ETC took the family for a little sail a few weekends ago. We set out sailing South from Shilshole marina, towards downtown Seattle in Elliot Bay. It was an almost normal sail until our poor little dinghy Kya came undone from the mothership. Luckily we noticed she had gone missing - the bad part was we had to wait out some giant cargo ship wake before we could turn around and grab her. We did get her back on the first pass and completely under sail...not bad!
   ~Paul, Amber, Kali (the cat hiding down below)

It's about time we talk about poo. We took a little weekend trip to the Edmonds Marina in Edmonds, Washington. Normally, back at our home marina, we pay to have a company come by weekly to pump out our holding tank.  For anyone new to boat living, here's how it goes with our system (there are others out there) - we stick to number 1s in our onboard Jabsco toilet. When you flush (manually) you pump a little sea water in from outside, it fills the bowl, then goes from the head back to the holding tank. On the outside back of our boat is a little cap, access to the same tank, you unscrew it, and pump away! 

P.S. Our holding tank is about 24 gallons, it lasts a week at the marina with the both of us using it (but we are at work all day 5 of the days). Pumping out at the marina docks is free (here anyway).
  -Paul, Amber, Ann, Jon  ETC

  Well, it just took a little look, some oil, a little grease here and there, and pow! Kya the dinghy's outboard motor is in great shape...who knew?!?! Expect us to be zinging around the marina ASAP!
   ~Paul, Jon   ETC