Finally!!!! We are on the water with Meander 12.1.14

Nice little launch ramp on Eustis Lake. Room for 4 boats to launch but it is normally pretty shallow. We’ve launched here before and knew we could make it.

They’ve made some nice improvements since we were last here.

Carl, Jim and I went to the Mason Jar for breakfast then came and launched the boat. Once we were on our way, Carl took the truck and trailer back to his house. He’ll bring it back and pick us up when we are ready to load up and head home.

Although we had a great time on the San Juan 21…this is traveling in style compared to that. We get to sit on the rear deck and have coffee in the morning…and wine at night and no bugs to bother us.

We took a little tour around Lake Eustis then headed to “Gator Hole”. We’ve anchored there before and wanted to check the depth in case all of us decided to anchor when we got back to Eustis. The others are putting in on Lake Griffin and we are going to meet them there.

After checking The Gator Hole we headed for Haines Creek. It connects Lake Eustis and Lake Griffin. There is a small lock you have to pass through part way up the creek.

Haines Creek was full of turtles but did not see any gators. It’s not unusual to find them sunning together…but not today.

Naturally …we got there at lunch time. Lock is closed from Noon till 1pm.

We only had a half hour wait so dropped the hook. We noticed this tree with nesting birds.

I believe they are Cormorants…and it looks like there might be young ones.

The motor has not been running right…Jim is doing some adjusting.

This is our first view of Lake Griffin….a nice sailboat.

I had called Bud and Michelle on Avitoon and they were getting ready to launch so we headed down the lake.

Once they were headed N we just shutdown and waited.

Here they come….

Doug and Elaine aboard their 2003 Parker…   “Mokee Dugway”

Gaetan aboard his ‘69 Hobo

Bud and Michelle aboard their Avitoon

Jeff and Sue aboard their ‘70  Land & Sea.

After a nice lumpy cruise up to the north end of Lake Griffin we found a place to anchor for the night. Hobo, Big Duck and Mokee rafted up. Mokee is setting his anchor and the other two are getting ready to raft up.

We’d already dropped our anchor and Jim had some work to do on the motor so we stayed where we were….

After supper we sat on the rear deck with our glass of wine. It was a beautiful night. Temp was about 74* and we didn’t need jackets.

We went to bed early but about 9:30 I woke up and headed to the rear deck with a book. It was too nice a night to waste sleeping…I never sleep good the first night on the water….so afraid I’ll miss a cruising gator or a manatee.

Nice bright moon and not a whiff of breeze.

We have a mast raising system and a passive cabin top vent 11.4.14

We used to have a MacGregor 26X sailboat that had a mast raising system. It allowed you to lower the mast part way and pass under a bridge.

Jim decided to build one for our San Juan 21, “Liquid Asset”, that was given to us by Jim’s brother, Carl. He has owned it for over 35 years.

The aluminum pole will fold up against the mast for sailing, and the block and tackle will be put below. It only takes a few minutes to put it in place.

The forestay is unhooked from the bow and hooked into the pole. A line runs back to the winch.

Jim can raise and lower it by himself….but on the water I will be there to help. I think we can leave the boom and mainsail on for a partial lowering for a bridge but it has to come off if taking it down completely.

Jim is lowering it into a tall crutch so he can have room to work on the passive vent.

Carl built one and put it on to help keep the air moving inside and cut down on the condensation and mold. When we tried to lower the mast it was too tall so Jim had to modify it.

We don’t need a solar vent with fan since the boat is so small and having the hatches open should be enough. But it will let some fresh air in at night when everything else is closed up.

 

He used the base that Carl made but cut it down so it has a lower profile and made a new top for it. The clearance between it and the deck allows air to pass through but keeps rain and splatter out of the boat.

This is the reason we couldn’t use the one Carl made. It would have been crushed when the mast laid back in the cradle.

Jim is so handy….he loves being innovative….he can make something out of nothing.

I will make a cover for the inside that will velcro over the vent hole for very cold nights.

Looks pretty good doesn’t it?

He ordered new tires for the trailer….we have a few other things to take care of and then we can plan a 3 day trip on the river and see how everything works. It’s been a long time since we’ve sailed….so our first day out should be interesting.

The St Johns River has several lakes. We can cruise the river and sail Lake Monroe, Lake Harney, Lake George, Lake Beresford, Lake Woodruff or just try to sail the river in between them…..and of course I’ll be looking for gators.

Ready to sail 10.31.14

Jim has worked really hard getting this boat cleaned up and ready to go.

Once the inside was finished, he used Poli-Ox to scrub the boat and then put Poli-Glow on it. Boy does it shine now. Once that was done he stained the teak rails and the teak around the companionway. Really dresses it up.

Today we stepped the mast and had the jib up when Carl got here. He helped us get it rigged right.

Finally got the main up…..

So far, all the sheets and lines look good.

All dressed up and ready to go.

We were planning to launch the Yukon Delta houseboat on Thursday but maybe we’ll launch “Liquid Asset” on Sunday…spend a couple nights on it…try it on for size.

Screens 10.29.14

We now have screens for a bug free over-night….or two.

This is the forward hatch screen.

It’s in place but not a very good picture.

I made the companionway screen in two pieces. This way we can have the sliding hatch closed and just screen the entryway. ….or have the hatch board in and the sliding hatch open.

I left enough screen to hang over the bottom screen or hatch board. You can just see it near the top if you look close….about 6 or 7 inches.

I just tucked the screens in place for the picture…but they will be a bit more secure when on the water. Should make for a nice comfortable night at anchor….

We have windows 10.28.14

Starboard side….

Port side……

and the inside….

and the master installer…..

We decided to go with tinted windows…..hard to see in from outside so no need for curtains…just turn off the light if you are undressing…and it should be cooler inside.

A few more things to finish up…then we will try stepping the mast and see what else we might need. Carl kept the sails and sheets, lines etc in the garage and we hope all are good.

I’ve finished the forward hatch screen and am working on the companionway screens….then we can spend a night or two on the water when everything is ready.

San Juan 21 with wood inside installed 4.23.14

Port side…..bolted to the box at the bottom and to the plate that comes through from the side stay.

This is the side you would go through to go into the V berth so they only had a small piece here.

Jim made the cover for the box. We can put a small cooler in it. The sides are a lot thicker than the one on the starboard side so we figure this must have been intended as a cooler.

Starboard side….This was a full wall but only bolted to the mast support at the top and to the box in the lower R corner, so we didn’t make it a full wall. I will be sleeping on this side and want air flow. It is also bolted to a brace that goes through the roof to the side stay…same as on the port side. You can see the bolts. He also made the cover for this side. The hole in the side of the box was for the toggle switches for running lights and interior light. Jim is going to close that off and move it to the side so it wont be hit during the night.

Looking through to the bow. Looks like a lot of room….don’t let it fool you. This is only a 21 ft boat….I don’t think I could stretch out in the V berth.

This is where the keel with the ballast cranks up. You can see the winch. It takes up a lot of space inside but makes for much shallower draft if up. Definitely going to be an knee and ankle banger till we get used to getting in and out. All though…Jim has had a lot of practice the past week. Seems like every tool he needs is in the shop and means another trip up and down the ladder and in and out of the boat.

The fan is sitting on the port berth…that is where Jim will sleep. The starboard berth is a few inches shorter.

Windows need to go in and I have to make a screen cover for the forward hatch and one for the companion way hatch. Then we’ll be good for a night on the water without bugs.

We will step the mast here in the yard and make sure we have good rigging and all lines necessary for the main sail and the jib….then we’ll launch and see how she floats. Can’t wait!!  It wont be for a few weeks. We have a Hudson meet this weekend and will spend next week getting the windows installed. They have arrived and look great.

San Juan 21….still working on it 10.23.14

Jim removed the 4 windows. The frames were cracked in several places and covered with years of repeated caulking.

Looks better already. It cleaned up real good around them. Since the boat sits in the truck port we don’t have to worry about rain.

Since the windows were out it was a good time for me to paint the inside. Did not do the ceiling through out the boat but all the side walls and walking surface. There had been some standing water in the bottom and it was stained pretty bad. It is now a bright white inside.

Jim had to make and replace the side rails for the sliding hatch.

        

Right now he is working on putting all the wood back inside. He had to make new divider walls. They are necessary to keep the side stays of the mast from pulling just on the roof. They help distribute the energy strain across the top and are secured to the molded boxes inside.