinforced piece of plywood sticking down from near the front. That thick (approx. 3/4") plywood was used previously to support a clothes rod that we removed. The first basket will be used for items that aren't too heavy and aren't used very often, since it'll be the most challenging area to reach. The next basket is affixed to the first one, and is placed closer (a little further aft) because of the angles of the space. At first, I provided support to the bottom back edges of it by using 3M 90 spray glue to affix extra strips of insulation layered across the wires and onto the existing insulation, to snug the bottom of the basket into place. However, it needed more support, so Barry made and placed pieces of wood in a triangle pattern to support it (I'll paint those one of these days).

Then, we added a 3-foot "Closet Maid" shelf along the outer hull side of this area. First Barry made two wide pieces of wood that I affixed with 3M 90 spray glue to the insulated "wall". Then he made two narrower pieces that I screwed into the first ones, and these narrower pieces run vertically. The outer hull in that area isn't straight so there was no point trying to glue those in place - there's very little contact. Then, we screwed the shelf to the wood pieces. As for the angular support brackets that come with the shelf, I had to come up with a way to make those secure, since I installed the shelf upside down on purpose (I wanted the "lip" to point up instead of down, so the brackets don't seat normally). I wrapped wire ties to secure the brackets in place. It's a good sturdy shelf now.

After adding a couple of additional devices used for hanging, the whole space has become a very useful closet area that accommodates hanging items, folded items, shoes, laundry containers, and from time to time either extra boxes of items or just a place to perch.

Aft bulkhead wall in port berth - the work progresses

2011-04-17T09:40:00.005-04:00

Barry made more progress with the vertical bulkhead wall in the aft berth this weekend. First he had precisely chipped out the old rotted wood plus enough additional around it to fit the replacement board exactly - and of course he cut the replacement to fit that. Then he used resin (with the thickener) to put up the new board in place. Once that was well in place, he used more resin to put up a layer of Fiberglas cloth. By now, it's dried; he does plan to add a second Fiberglas layer next weekend. Once that's done, it'll be ready to paint (or perhaps take a layer of insulation if he decides to cover it with headliner).

Here's a closeup of what the Fiberglas cloth looks like, by itself; and then a real closeup where you can almost see the gauze-look of the Fiberglas within the resin on the board. It isn't the white part - that's white paint (applied because of its anti-mildew properties). The Fiberglas itself looks like translucent gauze - it becomes practically invisible:

Here's how the wall looks now, with the new board plus first layer of Fiberglas:

Progress in refitting the port aft berth

2011-04-11T20:23:00.006-04:00

Here are some photos depicting progress that's been made in the aft berth, after Barry had finished replacing the horizontal 3/4" plywood board that was rotten. Barry put up insulation, measured and cut 1/4" plywood which I painted with the PermaWhite (tinted winter white). And I painted the horizontal surface, and floor too (around the holly-and-teak floorboard that's supposed to be there (except in this berth, even that's too rot-damaged to use, though it's okay-to-good elsewhere in the boat)). Then he put up those boards as vertical walls on both sides, and started hanging hardware to create storage. He's still got to finish fixing the vertical wall at the very back ... But certainly this is great progress already.

Galley area for knife set

2011-04-10T13:32:00.004-04:00

We needed storage for the knife set, but the galley imposes strict space limitations. We're trying replacement of the chunky wooden knife block stand, with a magnetic strip. The magnet is very strong so we have hope this will be a good solution. Later, we might create a cover so the blades aren't just exposed like this. But for now, it's good to free up the counter space, and the strip promises to hold the knives very well. This area is the bulkhead wall at the forward end of the galley, right by the window (where curtains will be, one day..!).

I bought the magnetic strip at Target (the box is included in the photo above).

Trying vinyl-covered wire baskets

2011-04-09T21:38:00.004-04:00

We quickly put up some vinyl-covered wire basket-type storage in a few places. A spice rack for the aft bulkhead wall above the propane stove in the galley; shelving alongside the refrigerator (if it intrudes too much into the cabin entryway then we'll take that one down); a rack for vitamins, etc., in the inner wall of the starboard aft berth; and more to come in the port aft berth.

Satellite TV onboard (while docked)

2011-04-01T18:49:00.007-04:00

Hey, it's no April Fool's - the DirecTV does work great onboard! Sure, it's only while docked that the cable from the satellite dish plugs into the TV, and the AC shore power makes it possible. But it's real nice and helps make living onboard a better lifestyle for us. The satellite dish is mounted on the wood post piling that corners our dock slip.

Paper towel roll added in the head compartment

2011-03-31T20:57:00.001-04:00

Well it's modest - just a new paper towel holder in the head. In the future this may be converted to a metal towel rod. For now, it's another pleasant improvement.

Serious work begins in the aft port berth

2011-03-31T19:50:00.011-04:00

Taking the old headliner out of the port aft berth was just the beginning. The next thing that was done, was removing both portholes and sealing them with butyl tape, then reinstalling them. That sealed them very well. But the water damage over the years had taken a serious toll on the wood. The vertical wall at the aft-most portion will have to be removed. Yesterday, Barry used a jigsaw to cut out and remove the badly rotted horizontal portion at the aft-most part, an approximately 26" by 39" section. (Since it narrows toward the stern, it's 38" wide in the back and 40" wide in the front.). Here's how the berth looked before his work yesterday:

Here's the plank he removed ... notice that someone (another liveaboard neighbor) actually had put his fist through the wood, it was so rotted! The rotten area was right in the middle. The cutout circle was where the viewport/access port had been. Barry saved the port fixture (called a screw-in deck plate) to re-use with the replacement wood he'll install.

Here's how the berth looks after that cut-out. We debated whether to change the configuration and use of that space. But it seems to be an intentional bouyancy chamber, which can be very important of course. So we'll keep it that way. We plan for Barry to install a replacement piece of wood by using exterior grade 3/4" plywood (same thickness as the original), slightly larger than the space. He'll paint the bottom, cut out the circular hole for the access port, then screw it into place. We decided to accept the difference in height of that surface (especially since it'll be used as a workroom and utility room rather than a berth), in order to get the greater stability and strength from the support at the edges. The alternative of trying to inset the new piece would be too challenging to do with enough support, without more complication (new support pieces, for example). (There already is a mini-bulkhead support wall underneath the horizontal platform, slightly aft of where the water tank storage area sits.). Once it's in place, he'll do the final install of the access port, and seal the whole new board with a little Fiberglas and resin, so the bouyancy chamber can be airtight. (Then the whole platform can be repainted, as the starboard aft berth was!)

April 1 update: as the below photo shows, Barry bought the new plywood, cut it (including the circle in the horizontal board), and both the horizontal and vertical boards are positioned as shown here. This weekend we'll be painting, putting up insulation on the outer hull wall, and installing the painted plywood. Oh - and doing some sailing of course! As a side note - we are using exterior grade plywood. It's much better than standard interior plywood, which should never be used onboard. It's less expensive that outright "marine grade" plywood. The book, "This Old Boat" says that exterior grade plywood can be used in most boat applications, so we're going with it for these interior spaces. The difference is the marine grade has no spaces at all within in; the exterior grade does have protection against rot in the inner layers, unlike interior grade which doesn't have that protection built into the inner layers. We're mitigating risk by using either polyurethane or paint on the wood/plywood that's in the boat (both new and existing).

Whole lot'a painting going on ...! in many areas of the boat

2011-03-31T14:56:00.009-04:00

I've started painting many areas of the boat. First I'll show the paint product I'm using, recommended by one of the other live-aboards at the Ortega Yacht Club Marina. It's called Perma-White by Zinsser and it can be tinted, so I had it tinted "winter white" so it wouldn't be too glaring. I'm not sure if it comes in gloss but the salesperson at the hardware store told me that satin would be more durable (and I really wouldn't have wanted gloss anyway). It's considered a two-coat self-priming paint, meaning that it covers problem areas very well. It's quite thick, but that's understandable, and the amount needed to coat a surface varies depending on how smooth or finished (or unfinished) the surface is. Here's a photo of the paint product:

I'll add some before-and-after photos below of some of the areas where I'm using it. First, the forward-facing wall adjacent to the door entry to the head, "before" photo:

And here are two "before" photos of the forward-facing wall adjacent to the doorway into the main berth, the part of it next to the berth itself (you can even see "doodles" on there, I like to think these doodles were placed by the Performance Cruising personnel during construction ... who knows, maybe Tony Smith himself penciled some of these in!):

Here's how that area looked after the painting. I backed up a bit to get the whole area into the photo:

Here's an "after" photo of the wall adjacent to the door entry to the main berth (along the outer starboard hull):

Here's where I painted the little cubbyhole area on the starboard side, just inside the step into the main cabin from the cabin doorway. This cubbyhole is about the height of the window, and the area above the wood ledge had become badly stained over the years. This paint did a great job:

Simple meals until the galley becomes really operative

2011-03-31T14:28:00.001-04:00

Barry got the grill fired up, the one that's on the port stern rail. He grilled hamburgers and hot dogs so far (actually the dogs are polska kielbasa, yum!). A couple of times I've gotten Chinese food takeout, which reheats well for leftovers using a small "rice cooker" I bought for cheap ($13) at CVS. This little rice cooker has the ability to also cook up stews, and items can be reheated either directly in the removable cooking bowl or wrapped in foil and placed in the bowl with about an inch of water. When that water boils, the item in foil is nicely heated up. The rice cooker uses up to about 700 watts (if my memory is right), and it certainly does not blow out the AC breaker on our 30-amp shore power. We're also using a "hot pot" ($15) also from CVS - mainly for boiling water but it can also simmer up soups, chili, and similar liquid-based foods. It uses up to 1000 watts and doesn't require going beyond the low settings in order to get liquids to boiling in a real hurry.

Our new acquisition as of yesterday is a "NuWave" oven (yes, it's as seen on TV, LOL!). Since this is for the boat, it's the "Mini" model which is smaller and uses only about 600 or 700 watts. We used it a few times for trials yesterday and it certainly did not blow out the AC breaker. We opted for it rather than a microwave, because the NuWave Mini promises to provide convection and infrared heating - basically, in addition to simple heating/cooking and reheating, it promises to enable baking, frying, and browning. The company provided a recipe booklet and a "free" mixer (well, for an additional $14.95 "shipping and handling" charge) which looks like it may be useful for chopping, dicing, and making pina coladas and whatnot.

Update at 6:25 pm: here are photos of the prosciutto-wrapped shrimp appetizer Barry just cooked in the NuWave Mini. I don't mean to sound like advertising, but these do taste great!

Starboard aft berth before and after the insulating layer installed

2011-03-31T14:17:00.006-04:00

Here are "before" and "after" photos of how the gutted starboard aft berth looked, before and after Barry installed the insulating layer that we're using (the polyethylene translucent white sheeting sold in a roll as flooring underlayment, also depicted as we've been installing it in the ceiling of the main cabin/salon).

The other changes Barry made included painting the horizontal surface, and correcting the hardware problems that had caused the fan to swing on only one of two intended screws affixing the fan to the vertical wall (you can see a little of it in the "after" picture at bottom). It's a little funny to say this, but the total effect of the painting plus insulating layer was to make a "winter wonderland" look all frosty white in the berth! Much cleaner, that's for sure.

Subsequently we put the mattress back in, with some linens, and had my cousin's daughter from Germany come visit and stay overnight in that berth. She used the little reading lamp for actually reading a book ... she considered it cozy! So - another small success onboard.

As a bonus, I'm adding a photo that shows the new insulating layer in the head compartment, as Barry had installed it along the horizontal bare-fiberglas strip (along the outer port hull). I couldn't find where I'd taken a "before" photo of this area - probably because it was so ugly-looking in the head that I didn't even think of taking any photos there when the old headliner was ripped out of it. The new insulating layer, which goes up in such a nice quick time, made the head start to look civilized again. For what it's worth, the polyethylene sheeting also has a moisture and vapor barrier laminated on both sides ... I'm not certain just how important that is, but I think I like that.

New LED light replacing original ceiling light, main berth

2011-03-28T21:14:00.004-04:00

This light is embedded into the thick insulation that's placed up in the main berth ceiling. Partly this is a repair because the glass in one of the original cabin lights was accidentally dropped and broken. But it's also an upgrade because the LED light requires less power draw on the DC 12-volt system. Even though it's small, it's also worth noting that 12-volt power drops off more quickly in power the farther away the draw is (like the main berth light), from the battery source.

Here's how we installed the insulating layer in the cabin ceiling

2011-03-28T19:42:00.009-04:00

Polyethylene sheeting that's sold as a flooring underlayment, and the adhesive spray 3M #90 product:

Before - the raw ceiling just inside the cabin (light unscrewed):

Spraying the 3M #90 adhesive on the ceiling's edge (and the light is upside down on Pusser's mug):

Spraying the adhesive onto the edge of the sheet:

Smoothing the leading edge of the sheet into place at the ceiling's edge:

Reinstalling the light (after cutting a slit in the sheet):

Prepping the rest of the two surfaces, because the adhesive must be sprayed on both sides, then wait a minute or two before pressing the sheet onto the ceiling:

Smoothing the rest of the sheet up onto the ceiling panel:

Trimming the overlapped areas:

The result was the much nicer look of the polyethylene sheeting (almost like a bandage!) smoothed over the nasty-looking raw surface that had been left after ripping down the old headliner. We realize that installing the new headliner fabric will be much more challenging. But it's great to have the cleaner-looking intermediate layer in place.

Base for wiring diagrams (AC and DC)

2011-03-06T16:22:00.006-05:00

Here's the "base" for the AC and DC wiring diagrams that we plan to make for Cay Player. Barry already started to modify this from a stock Performance Cruising diagram for the Gemini 3200, by starting to remove some of the non-essential details. Once we get this base diagram more simplified, then we'll trace the wiring patterns onto it. One for the AC, and one for the DC.

*NOTE: he finished making it more simplified - that additional diagram for the base diagram, is now the first one below:

Curtain fixture closeup

2011-03-06T16:08:00.005-05:00

I removed the plastic curtain "rods" that were across the wooden trim atop most of the windows. It included the horizontal pieces plus plastic snaps for the curtain tops to attach to (my sister is graciously making new curtains for us). Even though the window sides still look raw from the headliner removal project, the windows and trim look much better without those old plastic pieces! Below are before and after photos:

New headliner insulation for some areas

2011-03-06T15:53:00.007-05:00

We're trying a different product for headliner insulation in the salon and head. It's a moisture-proof polyurethane that's thin, flexible, and sold in large white rolls as a flooring underlayment in the hardware store (Lowe's, at least). The immediate advantages are that it's easy and fast to put up, covering the ugly scarred expanse of ceiling left from removal of the prior headliner; with spray adhesive (3M number 90). Also, any moisture won't soak into it. We'll see how it performs over time. Next, we'll reseat all items such as window screws on the upper deck using sealant in order to prevent or minimize leaks. We already started that with sealant at the base of the mast yesterday. Then, maybe next weekend or otherwise the one after that, we can install the new headliner fabric in the main berth and salon. We'll test to see if we can use the spray adhesive (it's quite strong), or must use the Contact Cement (gelled product in a can, brushed on thickly), for the headliner fabric. A different approach will be used in the head. I want to find a good vinyl to cover the insulation-covered areas (mostly Fiberglas exterior walls), or maybe a flexible hard surface that's easy to clean and will stand up to showering. Then, for the inside face of the entry wall, white paint (or hardboard), also impervious to shower spray. And for the nice wood wall behind the sink, several coats of polyurethane for a waterproof (at least water resistant) attractive wood surface.

Pre-dawn view from the cabin in the new year

2011-02-19T06:33:00.003-05:00

Whether you celebrate the traditional New Year December 31/ January 1, or Chinese New Year February 3-4, it's filled with new beginnings and discoveries. Here's a small one: the blush before dawn just beyond the cabin door.

December sailing on the St. John's

2010-12-20T22:14:00.003-05:00

The weather wasn't too bad this late afternoon on the St. John's river. As we turned toward home dock (of course not in time to avoid some post-sunset sailing....!), the clouds created a diaphonous skyscape.

Marina holiday lights - happy holidays!

2010-12-01T18:13:00.004-05:00

Moon views from the stern across the docks

2010-11-20T17:59:00.003-05:00

Sailing the St. John's River Nov. 11

2010-11-11T16:39:00.002-05:00

Another pretty day at OYCM

2010-10-31T17:30:00.002-04:00

Sunset Saturday at Ortega Yacht Club Marina

2010-10-15T21:26:00.002-04:00

Docked in at new marina - Ortega Yacht Club Marina

2010-10-03T18:31:00.003-04:00

Water heater installation

2010-09-30T21:58:00.005-04:00

Rick replaced the old propane water heater with a new electric one. It's AC-powered but should run via an inverter when we're cruising. He had to run hoses rather far, along the cabinetry that houses the port daggerboard, then down and into the head compartment and then up / over to the sink faucet and shower faucet. This also managed to hook into the plumbing hoses onboard in a way that brings hot water to the galley sink in the starboard hull.

Sailing weekend on the St. John's River

2010-09-30T21:53:00.004-04:00

We went south on Saturday past the Buckman Bridge (upstream), and north on Sunday near the area of the zoo and Hwy. 9A bridge (downstream), along the St. John's River:

Ortega Landing marina at night

2010-09-15T20:40:00.002-04:00

Cay Player faces the sunrise

2010-09-09T13:03:00.002-04:00

If you live here, your mornings look like this

2010-09-03T07:16:00.002-04:00

You can see Cay Player on the far left:

Here she's at right, facing the sunrise:

And here's a neighbor dock with their boat reflecting nicely against the sunrise and the water's reflection of the sunrise against the disappearing clouds:

Cay Player enjoying pretty morning

2010-08-20T07:08:00.002-04:00

Views of and from Cay Player at dock 8/18/10

2010-08-18T18:34:00.002-04:00

Very pretty dock at Ortega Landing and set of boat views this evening, especially with the cloudscape! That view of the mast silhouetted against the clouds was just taken looking up through the main berth hatch.

Evening docked in at Ortega Landing marina

2010-08-18T06:32:00.005-04:00

Lounging in the cockpit last night was wonderful. I did it because the air conditioner wasn't working but was rewarded with caresses of gentle breezes and beautiful surroundings as the sunset flared and subsided, and evening lights became more prominent with twilight deepening. Here are three views of this lovely waterscape:

PS: Later, Rick called and talked me through the AC fix. It was really a maintenance item, not a repair ... Turned out that the filter in the water hose that cools the AC unit (you know, the one that has water streaming out of docked boats almost 24x7 in Florida's summer heat) was all clogged with debris and mud. It just couldn't let the water pass through, so it stopped the AC unit from allowing the compressor to do its job of cooling - just like the filter's air lock ("vapor lock") condition that had prevented the AC from cooling when we first docked here in July. Fortunately the fix was simple as Rick talked me through it. I closed the water hose's through-hull intake valve, unscrewed the water filter, removed the filter, and cleaned it plus the filter housing. The filter was a metallic mesh screen cyclinder. I used a brush (toilet brush actually) on its exterior, and a discarded toothbrush on its interior. Then simply replaced the filter into the housing which I screwed tightly back in place. Opened the intake valve, turned on the AC unit, and waited. It took a couple of minutes for the water hose to fill and convince the compressor to stay engaged. But once I heard the water hose's outflow gushing strongly from the outflow through-hull (at the top of the center bridge of the hull's underside, slightly port-side of center), we knew the air conditioner was fine again. Gotta admit, taking the cabin interior down from 104 F. at 1:30 pm to the 70's last night was very welcome. A sauna might be nice but not for more than 20 minutes! So, I'll add the new label "Maintenance" to this post.

Cay Player undergoes significant round of repairs and upgrades!

2010-08-17T09:00:00.007-04:00

Upgrades and repairs time for Cay Player! We're launching a new label "Repairs" with this post. Rick had his home time Thursday-Sunday and lost no time digging into a huge round of repairs and upgrades. He started with ripping out the propane water heater (which had carried a warning, not for use on boats!) from the head compartment, and the old propane space heater from the port side hull near the step-down from the salon. Below is a photo of the new electric water heater on the mount he built into that space (near where the old space heater was). Once he finishes hooking up the water hoses and secures the electric connection, we can place a restraint of sone sort to help secure it for seaworthiness. The water hoses proved difficult so far - Rick determined a good path from the head down under the port hull floorboards, back to the port aft berth, then looping back through the bulkhead to the water heater.

The second photo is of the new faucet hardware Rick installed for the sink, and for the shower. Not only is it a cleaner look but the showerhead is much nicer, and the sink spigot rises enough so we can get our hands under the water flow. Much better than the old one that came straight out with no room to get your hands underneath to wash!

The shower sump pump is one of the fixes we'll have to finish next time. Rick was able to locate the old one (with some partial input from the boat's prior owner we called), and got it working. But it worked only sporadically so it isn't reliable enough to use yet. Still this was all a giant leap forward, even just on these items ... Let alone on the many other repair/upgrade items we'll cover in subsequent posts.

Sunrise, and calm twilight after thundershowers, on the Ortega

2010-08-02T23:44:00.001-04:00

Views from her new dockage at Ortega Landing, looking toward the Ortega bridge, August 1:

Cay Player docked in at prior marina, Sadler Point (Google satellite view)

2010-08-02T22:58:00.002-04:00

Okay, unlike that image posted about mid-June, this definitely is Cay Player docked at Sadler Point sometime over the past year. You can see her bottom right, bow in, with her blue bimini and the Walker Bay dinghy straddled off the stern:

Bye-bye little Cedar River (west Jacksonville)

2010-07-30T20:49:00.001-04:00

Looking across the little Cedar River from where Cay Player used to be docked:

Overviewing the new marina docked into July 2010

2010-07-15T09:29:00.002-04:00

Website for sailors and wanna-be sailors

2010-06-28T13:26:00.003-04:00

In this post I'm going to tell you about a new website - well, it is new to me anyway! It's SkipperTips.com and I guarantee you will find lots of interesting stuff, whatever your skill and interest levels might be.

Cay Player in the Sadler Point boat lift September 2009

2010-06-18T19:49:00.002-04:00

When first I saw this, I agreed it was Cay Player in the lift. Now wondering if it's another catamaran, since the bimini isn't apparent ... Still, at least it could have been!

Spinnakers on the St. John's River 6/12/2010

2010-06-12T17:53:00.003-04:00

St. John's River on 6/12/2010

2010-06-12T16:25:00.001-04:00

Sunset at Freedom Fountain

2010-05-28T20:28:00.002-04:00

Fav little restaurant on the river re-opened

2010-05-10T14:51:00.002-04:00

Dawn caresses the little river, trees and docks ...

2010-03-19T08:36:00.003-04:00

... as mullet jump and twinkling lights join the reflections in the still waters ...

Post-Thanksgiving holiday boats parade, St. John's River, Jacksonville

2009-11-28T22:57:00.003-05:00

Many of us gathered at a friend's condo overlooking the St. John's River in downtown Jax, to watch the boat parade and fireworks - here are a couple of photos I took with my iPhone:

View with the moon

2009-07-10T16:34:00.004-04:00

At the helm

2009-07-10T16:30:00.005-04:00

We enjoy having friends with us ... here's one who didn't mind taking the helm for a while! He and his wife moved to Massachusetts - glad they had one last great sunshine day in Jax first!

Fishing from the bow

2009-07-10T16:29:00.004-04:00

My cousin's daughter visited from Germany - she was willing to try a fishing lesson!

In the salon

2009-07-10T16:23:00.002-04:00

View from ashore

2009-07-10T16:10:00.004-04:00

Perched at the stern

2009-06-03T20:41:00.001-04:00

2009-02-28T16:52:00.003-05:00

The schooner Virginia - she's a beautiful reconstruction and now used mainly for sailing instruction. Recently docked on the St. John's River in downtown Jacksonville, Florida ... you can find more information including cruising schedule and course information on line.

2009-02-28T16:47:00.000-05:00

At Jacksonville Beach:

Morning on our river

2008-11-26T17:30:00.001-05:00

We are very lucky to be living in a place that looks like this in November ...

Happy Thanksgiving All!

2008-11-17T16:58:00.000-05:00

Sunrises compete with sunsets for the wonderful hues they bring to our "backyard," dockside vista.

2008-11-17T16:56:00.000-05:00

Morning sunrise reflected in the clouds, and then reflected again in the water by the boat.

2008-11-17T16:52:00.000-05:00

Morning fog .... and Canadian geese, the only movement in the stillness one morning ...

2008-11-17T16:46:00.000-05:00

Cay Player and the Walker Bay dinghy (Cay Keeper) at dock in our back yard ...

2008-11-17T16:38:00.000-05:00

Here's a happy relative who visited us from Germany and caught several fish (though not on our boat sadly) including this nice redfish!

2008-11-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of Cay Player seen through hibiscus flowers that edge the outdoor seating of our favorite little restaurant on the river.

2008-11-17T14:27:00.000-05:00

We took her out for an evening sail recently ... she performed very well, even as the breeze quickened.

2008-03-08T17:10:00.000-05:00

2006-12-25T12:24:00.000-05:00

Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 18, our motorsailing drew us along quiet channels just inside the Atlantic coast.
With the cooler weather, we appreciated augmenting our lunch-meat sandwiches with hot soup. Chicken noodle and beef barley soups were easy to prepare from pop-top cans, adding bottled water and heating in a small pot on one of the propane burners; and stayed hot for sipping out of a hot cup while we perched in the cockpit.

2006-12-25T12:10:00.000-05:00

This leg of our ICW voyage, finally making it to Charleston, S.C., was a long one and we were both relieved and happy to emerge from the smaller channels, to come within sight of this wide open harbor.

2006-12-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

A shrimp boat, and a much larger commercial vessel. The shrimp boat was just south of Surf City, North Carolina ... and the big vessel was in the vicinity of Savannah, Georgia.

2006-12-25T11:53:00.000-05:00

Charleston Harbor was an exciting area to sail through, with expansive views and all kinds of activity.

2006-12-25T11:47:00.000-05:00

So much history in Charleston made it attractive to dock in at a marina by the historic district. We also hoped for good internet access and other amenities at the Charleston City Marina. Turned out that the internet access did not work as promised; but, we were able to go right in by the gas fuel dock and remain where we first tied up. This marina was also one of the few that asked for reservation and payment assurance before we came in, and was large, busy and well-staffed.

2006-12-25T11:43:00.000-05:00

Enjoying the lines, angles and reflections as we relaxed on our new-to-us water-borne home.

2006-12-25T11:39:00.000-05:00

Views from where we docked in were just as enjoyable as those that accompanied our approach into Charleston.

2006-12-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

Small boats sported their spinnakers while returning from a regatta in Charleston harbor.

2006-12-25T11:18:00.000-05:00

Evening at the Charleston City Marina brought out cheerful illumination both along the boats' rigging, and the buildings and structures around the marina.

2006-12-25T11:11:00.000-05:00

Night lights at Charleston yacht club and harbor.

2006-12-22T14:56:00.000-05:00

Night in Charleston City Marina. This large, well-staffed marina is close by the Yacht Club, the Marina restaurant (great food and the best seafood chowder anywhere!), and other amenities, whose lights reflect beautifully in the harbor waters.

CHARLESTON to BEAUFORT, S.C. - After I departed Double Jeopardy early Thursday, Oct. 19 to catch up on work in my office, Barry solo'd the boat that day and the next. He found the currents faster, but overall a great experience.

2006-12-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

Docking in for the night means first, making sure the boat is secure. We chose to use dockage every night since we weren't totally familiar with the boat, and the larger anchor we acquired with it wasn't fastened to the anchor rode. The smaller anchor that was fastened on, which you see at the bow, was sufficient to hold us for short periods when we were awake during the day, but could not well guarantee a solid hold all night.

Tying to the dock meant bow line, stern line, and at least one angled spring line; then sleeping well!

2006-12-22T14:42:00.000-05:00

BEAUFORT to SAVANNAH, October 21 (2006)

After I rejoined Barry and Double Jeopardy at the downtown marina in Beaufort, South Carolina on Friday night, Oct. 20, we docked in for the night. Early the next morning, we made ready to set sail for the last leg of this ICW voyage. We felt close to successfully completing this initial part of our dream, yet already nostalgic that our adventure - complete with fun, close calls, and a steep learning curve - was coming to a close.

2006-12-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

Arising early as we always did, at the downtown harbor in Beaufort, South Carolina, only a few others were stirring. Still it was not uncommon, as here, to find that one or two souls were ahead of us in venturing out for the day.

Beaufort is a great little town and very convenient for a sailing stopover. The downtown harbor is right by the popular district where locals and tourists alike enjoy dining, shopping and sightseeing.

2006-12-22T14:34:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T14:30:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T14:26:00.000-05:00

This "Welcome to Beaufort" sign is along the southern approach to this South Carolina town, so we didn't see it until we were away from harbor going south. The Marines have a base with training facility here; they graduate a new crop every six weeks or so. Small wonder that the water tower shown below boasts the number, 1-800-MARINES !

2006-12-22T14:22:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T14:16:00.001-05:00

2006-12-22T14:16:00.000-05:00

The stitching that strengthens the tack end of the genoa sail created a starburst pattern when backlit by the sunshine.

2006-12-22T14:12:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed being able to see not only the genoa sail over the port bow through the windshield, but similtaneously the reflection of our sunlit wake and dinghy davits in the rear cabin window.

2006-12-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T14:05:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Several dolphins were spotted in this area by Barry, with his sharp eyes, although we had difficulty documenting their aerial appearances with photographs. The wide water basin seemed conducive, and basking in the sun as we motored in the direction of the next inland channel made us feel very much on vacation.

2006-12-22T13:55:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T13:52:00.000-05:00

Much of the area around the Savannah River was low-lying, and it felt somewhat odd to have little surrounding boat traffic despite evidence of major activities occuring in this region along the northern Georgia coast.

2006-12-22T13:50:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T13:46:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T13:43:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T13:39:00.000-05:00

This opening at Causton Bluff Bridge was the only time we didn't have to wait - we made it before any rush-hour restrictions, there was no other boat traffic to consider, and we were in communication with the bridge tender sufficiently in advance that he was able very proficiently to time the opening so we never even slowed down. This bridge is also picturesque.

2006-12-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T13:33:00.000-05:00

We'd heard that the cemetery associated with the "Midnight of the Garden of Good and Evil" book is located here, around the Causton Bluff Bridge. Not really sure if this is it, but it seemed to fit the bill. The idea did make this area we floated by seem, well, special ...

2006-12-22T13:30:00.000-05:00