Project BlueSphere

Sam, Guin, and I just returned home last night. I’ve barely been here for 2 months and it is so nice to hang my hat back on Splendid. We only have a few weeks to get our ship together and head for the Bahamas and beyond. The last delivery turned out to be much longer […]

If you guys were watching the spot and saw us tun around, here is why. Fasaga’s mast is 61′ tall and the Julia Tuttle bridge is only 56′ tall.We had to turn around and head back to Ft. Lauderdale where we are anchored in Lake Sylvia dancing at anchor in 30 knots on wind. Fasaga […]

i’m not capitalizing anything today today because i’m copying sam’s writing style. today marks sam’s first log (thanks david). If you guys go to the members tab above and scroll down to sam’s blog you’ll find it. there are some changes on the horizon. we will be launching the store soon and i’m going to […]

I know I’m probably killing you guys with pictures of my beautiful girls but here is another. Sam and I went out yesterday and bought running shoes. It’s time to start getting in better shape. We walked a few miles to the library the other day and I was pretty whipped. Today we did a […]

Well I must say I’m happy I “bit the bullet” and renewed my SeaTow for the year. Sam and I were sitting in the cockpit motoring down the ICW when I smelled exhaust in the cockpit. When I smell exhaust in the cockpit it is a telltale sign that it is start time to cut […]

There are days, then there are days. There was the man who had the “golden gun”, Jerry Luis was the King of comedy, and Howard Stern is the king of all media. Obama is the president of the United States, and there are plenty of guys with more than enough money and power, but Alex […]

Sam, Guin, and I are taking off this morning. It looks like fog, rain, thunder and lightning, OH MY! We’ll have a few days of crappy weather but it is what it is. Michael (Guin’s Dad) is coming to pick Guin up for Halloween and the weekend. He’s having a big party at his house […]

The crew of “Fasaga” pulled into Beach Marine last night just in time for dinner at Fast Boys (great wings). Fasaga is birthed next to Splendid. I cant tell you how happy I was to see her masts over the trees as we made our final turn off the ICW. I really had a good […]

I’m told the last 4 days have been the first nor-easter of the season, ARRRG! Marty (the owner (picture)), David and I left Deltaville Virginia on Thursday in the worst conditions I’ve ever seen on the Chesapeake. IT WAS BLOWING HARD, and it’s still blowing like hell 3 days later. We really pushed the boat […]

Sam, Guin and I showed up at the boat I’m delivering last night around 10:00 pm. It is a really nice hunter 380 with generator and heat, good for this time of year. We managed to figure out the television/satellite system and we watched a family movie before bed. The owner is showing up this […]

Sam, Guin, Tommy, and I attended the Annapolis boat show yesterday. We walked through all the booths and I realized something. Attending a boat show with dreams of cruising can be somewhat overwhelming, especially if your on a tight budget. The last time I attended the show was before I went cruising and I wanted […]

I’m sitting in the Philly airport yawning, waiting for Sam and Guin to show up. I’ve been up since 3:45am and paid $60.00 for my cab this morning, OUTCH! I’m really excited to see the girls. I have a sock monkey hanging out of the pocket in my cargo shorts, I think it is going […]

Tick Tock, Splendid will leave the country soon. I’m working as much as I can to stash money in the kitty. I’m working for a really nice guy bedding hatches, working aloft, whatever. He’ll be heading South about the same time we will. In fact I have a bunch of friends heading south at the […]

Money, Money, Money, WOOT it’s nice to spend a few bucks. Today was like Christmas, our ENGEL CAME! I went shopping and put a few prized perishable items in the small refrigerated compartment. Basically it is 2 keep protein, chicken, fish, meat, and tofu. I can always sneak a beer in for a sundowner. The […]

I got back to Splendid yesterday. It is Soooo nice to be home. Sam and I met her possible paternal father the other evening for dinner, it went really well. He is a really nice guy, really! He has been really open to this whole thing and interested in finding out if he is indeed […]

Well my delivery went well and turned out to be a bit of an adventure. Here is a picture the owner took of me as I was leaving the slip in Rock Hall. The first few days went flawlessly. The weather was wonderful the entire trip. I spent my first day in the Sassafras river […]

The delivery is going great. I had to get out of my warm bed at 6am and drive over to the Western shore with my cousin. I hated leaving Sam as she’s been really sick and just starting to get over it. I met with the owner (great guy) around 9am and we went over […]

I’m really happy to be delivering a boat this week, and another in mid-October. I really want to stash as much cash as I can into the cruising kitty before Splendid sails in a few months. If anyone has any delivery work or boat projects they need help with please let me know. I have […]

Check it out. 1000 square feet of glorious spinnaker, Thanks Tom! I’m really excited about this. I really wanted to go with a drifter but this beautiful spinnaker found its way into my life. The material and stitching is all good. It has some water stains which look like white clouds on the light blue/purple […]

It’s 2pm and my batteries are in a float charge. A bit earlier I saw the controller putting 17.2 amps into my battery bank. What am I going to do with all this power besides get a refrigerator going? I met a really nice cruising couple who want to trade me 2 50watt panels for […]

Weird…, I’m alone. Sam and Guin went back to Ft. Myers to visit family for the long weekend. It’s so strange with it being quiet around here. I was nice for a few hours but I’m really ready to have them back, funny how that works : ) With all my alone time I’ve really […]

I tell you, being as OCD as I am is not easy. When I get something stuck in my head it is there until I’m done processing, re-processing, and then beating it to death with a stick before I do it all over again, and again, again, and again. How many nights have I spent […]

My darling Samantha will become a ripe old woman of 34 tomorrow (9/1). The funny part is she still gets carded for beer & wine. Sam has never been on a jet ski, and she has an hour run tomorrow. A nice lady gave us a free hour at the party we attended last Saturday. […]

I’ve been really down over the last few days. My uncle is loosing his house to a tax sale. My grandparents paid off the house in the 80’s, but for whatever reason he has not able to pay taxes on it for many years. The hammer falls on Tuesday and he needs to be out, […]

Well the life of a work’n man is pretty good. I really enjoy the people around me and the environment is great. We are going to light up the marina with WIFI, KEWL! I’m already doing some shopping in my head. The biggest and most important item on the hit list is a down wind […]

Splendid is really becoming a home. If you look in the background you can see that picture frames are going up. The one on the right is an old picture of the whaling ship “Splendid”, Splendid’s name sake. The other is a small painting of a Pegasus. Our friends Craig, Lisa, and baby Christian came […]

Okay, some new developments. Sam, Guin and I may only be visiting the Chesapeake by car or train. Sam needs to visit family in New Jersey and I really need to work on Splendid and make a few bucks. I’ve been offered some work here at Beach Marine and after a family discussion Sam and […]

Sam and I had a huge cleaning, organizing, and throwing out party yesterday. I got the 2 new solar panels mounted on the stern life line. All I need now is some hardware and stainless tube to hold them up, and to wire it all in. All I did was drill 2 holes in the […]

Well it looks like Anna is heading south and doing what I hoped she’d do and turn into a gulf storm. Actually I hope she dissipates as I have a lot of friends on boats south but you get the idea. I’m hoping “Bill” follows suit. If that is the case it can give the […]

The good news: I picked up 2 80watt BP solar panels for $130 (for both). I’ve got 400 watts of solar now and don’t even need to start to think of plugging in! Now all I need is a wind generator. The bad news:  Tropical Storm Anna has formed this morning with another possible hurricane […]

I know so many of my subscribers have been asking questions about cruising with their families. I’m relatively new to the whole “cruising with a family” thing but I know I’m a lot more cautious then if I was just sailing by myself. You know my #1 rule ‘never be in a Hurricane or cyclone […]

Man, I tell you this is really turning out to be a wonderful trip. We spent the day yesterday roaming around St. Augustine. What a cool city. One doesn’t really think of history when they think of Florida, but WOW! Guin fed squirrels at Nombre de Dios, the first church in the country. They call […]

Well no WIFI for the past few days, result, ‘no updates. We made nearly 70 miles yesterday. We anchored in a nice, but buggy anchorage last night. Sam and I decided to make Shepard’s pie for dinner and used TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) with beef bullion instead of beef. We added  mushrooms, carrots, peas, and […]

I hate BUGS!   We have an ICW guide, and for whatever reason they claimed there was an anchorage behind red marker whatever, and well, there wasn’t. We got there just as night was falling and I couldn’t squeeze Splendid’s big butt in the tiniest of anchorage holes. I had to backtrack a mile and […]

Splendid is quiet and it’s dark out. The girls are sleeping. I’m going through my normal morning rituals before a trip. Get up early, make coffee, and check the NOAA weather charts, Grib files, radar images, and national hurricane center. I’ll put the dinghy up on deck soon, upload my latest route from my PC […]

Here is Splendid as she has sat at the dock for the last week. We are planning on taking off in the morning, but of course there is a tropical wave that just popped up that I want to keep my eye on (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/). I’m really bummed about my generator. I’ve never met a diesel […]

I’m not usually one to give up, but I’ve had it with the small Kubota! I have over $300.00 into it and I’m walking away for now, it just will not fire. I know, I know, “Fuel, Air, compression” It must be on the compression end and I’m not going to put any more time […]

I had the worst day stuck in the engine room yesterday. It was in the high 90’s and HOT, HOT, HOT in the engine room. I changed the oil and internal fuel filter. The oil is a piece of cake but I had to bleed the air out of the fuel system to install the […]

I’ve ordered the LED replacement bulbs for the anchor and running lights; they really draw a lot less power. Being at the dock is cool, we are just 2 houses down the street from Chuck’s house. Guin is running around and swimming every day and I have time to get stuff done. I’m going to […]

Well Chuck, Darrin, and I did a little work on the 4.5hp diesel Kubota yesterday. I got a honer at harbor freight and honed the cylinder until it was nice and clean. When we opened the package of new rings we instantly knew they sent us the wrong ones as they were at least twice […]

So many people over the years have asked me to keep track of my finances so they could get an idea of what I’m really spending while I cruise. The thing is I just can’t do it. I’m no good at saving receipts and sitting down to do the math. Sam on the other hand […]

Well the main mast has mast steps. I was aloft all day drilling and pop riveting. I got a nice sun tan : )I still need to do the mizzen. The main mast is much higher than Namaste’s rig. I got used to it after a while but felt uncomfortable a few times. I stayed […]

I spend the day yesterday pulling apart my old diesel generator, what a mess. I took off the starter and heat exchanger, and took it out of it’s frame as well as the fly wheel cover. I got it all de-greased and cleaned it up with a wire brush. Today it’s Ospho and painting. I […]

Well Sam, Guin and I have completed our first 500 miles sailing together. We are anchored in Stuart where we’ll be for a week or two. I have a number of boat projects to work on. I have to fix the running lights, TAKE OFF THE LAZY JACKS, change the internal fuel filter (not the […]

Our wine will not last; we are down to just 3 bottles, ARRRRRG. We are anchored in Lake Worth and will be in Stuart tomorrow. I hate, I hate, I hate jiffy reefing and lazy jacks. I really miss the simplicity of sailing Namaste. We had a squall roll in and it started blowing 40 […]

After dropping the hook yesterday in no-name harbor I launched the dinghy (Carly) and Guin, Darrin, Sam, and I rowed to shore. We walked a few miles to a pizza place and had a pie and a few pitchers. With bellies full and smiles we walked to the supermarket and bought fresh veggies for stew. […]

We dropped the hook about 8:30 last night on the S. side of Rodriguz key and I was asleep by 9pm. I got up to a very quiet and still world around 3:30 am, put on a pot of coffee, raised the main, and got the anchor up. After a few minutes of motoring I […]

Well we didn’t get going yesterday. Darrin came to Boot key and we all went out for Pizza and pitchers (sorry JD). We’ll be out in a few hours and I’ll fire up the spot if you want to see the progress. Try clicking on the satellite imagery, it’s cool. We may stop in Byscane […]

It’s been one of those days. We had a really bad odor in the head and after a short inspection I saw the selector valve for the holding tank cracked in half, pooooooo! I got a new valve at west marine and proceeded to cover myself in the contents of the holding tank. We got […]

Well, I don’t really know what to make of Guin. I was really expecting her to be seasick, crying, and uncomfortable, oh contraire, she likes Grandma Splendid rocking her. Like “rock a bye baby” she says. We are on a mooring in Boot Key harbor. The city has taken almost the entire harbor and made […]

Well we spent our first night at sea. We had very mild wind from the South East until about midnight, almost nothing. I was on my watch when I saw a sail boat to the West. He didn’t go away and almost seemed to be heading towards us, and it was. The boats running lights […]

Well, I have some news. At 1:57 pm on July 8th, 2009, The good ship Splendid has set sail for a life on the sea. I’m a bit speechless. Sam and Guin are reading books as we chug down the Caloosahatchee river. Check the spot if you have a moment. I’m going to look for […]

Just one more day. Sam and I will be leaving Tuesday morning. We’ve had a garage sale for the last 3 days and have been tying up all our loose ends, we’ll Sam’s loose ends (house, car, etc). I don’t know that I’ve had a loose end for quite some time :) It looks like […]

Just one more day. Sam and I will be leaving Tuesday morning. We’ve had a garage sale for the last 3 days and have been tying up all our loose ends, we’ll Sam’s loose ends (house, car, etc). I don’t know that I’ve had a loose end for quite some time :) It looks like […]

Guin sez “Watch the new video”! Go to the members tab and scroll down to “BlueSphere TV”. On the scroll bar on the player, scroll right to log #8, it’s about 16 minutes long. Man I’ve been fighting with the new video for 2 days with uploading issues. I think I have it all down […]

You guys like my crew? I’ll be uploading a new movie tonight or tomorrow, it’s a long one, about 15mins. It covers a bunch of fun stuff! All is good and we are ready to leave. Guin is even asking if we are leaving every day, she seems really excited. The canvas should be done […]

Well the solar panels are hooked up without a controller and are doing fine. If anything I wish I could over charge the batteries to equalize them but they just aren’t putting out enough. One certainly needs a controller if you don’t live on your boat and watch the voltage all day like I do. […]

Power, Power, Power! I’ve installed a 130 Amp Electromaax alternator. That coupled with the solar panels will give us plenty of juice! I’ve had the alternator for about to 10 months and finally took the 20 minutes to install it yesterday, what a difference. If your looking for a quality, high-output alternator check out electromaax […]

Wahoooo, I finally have my solar panels mounted! I have about double the amount of wattage I had on Namaste. I’m not so happy with the mount but it works. When I can afford it I want to have tube bent to fit but I have bigger fish to fry if you know what I […]

We have bimini…, And it is soooooo wonderful! Canvas work is really an art. The Bimini enclosure expands Splendid’s living space immensely. This week the dodger and sides will be done and we are off like a shot. I’m going to do sail covers at another time, we just need to get moving. We had […]

We went to the dentist and Sam needs a root canal, ouch!!! After a bunch of negotiation, calling around, and estimates, we are getting it done for $610.00. Not so bad. Even in Panama its $400. I’ve never had a root canal, I hope it isn’t too painful for her. The new Bimini is going […]

What a great party we had. Jim, the owner of the store cooked some great pig and played guitar for us. He had written some custom songs that brought a little tear to many of our eyes. When he stopped Guin started crying and he had to do an encore. In the last year Sam […]

Well, I’m running around with my head cut off attacking projects. I do this before any trip, it’s just part of it. Sam scraped and repainted the library, it looks nice. The other picture is our friend Kerri who is doing the canvas. Check out the color of the new sunbrella, I LOVE IT! I […]

Well Guin really wanted to color in her room so Sam, Guin, and I went to Home Depot to choose a color. I think it came out a pretty nice blue. Sam spent a few days prepping and painting, so she should get all the glory. It’s funny, we have had a few discussions about […]

Wahoo, got my computer fixed, I’m back online :) All is going well. We should be starting the new dodger and bimini on Saturday. Our friend Kerry has been finishing up a few big jobs and we should knock it out quickly. Today I’m going to rig my windvane. I need to get a few […]

I’m hoping June 14, 2009 will be to Sam and Guin what May 10, 2003 was for me. We have a date and a game plan. Splendid sets sail on the 14th. I really want to be in the San Blas but I’ve been under pressure of getting Splendid ready and waiting for Guin to […]

I’m having one of those days. I was painting the box for my new fuel polishing system and splattered paint on Spledids newly painted bow as well as in some wet varnish. I got pissed and decided to write a log and my computer “bit the big one”. Now I’m on Sam’s computer trying to […]

I’ve received a few emails after my last log asking about guns and cruising. I don’t really like talking about the subject but here goes. First of all I don’t consider myself a “gun person”. I try not to manifest the “negative”, however I am a “realist” and as a captain have a responsibility to […]

I’m going mad with charts & cruising guides. Sam and I have been waiting for Guin to finish her school year and she graduates tomorrow. Guin is excited about sailing and talks about it often. Sam will also be starting her in Kindergarten soon (home schooling with the Calvert school). My friends Chuck & Leslie […]

Time for sailing South is getting thin. I can feel hurricane season knocking on the door. I still have a few more weeks work but feel comfortable leaving at the end of June or early July. I left Jamaica in early July and had a nice run to Cartagina back in the day. I will […]

Meet Diana! Is that an anchor or what??? We named the her “Frankenstein” when we first saw it but have changed her name to Diana, like “Diana Ross and the Supremes”. Sam drove Splendid around the anchorage as I fumbled on the bow with the anchors, shackles, and swivel. When I dropped “Diana”, and we […]

The 80LB Supreme is HUGE!!! Many of my friends use the 60lb Supreme and say it will eat a 60lb CQR for breakfast and ask for seconds. Of course I want over-kill because of the way I travel. With a bigger anchor, I’ll sleep better,and will not freak every time I’m at a restaurant and […]

hey all- sam here. I’m writing in lieu of alex as he is en route and connectionless. Alex would like to point out that he has dusted off the old spot so you can track splendid as she makes the now somewhat familiar journey back to the fort. Last we chatted he had successfully traversed […]

Well I’m off to Splendid today. I need to clean up and get off the dock before I need to pay more money. I’m going to cross back over the southern tip of Florida (SHALLOW) between Marathon and the Gulf, and back up to Ft. Myers for a few weeks to get my canvas done. […]

Well I ordered 300′ of 5/16 bbb chain and it’s being delivered to me on Splendid on Monday. I didn’t have enough to order my new anchor ($785.00) and have to wait until I get my next paycheck. I checked eBay and craigs list…, no Supremes at all! There are plenty of CQR’s, Bruces, and […]

I didn’t have to get up to an alarm this morning, just two beautiful girls and a lavender purple bear that I got for Guin in Vancouver. I must say I’m feeling better, Love heals quickly! By the time the job was over 80% + of the crew was sick. The supervisors say it happens […]

I’m going HOME,HOME,HOME,HOME,HOME!!!!!!! I changed my flight from tomorrow night to tonight (5/4/09) I have a bunch of lay-overs, but I’m out on an Air Canada flight tonight, and should be in Miami before 10am in the morning. I’m so Excited! I happy the job is done. I’m really tired and have totally lost my […]

Well I went to work today and managed to drag myself through it. At the end of the day I ended up sicker then when I started, my chest is in really bad shape, I’m hacking up evil things. I pulled myself out of the extra 2-3 weeks of extra work today. There is just […]

There is a virus going around the ship. I’m on my second round with this thing but it’s really kicking my ass this time. After being at work for 2 hours today I couldn’t even hold up a caulking gun. I had to go to the infermary and back to my room. I hate laying […]

I signed up for the extra work today (AHHHHHHHHH!!!!). I’ll be staying until the 15th – 20th ish???? Well it’s not confirmed but I think it’ll happen. When I got back to my room I started looking at pictures in my camera and I must admit tears came to my eyes when I look at […]

Words are hard to come by as my mind is a bit mushy. An opportunity to stay and work for an additional 3 weeks came up, but I passed. I miss home and my girls so much I cant see straight. I’m slated to come back on the 5th but people are saying they are […]

Wow am I tired, I’m soooo happy though. I’ve been flat broke and trying to get ready to sail to Panama. Most of all I want new chain, an 80lb Manson Supreme anchor, and a few grand stashed on the boat. I know I’ll get some of you guys to visit for a charter or […]

Well I’m off in the morning to work for 3 weeks. I’ll be returning to Splendid and my girls on the 5th of May, ARRRRGGGGG, I’m really going to miss them! Namaste has been undergoing a paint job at the same time as Splendid. I’m glad she is sitting on the other side of the […]

I’ve been really uncomfortable with the mooring situations in Key West. The guys at the city dock/moorings are not very nice and don’t seem to care about anything, or anyone’s boat. Boats drag, and that is just not the place for me to put my home, everything I own, and my future. I inquired about […]

I painted 1/3 of the cabin house yesterday. It still needs some detail touch-ups but I’m going to leave the trim and detail to Sam. I’m just no good at that sort of thing. I’m starting to see Splendid and my beautiful home as she will be. Looking at this picture over coffee this morning […]

It nice to be in a place sharing the water with beautiful ships like this. I took this image yesterday of a passing schooner at sunset. Summer is here. The cold fronts and 40 degree weather seem to be behind me, YAHOOOOO! I’ll be leaving Splendid for 3 weeks for work starting on the 15th […]

Man has it been windy. It’s been blowing 25-30 from the N-NE for a solid week. The dinghy rides have been wet and the anchorage lumpy. All that being said I’m certainly not complaining, it’s nice to be here. I’m mostly finished with the “windlass” project. It all seems to be fine but needs a […]

Here is Splendid as she sits in Key West. I’ve got the mizzen up to battle the current and point into the wind so I can sleep at night. I spent the day running cable and wiring the windlass. Chuck, you were right, it took more than a day. We are supposed to have about […]

I feel good in my soul! It’s so nice to be in a real cruisers community again and out of the dirty river in Fort Myers. I met a lot of good people in Fort Myers, but I must say it wasn’t my favorite place in the world and I’m happy to be moving on. […]

Wow, What a gloriously uneventful trip! I left Fort Myers beach about 10am on Saturday and motored for a solid 27 hours. We had 10 kt head winds for most of the trip but at about 2am I set the jib and motor sailed under full sail until sunrise. I could have cut the engine […]

Well I’m off to Key West tomorrow. My buddy Chuck will be making the passage with me. Sam and Guin will be going on vacation to New Jersey for Guin’s 4th birthday, and not making the trip, I’m really bummed. Splendid’s glass work is done, however she is far from fair. Darrin and I painted […]

I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck and beaten up by a team of ninjas! My back and neck are killing me. ARRRGGGG, I feel like I’m getting old! Darrin and I have been busting ass to finish the cabin house, toe rail and decks by next Friday. He has a friend flying […]

Splendid’s Cabin house is totally encapsulated! There is no more “cabin to deck” seem. She is really ugly and messy with epoxy but if I’ve learned one thing about this job it’s, “Paint goes on fast and it’s all prep”. There is about 40% of the toe rail that needs to get glassed and we […]

Well I finally got my fish finder hooked up. I used a “in hull” transducer that shoots through the hull with out having to put another hole in the boat. I’ll probably put a normal transducer in the next time I hall out so I can get water temp and speed info. But for now […]

Wahoo!! We spent the first night anchored in a horrible anchorage, Shell point. There was a few feet of crushed shell ground over shale. I couldn’t get the hook to set and only slept an hour and a half with north winds of 15 – 20, dragging me across the anchorage. We arrived in Fort […]

I’ve really been busting ass the as few days (as usual). When I bought Splendid I didn’t really see how much work needed to be done but I’m still happy I bought her. It will be soooooo worth it in the end! A year is a small price to pay for such a fine ship […]

My new foredeck is almost done. I’ve installed 2 new cleats, re-positioned the old one, and dry fit the windlass. The bulwarks and foredeck are painted but I still need to non-skid. Darrin is almost done glassing the port side of splendid and we are working hard while we have some nice weather. “Splendid” and […]

Did everyone see the new video? I can’t tell how people know about it. I know a lot of people have an RSS feed on the log page, but I don’t know if that works for the videos too?? Well I got the first paint on Splendid’s bulwarks day before yesterday. All I can say […]

Man have I been busting my ass. My fingers are raw from wet sanding but the bow is almost done! Darrin is glassing down the port side of the cabin house and I’m faring, priming, and painting. I’m also starting to install the windlass which came earlier today. Things are really coming together. Anyway, I’ll […]

WOOT, My auto pilot is finished. I’ve been working inside during the cold fronts and I finished the autopilot project. I still need to mount the control head, but it reaches to the cockpit and works just fine. I wanted to get a navpod so I could have the control head mounted on the rail […]