I don't know who said that catchy phrase, well, actually, I think it is just me saying it. Our Kingsley boat project of last week was heading over to my friends shop and working on new galley sink/trash covers (inside) and some new cockpit tables (outside). The orginals were made from plastic...not even a workable plastic - some composite that is equally hard to clean/paint (a.k.a. it is probably cheap).
   We upgraded the galley covers to bamboo and the cockpit tables (not finished yet) to roasted oak - a wood that has been literally roasted, removing water and sugars making it good for outdoor use (and cheaper than teak). I haven't installed the cockpit tables yet but I am pretty happy with our [almost] finished project.
   Do you have any recent add-wood-to-your-fiberglass boat projects? Did you use teak or something different? What do you use to maintain your indoor wood shine?
   ~Paul   ETC

   Welcome to our new Aboard series! Over the next few months we'll be adding posts to this portion of our site, describing how we do things aboard S/V Kingsley, our sailboat-home here in the Pacific Northwest. We're excited to share some ideas and ways of doing things with our readers and hopefully receive a good deal of feedback and ideas in our comment sections on each post (because we're kinda new at this and you people are smart!).             
   We start today with something we couldn't leave behind when we sold [almost] everything and moved aboard our 32 ft boat - coffee. We are in Seattle after all! 
   Be sure to check back in on our Aboard series as we'll share posts on lots of aboard topics including: cooking, cleaning, entertainment, heating, cats, kayaks, marriage:), the head, storage, books, music, apps, candles, and more!   ~Paul, Amber, & Kali

 

We like to think we have mastered the art of a good cup of Joe on land or sea. On Kingsley, we often use the ol' stand-by - not a plastic, old, plug-in coffee pot mind you (this is Seattle don't forget!) - the french press. We heat up just enough water in the teapot on our Force 10 propane stove, add some ground coffee beans to the press (ground at the store or by our hand-powered grinder), add the water when it is warm enough, wait 3 1/2 to 4 minutes (using a timer), then press...pow!

   In our last post we showed a few of our highlights from the inside portion of the 2012 Seattle boat show, now we move on to the outside 'boats afloat' Lake Union showcase. Even I get a little bored going in and out of boats so we just focused on a few of our dreamboats (keyword - dreamboats -  as they are either too big and/or all too costly:) We also noticed something this time around - we like newer boats. Not just any new boats but ones that are new(er) and well built for their purpose, whatever purpose that may be - ocean going, charter, weekend cruiser, party-boat. 
   And you know what? I can appreciate a cheaper boat that gets people out on the water that otherwise wouldn't make it (like, cough-Kingsley-cough). You may have to add a few things - switch to a higher grade stainless on those hose clamps for instance - but I've always thought it is better to be out on the water (and safe) than on dry land saving your pennies for the perfect boat (P.S. start saving your pennies for these next boats:)   ~Paul & Amber

Island Packet 
Estero Not too flashy but a solid ocean-going production boat.

Coast Guard Dude, the coast guard is cool...their boats are almost cooler.

Catana 50 Hey, I thought part of sailing was heeling over and making people scream...plus, uh, they forgot to mention the double slip fees to park this thing.

Waterline 57 The boats on this list are getting dreamier

Tayana 48 Our favorite boat this time around...who needs pics of the outside when the inside looks like this?

   Captain wifey and I just got back from an exciting couple of days at the 2012 Seattle Boat Show. This post shows a peek at the indoor portion of this year's show, our next post will be the outside portion (afloat on Lake Union). I admit, the experience was a little less this year as I didn't compete in the 'wakeboard challenge' - they didn't even have it this year. 
   Not familiar with the wakeboard challenge? It was my chance to stand on a wakeboard in the middle of the show with 9 other souls in an attempt to win an $18,000 boat. 3 hours on, 1/2 hour off...last person standing after 72 hours wins. Over night? Oh ya. The ol' Wednesday night to Saturday night watch. 
   Well, I made it all the way to the end, post 50 hour hallucinations and all. The only problem was 4 other contestants made it to the end too. So they pulled a name out of a hat. It was mine. Luckily for the other contestants they were drawing pageant-style so I got a free wakeboard and a t-shirt. I remember it being so cold as I left that Saturday night after breathing event center air for 3 days. Good times.

Fisheries. I mean, we practically live there throughout the year. Seeing them at the show is like seeing a family member - someone friendly and familiar ("do you have an account?"). We finally bought a smartplug from them at a pretty good price. Installation coming soon.

HMC - Handcraft Mattress Company. Mmmm. Soft bed that theoretically stays dry. Note to self: probably can't afford.

Free boating seminars. We went to seminars on anchoring in NW waters, cruising small, sail repair, and even caught a little on boat blogging (Three Sheets represent!). I got real fancy and paid for a little extended 'boat show university' diesel engine workshop with Nigel Calder (he's like totally famous in certain marine diesel engine circles).

I don't know anything about this stove except I like the cutting board on top and the name makes it feel warmer outside.

 


Weta. Wouldn't want to store it or put it together but I bet she is a great sail.

Darn it. Forgot to buy one of these for Kali cat.

Great anchor display selling Ultra anchors - it really let you see how all of the different anchors work. Went nicely with our anchoring in NW waters seminar.

It's hard to describe an orca-ish type power boat...half underwater, pops out of the water..etc (etc equaling other odd abilities).

   OK, I couldn't help myself...a few pictures from last year's boat show - the wakeboard challenge!  ~Paul & Amber   ETC

When we bought our boat in early summer they didn't mention this.
      ~Paul, Amber, Kali   ETC

   A look down at our 'house' from the park on Sunset Hill.  ~Paul   ETC

   Winter is here and we're nice and toasty aboard Kingsley with the indoor oil (plug-in) heater running, the indoor propane stove helping us cook tasty dinners, and the water heater/pressure kicking up the occasional warm shower...meanwhile, condensation is occurring.
   From doing our regular blog and magazine reading, even before buying a boat, we knew the threat is always there. Warm without too much airflow inside and cold outside is the perfect recipe for a rising humidity level. That combined with Kingsley's (we still love ya girl!) lack of insulation and two humans breathing all the time (and who knows what kind of moisture Kali gives off) and well, you get the picture - drops of water show up in a few spots.
   So, new additions this week: a few moisture trapping contraptions (top pic) for the aft lazarettes, a fan for the V-berth up front, and a cool little battery operated indoor/outdoor thermostat with a indoor humidity level reading. We had already added some wood slats for under our mattresses so the bed is dry. All of the above help, but as you can see in the thermostat photo, the stated outdoor temperature isn't that reliable - it pretty much just heats up into the 70s when the sun shines on it. Still, nothing helps more than opening a forward and aft hatch and letting some air flow. Word on the blog-street is that if we keep the humidity below 50 degrees we're OK and won't have to fight off any...gulp...mold.

   ~Paul, Amber, Kali   

We took a quick winter stroll today around Shilshole and Golden Gardens - the views were amazing! We had been hiding in the boat all day weathering the mini Christmas day windstorm. I had to cancel a little Northward paddling trip due to the wind & waves. It was nice to get out and walk around at least!
   ~Paul & Amber   ETC

   A few months ago I had a little digital camera snafu, I thought I had deleted some of my haul-out pictures...but...it turns out, I didn't! If you didn't see the original haul out post, click here.
   ~Paul   ETC

   This mini boat project doesn't come close to our previous adventures in the bilge, however, I like to post even the little stuff (it will hopefully help motivate me to finish what I started here:).
   When we purchased Kingsley we had never used a push button autopilot like the Raymarine setup we have now. I had always sailed with a tiller - the only autopilot used was one that plugs in and hooks onto the tiller - I was always scared of it (for no reason really) and didn't use it.
   Fast-forward to now - we like our autopilot. Motoring 5 hours back from Port Ludlow on the man-cruise this summer got a little boring (as steering goes anyway, being out on the water was/is always better than being on land!). Having to hold onto the wheel that whole time would have gotten a touch old too. So, new autopilot good, but... 
   Inside Kingsley, with a long cord coming out of the wall, was a remote for the autopilot. It had an extra long cord (for moving around the boat and using it), all stuck on the wall in the salon. I have always been a if-you're-not-going-to-use-it-than-loose-it type guy, especially since we live in such a confined space now, so I left the autopilot remote there for awhile, then finally decided to take it off (and save it in case we want to use it later). The only reasons it seems one would use it would be if you were single-handing the boat in shallow water and needed to control direction while looking down from the bow, or possibly for solo anchoring, although, it doesn't control speed, only direction...hmmm. Another reason I wanted it off for now is that I have a hunch that it is wired directly to our house batteries (which is a no-no)...I'm still chasing a few wires that are attached to the batteries directly (from the previous owner? Hopefully not from Hunter). Here's where the wires from the wall were connected to the remote.

   Boom, done. OK, well, almost done. I took care of the remote and stuff but still have this wire to follow - I think I'll power down Kingsley when I do, just in case...bzzzt.
   ~Paul   ETC