Lots of motoring and a little sailing so far. We motored from Sidney to Bellingham via Friday Harbor in the San Juan islands. In Bellingham, the electrician installed a new battery charger/inverter and a 110 socket. Since the boat was originally commissioned in Europe, it is wired with 220. The inverter will allow us to use our electric drill, toaster, etc.
Cap'n Steve replaced the 12 volt socket so it works now and installed a new XM satellite radio antenna and a new Wi-fi antenna to boost the signal when we're at anchor and there's wi-fi nearby.
We left Bellingham on May 10 and motored to Sucia Island. We put the dinghy in the water (it came with the boat and is bigger than our old one) and were glad when our outboard fired up.
We went ashore at Stuart Island in the San Juans, and hiked to Turn Point (where freighters turn east to go to Vancouver, northwestern most corner of U.S.) for a picnic lunch. It gets interesting when pleasure boats cross there while freighters pass about the same time.
The electric winch on the mainsail works great, but getting used to some new lines that go with it and with two new lines for the additional headsail make line management an issue. When the wind cooperates, the boat sails very nicely.
The new bimini dodger kept us dry on the way to Salt Spring Island and the heater has been turned on every day. The new range in the galley is great (no need to light it every time) and it baked a batch of birthday cupcakes for Steve.
We've worked our way north to Nanaimo and having learned the boat's fuel mileage and diesel cost in Canada ($1.40Canadian/litre) we probably won't be going to Alaska. But there's plenty to do and see in BC and the weather is supposed to turn warm this weekend.
Cap'n Steve replaced the 12 volt socket so it works now and installed a new XM satellite radio antenna and a new Wi-fi antenna to boost the signal when we're at anchor and there's wi-fi nearby.
We left Bellingham on May 10 and motored to Sucia Island. We put the dinghy in the water (it came with the boat and is bigger than our old one) and were glad when our outboard fired up.
We went ashore at Stuart Island in the San Juans, and hiked to Turn Point (where freighters turn east to go to Vancouver, northwestern most corner of U.S.) for a picnic lunch. It gets interesting when pleasure boats cross there while freighters pass about the same time.
The electric winch on the mainsail works great, but getting used to some new lines that go with it and with two new lines for the additional headsail make line management an issue. When the wind cooperates, the boat sails very nicely.
The new bimini dodger kept us dry on the way to Salt Spring Island and the heater has been turned on every day. The new range in the galley is great (no need to light it every time) and it baked a batch of birthday cupcakes for Steve.
We've worked our way north to Nanaimo and having learned the boat's fuel mileage and diesel cost in Canada ($1.40Canadian/litre) we probably won't be going to Alaska. But there's plenty to do and see in BC and the weather is supposed to turn warm this weekend.
