Big changes

These past few weeks have been riddled with hard work, living in a disaster area, fresh water, Love, and a change of season.

The rainy season is here once again. The steady trade wind has made way to variable squally-wind, lightning, thunder and rain. All that being said it’s my favorite season.

I sleep well at night for one reason, and one reason only. Splendid dangles at the end of an 80 pound Manson Supreme (anchor), AKA “The doctor”. Having an anchor you trust is KEY to a successful cruising experience. I love the unsettled weather though. I’ve always felt more comfortable in a state of unrest, and unrest is where we have been living.

We haven’t had a galley for weeks and Carla and I are both food people. We have a routine of baking breads, making hummus a few times a week, and our lives revolve around the galley. The lack of a galley has been tough. Splendid is covered with tools, sheets of plywood & foam, and I’ve been covered in everything from sikaflex & paint, to plumbers putty, epoxy, and thinner.

The focus is the mid-ship interior, starboard side of Splendid, the galley. All cabinets doors are removed for new paint and varnish. All surfaces are being repainted and re-varnished. The new stainless counter is in (LOOKS AWSOME!!!), as well as the new large, double, and deep stainless sinks. The new faucet is also in and working, and the area where the new stove is to go is being prepped and painted. Our old refrigeration box is ripped out and I’m starting to learn a hell of a lot about refrigeration.

Carla and I also spent a few days building new shelves for the pantry and under the galley sink.

The water maker is a given, and the stress of building one a distant memory. The black magic of the water maker seems as simple as a magicians card trick now. Knowledge is power! Well, in this case “knowledge” means 60-90 gallons of fresh water a week! With Splendid being an itchy (fiberglass), and dusty mess the security of being able to take a nice shower at the end of every day and have clean clothes is priceless!

After the construction of the refrigerator box and the refrigeration system, Splendid’s “systems” are finished for the most part and I only need focus on maintenance and repairs.

The haul-out & refrigerator box  are the next big hurdles. I have a big box of all new Forespar Marelon thru-hull fittings. As soon as I can afford it I’ll buy a 5 gallon tin of bottom paint, and enough paint for the hull. Sometimes I feel like a squirrel as I always seem to be gathering parts and supplies for distant projects. I spent over two years acquiring the bits & pieces for our water maker. With the lack of money I must focus on long-term goals. I’ve been meditating on a new galley and refrigeration system since the day I walked onto Splendid 5 years ago.

Today is a big day as I take the weights off of the sink which has been holding it in place for the sikaflex to dry. All I need to do is connect the sink to the thru-hull and we have a working sink! Obviously we still need to paint, varnish, and put all the trim back but you get an idea of what it’s going to look like, pretty bad-ass!

Speaking of the thru-hull fitting, the one in the galley failed the other day. I noticed water streaming from it and noticed a hole in the bronze, luckily after the seacock. I fixed it with rescue tape which should hold until the haul out. Most of the thru-hull fittings are over 40 years old and desperately need to be replaced.

The end goal to all this is a simple one. I want to return to a life of world voyaging with Carla.

When Splendid is finished I will have the boat that I want, with the systems I want, and most importantly the complete understanding of every wire, hose fitting, pulley, valve, and piece of electronics.

Splendid will be simple, swift, strong and ready to cross any ocean soon. Not only will she be my idea of a well-balanced cruising yacht, but she will be a comfortable and safe home for Carla and I as we travel.

Splendid is a testament to the fact that a man with little financial means (very little), and willpower can achieve his cruising goals. I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it a thousand more. If you want the cruising life, get off your ass and take it. It’s not about working to make enough paper to buy the dream. I’m sure any one of my readers could sell their car & trappings, buy a fixer, and make it happen.

I just spoke to a new reader who picked up a CSY33 in great condition with a blown engine for 5k. That’s five thousand dollars for a home that will protect you for the rest of your life and put the world in the palm of your hand. If you want it, take it.

Peace from Splendid!

– alex

Published in Alex Dorsey