We've Moved!

We've moved both the boat and our blog! Now the boat is in San Diego, CA and we're living aboard while shopping for our dream boat. The blog has also moved to http://sailing.486.us

I'll need to pull our old content from here and add it to the new blog. It's cool because we're using wordpress now and I'm able to do that kind of stuff.

-Nate

Fuel Tank Leak

Airborne has a leaky fuel tank. Natalie and Josh already cleaned up the few gallons of gas that were in the bilge and have the boat aired out. The tank resides under the aft starboard berth. I don't know if the tank is original, but it is steel and it looks like there has been rusting around the edges that caused the leak. The next step is to cut out an access hole to pull the tank. The cuts shown in green are the best idea now. There's also dark green strong backs shown that will be added after the new tank is installed to reinforce the cut areas so I can still sleep at night.


After the fiberglass over the tank is cut and the fiberglass securing the tank to the hull is removed the new tank can go in. It looks like a new custom tank will have to be made out of metal or an existing tank made of plastic will have to be modified to fit in the space. A new tank from Catalina will cost over $500 plus shipping and handling. I'd rather pay a local to make the tank than get one shipped up from California for that price. I'm still on deployment so thanks to Josh for starting the project.

Here are more pictures:


View down at the aft starboard bert with covers removed


View from midships aft of the motor and tank


Crud inside the tank. I guess it was time for replacement anyway.

Just had to share

I just had to share this awesome picture of Koku the sailor dog. I hope he still has his sea legs the next time we go sailing.

The joy of crabbing

It's hard to beat getting off work and heading down to the dock to get aboard your boat with your wife, buddy, dog and a can of can food. Fire up the motor, cast off all lines and then head out for a 15 minute motor past the warships tied snugly to their berths looking at the sailors standing watch in their dress white uniforms. We always wave and raise our beers to my shipmates on USS Momsen while heading out to drop the crab pot. In goes the cat food, the pot is dropped over the side and off we go for an evening sail. The wind is just right to take us south of Everett towards the tip of Whidbey Island across from Mukilteo. Then we tack North towards the east side of Hat Island and then back East to try and locate our pot among all the red and white bobbers. Our reward for an evening like this is one big tasty crab.

Changing the zincs

Since Airborne has been hauled out I changed the zincs. Right is a before picture. I'll take an after one later in May before her keel is wet again. Other layup maintenance includes flushing saltwater from the cooling system with freshwater. I also bought new fuel filters to help with random depowering of the engine. The fuel filter will be installed after Airborne is docked back at NAVSTA Everett.

Hauled Out!

I have mixed emotions today about hauling Airborne out. I'll be gone for about two months and not able to sail her so it seemed like the right thing to do. I arranged the haul out service from the Port of Everett Marina. The process was really easy:

All I had to do was haul up the bumpers
Pull in to the slings
Throw the motor in reverse
Turn off the motor
Scurry forward to keep from ramming the wharf
Scurry up the ladder ashore as Airborne swings up behind me.

The peace of mind I'll have that she's safe an sound ashore is worth it.

The Long Awaited After Work Sail

It's been a while since I last updated. Here it goes!

Thursday was awesome! I got off work and gave Natalie a call to come pick me up. It was 4pm. Then I called her back and said "Let's go sailing!" I'd been dreaming of the day I'd be able to get off work, go down to the boat and then set sail in the evening to relax. The wind was about 15 knots from the West. I had the boat all prepped when Natalie arrived all she had to do was hop aboard. We motored out of the Naval station and as we passed the USS Abraham Lincoln I hauled up the jib and main. Before we were out Port Gardner we were under sail, making 5 knots!

I can't wait to try again next week! It was my dream come true.

New Links:
Printable NOAA Charts : Cool because I just downloaded and printed Approaches to Everett on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. When we go to the San Juans this summer I'll print up all the area charts and store them in plastic sleeves in a notebook in case the GPS and netbook go down.

Lost Soul for Sale: I was cruising posts on SailNet and came across one about Lost Soul, Bob Bitchin's former boat being for sale. I thought, "kewl."