Elliott Bay Marina Working The List

The list of things to do has been growing as opposed to shrinking, remove three add four. Because of this we decided to move the boat from Poulsbo in Liberty Bay to Elliott Bay marina on the edge of down town Seattle for the last three weeks before the departure date of +/- June 24^th.

The following reads a little like a laundry list but is typical of the type of things boaters have to do on a boat prior to a lengthy trip.

Thus far we have managed to install the outboard engine crane after eleven years of carrying it up and down the aft ladder and putting it into the bobbing dinghy below.  We added a reel that carries 600’ of floating line to the stern.  In some locations we will have to anchor then stern tie into trees or rocks on land (more about this later). 

The solar panels wiring to the batteries is completed and regulator installed.  The canvas guy is working on finishing the solar panel attachment points so they can be installed on the bimini.

I’ve also been working through the single-side-band (SSB) radio:  A dark art project that really does seem more of an art than a science to get this thing up and running!  SSB also requires getting the appropriate licensing and software to run said radio.

The course computer software (Autopilot) was checked out by the manufacturer and updated to the current charts. That saved several Units (in boat lingo, a “unit” is $1,000) because we didn’t have to update all the other equipment that ties into the Autopilot.

A new EPIRB the emergency locator beacon has been installed for that unforeseen eventuality of boat or personal emergency and hopefully will never be used (we’re conservative sailors and choose the adventures and timetables to avoid as much risk as possible.) The maintenance on the outboard engine and the Honda 2000i generator that we carry is done, and we’re checking and updating life jackets, medical kit and flares.

A huge thank you to Brad and Gay Gibson who loaned us their paper charts and guide books.  Canada requires you have paper charts onboard which seems really redundant since we’ll have not only new charts on the chart plotter as well INavX charts on our IPad.  We added additional guide books that will be helpful for those areas we haven’t been.

Even Winslow our cat has been updated!  He had a trip to the vet to get his special international Certificate of Health ($140!) and rabies shot to satisfy the Canadian requirements.

We’ve also been readying our home for being gone a couple of months.  We have friends nearby checking on things and will have the house put on “home watch” so the Sammamish police department drives by, walks around and checks on things. 

We’re installing additional freezer space to supplement our existing freezer and refrigeration.  We have been very fortunate to have been on many weekend and two- and three-week trips on a sailboat and the food planning for these trips was not so complex. This trip is a little different in so much as we don’t yet have extended trip experience. We know there will be limited grocery availability in some areas particularly from the Broughtons around to Tofino so we will at times have to stock more food than we are used to doing. Stay tuned on this project.

Finally, if this list isn’t daunting enough, we just found out that if your visit to Canada on a boat exceeds 45 days you are required to have a current Boater Safety Card. Our trip is going to be about 75 plus so it’s out with the study guide. It’s a bit frustrating to have to pass a six-part test to get a Boater’s Card after all these years of sailing and other classes both Pat and I have done. 

The list goes on and but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  We’ve set a pretty hard date of June 24th to set off, so whatever isn’t done by that date will just have to be completed along the way.  Stuff like refinishing the teak and polishing the stainless parts. 

All in all, however, life is good and we’re enjoying time with our daughter Andrea and two grandchildren who are staying with us through their move transition to Rancho Santa Margarita on June 23rd. It’s a great opportunity and one of much excitement for all of them.  It just the grandparents like us who struggle with these big changes.  Who knows…. Tuamotu could head down the coast one day.