Our goal was to find a liveaboard, and the only way we could work toward that was the hard way, with a project boat that would need a lot of work, so here we are. Put up or shut up!
We wrote the check, signed the papers - still not all that certain, but blundered ahead anyway. Strangely enough, as soon as the check was written it became a lot less stressful. The deed was done, the decision was made, now we just had to deal with what we had done!
My sister's mother-in-law, Alice, took in a couple beggars and let us stay in a building next to her house that had a bedroom and bath. It was more like her quilting shop area but it was a Godsend. We weren't sure how long it would be before we could move aboard, or if the boatyard would even allow that.
Thursday, March 23-2006
Good news today, the mechanic put in a fresh battery and the 145 hp Volvo Penta and 5kw Northern Lights generator started just like brand new! They were stored well, the previous owner had put them to bed with every intention of working on this project himself, so he did it right! I have a new found love for all things diesel! Who would have thought such a miracle possible after sitting that long.
The Dickenson boat stove lit up, propane cooktop and oven lit up all as if it had been used regularly - we finished burning up the propane on board that was probably 10 years old. The only thing we didn't have success with was the Toyo cabin heater and refrigerator. We'll investigate those issues later. The mechanic told us the engine and generator were both high end equipment, worth nearly $16,000, almost four times what we paid for the boat! Our original goal was just to find a hull that would stay afloat, so this is all gravy to us.
I shoveled the snow off the deck, piled up junk, and tomorrow a dumpster will be set up next to us so I can pitch it all overboard. I might start ripping the failed teak off the deck. Our plan is to skip the fancy deck and paint the surface with a nonskid product. If I don't want to be a slave to keeping house, I sure am not going to sign up to slave over a huge wooden deck to maintain!
We gained a little confidence with the good news today, and we are getting ready to carry on with some small repairs to the hull and paint. This is only our first day but it was an encouraging day. It will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings!
