Monthly Archives: November 2012

Summary of 2012 Refit

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By Kevin

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When we purchased Fantasy Island, based on the surveyor’s report, we expected our refit would take 3-4 months and $30,000. As of today, it stands at 6 1/2 months and $50,000.

Believe those experienced boat owners who tell you to take whatever estimate you have and double it.

Here is the list of significant changes:

Renamed vessel to Real Life
Replaced shaft, cutlass bearing, stuffing box (dripless)
Replaced all chainplates with 3/8″
Replaced fore and backstay backing plates
Re-insulated engine room
Repaired damaged keel bottom
Ground out cracks and repainted transom
Painted areas of the topsides
Repainted lockers and bilges
Replaced engine room passageway and aft cabin soles with new teak and holly
Replaced various compromised wood
Replaced galley formica counter, sink, faucets
Re-bedded all stanchions and cleats
Replaced spare halyard
Replaced all aft and v-berth cushions
Installed new bow roller platform
Replaced 2 10# propane tanks
Replaced and redesigned bimini and full-enclosure canvas (reusing frame)
Repaired sails and replaced UV canvas covers (all three sails are roller furled)
Replaced all 5 Bomar hatches with new
Reconstructed teak trim around 3 Bomar hatches
Replaced 3 Beckson gaskets and portlight lens
Built custom screened plexiglass hatchboards for ventilation and security
Replaced liferaft with near shore version
Replaced 1993 Johnson 15hp outboard with 2007 Tohatsu 5hp
Refurbished 10 1/2 foot A/B tender
Replaced all navigation lights and spreader lights with LEDs
Replaced all interior lights with Sensibulbs
Added GPS Garmin 441s chartplotter
Watermaker membrane inspected
Replaced on worn cockpit cushion
Replaced 55# delta working anchor and chain with 250′ 3/8th inch HT chain and 60# Manson Supreme
Replaced 38# danforth secondary anchor and rode with 50′ 3/8th inch HT chain, 150′ 3/4 inch rode and Fortress
Replaced spring lines and bow lines
Replaced numerous hose clamps, valves and hoses in freshwater system
Replaced corroded wiring and wires in various places
Purchased numerous spare parts and necessary equipment that was sold off by the previous owner
Replaced saltwater washdown pump
Replaced bilge pump
Rebuilt both Raritan heads

Life in Waterworld

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By Kevin

It is mid-November and we’ve been on our sabbatical now for almost three months. That time has been spent getting our beachhouse ready for the rental market and and our boat ready to become our floating home.

Real Life is as ready as we’ll get her in the short term. It is time to go cruising.

Next Tuesday, November 13th, we’re planning to finally cut the dock lines and sail 35 miles south to anchor in the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay. From that spot, when the next weather window arrives, we’ll make the 44 mile sail across to Bimini Island in the Bahamas. 

We’ve enjoyed our stay in Fort Lauderdale. It is a beautiful oceanside city–a waterworld of boats and canals unlike anything else I’ve seen. The following are some pics showing a typical day during our stay here.

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South Florida Jaunt III — Florida Keys to Key West

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By Jennifer

The third leg of our South Florida road trip was the Florida Keys and Key West. You’ll see a bit of the landscape from the bridges connecting the Keys, a stop at Ernest Hemingway’s Key West home and writing studio above the garage (look for Hemingway’s famed six-toed cat known as a polydactl and a Portillo’s connection), dowtown Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor, and the southernmost tip of the United States.