A thanks shout out

[Longbranch Louie]

We just finished our orientation weekend with Kenny and Capt Mac and just wanted to say how much we enjoyed it. Both of them treated us more as friends than customers. If either of them have a book of the dumbest questions ever asked Im sure I have filled a page or two for them!
They could have warned me however to never tell your wife to use the Marina restroom instead of the on board facilities! That feable attempt on my part lasted all of one night and the holding tank is now initiated. I have learned my lesson and 2 am however is not the right time to give tiolet instruction, although they do say the family that pumps the bowl together stays together!
Although we are still trying to find the right name for our tug, Betty has already named the diesel heater Bosco. All night long I kept hearing turn on the Bosco.. turn on the Bosco. A second piece of advise to new boaters I guess is dont deprive your wife heat. We are slowly learning the proper terminology for things on the boat such as thing a ma jig, and whats ya ma call it. Betty has learned when I say go to port she doesnt have to give up white wine.
We are already learning all the places to store things away. Unfortunately we are having problems remembering where we have put said items.
Thanks again to Kenny and Capt Mac for their patience and knowledge.

 

[baz]

Yea... the first mistake I made when using the Head on our new R25 in 2009 was that I didn't know the raw water inlet valve controlling coolant for the engine needed to be opened. Pump as I might, and it was a huge effort, nothing happened... and even when I did open the valve still nothing for awhile and lots of pumping. 1st Mate after several uses said in no uncertain terms... no more cruising until that head is replaced with an electric one that needs just a button to operate -- plus, plumb it to use fresh water and not raw water. 18 months later I did just that...

Kenny and Capt. Mac are a great asset to all of us.

 

[Stella Maris]

Congrats on your new "Bosco" as well as your R-25SC! You will have many happy hours of enjoyment and pleasure on the great waters of the PNW!

David and Maureen

 

[knotflying]

It may sound anal, but we have an excel spreadsheet with each compartment listed and what is in it. And then as a cross reference we have the items in alphabetical order and where they are located. And believe it or not we still lose things. And some things we have never found, go figure! And the worst thing is to decide to put whatever it is in a new place. You seem to always go to the old place looking for it. When you can't find it you go to your storage sheet and realized you never updated it! Life on the water can be trying on the brain! The first year is the worst because whatever you put here you decide to put there and then you are looking everywhere. There were a few times when everything in storage areas we pulled out the the cockpit to find whatever it was you were looking for. Our current venture is, "Where did I store the extra laundry detergent". A trip to the store to buy some more may be more productive. :lol:
Mike Rizzo

 

[baz]

A practice learned from reading one of David's (Solitude... ->> Destiny) posts was to each year remove everything on board and place on the Dock. Then with some careful thought replace all the items, or even maybe discard some of them. This has proven useful to me for recalling where things are, as well as lightening the boat's laden load. 😀

I could never employ knotflying's method of recording where things are, even though I think it's an excellent approach. As he's mentioned, the Excel list loses it's benefit if you do not meticulously update it when adding/subtracting items from the boat.

My simply method is to place all things related to cooking in the starboard lockers. The cave is used for hanging cloths and 'large' items. The locker under the front Nav seat stores all my tools and spares. The head locker holds all the head-related items. The cockpit lockers hold spare fenders, lines, electric motor and it's battery, hose line, boat washing stuff, engine maintenance items such as oil filling funnel, spare engine oil, paddles, flippers, snorkel, goggles, wire coat hanger (there's a story behind this item), spare life jackets, emergency flares, etc. Books and charts are in V-berth area as well as two magazine open face type racks fixed to the cabin walls. By categorizing areas for certain items I usually can cut down the time looking for things.

 

[Spinner]

Hi Betty and Doug, sure enjoyed getting to know you two during the Points North seminar this last weekend! Now, let's just hope we can remember all of that vital information!

See you around Longbranch!

Sue, Spinner

 

[Garry Anderson]

Loving your post and looking forward to crushing with you. Don't forget to buy a little electric heater to plug in when your in the marina so you don't have to turn on "Bosco" if you don't want to!!!!

 

[Longbranch Louie]

It was great seeing you guys too Gary. I think Ive already got Betty talked into a larger boat. On the way home I had to take us thru an aircraft carrier wake. I saw sky, I saw water, I saw sky again. I guess "hold on" is not a sufficient warning to ones spouse. Betty knows what its like to go airborn on a Ranger tug and wants seatbelts. We sure learned that what we thought was secure wasnt secure. Fortunately I anticipated it and didnt go into it sideways. We were along way away from it too.