Into the Breach

Hello from rather cold and cloudy Port Townsend. 

I've been away and pretty busy in preparation.

http://ourfreedompro...been-doing.html

Having left Tacoma, in early December, we made way and arrived in Port Townsend safe and sound, if a little cold.

http://ourfreedompro...asting-off.html

We've been here for the last couple weeks, stripping Brigadoon in prep for her last refit before we leave. 

http://ourfreedompro...s-of-limbo.html

This weekend we take Brigadoon to the dock and work float. There we will pull her mast and put her in the shed at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op. Our PM is one of the Owner/Partners, Jeff Galey.

We will (off the top of my head):

1) Install our Hydrovane Self Steering system.

2) Replace the entire rig (all wire and mechanical fittings, replacing the check-stays with running backs). Paint the mast. Replace all fittings as necessary.

3) Pull and replace all chainplates and converting to bronze. The chainplates are Port Townsend Foundry made and are up-sized to match wire and fittings. 

4) Pull, inspect, and reinstall the rudder.

5) Pull, inspect, and reinstall the prop, shaft, stuffing box and coupler.

6) Divide the anchor locker so I can install a second spurling pipe (on order from Port Townsend Foundry). This allows me to keep both rodes in the locker, freeing up the deck box.

7) Rebuild all chain plate entrances with G-10 plates to ensure full seal of the new plates and covers.

8) Go to boat show and buy:

a) Honda 2.3 outboard.

b) Rainman Watermaker with pressure washer attachment.

c) Honda 2000i generator.

d) The latest Spinlock deck vest model with harness.

9) Pick up our sails from Port Townsend Sails, where they are in for inspection and replacement of the UV panels on the genoa and staysl.

10) Install new stack on Dickenson heater to improve performance.

11) Finish that Deck Box project.

12) Install AIS

13) Perfect my design for infinitely adjustable solar panel mounts.

...all by April 1, (no foolin) where we plan on heading north, to the San Juans, Canada, Alaska, before returning here for a short stay before going back out the strait and turning left forever.

And we have a Facebook Page thanks to my lovely 1st Mate: 

https://www.facebook.com/svbrigadoon/

I've opened my own account at Admiralty Supply (I think that's the name).

Cover me.

I'm goin in.

The Ups and Downs of Limbo

We've been in Port Townsend for four weeks.  Amazing how time flies...enjoying the comforts of my parents' home, emptying the boat of all our belongings in preparation for the work we're doing; setting up various vendors and appointments to make everything happen the way we want before we depart for real in April.

Here are some observations:

1) Living on land again is interesting, if a bit weird.  I'm definitely enjoying the luxuries of a full kitchen, showers and laundry in house, and of course being with family.  But I also kind of miss our little home on the water and being rocked to sleep at night.  I cannot express how grateful we are to have the opportunity to live with my parents while we do this work - it's making a lot of this process SO much easier on a lot of levels.

2) All of our personal belongings fit within the footprint of a single car space in a garage.

The pile of stuff.

3) We've so far had amazing interactions with the shipyard (Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op) we'll be working with and the vendors we are using, including Port Townsend Foundry.   Our mast is getting pulled on Monday, and the boat will haul out on Wednesday.  We're scheduled to be inside their shed for about three weeks - during which they will do some contracted work for us.  We'll also take advantage of being out of the weather to get some work done ourselves while she's inside.  (More about this to-do list in a later post)

4) Port Townsend is a charming town - we've had to get used to the low speed limits, which pretty much everyone observes, and some odd driving habits here and there - but the restaurants, the people, the deer, and the scenery around here are all pretty wonderful.  My mom has even talked me into joining the local community choir for the Winter/Spring concert season, which concludes right in time for us to leave.

5) My transition from working 7-4 at a real job has been mostly smooth.  Obviously it's been lovely to sleep as long as I want most nights and not have to answer to anyone else other than myself and Donn for what I do all day.  But it hasn't been all about laying around and reading or playing on my phone - we go to the boat just about every single day and get *something* done.  Whether it's cleaning, prepping for mast removal/haulout, or wrapping our heads around the extensive list of stuff we want to get done in the next two months - we've been working steadily since we've been here and it's only going to get busier starting next week.  I struggle a bit with some anxiety around all this, hoping I'm able to do my part even though I will be learning how/what to do every step of the way.  

I'm embedded in this odd limbo world - we've left our old life, but not yet started the journey.  Lots of work between now and then.  But I keep reminding myself - it's like any other project I've ever taken on - be it theater or day job.  One step at at time.  The goal is just there, on the horizon, within reach.