Getting mentally ready!

We asked the kids (and ourselves) 3 questions to get us mentally prepared for leaving land-life and moving onto a boat. 

Here are the results!


Tai is looking forward to snorkeling, new friends and sailing. 

He would like to bring his Rabbie (stuffy), tablet and computer. 

The 3 things he will miss are his friends, Midway (indoor amusement park centre) and driving.

As for Matt, the 3 things he is looking forward to is time together, nice sailing and eating fish. 

The 3 things he would like to bring are charts (maps), a life-raft (last resort if we have to abandon ship) and diesel. 

The 3 things he will miss are playing soccer, driving cars and snowboarding.

Aila's top 3 things she's looking forward to are sailing more often, staying with my parents and seeing dolphins.

The 3 things she wants to bring on-board are her Fingerling (plastic animal toy that sits on your finger), her journal and her swimsuit.

She will miss her friends, house and school.

Myself, I am looking forward to living on the water and closer to nature; challenging myself by having to learn new things and deal with multiple issues, many of which I probably don't even know exist; exploring new places with my family and meeting new people. 

3 things I will bring are my yoga mat, dill pickle chips and earplugs. 

The 3 things I will miss are long, hot showers, my coffee machine, and personal space.

Nerves

Pic for effect. Matt peering down 2700m on top of a plateau in Qohaito, Eritrea (July 2007)

I've been feeling scared recently. The enormity of what we are about to take on is sinking in. And I'm nervous as h@%&. Financially, this doesn't really make sense. And really, what is it we're trying to achieve? And how will I not go crazy being in such close quarters with my family 24/7?!!

Can we really homeschool the kids? Like, REALLY?! They barely listen to us when we tell them to put their boots on for the tenth time in the morning!

I'm scared, anxious, unsure and totally worried we have bitten off more than we can chew.

Our Floating Home

Many of you have asked about our boat, details on the specs, and to see more pictures.

So, here you go!

We will be making adjustments, repairs and additions to the below list, but this is what she comes with.

She's an Endeavour 42, built in 1985 and lovingly maintained by several owners, most recently by a young family who embarked on their own family sailing sabbitical a few years ago to the Bahamas from Nova Scotia.

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA 42' 3' 

LWL 33' 4'

Beam 13' 0'

Draft 5' 0'

Displacement 25,000 lbs

Ballast 9,000 lbs

Mast Height 61' 1-½"

Sail Area 788 sqft 

Rigging Wire Rigging

Berths 6

Heads 2 

Headroom 6' 4"

Auxiliary 85hp Perkins 4-236, fresh water intercooled diesel

Fuel Capacity 100 gallons, 2 new tanks

Fresh Water Capacity 80 gallons

Holding Tank two 15 gallon tanks

Designer Johan Valentijn

SUMMARY

• Off white fiberglass hull, off white fiberglass non-skid decks

• Brown cove stripe, brown boot top

• Black bottom with full keel 

New bottom paint 2018 

• Skeg hung rudder

• Bow & stern pulpit, Stern swim ladder.

• Double lifelines with two gates

• Wheel Steering with Emergency tiller

• Four hatches

• Ten opening ports

• Four fixed ports

• Blue dodger new 2015

• Black Bimini top and enclosure

• Dinghy davits and tackle

• Winter cover bars

• Clock

• Barometer

• Custom Steel cradle

• search light 

• Horn 

• Radar Mast and Outboard hoist. 

MAST & RIGGING

• Aluminum mast & boom – In mast main furling (Electric)

• mast stepped on keel

• stainless steel standing rigging

• four winches

• two winch handles

• topping lift

• backstay adjuster

SAILS & CANVAS

• Mainsail w/in-mast electric roller furling

• Harken Furling system with a 135% furling Genoa

• Sails cleaned and re-stiched 2015.

• Custom Dodger built 2015, refurbished 2017

• Self tailing 2 speed Lewmar 55’s (Oversized) winches

• Full Bimini enclosure including aft deck refurbished 2017.

DECK, DOCKING, ANCHORING

• 70lb Rocna anchor w/200' chain 

• Electric windlass rebuilt 2016

• Dock lines

• fenders, covers and fender boards

• flares

• radar reflector

• life ring

• lifesling and MOB pole

• four fire extinguishers

• boat hook

• Dickinson SeaBQ, Cover 

• cockpit table

COCKPIT

• Folding cockpit table

• Closed cell foam cockpit cushions and 4 ratcheting folding seat back chairs.

• Exterior teak refinished 2016 – Cetol Marine 

• Transom mounted folding boarding ladder

• Pedestal mounted engine controls.

SALON

Interior appointments include: 

• beautifully varnished interior with teak & holly cabin sole

• curtains

• fabric upholstery

• faux leather headliner 

• Dickinson Marine Newport propane Fireplace

ACCOMODATIONS

• Sleeps six (6) ... more if we stick people on the floor and in the cockpit :)

• Large vee berth forward

• Enclosed guest head w/electric toilet, holding tank, Y-valve, sink, hot & cold pressure water, vanity, separate shower stall

• Opposite is a large hanging locker

• The main salon has port & starboard settees with custom made folding dining table, and a Dickinson Marine Newport propane Fireplace

• Aft to starboard is the navigation station

Through the galley is the:

• master suite aft with center-line queen size berth

• storage

• All hanging lockers are cedar lined

• head w/electric toilet 

• holding tank

• hot & cold pressure water, 

• Electric ice maker

• well ventilated with 12V fans in all cabins

GALLEY

• stainless steel sink

• top load icebox

• 12-volt refrigeration w/freezer

• three burner propane stove

• 80 gallon water capacity

• hot & cold pressure water new pump 2016. New Hotwater Tank 2018.

• fresh water foot pump 

• Loads of storage throughout for provisions

• Custom dish holders in cabinets

ELECTRONICS

• Compass at helm

• Standard Horizon VHF/AIS Receiver

• Standard Horizon GPS/Plotter/VHF Integrated with AIS receiver

• Raymarine Plotter/Radar 2015

• Icom SSB Radio with isolated backstay antenna 2015

• Raymarine 6000 hydraulic autopilot integrated into GPS 

ELECTRICAL

• House Battery Bank 900 Amp/hour new 2015 Rolls/Surrette Deep cycle Marine. 

• Starting batteries x2 separate system

• New Charge controller for 150AMP Alternator

• 260W Solar panel with MPPT controller (20Amp input runs the icemaker on a sunny day!)

• Hot water heater(New 2018) run 120V and Engine heat.

• Heart Freedom 1500 Watt Inverter 

• 3.5kw Phaser 3500 generator

• High capacity ~150A alternator 

• 50A battery charger

• 12/110 volt electrical panel w/circuit breakers

• polarity indicator 

• Ammeter

• Voltage Meter

• 240V/120V shore power cord 50’

• lightning ground

• cabin, navigation, spreader, anchor & docking lights

HEADS (toilets)

Forward Head: 

• enclosed guest head w/electric toilet

• holding tank

• Y-valve – with macerator pump (new 2015) for discharge

• sink

• hot & cold pressure water

• vanity

• separate shower stall

Aft Head:

• enclosed head w/electric toilet

• holding tank

• hot & cold pressure water

• vanity & separate shower stall

AUXILIARY & PROPULSION

Original owner’s manuals for engine, generator, all navigation and onboard marine systems

• 1985 Perkins 4-236 85hp inboard fresh water cooled diesel

• cruising speed is 7 knots; maximum speed is 9 knots

• 100 gallon fuel capacity with two new fuel tanks

• oil/water/temp alarm

• raw water filter

• bilge blower

• three bladed fixed propeller 

• New shaft, cutlass bearing and coupler 2016

• Transmission rebuilt 2016

MISCELLANEOUS

• Multiple Engine/Genset Spares, 

• All window dressings, custom made fitted bedding

• Any rigging spares 

• Operator Manuals 

• All interior and exterior cushions 

• All vessel specific items

New Year. New Beginnings.

Wow, can you believe it's 2019? Every New Year I marvel at another year gone by. Always, there are significant events in the year and lessons learned. But this year certainly takes the cake.

2019 is set up to be one of change, growth, challenges and (hopefully), accomplishments.

We escaped the snow and cruised the Caribbean Islands from New York City. It was the perfect holiday to get away, come together and create new memories.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year!

This. Is. Happening.

We bought a boat.

Not just a boat. THE BOAT.

The difference between our mindset now (in the PLANNING stage) and about a month ago (in the DREAMING stage), is that: This. Is. Happening.

Our cruising life is tangible. We have the boat. 

Cue crazy screams of excitement, glee and sheer terror. All against a backdrop of money being flushed down the toilet.

Yes, we are already hemorrhaging money. For winter storage, rudder repairs, sail restitching, transmission rebuild.

Gulp.

This. Is. Happening.

I still can't quite believe it at times. But then when I catch myself saying "when we go cruising..." and not "If we go cruising..." then I am reminded again that: This. Is. Happening.

The to-do lists gets longer and longer each day as we realize the multifaceted components of being able to cast off.

Listing the house to rent, but first needing to purge, pack and store an entire household of things.
Ensuring our health documents and vaccinations are up to date, stocking up on essential meds, etc.
Homeschool - 'nuff said!
Boat stuff - a growing number of items need attending to before we actually set sail. And then there's the growing number of items that will need attention once under way at some point (ie. new rigging!) and then the anticipated number of items that will need addressing (not to mention likely lots of $$) when we are under way. So hard to know how much to budget for in terms of $$ and time when these will crop up anytime. Trying to maintain a 'go with the flow' mentality. Trying, but it's not easy when I am a planner.

Well, the momentum is building.

This. Is. Happening.

One small step, but a major one

Sunset on Crotch Lake (September 2018)

After years of dreaming, reading books, magazine and other people's blogs, watching documentaries and YouTube shows, doing my CanSail 1, chartering in the 1000 Islands and Vancouver Island, voyaging on the Grayhound to the Isles of Scilly.... we have taken the plunge.

Tonight we made an offer on the Endeavor 42 in Halifax. Fingers crossed. It's anyone's guess now.

After going to the Annapolis boat show in April, things have taken on a whole new momentum. Mom passing away was the catalyst that has brought on the 'someday' to 'today'.

I miss you every day, Mom.

Matt and I have talked about this dream for so long, I can't even remember when we first brought up this idea to go cruising as a family. Over the last year or so, we have been slowly telling friends and family. In very vague terms like "oh one day", or "in 5 years" or "when we save enough money".

Truthfully, there is never a best time to go. You just have to pick a date and work towards it. I read that advice somewhere on some blog, but it is true. That day circled in the calendar will certainly provide the impetus and drive. It has in our case.

I can hardly sleep at night I am so excited and am constantly adding things to our ever-growing list of 'things to do'. I love having something to look forward to, a project, a goal, an adventure that keeps us going.

The ball is in their court now. Will the owners reject our offer? Counter-offer? Or ????

Time to get some sleep now, or at least lay in bed trying.

Off to Cuba!

Off to Cuba in 6 hours! A big family holiday with all the Grandparents and Gail :) Just need Tai to get better and recover from his stomach bag. Still, the sun and surf will hopefully help speed the recovery.

Another year!

It will be June tomorrow. 2015. We have been in Ottawa for over a year now. We have settled into our new routines and we have made some connections here. We have all grown over the year. We have all learned. And we have come closer together again.

I'm beginning to think this is it, our little family unit. We are constantly learning about each other and about ourselves. Together we are stronger. And we can achieve more.

The question still remains: are we going to go off again and challenge ourselves once more and discover new places and people? Someday yes. But soon? How soon?!