Getting Down to the Wire- Journey to begin

All the wiring for the Mast is in place. What a job that is/was. Much more complicated than expected. Mostly done except for testing to make sure all components- Radar, Radio, Deck Lights, Mast head Light, and Loud Hailer work.


My seat- across from the Captain's seat so whomever is not piloting, can sit up and see the water ahead and around.
Dean is working on the part that fits into the VBerth to make a fuller bed for sleeping. I have the foam, waiting to be cut.
Inverter we will take with us and wire in while traveling.
We will also take the extra batteries to be swapped out or added, as and if needed.
We are down to the last amounts of supplies to be put on board and then we are ready----


Our cat, Woodstock, is joining us on the journey. He has not been on Puffin in the water. We don't know how he will do and are prepared. He has been wearing a harness instead of a collar, that you can hook a leash to so if he goes overboard we can reel him in. As mentioned before, he also has a pet life jacket.

Still some things to accomplish on land---mail, bills to be paid, cleaning our home as we have guests staying while we are away. We are plant people so all of our indoor plants (20-25) are outside for awhile and some Dean has put the potted plant in the ground for moisture. We have placed them so there is ample morning light and should get moisture when it rains. I hope it is not like last summer- in July, August, September--no rain at all, we were in a drought. We contracted for someone to mow the lawn and neighbors will keep an eye out for anything unfamiliar around our home. We have nice neighbors.
By next week we will be on our journey on the Triangle Loop of the Great Loop.

Launched-- We are in the Water!!!

Long cold winter leads to a warmish and rainy spring and finally-time to go in the water! This all has to be co-ordinated with high tide so when backed into the water the boat doesn't run aground.

7:30 am sunny day, thank goodness, the trailer backs into our yard to take our boat "Puffin" to the water. Yea!!! Brownell, www.brownellsystems.com can't say enough good about the company. Their trailer guys and inside ladies are great to work with. "Puffin" was loaded onto the trailer. As the boat stands were removed, Dean was applying some touchup paint to where the stands held the boat. I guess this is typical if you paint the bottom while it is on stands. We launched at Niemiec. www.niemiecmarine.com and were on our way to the temporary slip at Acushnet River Safe boating Club before we take off in 2 weeks.The Nanni diesel started instantly.

We have been scrambling the last 2 weeks trying to get as much done on land before the boat hits the water.
We spent a day sanding and painting the bottom of the boat and black stripe at the water line. Boy did our backs hurt the next few days.
Dean did as much as he could to get our makeshift mast ready to put up and secure. The antenna for the radio, radar, loud hailer, spotlight all have to be cabled through the mast and deck, and attached to switches and power before we depart for our journey.
A few things left to finish- my passenger seat attached to the port side, opposite the Captain's chair, V berth insert made and installed for a larger more comfortable sleeping arrangement. The inverter needs to be installed and connected to the house batteries.
Most of our food supplies, cooking pans, dishware, towels and bedding, and bathroom supplies are onboard.
On my end, last  food supplies and fresh items and our clothing.
And do not forget, our cat is traveling with us. He has not been on the boat in the water. The first time will certainly be interesting. He has a harness and 2 leashes plus his own life jacket, yes, they do make them for animals. Ours was purchased at Defender Marine www.defender.com in CT.



Mast still on the Deck







Almost Launched!!

Puffin hits the water on May 8th.
Steadily preparing for the journey- The Triangle Loop- a northern side trip of the Great Loop- around May 20th.
Scrambling to get electronic things done on land, much easier.
Almost finished sanding the bottom and hope to paint as soon as it stops raining. We have had so much rain in the last few weeks, our yard looks like a jungle. Where was this rain when we really needed it?
Our 8 ft mast is propped in place, waiting for the OK from marine electronics  people that we are wiring correctly and then finishing up and securing in place in front of the pilot house.
Dean is attaching a first mate chair on the opposite side from the captain's chair and wheel so I or whomever not steering can sit high enough to see what is going on in front and all around us. He is making a wooden insert for the front V-berth so we can have a larger and more comfortable sleeping area. I have ordered the foam  we need ( a 28"X 28") piece that we can cut to size.
We are anxiously anticipating the arrival of davit mounting brackets so when attached to the boat the davits can swivel together across the back of the boat at a dock or slip so we don't get charged for an extra 3 feet or get tangled with another boat in tight docking situations.

I, Suzan, am gathering items from my extensive list, and finding places to stow onboard.
Bed and bath linens, food and food containers- non perishable food in plastic bags or containers and other containers for leftovers. My list is very long. I am trying to take as much as we can for most of the trip in non perishables so we only have to purchase fresh along the way. See Joy Smith's www.joysmith.net books on "The Perfect First Mate", and "Kitchen Afloat". Joy has lots of great ideas for making your boat your home away from home.
Dean has secured a place to dock Puffin where we can work on her until we start our journey.