Attitude And It's Relationship to Adventure

We haven't left Key West yet.  Life is getting in the way for a brief moment.  But then again, that is what retirement is. . . Life getting in the way of a good time!

Five weeks ago (February 13-17), Renne' and I attended Strictly Sail Miami, the sailing side of the Miami International Boat Show, at the Bayside Marina in downtown Miami.  Renne' was accepted as a vendor and spent the week selling her Nighty Night Sailboat series at the Author's Nook in the big tent.  Renne' was one of only 5-6 authors accepted this year for this honor, and we have made new and pretty cool friends because of this. 

Renne', although she was not competing with any of the others, appears to have sold more books than all of the others combined!  I had to laugh, as most of you know, Renne' will speak with anyone about her books!  She was all but pulling them off the carpet to show them her books.  I was really proud of her efforts!  In the end, she has been asked to return to next year's boat show, and the director of this part of the show assured her she could return as often as she liked. What a PRO!

While we were there, we met Bob Bitchin' and his lovely wife, Jody "Bitchin' Lipkin, the publishers and creators of "Cruising Outpost", formerly, publishers and creators of "Lattitudes and Attitudes", in their booth around the corner from us.  Jody gave me a bumper sticker that seems to exemplify both Renne's and my attitude, the entire of our adult life:

   “Attitude:  the Difference Between an Ordeal and an Adventure”

When I saw this statement, I realized how universal this statement is in application to all of our lives. 

Sayings like: 
     "It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to."  Annie Gottlieb
    
     "If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."  Mary Engelbreit

     "The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude."  Dennis S. Brown

. . . . say the same thing, but Bitchin's bumper sticker says it all, eloquently.

The last 3-1/2 weeks have been tough on Renne', as she has been in Columbia, SC taking care of family issues.  Last Monday, I drove north to be with her for a while, and I am driving south, this Sunday, to finish up income tax and my projects to get the boat ready for our annual Key West Departure, as soon a Renne' can shake herself loose of these issues.

Just before leaving, I was able to start and finish two projects that have been plaguing us for some time.  The first involved resolving a battery issue.  For seven years of ownership, I have been very reluctant to spend much time without running the engine for fear of running down the batteries so far that I couldn't get the engine or genset running.  Although we have always carried atleast 290 amp hours of power, with separate HOUSE and START battery banks; and this past year, an additional 145ah's added for a total of 435ah's in the START battery bank, we have always seemed to be running short on battery longevity when sailing or sitting on the hook.

When Doug and Barb Schindler arrived for a week in Key West, I asked Doug to help me by looking at the batteries.  In 15 minutes, we had found the problem, and in no time, we had the situation resolved!  It had to do with the manner in which I had wired in the Battery Combiner.  I had two wires wired in backwards, and it took an independent inspector to find the fault!  Wow!  I have been running the boat on battery power during the day, relying on the solar panel and wind generator for recharging the batteries, and wait until the batteries are headed below 12.4v before turning on the 110 through the battery charger to boost the batteries back.  I am much more than satisfied!!  That also resolved the radar problem of not working and resolved the chartplotter's issue of shutting down at very challenging times in the middle of the night.  WaHoo!!

The second project had to do with the fuel lines (main feed and return lines) for the center fuel tank.  We actually have three tanks:  two 42 gallon diesel tanks under the port and starboard settees (couches for the folks in Rio Lindo), and a 48 gallon center tank under the floor boards below the table in the main cabin.  So for the last year or so, 1/3 of our fuel supply has actually been unavailable for use while we are motoring.  The lines would clog up when we were operating at cruising rpm, although I could transfer fuel from the tank, using the electric fuel pump and our fuel polishing system.

I finally got up the nerve to spend an afternoon cutting, crimping, and isolating copper fuel lines and replacing them with flexible neoprene fuel lines.  With much effort, I replaced both of the center tank fuel lines, and voila', the engine runs beautifully!  WaHoo, AGAIN!!

My three remaining projects that have to be accomplished are:

1)  Build a new mounting frame for the new 245W solar panel
2)  Mount a Hailing Horn on the mast spreaders
3)  Replace the shackles at the top of the mast that hold the blocks for the spare halyards in place.

Notice two of those projects involve going up the mast!  Fun times to be had by all, I assure you!

Last night, we watched Robert Redford's, All Is Lost.  I began taking notes about the technical faults in the movie.  By the time it was done, we had counted some 20 serious errors in his procedures.  On the other hand, I began adding thoughts about items we seriously need to add to our bailout bag, in the event we have to abandon the boat.  In that case, I am adding 15 items to our list and/or plan.  We really don't want to end up in the same situation as Redford did.  We were glad we watched the movie!

Tonight, here in Columbia, SC, it is drizzling and very cool (somewhere in the mid to low 50's).  Renne' and I are thinking of having cocktails in for a change.  So, although the drinking burgee is raised to the spreaders, it will probably require some effort and foul weather gear to get here.  So we will raise our glasses to toast you if you miss us!  Cheers!

Jon and Renne'
abrd S/V JonNe'