And the beat goes on...well at least the projects do anyway

For the past few days, projects and tasks have continued on the boat and as things get crossed off the Task List, others get added on.  I suppose it's our Stray Cat's version of the circle of life.   With boats, there is always something to do, always.

One more project getting crossed off the list!

Today the boys started the day with a trip to West Marine, courtesy of our dock neighbor Bob who is having his rigging and mast replaced after an unfortunate incident in the Chesapeake.  He was kind enough to give them a ride to order a new spinnaker halyard.  Turns out West Marine did not have enough of the proper size line and the rigging expert there was pretty irritated at them and arranged for Mark to get a more expensive line at the cost of the original line.  Now that is how to treat customers!  We don't have a spinnaker yet but still don't want frayed lines on the boat regardless.  Jon also got some new fins--now the three of us have our own new fins.

Update:  the new halyard installed

Splicing old and new together for feeding through

Crisscross Apple Sauce?

Up it goes

And out it goes-yay

Our new spinnaker halyard

I chose to stay behind and tackle a little "allergy" that has attempted to take me down the last couple of days.  That gave me time to clean up and start to put some things back in place that we had to move for the window work.  I like a tidy boat, that's for sure.  I also got sucked into the first season of The Americans but doing this blog post is much more important.  I have some of my own projects as well. 

Meanwhile, I've compiled a pictorial for you and so we can remember all the work that we have put into our 'home'.  It's a lot and sometimes it's interesting, sometimes tedious, sometimes frustrating, sometimes minute but always moves us one step close to a truly customized boat that we love more every day.

Jon wrote our most successful blog post to date and here is the man, the myth, the legend in action blogging away for you!  Go Jon!

Reaching out to his people via the Interwebs

I suppose it's best to start with why we are here in Dania Beach...the new windows as you know.  Jon gave you a super play by play of the removal and clean up process.  Man, it's a big job and it's important that it's done right.  The difference between the old and new windows is astounding and not easily captured on film.

They're heeeeere!

Kenny is the window expert who has been doing our 'make over'

Prepping the exterior

So much prep work but it matters.  Next he will meticulously install weather stripping for, well, weather stripping, and spacing.  He did a great job of lining it up exactly along the edge of the openings.

This is getting exciting!

Fit test success

Two perfect fits!  The paper around the edges has to be trimmed away so they can be sanded and primered; this protects the glue used during final installation.  We want to avoid another adhesive fail like we saw with our previous windows.

Perfect fit again, next step to prime around the edges on this one too then glue in place.

Before. Drum roll please.....

Taaaa Daaaa!!!!  After - Wow!

Crystal clear - simply amazing difference

Mark continued on his electronics and electrical projects as well.  We now have 12v run to the desk in the starboard hull.  This has been on the wish list for a while and a welcome addition to the desk.  We also ran GSP to the Single Side Band radio which would be vitally important in the even of a mayday.  And a charging cord created and installed on the battery banks for the dive hooka.  (aka Snuba Rig) This was a big deal clearly since without charged batteries, no one is staying under water very long.  It will plug into the new 12v outlet quite nicely.  The visit from the HVAC specialist was a huge win and our newly insulated freezer with fully functioning switches is now also charged and actually freezes things!  This is a very very big deal since having a real/working freezer allows us to store food frozen as well as store any fish we catch.  It also allows us the 'luxury' of ice now and then!  We would have 'made do' but this is a big relief.  Oh and somewhere in there Mark also found the time to hang up his guitar.

Looking good (and out of our cabin haha)

Mark in his element - electronics and wiring

Say hello to our little 12v friend!

Two more wiring jobs done - now we can charge these babies and put the snuba to good use

Ice Ice Baby! Mark is responsible for the insulation and the functioning control unit--HVAC guy only had to charge the system.  Ready to fill this with food, especially vegetables and back ups of Egg Beaters and butter.

Jon accepted the glorious job of finishing the removal of non-skid tape from the catwalk between the trampolines.  Mark and I had given up on this.  Jon succeeded where we failed and even painted on the non-skid grip.  This is going to be so much nicer than that tape ever was.

After getting all the sun degraded tape off...not a fun job

Fresh coat of non-skid; such a big improvement

I had put together a pretty significant Amazon provisioning list and on Friday the multitude of boxes arrived.  This included the solar LED holiday lights I ordered :-) I also took the opportunity on Friday to walk to the local Dollar Store and Publix for some organization and other random food stuffs.  After a few hours, the provisions were put away and my reorganization and tidying project was complete.  I do like tidiness...clutter in your surroundings makes clutter in your mind (well mine at least but I'm weird). 

Dollar Store spoils...part of my organization and tidying plan.

Everything tucked away here and under/behind the other seats...yep, already forgotten what I have where. JK, I basically know where it all is...even the beer, wine and cookie mix.

Gallon water jugs from the store only last so long, it was time to get real.  Fresh water is sorta a priority for me.  Soon we'll be running the water maker to get our own water.

A craft project I've been mulling over; I keep moving the parts around but haven't started yet.  Also sent Christmas cards to show support for a couple of individuals through Amnesty International.  We are also very proudly sponsoring wreaths for Arlington cemetery and today is the day that Wreaths Across America is laying them.  We sponsored wreaths in respectful memory of Douglas J. Green and in honor of Jim Herald, Shane Barnaby, John Woolley and all of our brave soldiers (Jon's and my fathers included).  God bless.

I like a tidy Nav station for my Captain and am committed to keeping this clear of clutter for Mark's use...need some more baskets for underneath though.

We have also created and ordered 'boat cards' finally...when you have a boat, you have boat cards--it's a thing.  After six years, we have them now too--like the big kids do.

 All work and no play makes the Stray Cat crew dull boys (and girl) so Thursday night we treated ourselves to a bike outing to the beach and the Dania Beach Quarterdeck.  We were running from no see'ums so decided inside eating was in order.  We also got to see the remnants of a lovely sunset from the pier.  Maybe a trip to the beach is in our future or bike ride to Jimbos or Dania Beach Grill, projects and "allergies" notwithstanding.

While I was jogging and walking these past few days, I've had time to form some impressions of Dania Beach.  It's a little old and a little run down (what song is that from?) and you can see where they have hit a rough patch but it's a real place, unlike Fort Lauderdale, with real people who drive real cars and live in real houses.  They may not be rich but they are nice and do things like wait for you to cross the street and don't try to run over you in their cars.  I'll take nice and real over rich and fake any day.  I also had a pretty amazing personal experience yesterday while tidying up...we were taking post it notes down from past 'to do' lists and I turned over one of them to find notes that my mother had written to herself.  I have no idea how it ended up that we used that particular sheet for boat lists or how it got to the boat, but suffice it to say that it was a pretty emotional discovery.  That note had to have been over 7 years old.  Should have known my mom would figure out a way to come on the trip with us; thanks for reaching out to me and for being here.  XO Suzanne