People Hate Their Cars

I'm not sure why so many folks hate their cars, but it seems like everyone just can't wait to get out of them. I see folks running stop signs, speeding in school zones, blowing red lights, driving 10 or more over the speed limit, parking in no parking zones, passing on double yellow and the shoulder, blowing their horn the instant the light changes, riding the bumper of the car in front trying to get them to go faster - all so they can get out of their car sooner. What is it with these people? I enjoy being in my car; there's never a time when I want to get out of it in that much of a hurry. Why does being in the car seem to be universally unpleasant?

Rubber Band Trawler

The reason boats are popular is there are so many kinds with so many uses. There's sail boats, fishing boats, ski boats, dinner party barges and formal dinner boats, passage-making boats, dock queens, sightseeing boats, shop boats, "Just because I can afford it" boats, live aboard boats, weekend getaway boats, project boats, cruise ships, jewelry boats, dive boats, sand bar boats, hunting boats, flats boats, air boats, etc. Here's how I evolved with my adventure boating joy.

I've always been a traveler. First on foot, then bicycles, then motor cycles, sports cars, to full sized vehicles. I delivered several cars from Chicago to the West coast by answering Drive Away ads in the newspaper. Later, from Chicago, I'd run my sports car to NY City and back on a 3 day weekend. My wife and I saw 49 states on our honeymoon driving a Ford Bronco scouting for a place to settle - we decided on Oregon after several months on the road.

The Bronco at our home in Ashland Oregon

Not long after we settled in Oregon in a house we bought for $7,000, we each rode a 175 Honda from Oregon to South Carolina and back - over 7,000 miles.

Suzy on her cross country motorcycle - we wore leathers on the road.

When we returned home after visiting friends in Charleston SC who took us out on their sailboat, we bought a 12' sailboat to learn how to sail. We named our new boat Thora, after my mom.  With  this little 12 footer we sailed on many Oregon and California lakes, then the Pacific and then the Atlantic launching off the beach.

Thora I - a 12' Mayflower. She taught us how to sail.

We then moved up to 21' trailersailer to be able to spend overnights on the water. After a very short time with the 21, we couldn't resist the call of the water and wanted to go full time. We answered an ad in Sail Magazine for crew and ended up crewing on a 38' ketch bound for the Caribbean out of Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario. We were sold on boating adventure.

Erina - a 38' Seafarer. Our first crewing job.

We jumped ship after we motored the ketch to Beaufort NC. We hadn't done any sailing with this novice couple who were heading to the Caribbean, and didn't feel comfortable with them. We both got jobs in Beaufort, I as maintenance and crew on a 41' sailboat, Suzy as marine store clerk. We moved onto the sailboat as full time crew.

Suzy and I (bottom) crewing on Pudgie 1

During this spell we talked to every boater we could and because Beaufort is the stopping off place for boats waiting for the hurricane season to be over to head for the Caribbean we had many opportunities to gain knowledge. We went to boat shows and researched every aspect of boating. In the meantime our Oregon house sold and we decided we'd buy a brand new Bristol 27' sailboat because it was ocean crossing capable and either of us could single hand it if necessary.

We took delivery of the Bristol at the factory in RI and commissioned Thora II ourselves. Our first adventure was sailing her to our home port of Beaufort NC from Bristol RI. We ended up living aboard her for 3 years. The first 'winter' we sailed to the Keys. The second to the Bahamas.

Thora II in the Bahamas

The third winter we sailed to the Caribbean. We worked in Beaufort during the hurricane season (June thru November) to save up for the next season of cruising. Boating completely satisfied our joy of traveling adventure.

We had a trailer built for Thora II when we moved ashore.

After the three years living aboard Thora II, we moved ashore to start a family. We sold the sailboat and eventually bought a 35' trawler to continue our adventures.

Sunshine - our rubber band trawler.

At this point we had a daughter, mortgage and other associated financial responsibilities. We really couldn't afford the trawler but after reading posts on Trawler forums we had to have her. To make the trawlering dream possible, we put her into charter service. The income from chartering was enough to cover the payments, slip fee, insurance and maintenance of the trawler -- there was no out of pocket.

The trawler, Sunshine, was great --- at first. We used her regularly during the season when she wasn't out on charter and during the off season we had her all to ourselves. But toward the end of the first year we tired of the 200+ miles it took to get to the slip, and we'd seen almost all of the waters one could get to on a 2 or 3 day weekend. We'd need at least a week aboard to see new cruising grounds, but loading and unloading the gear for those trips became monumental, not to mention the 3+ hours drive there and back. Sunshine had become a rubber band trawler - out and back, out and back, over and over.

We put her up for sale and she sold quickly - we negotiated a week cruise in the sale, which we did take advantage of for a run to Charleston SC from Washington NC, but the adventure was no longer there.

It was then we bought a 15'11" cuddy cabin outboard on a trailer we called QT = Cutie.

QT was the smallest cuddy cabin boat made.

The adventure returned for the local waters, then for lakes/rivers from Manhattan to Lake Michigan to Key Largo.  Granted, it was a little challenging for the three of us on overnights, but the adventure overcame the inconvenience. It wasn't until my wife's MS prohibited her from being in the heat, and the necessity to bring wheelchair that QT became too small.

We then upgraded to an 18' cuddy we called Nicky. I equipped Nicky with a generator and air conditioner to keep Suzy cool - our adventures continued.

Nicky - with her red generator for the air conditioner.

More on the air conditioner here.

We used Nicky as a camper as well as a boat on coast to coast adventures including multiple trips to Lake Powell from SC and even for a 13,000 mile round trip to Alaska although the waters above the continental US proved to be a little big for our boat.

We splashed at Prince Rupert, Hyder, Skagway and Homer.

Between QT and Nicky we launched at over 100 different ramps across the US, finding adventure at each. Here's a few tracks of where we've been:

These were the closest ocean waters to our home in Spartanburg, SC

The Mississippi was not the most enjoyable cruise - busy and industrial.

We stopped at every harbor between Washington Island and Calumet City.

I did this trip to Bimini solo in the 18 footer.

We stayed overnight at Avalon Harbor, Catalina.

The water traffic at SF was overwhelming.

We love FL cruising, including the Okeechobee Waterway across to Stuart then down to the Keys!

How could you pass up a chance to see the London Bridge?

But as my wife's MS progressed, we needed something with more space and more comforts. Enter Big Duck - a 28' houseboat with all the comforts of the trawler but none of the responsibility or hassle.

Big Duck - 1972 Land n Sea houseboat on the way to Lake Powell from SC.

No more loading for the 200 miles to the slip, the adventure began in the backyard when we hooked Big Duck up to the van. No taxes because of her age. Very little maintenance and upkeep after we got her water ready. Big Duck proved to be the absolute dream adventure provider.
Knowing what we know now, Big Duck could well have been the right boat from the very beginning.

Big Duck at Lake Powell

No, we'd never consider heading to the Caribbean with Big Duck, but the Bahamas YES, she would have been perfect there. It would only take 2 hours for Big Duck to get from Lauderdale to Bimini at her 30mph capability. And the convenience she'd offer with the aft deck freezer, storage and a/c comfort, she would have been outstanding. As for the Caribbean - we did sail there, but as crew on a boat who had been single handed from England. The captain was looking for crew to the St Thomas. We were completely ready to sail Thora II but we couldn't refuse his generous offer. Think about this - we had known this single handed sailor for a little more than month and we were going to spend 2 weeks with him alone offshore. I don't even remember his name.

Anyway, bottom line for us...the trawler was more of a jewelry boat than an adventure vehicle. Don't get me wrong, there is not an ultimate noble reason to own a boat - any and all reasons are just as valid as any others. The challenge is to know which reason one is attempting to address.

Pot - Kettle

I take my dog out every morning for either a 'sniff' = ride in the car with his head out the window,  or a 'run' in an open field = where he chases the tennis ball off leash. Interestingly enough, he demands this morning excursion, giving me the 'stink eye' if he thinks it's time to head out while I'm still reading the paper.

I can't resist and we usually go out at his demand.

Anyway, this morning was a 'sniff' because it was deplorably hot. I love looking at him in the mirror with his head out the window.

 

We had done our random drive around the countryside and were heading home. It's a mellow time for me, I love just being on the move and more-so when I'm sharing the experience with Merlin. We go way below the posted speed limits unless there's someone behind me that is in the usually hurry to get out of their car. It's a favorite time of the day for me.

So we were about a mile from home. I'm thinking about how much Merlin enjoys the ice water I will prepare for him when we get there, when we come up on an old codger on a riding mower wearing a ridiculous hat. I slow and he sees me. Then he disengages the blades so he doesn't blow grass clippings at the car. I utter, "Thanks Gramps," as we pass, acknowledging his courtesy.

Then I burst out with a hilarious belly laugh. My Bday was yesterday, I turned 75. I was likely older than 'Gramps" is.

Boat for the Loop?

We crewed from Lake Ontario to Beaufort NC on a 38' sailboat. Eighty locks and who know how many miles across the NYC Barge Canal and down the Hudson and ICW on someone else's boat on the way to the Caribbean. We jumped ship in Beaufort NC.

From there we lived on a 27X8X4 sailboat for 3 years. Sailed form New England to the Keys, Bahamas and Caribbean with side trips to the Chesapeake. It had a diesel. We ran the motor for 80% of the miles we covered. I'd go with gas next time.

Later we bought a trawler. The slip fees and maintenance were an overwhelming responsibility even though she didn't cost us a cent because she was in charter service. Sold her after about one year because she was an anchor around our necks.

We then went to small cuddy cabin boats. In fact I went back to the Bahamas solo in an 18' single engine boat.  https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2011/11/bahamas-magic-july-7-9-2000.html

 If you have a decent weather sense almost any boat can cross the 50 mile Gulf Stream from Lauderdale to Bimini. Wife has MS and even tho I air conditioned the 18 footer 

we soon ran out of comfort.

We needed something more accommodating. Our savior turned out to be a trailerable houseboat.

She's 28x8 and draws about 18 inches. All the comforts of home including full galley with double sink, 4 burner stove, oven, microwave, not to mention flybridge, a freezer on the aft deck, generator, air conditioning, stand up hot water shower and she sleeps 7. We've seen 3 mpg at 8mph on inland lakes and the ICW and we've had her up to 25 mph before we loaded her with our comforts - her brochure says she'll do 30 with her SBC (350 Chevy) spinning her Volvo Penta Aquamatic outdrive.

Sailboat or Trawler

Knowing everything I know now, this houseboat would have served all of our needs from the very beginning. We're too old now, Big Duck Old Friend but she would have been a great looper (120 gallon gas  tanks) and/or Bahamas boat or liveaboard. My Boat For The Bahamas

Big Duck Old Friend

This song brings a tear to my eye, because today it's about Big Duck.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D2XD341xHo
We knew the day would come, that's why this blog is called One More Time Around. Big Duck came through with flying colors taking us One More Time Around, from Lake Powell, to Ft Lauderdale to the St Lawrence Seaway and too many lakes and rivers in between to count. She's old and wrinkled like we are, but unlike us, she's still up to the task - we're the ones now too old to manage. At 75 years, the mind still wants to go, but the body says no.

Listen to A Summer Song again and remember that you too will one day have to say "goodby" to things you do and love. Take a lesson from Jeff and Suz by doing those things now so the memories can keep you going when your old bones can't.

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-early-days.html

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2011/05/introduction.html

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2012/09/houseboat-2000-miles-to-lake-powell.html

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2015/06/big-duck-goes-back-to-lake-powell-2015.html

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2012/07/james-island-charleston-sc.html

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2013/08/big-duck-ventures-to-lake-strom-thurmond.html

https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2014/05/tennessee-river-gorge.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, it's been almost a year later, and even though I can't seem to get her out on the water, I can't part with her... But I still get aboard, open a brew and think about the happy times she has provided me and my family.

Oil Change Sucker

This was inspired by Project Farm.  He does experiments with small motors and often needs to change oil in them. He uses a vacuum pump instead of draining the crankcase. I decided to make one like his, only portable.

I bought a small vacuum pump from Amazon.

I used a small electric brake breakaway battery I had on hand like this one. 
A 1/2 gal Wide Mouth Mason Jar for the used oil...
You'll also need:
About 6" of  1/4" OD copper tubing.
About 24" of  3/8" OD clear tubing
About 5' of  .315 OD hard (ice maker) tubing.

And you can probably take it from here?

If not ---

Cut off about 2" of the copper tubing. The 2 and 4" pieces will be soldered to the Mason Jar lid after you drill 1/4" holes in the lid.

I used a heavy washer for reinforcement but it's not absolutely necessary on the lid. I soldered the tubing to the washer and epoxied the assembly to the lid...'cause I tend to be a little careless and this will give me a little more durability? If you do solder, focus the heat on the copper or you might melt the sealing ring on the cap.

 Use the clear flexible tubing to connect the short copper pipe to the sucky side of the pump. Cut a small piece of the clear flexible tube and use it to connect the hard plastic tubing to the other copper pipe on the top.

Wire up the pump with a switch. I had this lighted switch on hand, but a simple toggle would work just as well.

Stick the hard tube in the fill hole and turn on the pump.

I will make a nice container with a handle for the rig, but for now this plastic box serves the purpose and it's quite easy to manage.

And yes, I do have a larger commercial model for the car and boat, but it's is cumbersome and finniky.

SOLD SOLD 2001 Seaswirl Striper 1851 $9,995

Extra clean 2001 Striper Seaswirl, 135 hp Johnson Ocean Pro Saltwater series, Wesco trailer, Garmin fish finder, built in bait tank, fish boxes, plenty of storage. Also includes anchor, porta potty, life vest, 2 batteries, boarding ladder and much more. Call Tris - 864.237.4217

Space Heaters

I've got a camper and houseboat. Sometimes it's nice to have heat when we're on shore-power and also it's sometimes nice to have heat when we're running the generator. Propane is an option for both, but we prefer electric. Our solution in both cases is a two setting Milkhouse heater. I like the 750/1500 version, but they also come in 1000/1500 and others. This one is less than $25.

Walmart Milkhouse Heater

The nice thing about these fan heaters is that one can direct the warmth where required without having to heat up a large area. It's also nice to be able to 'hold your hands over the fire' when those fingers get cold or if you want to blow warm air at your tootsies. This isn't easily accomplished with ceramic or oil heaters. BTW - no matter which electric heater you decide on, resistance will be the way it generates heat. Also, a 1500 watt unit for $25 puts out the same amount of heat as a $150, 1500 watt Amish version

These Milkhouse heaters have tip over circuits so they stop if they fall or are knocked over. The other concern folks might have is what if something gets in front of the grill while I'm sleeping? There's sure to be a fire. I'm careful enough that I put my heater in a 'safe' place, but for curiosity I did a test to see how long it would take for something to catch fire if placed directly in front of the grill. I used a paper towel.

Paper towel in front of the heater.

Side view of paper towel in front of the heater.

I used the 750 watt setting for the test because I like to use two heaters in different rooms on the same 15 amp circuit.  After 15 minutes at wide open thermostat there was no change in the appearance of the paper towel and no suspicious odor so I placed one hand inside at the grill and the other hand outside the paper towel and brought my palms together to see how hot the towel was. It was barely warm.

BUT - what happens if something blocks the air from the back? I draped a paper towel over the back grill and in about 2 seconds the unit stopped because the thermostat cycled off. But I got things going again, focused on a 30 minute test. At about 25 minutes, the paper towel at the output grill was still only warm. Then somewhere near the 30 minute mark the thermostat cycled off , presumably because the unit itself had reached thermostat temp (because of the restricted output flow?).

Another note...
On the houseboat, we like to have the heater on the floor of the dinette. It's not only a great storage place, but it also warms the feet when in use.

Heater in place under dinette table

When the dinette table is dropped down into the sleeper position, the heater stays where it is.

You can't see it now, but the heater is still in the same location

The trouble is, that in this restricted space, the heater cycles off when the temp in that confined space satisfies the thermostat setting (of say 70°), and the temp above at the bed is still much colder. The solution is an inline thermostat. The heater is set to wide open but is plugged into a circuit that is controlled by that inline thermostat. The inline thermostat is set to 70° and the heater is wired to keep on heating until that 70 is reached at the thermostat. None of the heater's safety circuits are affected.

In line thermostat in aisle below the seat.

So now the heater has all it's safety systems in tact but will continue to run when safe until the temperature in the aisle is 70°. It's been a great solution for the folks who sleep in the dinette.

Anyway, I'm completely comfortable with using these space heaters in both my RV and my boat.

NYC June ’99

Crown Vic towing a 15'11" cuddy cabin "QT"

For me, the prospect of driving in Manhattan falls somewhere between unappealing and terrifying.  But the Hudson River and Long Island Sound had screamed “Bring the boat” on all previous business trips to NY. My wife and 18 year old daughter would be available during the next scheduled business trip.  They were excited about doing some boating in the area.  With the help of a boating friend, Mark, who works in NY and lives in NJ we came up with a plan to not only combine business with pleasure but also to minimize the pain of having a car (with trailer) in NY City.

The boat was packed, tires and bearings checked and all trailer lights operative in time for the scheduled 5/25 7am departure.  We drove an uneventful 587 miles before checking in to the Newark Delaware Best Western.  The next day (Wed 5/26), after a total of 700+ miles and failure of one trailer tire we arrived at the Weehawken NJ Sheraton Suites Hotel at about 2pm.  We checked in, did a little exploring by foot, got a delicious sandwich at a nearby food court and generally unwound from the road miles until Mark showed up about 5pm.

With Mark taking us on a quick tour through his home town of Hoboken, the four of us made our way the 5 or so miles to Liberty Landing State Park to launch the boat.  The girls then took the car/trailer back to the Sheraton parking lot, and Mark and I boated our way around the Statue of Liberty and back up to the Lincoln Harbor Marina where he keeps his Sea Ray 250.  Before tying up in a slip that he had arranged for me to use during the stay, we swung by the NY waterfront to get a look at the ships that were part of the Fleet Week festivities.  We secured QT in the Lincoln Harbor slip and I walked the ¼ mile to the hotel to prepare for the business meeting the next day, my appetite thoroughly whetted for some NY boating.

Getting to Manhattan from the hotel is a joy to behold.  Stop by the front desk and purchase a ferry ticket.  Walk out the front door of the hotel and get directly on the ferry, in 5 minutes later you’re across the Hudson in Manhattan boarding the ferry bus which will drop you off within a short walk of just about anyplace in Manhattan.  Ferries, Marinas and restaurants within a quarter mile of the hotel.  It doesn’t get any better. Not having to use a car for the daily routine is to me one of life’s greatest pleasures. Two other notable carless experiences immediately come to mind.  One was a week at Disney World when we stayed on the grounds …took the Disney transportation everywhere… never fired up the car once.  The other was when we rented a house on the beach at Bald Head Island.  There are no cars on Bald Head, you leave them at the ferry terminal at Southport.  On Bald Head, everyone gets about in golf carts.  The house we rented was so far out on the beach that the high tide actually came up under the house.

Thursday, with a successful business meeting behind me, the family explored Manhattan by foot (and Black Rolls).  Thursday evening the girls were a little pooped from exploring the city.  I too rested for a spell, but soon the call of the boat less than ¼ mile away was too loud to ignore.  It was dark as I untied her, and slowly made my way out of the marina.  Manhattan was a fairyland of lights, sky scrapers and moving vehicles.  As I rounded the turn to head south down the Hudson, the Statue of Liberty came into view with a fireworks display overhead. What an overwhelming sight – I thought I was dreaming.

Reality quickly slapped me in the face as I realized that all those lights were not landside.  The river was bristling with red, green, white and amber nav lights.  One could not just meander down the Hudson gawking at the sights; careful, diligent attention was necessary to keep out of the way of yachts, barges, ferries, cruiseliners, dinner/sightseeing, and military boats.  I carefully made my way around the southern end of Manhattan and up the East River.   I spent about ½ hour drifting while I took in the activities at the Seaport, then made it up to the Williamsburg Bridge before deciding I’d get into trouble with my girls if I spent too much more time on the water that night.  On the return I did pause at the Statue of Liberty, marveling at her majestic presence in the harbor, then hugged the Manhattan shore, trying to stay out of traffic while taking in the brilliance of nightime Manhattan.

The next morning, after a leisurely ‘free’ breakfast at the hotel, we loaded up QT in preparation for a day on the Hudson.  The plan was to make our way to West Point, then decide what to do from there.  The morning was crisp and clear.  We pretty much had the river to ourselves as we headed north.  We asked the Honda to push us at a comfortable, quiet 8 mph. This pace gave us an opportunity leisurely absorb the sights along both shores.  As we came to the Spyten Duyvil RR Bridge at the north end of Manhattan, we noticed a boat waiting for an opening.  This got us to thinking about a circumnavigation of Manhattan rather than heading further up the Hudson.  We throttled her back and waited for the bridge.

The back side of Manhattan down to Hells Gate was not particularly memorable.  Neither was Hells Gate for that matter.  In 1972, when we made the trip aboard a 27’ sloop with a 10 HP diesel giving us a max speed of 6mph we were much more interested in tides/currents, bridge clearances, water depths and the threats of commercial traffic than we are today.  Our current boat is a 15’11” cuddy we call “QT”. She sports a Honda 50 outboard, is capable of over 25 mph, needs only 6’ of vertical clearance and is quite content in only 20” of water.  The critical boating concerns of today are basically limited to weather, and then only when we’re planning open water adventures.  Even the worst of weather is quite manageable up a small creek in 2 1/2 feet of water, either tied to a tree on the bank or swinging from our 8S Danforth.  For me, never worrying about bridge clearances, current, shallow water, or having the right charts, combined with the ability to tow the boat to the cruising area as well as being able to do all maintenance in my back yard, far outweigh any sacrifices in comfort associated with the diminutive size of QT.

The are interesting sights coming down the East River, but it wasn’t until we approached the South Street Seaport area that we slowed and diverted closer to take in the happenings ashore.  Watch out for the gigantic fast moving Staten Island ferry as you round the Battery, gawk at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in the distance and marvel at the Statue of Liberty as you bear northish into the Hudson.  It’s then decision time, whether to head over to Liberty and Ellis Islands and poke around in the protected marina at Liberty State Park, or continue up the Hudson favoring the bustling Manhattan shore.  We did both.

We had the boat secured in the slip at Lincoln Harbor and were beginning the short walk to the Hotel when we spotted Mark heading our way.  He was on his way to gas up before the scheduled jaunt to Port Washington Saturday am.  My girls and I parted company as I accompanied Mark back into the marina.  Lincoln Harbor only has diesel, so it was necessary to take the boat(s) about ½ mile north to the next marina.  We did his boat first, then mine, taking detours across the river for yet another look at the attractions and ships of Fleet Week.

Saturday morning both the Sea Ray 250 and the Arima 1511 set out for Port Washington on Long Island.  I put my girls aboard the Sea Ray, hoping my Honda 50 and lightly loaded boat would be able to keep up with all the Sea Ray’s horses.  We covered the 30+ miles in about 2 hours.  The choppy waters around Hells Gate kept me off a plane for much of the way between the Queensboro and Bronx Whitestone bridges…the Sea Ray could easily have made better time but stayed close. We were brought to a crawl at the No Wake signs guarding Port Washington Harbor. We finally arrived at the marina together and immediately topped off the tanks.  The Sea Ray took a little under 40 gallons, my boat took a couple tenths over 4 gallons.

A friend who lives in Port Washington met us at the marina.  He took us on a tour of the surrounding area by car, and then we settled in at his place for a pleasant picnic with his family.  Early in the afternoon he and his wife returned us to the harbor and I took them for a brief test drive on my little boat. We then all said good-by at the dock . Mark steered the Sea Ray back to Lincoln Harbor, our friends headed back home and my wife, daughter and I plotted a NE course up Long Island Sound to use up what little daylight remained.

The Sound was busy, but there is plenty of room for everyone.  At least we thought there was plenty of room for everyone until we put into Larchmont to drop the hook for the night.  As soon as we entered the basic confines of the harbor, there were moorings as thick as crab traps on the Chesapeake.  We courteously snaked our way back into the harbor expecting to find a break in the moorings up in shallower water. We found no such opportunity to drop the hook.  Even areas with 3 or 4 feet of water at low tide were packed with floating bouys.  We decided to see if the next harbor, Mamaroneck was as populated.

Once in Mamaroneck Harbor, we found a small area devoid of moorings just south of where the main channel splits.  We lowered the 8S Danforth in 5 feet of water.  NOAA said it would be cool and calm that night, so we didn’t really test the holding – getting blown up into the mud was the least of my worries and if we ended up drifting through the anchorage, I’d just wrap a line around someone’s stern cleat.  I’ve completely overcome my fear of dragging in my little 15’11” boat.

It didn’t seem necessary, but we deployed the bug tent anyway.  The bug tent is a fine mesh screen that attached via velcro to the gunnels, stern and windshield to provide a complete stand up enclosure for the cockpit. It’s a necessity for maintaining sanity while anchored on the ICW during no-see-um season.  I’ve learned to get the bug tent up early, well before dusk, as putting it up later traps the evening bugs inside.  The tent cuts the circulation to less than 50%, but I can live with the heat if it means no bugs.  Heat wasn’t an issue at Mamaroneck, in fact, the chill that night made the sleeping bag ‘down’right cozy.

QT's 'Camper back'  and old unreliable Yamaha

Sleeping 3 on a 15’11” boat needs to be closely coordinated. Two sleep in the cuddy, the 3^rd crew member sleeps athwartship in the cockpit. The porta potty’s home is under the berth in the cuddy.  To keep from having everyone disturbed when nature calls in the middle of the night, the potty is relocated to the cockpit.  Any gear occupying the sleeping area in the cockpit is moved, then the inflatable mattress is blown up, after which the sleeping bag is made ready.  After these arrangements are complete, the berth in the cuddy is made up.  I’m usually horizontal on the cockpit sole in or on my sleeping bag shortly thereafter, asleep within minutes. The girls might opt to read a spell before turning in, either sitting at the helm or passenger seats, or snuggled in the cuddy.  No one could claim the helm seat at night during this expedition though, because we had brought along my wife’s Black Rolls (wheelchair), and the helm area was the only place that we could squeeze the wheelchair to allow room for me to occupy my required 6’ of sleeping space.  In the morning, the air has to be removed from the mattress and the sleeping bag must be stowed in order for there to be maneuvering room in the cockpit to prepare breakfast.

On your boat or mine, I’m up to watch the sunrise.  If humanly possible, I’ll have a cup of coffee in my hand.  I don’t mind standing or tinkering as the sun emerges, but I’ve also been known to relax in even a dew covered seat to witness the spectacle.  As soon as the sun clears the horizon I’m ready to up-anchor.  This sunrise watching may seem like a pretty ambitious feat, but it ties in rather closely with my ‘explorer’ mode that comes into play around 1pm.  Not long after lunch, I like to explore. Some folks like to look for the ideal place to build a house or start a business or take a family vacation or to go fishing.  When I’m on the boat, at about 1pm, I begin to explore for a good place to take a nap.  Between 1 and 4 or so pm, I may try naps in several different places.  I can’t remember the last time I found a bad place.  If there is other crew aboard, I will encourage someone else to take the helm while I go below for a nap...I boat alone quite often and a nap under way is a great pleasure.

My girls may not make sunrise, but the shuffling in the cockpit usually has them working their way into the daylight shortly thereafter.  We put together some milk and cereal in a styrofoam cup, shared some pop tarts, passed around a glass of juice, tidied up ourselves and the boat and it was time to get the anchor aboard.

The morning on the Sound was ideal…it was crisp, clear and flat.  It took us about 4 ½ hours to leisurely make the 70 some miles to Clinton.  It was a most enjoyable way to turn a morning into an afternoon.  The harbor at Clinton was busy, but pleasant.  We had lunch at a marina restaurant and explored the waterfront businesses before venturing back out into the Sound.  Mystic was a tantalizing distance, but we decided we could tow the boat up that way and launch instead of making the trip by water.  This would allow us a more leisurely return pace to the marina.

After the pleasant visit to Clinton we headed back down Long Island Sound, settling in at Zieglers Cove for the night. By 6:30 pm we were comfortably anchored amidst the many moored boats in the cove. We were beginning to be a little more comfortable being part of the moored fleets that apparently inhabit every nook and cranny of protected water on the Sound, but got a little homesick for the unmatched solitude found in the anchorages along the North and South Carolina ICW.

About sundown several of the boats slipped their lines and headed back into the Sound, probably heading home. Just when we were grateful for things thinning out, a big stink came in and picked up the mooring next to us.  He immediately lit up the genset. I thought I was going to have to take my can of spray paint and graffiti his stern with, “I ran my genset all night”, but evidently after cooking dinner and watching his evening TV he realized it would be cool enough that he wouldn’t have to keep his A/C on all night. He shut down the genset about 10 pm.

We did the evening turn-in drill and slept soundly, getting underway again shortly after sunrise.  The Sound was again friendly and inviting.  As we headed back to Lincoln Harbor, plans for the rest of the cruise were considered.  There was the Hudson and West Point as well as Mystic by car and an Arima boat dealer I would like to have visited, but about this time, my teenage daughter’s thoughts were of all the things she was missing at home and my wife was ready for at least one night ashore. We decided to postpone any decisions until we were back at the marina in Weehawken.

As we approached Manhattan we were brought out of our lazy cruising world by maneuvers necessary to keep out of the way of commercial and pleasure boat traffic.  The closer we got to Manhattan, the browner the air became.  The water traffic around Manhattan was overwhelming.  We still had a couple of vacation days left, but we unanimously decided to put QT back on her trailer and head home.  This wasn’t a big sacrifice for me as I had a buddy, Sadler, back home who needed help getting his 29’ Sea Ray back in the water at Charleston SC. In agreeing to head home early I could easily negotiate spending the upcoming weekend in Charleston, and I’d have a couple days vacation to burn later.

The entire NY experience was an overwhelming success.  It was fortunate we didn’t experience the ‘brown side’ of New York until late in our visit, and maybe the boat traffic was no worse when we left than when we arrived.  We will get back up there one day to fulfill our promise to do the Hudson…hopefully all the way to Lake Champlain.

Total miles = 1,776

Boat miles = 224

Boat fuel = 44.6

Engine Hours = 24.8

Smallest Walkaround cuddy I could find at less than 16 feet long.