And, as a radio guy here(advertising a plumbing service) says " You`ll be back to sending old friends off to the coast in no time at all".Or, get rid of that complicated, space-eating vacuflush mess and replace it with a Raritan Marine Elegance electric head. Maintenance every five or ten years. In the meantime, flush and forget.
Congrats on your new Boat. Good to see you back on the forum. Brought ours back from Lyman Morse in Thomaston Maine last August. Still going to get you to sign that picture some day.
Wifey B: Ok, you were on boats of different types in different conditions and experienced some tough living conditions. This ain't that.
And why do I say that so firmly? I walked five miles to school through the snow, up hill both ways no longer matters nor does I was in 35 degrees with no heat and only a thin jacket for seven months.
This is now PLEASURE BOATING.
Keep that in mind for you and your wife and your guests. Some have mentioned weather delays. You've brought up toilets. Think of all those things that are key to making long periods of time aboard comfortable and pleasurable. Even if it seems silly and not at all macho and tough guy kind of stuff, consider it. This is a home, not a job.
Specifically, the first things that come to my mind are temperature control. Ski mentioned it a little. Heat and air will be important to you. You're heading back north and been in 80 degree weather and suddenly in NC you hit a cold snap of 50 degree days and 35 degree nights. Not bad if prepared for them, horrible if not.
Being set up so you can still cruise comfortably is so important. Even if just at a dock, having heat adequate to keep you warm. Ability to enclose additional areas so you don't get claustrophobic. I've been on some wonderful trips when we went from bikinis to parkas to full coats. Had the times when it was 70 degrees one day and dropped to 35 and the high the next day was 45 and the wind was horrid cold.
Can happen the other way too. Can think summer is over and suddenly it's 90+.
You intend to be thermos like and be in the cold when it's warm and hot when it's cool or some such thing I don't have any idea but I know it just doesn't always work out that way and since you're going between a warm area and a cold area, keep both in mind.
You'll love your boat and have the time of your life. The seamanship sounds like no issue to you and doubt the maintenance will be that difficult for you. Just don't overlook the importance of comfort. Otherwise is turns out too much like camping and not like a wonderful second home.
Despite rumors to the contrary I'm not actually a Neanderthal. We have air conditioning, washer and dryer, water heater, stove, micro wave, queen size bed and I'm installing a Sig Mar diesel cabin heater for when we're in the frozen north. I'm assuming those things and my undying love may possibly suffice.
Despite rumors to the contrary I'm not actually a Neanderthal. We have air conditioning, washer and dryer, water heater, stove, micro wave, queen size bed and I'm installing a Sig Mar diesel cabin heater for when we're in the frozen north. I'm assuming those things and my undying love may possibly suffice.
The Four Yorkshiremen have something to say about the privations of living destitute in with neither food warmth or pretty much anything else, to sustain life...Wifey B: Ok, you were on boats of different types in different conditions and experienced some tough living conditions. This ain't that.
And why do I say that so firmly? I walked five miles to school through the snow, up hill both ways no longer matters nor does I was in 35 degrees with no heat and only a thin jacket for seven months....
The Four Yorkshiremen have something to say about the privations of living destitute in with neither food warmth or pretty much anything else, to sustain life...
Did you recognize John Cleese, 2nd from left? They are part of the venerable Monty Python comedy team which more,ahem,senior,TFers might remember. Think "Life of Brian". Maybe also Tim Brooke-Taylor and Eric Idle,and that insane English Jewish comedian with the bulging eyes, whose name escapes me for now. Old stuff, but very funny.Wifey B: I'd never heard of those old dudes. Cool.
Thanks, knew someone would remember. He died some years ago.Marty Feldman. In Young Frankenstein he had the best lines. My personal fav is when he replied to Dr. Frankenstein who asked him to help with me with bags, Igor said 'OK, you take the blond and I'll take the one with the turban!" Hilarious!
Did you recognize John Cleese, 2nd from left? They are part of the venerable Monty Python comedy team which more,ahem,senior,TFers might remember. Think "Life of Brian". Maybe also Tim Brooke-Taylor and Eric Idle,and that insane English Jewish comedian with the bulging eyes, whose name escapes me for now. Old stuff, but very funny.
It keeps the ducks on the outside of the vessel.I'm sure somewhere in my near future I'm going to encounter whatever the "duck valve" is, I had no idea what vast horizons my toilet would open up for me.