Well, thanks to the utter screwup of the economy, it looks like we're going to have to go smaller than we'd originally planned with a liveaboard. Today we looked at a 1973 41' Columbia motorsailor. Her name is Myrddin Emrys, and we could tell going through her that the current owners are dragon lovers--in other words, my kind of people!

She's cutter rigged and set up for single-handed sailing, which would be good if I'm taking the kids down the ICW while the Hubster is deployed. The interior is a little small--the kids would have to share the vberth, and the galley barely has enough room to turn around in it. The salon has this horrid blue-grey carpeting throughout that would have to be replaced, since it's covered in all kinds of stains. I'm thinking wood, much more traditional for a boat, and most likely Pergo since that would be cheaper and lighter than hardwood. The awlgripping on her deck needs to be redone, and we don't know anything about the state of her keel. We do know that the engine is currently toast, and needs about $5K-$7K in repairs to be back in good shape. In other words, she would be a dock queen for several months at least.

She's currently docked at Salt Ponds Marina, which is a very good thing. Salt Ponds is one of the few marinas in the area that is openly liveaboard-friendly. The city of Hampton has an ordinance forbidding liveaboards, so any "extended stay guest" at Salt Ponds has to anchor elsewhere for at least one night a year. The marina has two restaurants, a pool, store, bathhouse and laundry available to guests, and it's across the street from public-access beaches. Salt Ponds currently has an extensive waiting list for slips to open up, but buying a boat already there means you have dibs on the current slip. The one downside to Salt Ponds is that there aren't any groceries in easy walking distance. Once the motor on the boat is fixed that won't be a problem, as I can always take a day to sail down to Deep Creek Lock, which has a Food Lion across the street from the Dismal Swamp Canal. The total distance is less than 20 nautical miles each way.

Hubster visit

Over the holiday weekend, the whole family went up to see Sixpence again. This time the Hubster got to come along. I kept an eye on the kidlets while he checked over every inch of Sixpence's 56 feet. His final assessment is that she'd make a great liveaboard. He just has to come to terms with "lowering himself" to living on ketch rather than a schooner. Considering that the kids and I will be the ones living on her all the time, the ones keeping her up and generally the ones sailing her while he's gone, I think he can deal. ;)

We originally intended to see Taya again as well, but there was a small problem. The boat broker had driven back from Maine that morning, and fell asleep instead of meeting us. It's understandable, and he's mortified over it. So it will be about a month before both the Hubster and I have a free weekend to go up to Annapolis again, and the boat broker is just going to have to wait if he wants a chance to make it up to us. I'm wondering if there's some way we could milk this for extra considerations. I'm a mercenary little wench at times.

Since seeing Taya was a wash, we all ended up at Dave and Buster's instead. The kids had never been to D&Bs before. They have a new favorite restaurant now, and I think they finally understand why I've never been impressed by Chuck E Cheese.

The kids prefer the idea of living on Sixpence to living on Taya. I agree with them. She's going to be a hell of a lot more work to maintain (wood instead of steel), but she feels more like a home. Sixpence has a spirit in her, and it's a spirit that welcomes our family. That's not something to take lightly.

I did some poking around and found an old TIME magazine article that was fairly interesting. It was about Stuyvesant Fish, the original owner of Sixpence, who named her Restless. It's the earliest published information I can find on her.

A drizzly rain fell over New York harbor at dusk one day last month. A trim little 30-foot cabin sportabout nosed out of the Kill van Kull, turned north across the Upper Bay. Aboard were Manhattan Broker Stuyvesant Fish, owner; Mrs. Fish; their two sons, and Captain A. Phillip Larsen. Mr. Fish was bringing his new yacht, the Restless, up from its builders, American Car and Foundry Co. at Wilmington, Del. From the Brooklyn shore a U. S. patrol boat slid out in pursuit of the Restless. Hard by the Statue of Liberty, the U. S. craft fired twice on the Fish boat. Capt. Larsen hove to. From the patrol boat to the Restless stepped a U. S. agent (No. 979). He had a gun. Others on the U. S. boat exhibited firearms. "Why the hell didn't you stop when we fired?" asked the agent. He inspected the Restless' papers, spent a half-hour up turning cushions, feeling in lockers for liquor. None was found. Mr. Fish was angry. He spoke his mind. From the U. S. boat came a voice: "You're damned lucky we didn't turn the machine gun on you." Later Mr. Fish learned that the patrol boat was part of the U. S. Customs Enforcement Service (not Coast Guard). Mr. Fish filed a protest at Washington against the boarding, the swaggering display of firearms, the "threatening and profane" language before Mrs. Fish and the boys.

"Bedevilment," TIME, Monday, April 29, 1929

A twofer!

We looked at two ships today. The pretty green schooner is Taya, a 50' steel schooner. Yes, she's built of metal, just like the Hubster's ship. While steel isn't as common as fiberglass or as romantic as wood, it is easy to maintain, extremely durable, not very susceptible to critter damage and not likely to be severely damaged in an accident (although pulling dents would be a pain).

The downside of Taya is that she's currently owned by a hard-core sailor. This means that even though she's been across the Atlantic multiple times, all around the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal, she has almost no luxurious little amenities. Like showers. Oh, she has a shower compartment, but her owner never saw a reason to actually hook one up, since he preferred sun showers on deck. You're welcome to that mental image. The walls are all marine plywood with a coat of paint. So are the floors. In other words, she is extremely functional without being pretty. That would have to change. Good thing I'm handy with a Sawz-All and a hammer.

The other boat we looked at today is a historic 54' Skipjack. There are only 13 of these boats left from the original fleet, and Fortune here is one of them. She was originally built for fishing and clamming in Chesapeake Bay. She's over 100 years old, all wood, with very little work done on her beyond routine maintenance.

While she has this nice connection to a bygone era, she needs extensive work. We found water damage, interior condensation and mildew damage as soon as we went below decks. She's also not designed to carry more than one or two people--the v-berth is a dank little cave with foam mattresses spread on the floor, the salon only has seating for 2 and there is no dining area. Oh, and the galley is directly adjacent to the double berth located in the center of the ship, with only a privacy screen in between. I have a feeling fried chicken and bed linens would not go together well.

All in all, Fortune would be a great boat for anyone who wants to pick up a living piece of sailing history for a restoration project. Not so good for a family to live on right out the gate, though.

K remembered what a hard time he had getting off of Sixpence, so he decided to make sure the same thing didn't happen with Taya. No worries, though--there were no boarding mishaps this time around.

I claim no responsibility for his outfit, either.

The kids and I went to see a 74 year old 56' pilothouse ketch a few weekends ago. The Hubster is the "boat expert" so we went with the express purpose of checking out the living space. The kids took this idea very seriously. They tried out every berth on board--all 9 of them.

Dmitri, the current owner, has had this boat for 30 years. He's used her as a family fun ship, a charter cruiser for kayakers and as a liveaboard. He's spent more time on her than off. The last year he was undergoing cancer treatment and has to downsize to a smaller vessel. He's also relocating to the West Coast, and taking a ship this size through the canal would cost ~$40K. He has a 35' catamaran in Seattle and left for there a few days after introducing us to this ship. It wan an introduction, too--the ship has a definite personality. She felt very warm and welcoming to us, literally and figuratively. I can see living here.

We did have one little oopsie when we were getting ready to leave. K (bottom bunk) hesitated a bit when stepping from deck to dock, and nearly fell in. Luckily I was holding his hands, so I hauled him back up on deck before he hit the water, but he was pretty shaken by it. He cried a bit and didn't want to get off the boat. I told him that obviously the boat didn't want him to leave either, since she'd pulled away from the dock to keep him on board. Eventually we all managed to make it back to dry land and head home. K's requested a gangplank in the future. I can't say that I blame him.

Hubster will hopefully have some time to go up and look as the ship with us before he leaves on business again. I hope we can make this work.

The Clipper City sold for a little over $300,000. From what I understand, she needs about $100,000 in hull repairs to get her USCG certification again. Someone's got themselves a great value on a charter boat.

Environmentally conscious cleaning

I wrote this article on Helium.com. you can see the original post here.
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When you live aboard a boat, you become very conscious of how your cleaning products affect your environment. There are few things more embarrassing than looking out your window to see bits and pieces washed off last night's dinner dishes floating in on the tide!

You also become very aware of the amount of water used in cleaning. It's one thing to scrub, rinse and scrub again when you have an endless supply of water at the turn of a tap. It's quite another when getting that water involves motoring to shore with a dingy full of 25-gallon-jugs, and the knowledge that eventually you'll also have to dispose of the waste water being stored in your holding tanks.

In the interest of conservation-of the environment, money and space-there are a number of cleaning tips that can be brought into play.

1. Realize that most commercially available soaps are highly concentrated. Standard liquid soaps can be diluted with water and stored for later use. One part soap to ten parts water produces a mix that doesn't produce a great deal of foam but is still highly effective when cleaning. If you have doubts about how well a diluted soap will work, use warm water to clean. Soap works better in warm or hot water.

2. Find alternatives to commercial soaps. White vinegar mixed with an equal amount of water and stored in a spray bottle will handle most cleaning needs, including doing a great job of cutting grease. It's also a streak-free formula to use on windows and surfaces. For disinfecting, mix one part bleach with three parts water and store in a spray bottle for at-need use. Bleach water is also highly effective when tackling mildew. Using salt as an abrasive works very well on stubborn, ground-in dirt.

3. Use less water. When washing dishes by hand, an inch of hot water in two separate basins provides all you need to get your dishes clean. Compare that with the 6-10 gallons used by a dishwasher (according to the MWRA). This is also a time when using diluted liquid soap comes in handy-the less soap you used, the less water you need to rinse it off afterward.

Implementing these tips can be done immediately and economically. The impact they have on the surrounding environment is very real.

Schooner Clipper City up on eBay

Clipper City in Baltimore's Inner Harbor

The schooner Clipper City is listed on eBay right now.

Clipper City is a 152' topsail schooner, originally built in 1985. She was serving as a charter ship in Baltimore until about a year ago, when the owner had to file for Chapter 11. The bank bought her at auction for $350K. She's up on eBay until 29 March 2008. She needs some hull repairs to get her USCG certification again, but when she was certified she carried 149 passengers and 6 crew.

Well, she'd definitely be big enough to live aboard. It sucks that the family wouldn't be able to crew her by ourselves, but she's large enough that we could easily accommodate extra hands. Hubster is pretty sure that he could find people who'd be willing to help out on board at the drop of a hat.

For chartering, she's a great buy and a fantastic opportunity. In theory, we could buy her now, be doing repairs while using her as a liveaboard, and be ready to launch our own charter business in about 5 years. It's a very tempting thought.

From the original business website, discussing the layout:

Clipper City was built as a replica of the original ship of the same name. However, we have designed the layout of today’s Clipper City to suit passengers.

The main deck is the largest public area on the vessel. Amid ship is a snack bar and our Pub, the Doghouse Bar. This structure also houses two heads (restrooms). There’s cushioned seating for 50. The main deck is covered by a custom canopy with retractable side curtains for use in inclement weather. All rails were built bar height so our customers can rest in any deck location.

The quarter deck is the raised area in the aft of the vessel. It is from this area that the captain steers the boat and issues orders. This elevated area allows expansive views of the ship and her surroundings. Seating for 30 is available.

Under the quarter deck is the engine room and the Captain’s Quarters. There is a navigation station with radar and communications equipment. This area is often used for meetings and as a private cabin for special occasions.

The Main Salon is an elegant area that can be used for meetings and private groups that attend our public sailings. With room for about 30 guests, it can also be used for larger groups with catering needs. Oriental carpets, custom-made chairs and settees give this area a “yacht” appeal.

Off-topic brag

I've always loved to write. My first short story was published when I was in 8th grade, when my science teacher submitted it to the state teachers' organization's newsletter. When I was 18, I had two short stories published in the same month, in separate science fiction and fantasy magazines. I was so proud when I got the checks for those two sales. I immediately called my mom to let her know. Her response was "I hope you don't think you can make a living doing that!" Since that was exactly what I'd been hoping (and those two checks were more than two week's salary at my minimum-wage student library worker job), her comment hit me pretty hard. I didn't completely stop writing, but I did stop submitting my work for publication.

Fast forward 17 years. I'd started participating in NaNoWriMo during my divorce. NaNoWriMo is an annual challenge to write 50,000 words during the month of November. I was an area organizer through my library, and in 2005 I churned out an erotica novella I called Strip.

The other people in my group encouraged me to polish it up and submit it to various publishers. I did, and got a stack of rejection letters. Then I got one acceptance. Strip is being published as an ebook from New Concepts Publishing.

Today, I got the cover art.


Never stop reaching for a dream.

Boat transportation

Some of the boats I've been drooling over are, unfortunately, on the wrong coast. I have no problem with bringing a boat down the Eastern Seaboard as needed; chances are very good that Hubster could get the requisite time off to make the trip as easy as possible. Bringing a boat through the Panama Canal, though--that's a whole different kettle of fish. For one thing, the trip time would be measured in weeks, not days. For another, coming through the Canal requires the hire of a local pilot. Considering it would just be me, the kids and a total stranger on board for the crossing--um, no. Call me paranoid if you like. I don't mind.

I've been looking at boat transport options. All of the West Coast boats that have captured my interest have been in the 60'-70' range. Shipping a boat of that size with a float on/float off transport company would be the most economical means of transport, particularly if I'm uncertain of the vessel's seaworthiness (and let's face it, a boat that size in my price range is likely a dock queen, and may not be up to long distance blue water cruising without some renovation). The quotes I've seen for this kind of transport have been around $50-60K, and would mainly cover the Canal portion of the trip. I'd still have to get the boat to the pick-up point (Baja Mexico) and from the drop-off (South Florida) to home.

Another option is to hire a crew to bring the boat down the West Coast, through the Canal and up the Eastern Seaboard. Again, the boat may have seaworthiness problems, the crew would be at least two people, we'd have to pay for the Canal crossing and the required pilot and for all supplies needed for the trip, which would probably take about two months, provided weather was good.

Last option would be remove the masts, rudder and keel and shipping her across-country on a trailer. That would run $15-20K for the transport, plus the costs of prepping the boat prior and getting her back into the water afterwards. We'd also be facing the possibility of the boat being too long to ship overland.

No matter what, buying a West Coast boat, no matter how good a deal, would mean shelling out several thousand dollars in transportation costs. That would mean we'd have to get a second loan, with all the attendant problems of that. Not many banks would be happy with a call for an unsecured $60K loan.

Probably best to stick with East Coast vessels, no matter how sweet the West Coast deals get.

So much STUFF!

I look around at all the stuff we have, and I despair of getting rid of it all.

It's obvious we're not going to fit it all on a boat. Right now, I'm sitting in the room where the kids and I spend most of our spare time. I'm pecking away at a desktop and watching a decade-old big-screen tv. There's a printer/copier/scanner next to me. On the other side is an easel, with the disassembled remnants of a hamster cage tucked underneath. Behind me is a sleeper-sofa, a coffee table, a gaming chair and a giant stuffed duck (courtesy of an old AFLAC promotion).There are toys everywhere, tucked into the cranies of the table, spilling out of the closet, strewn across the floor.

This one room is about the same amount of space we'll have on board.

I'm intimidated by how much stuff we have to get rid of before we can do this. I'm debating if I should go for garage sales, Craigslist ads, or if I should just say "to hell with it" and call an auction company to come take care of it for me.

We have to pare down, and we have to start now.

A few definitions

Schooner--A sailing vessel with two or more masts. The second mast, called the mainmast, is equal in height or taller than the foremast. A gaff-rigged schooner will carry an additional square sail on the foremast. Schooners are noted for speed and windward agility.

Ketch--A sailing vessel with two masts. The first mast is the mainmast, and the second, shorter mast is the mizzenmast. Noted for ease of handling.

Yawl--A sailing vessel with two masts. The mizzenmast is located aft of (behind) the rudder post. The mizzen sail is used for trim and balance rather than propulsion. Very popular with single-handed sailors.

Every year, a number of yacht clubs get together to sponsor the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Around 30-40 schooners will enter the race, sailing from Annapolis, MD to Portsmouth, VA, a distance of 127 nautical miles. Times to finish range from 12 to 20 hours. Proceeds go to providing educational opportunities to introduce children to the wonders of the Chesapeake Bay. Hubster wants to enter this race at some point in time.

Another possiblity

The Hubster has found a ship that he is absolutely lusting after now. I have to admit, she seems like she'd be a good choice for us. I'm actually concerned that she may be a little overly large! She's 70' overall, 55' on deck, so she may be too big for me to handle by myself. If she is, I guess I'll have to put off sailing the Eastern Seaboard until the kids are physically strong enough to help with hoisting sails.

I'm in the process of exchanging emails with the current owner, who runs a whale-watching expedition business in Nova Scotia.

The big downside here is the business owner has commitments involving the ship well into next fall. Hopefully we'd actually have time to get her surveyed, buy her, get her down here, make any necessary updates and get moved aboard before our current lease is up in October! There's nothing like a hard deadline to send planning into high gear.

Dock shopping

Schooner Red Bird

The kids and I have started visiting various open-access marinas in the area. My 9 year old daughter, R, calls it "dock shopping, like window shopping only better!" Doing this is serving two purposes. One, we're getting out to see what local boats are advertised for sale. Two, we're getting an idea of the amenities offered by area marinas. The kids have decided they really want to live someplace that has access to a floating swimming pool.

While doing this, we happened across a sweet little hermaphrodite brig schooner. She's a gorgeous little boat, and she's available. Unfortunately, at 26' feet at the waterline she's just too small for a family of four. But hey, we know the look we want is out there. It's just a matter of not giving up and working for the best.

What started it all

It all began when the Hubster said, "I've always wanted to live on a tall ship."

It was meant as a joke. We were house-hunting and going into sticker shock at the cost of real estate. Just on a whim, I went to Yacht World to look at a few boats. What we found is that not only would a boat large enough to live on cost significantly less than a house, but that there are literally thousands of people already living aboard in marinas around the US. People like us--folks with jobs, kids, dogs, the works. We also found that since the cost of boats wasn't going through a period of bubble price inflation they were holding their value at a fairly consistent rate.

We did some calculating. Yes, it would be small, and we'd have to get rid of a lot of our stuff to make this kind of a move. Really, though, do we need a tv for every person in the family? How about three computers? Do I need to be hanging on to clothes I haven't fit in since before the kids were born? Not really. Can the four of us really live in a space somewhat smaller than your average one-bedroom apartment? I certainly hope so!

So now we've switched from house hunting to boat hunting. I'm using this space to chronicle the frustrations and joys, keep a list of the things we like and the things we don't, and hopefully get to casting off with my sanity more or less intact, or at least as intact as it's ever been.