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When I took the Power Squadron boating class a few years ago, I shared a table with a couple that owned of 40+ foot power boat on Lake Erie. When we got the the navigation part, chart work, piloting, etc, they couldn't find their way to the front door. Had no clue about any of it, but they...

Congrats on dodging a major bullet!! Keep looking and reading the forum & archives for great information. While you're at it, sit down with yourself and have a serious look at your wants and needs in a boat. This might be the hardest thing to do in buying a boat. "I'd sure like to...

Welcome aboard to the best site on the net! The best advice we were ever given was "Don't buy the biggest boat you can afford, buy the smallest you can live on". Along with that, seriously look at your want list, and separate wants from needs. All boats are a compromise, and everyone has a...

We have a 100 gallon glass/ply conformal water tank on the Lady J. We "shocked" the tank and lines overnight with bleach, drained, and refilled twice. The First Mate still detects an odor (not bleach) from the water. We've been using the water for washing and rinsing, but drink from bottled...

Congrats on your purchase! The boat sounds pretty good. We're looking forward to following your trip North. We're still shaking down and fixing things as we find them. It's never ending, but rewarding. Finally got the windlass working, and going out today to practice our anchoring...

Welcome aboard! Your avatar says it all. Best of luck on your journey!

Loved the posts and pics. We hope to move aboard next year, and head South along the route you've taken North. Great job, great inspiration!

Astral Blue - Great info! Thanks for the tip. When I get around to an upgrade, I'll keep the amps to 70 or so. That's still a 27% increase x 2. Bigger is not always better.

We call the boat on the left "Floaters". Used as a week-end party barge, with occasional runs to the marinas near the downtown bars. The one on the right is a "Boater", goes out cruising, looking for the quiet anchorage while enjoying the trip. We have both on our dock, and we get along...

FlyWright - Thanks for the pic, I have the manual that came with the unit. Fryedaze - Looks like I should treat the charging system as two separate systems, the original for the starting battery, then another for the house bank. Seems simple enough.

Our MK1 with twin 4-236 Perkins has a sweet spot at 1700 rpms, giving us 7.5 knots, +/- current, wind, etc. Going faster than that raises the bow, digs a hole behind, and really starts sucking fuel. WOT only gives 8.5 kts, sluggish handling, and a fuel burn only a Saudi sheik would love. I...

Fryedaze - When you ran a new positive lead to the Isocharge, where did it come from?

I'm confused about the alternator set up my two Perkins. Original 55 amp unit. (hope to upgrade when $$$ come available) The white power wire goes from the alt to the amp meter on the main panel. Then it becomes a red wire that goes back to the solenoid on the starter. I'm thinking that...

I share your pain. Last week's 95+ was brutal on the boat. Shade is definately needed. I've seen these types of umbrellas in the big box stores. The unique thing about them is that they store vertically, then cantilever out to cover a 10 x 10 area. I'm thinking mounted next to the mast they...

Great story and pics!:thumb: Looking forward to following your progress.

Thanks for the many kind words. Now we can have fun operating her. After a few more sea trials, we'll try an overnight anchorage near by. Still have to get a battery for the generator to check it out. It ran two years ago. We discovered that the color Garmin 82 works, as does the Furuno...

Mine has a swim platform with three supports, each with four bolts going through the transom. Inside each are reinforced with a large fiberglass panel about a 1/8 inch thick. Flat washer, lock washer, and nut finish the deal. The panels are about 8 x 16 inches or so. Can't see if they are...

Capthead - We re-did the galley/dinette area, removed, repaired, and re-installed all the stanchions. Replaced some spongy balsa core on the flying bridge. Built a new battery box and continue to update the wiring. Re-sealed ports, buffed out the topsides, and continued to chase wiring. We...

I removed the original electric head and holding tank system in the stateroom, and replaced it with a Sealand RV gravity dump model. It sits directly above a 30 gallon tank, and uses a pint or so of fresh water with each use. We have used gravity systems on boats we have chartered, and like...

After almost 2 years of work, the Lady J hit the water and proceeded under her own power to her new dock. WoooHooo!!!!! :dance: Still lots of little things to do, but it's much better from the water than on the hard. As we meet our neighbors, it's great not to be referred to as "those people"...

After sitting for almost two years on the hard, I fired up the engines today!!!! Ran a garden hose to the hose coming from the raw water strainer for cooling. Switch on, low oil pressure light and buzzer comes on. Turn to start, and she goes!!!!!! Smooth idle, plenty of cooling flow out the...

Gulfstar 36 - Seems like an elegant solution. I'm guessing you only check it once a week or so, depending on usage. Does the carpenter's rule get saturated after a while, and where do you store it when not used? Any smell issues? (the First Mate has a nose like a bloodhound)

Gulfstar 36 - Can I assume you have the same integral , wine glass shaped fuel tank that I have? When you dip the tank, what fitting are you removing? I assume you have a measured stick to dip with. What do you do with it after you dip it, and where do you store it?

There is a difference between the MK1 and MK2 hulls. My galley is to port, with the dinette to starboard. This view is facing aft from the fore peak. The access shows the forward end of the fuel tank with it's unpainted sight panel. Under the stairs is the hatch for the access plate. My...

aronhk_md _ The tank conforms to the hull, and has a wine glass shape to it. Even graduations will not work. I'm guessing that the last fifty gallons will drop quickly in the sight panel (if I ever let it get that low). I'll just have to wait and see once I get it in the water and start...