What does a cruising boat need? I mean really NEED?
Surprisingly, not much. We've sailed off into many a sunset, leaving naysayers behind to endlessly prepare their own boats while attempting to convince others that their boats aren't ready to go either.
Mar 24, 2013
Apr 7, 2011
Moving Too Fast
Sorry about the sound of the wind. Wish I could get the sound of the waves with out the wind!
Nov 30, 2010
Spear Fishing in the Bahamas
Being from Michigan, I was raised around hunting and fishing, but I never really took to it. Fishing is too boring. You just sit around hoping the fish will start to bite.
Deer hunting is about the same, except that if you do shoot a deer, you are pretty much done hunting considering the rest of your day is going to be spent cleaning the deer and dragging it back to your camp or where ever.
Aug 1, 2010
How to turn your laptop into a Chartplotter
Chartplotters are so COOL!!
Especially the satellite radio enabled units that have weather and radar!
One of these babies will quickly make you one of the coolest people on the VHF. Call out the weather every evening, and you will be loved.
Why didn't I buy one of these?!?!
Oh yeah! because they are ... a little pricy ...
Cooking on a cruising sailboat
When it comes to cooking on a sailboat, a propane stove-top and oven is the popular way to go. It is also probably the best thing to cook with. Propane burns pretty hot.
Here are the major drawbacks:
Here are the major drawbacks:
Jul 13, 2010
Don't we all wish we had LongerDays?
Man how the time flies. It's been over a year since we stepped off our boat and walked away from our vagabond lifestyle. I can tell you that re-integrating into "normal" life is just as hard as was stepping out of it.
About 6 months after returning home I was thinking "oh no - this was a huge mistake" but I've adjusted. I started a company called LongerDays.com and it's taken a HUGE amount of effort.
About 6 months after returning home I was thinking "oh no - this was a huge mistake" but I've adjusted. I started a company called LongerDays.com and it's taken a HUGE amount of effort.
Mar 16, 2010
A website
Sailors, if you are buying online, check out this website:
We met the couple who run the site: really cool people - really good sailors.
They sparked the chain of events that led to LeeAnn and I getting married... and Ken taught me how to surf!
We met the couple who run the site: really cool people - really good sailors.
They sparked the chain of events that led to LeeAnn and I getting married... and Ken taught me how to surf!
Mar 2, 2010
The truth about living on a Sailboat
The truth about living on a Sailboat
Including our sail to Canada in 2005, LeeAnn and I have lived aboard a boat together for over two years. Not so long really. But long enough to answer some simple questions about our lifestyle that we are commonly asked:
1. It's an awfully small space... Don't the two of you get sick of each other?
Sometimes we get mad at each other. But living and traveling on the boat puts us in a constant state of challenge. It's very hard to get things done when we are mad at each other, so we are normally forced to make up quickly.
For example:
We get mad at each other and go to bed. A storm comes up in the night and the anchor starts dragging. It's very scary, loud, and annoying to have to get out of bed and go stand in a thunderstorm, wet and cold, in the middle of the night. But it has to be done, and we do it as a team. Our anger becomes secondary to our goal.
It's easy to say living under such conditions has improved our relationship greatly. It's a great pre-marriage test that I would recommend to anyone.
2. How do you take Showers?
We don’t have a shower on our boat.
Three ways to get showers at a marina:
1. Fill up your gas tank and they let you take a shower.
2. Pay for a day dock and take a shower.
3. Somehow acquire the bathroom key code and sneak a shower after the marina staff leave for the night.
Three ways to get showers at a marina:
1. Fill up your gas tank and they let you take a shower.
2. Pay to take a shower.
3. somehow you acquire the combination and you sneak a shower.
Other ways to shower:
1. If the water is clean (like the Northern Great Lakes) you can take showers in the lake
2. If you are somewhere private you can take a shower on deck with a solar shower.
3. The worst option is to take a sponge bath inside the boat. Wash hair in the sink.
3. How do you cook?
We have a toaster oven that runs on electricity, and we have an Origo two burner stove top that burns denatured alcohol. We love to eat, and cook very good food.
Most people have a propane oven. These are very expensive, and you have to find a place to put the propane. Not to mention you have to eventually find a place to fill the propane.
We chose the electric oven because we charge our batteries with a generator. So our evening routine is to run the generator for about 2 -3 hours during which time we cook dinner, charge the batteries, and watch a movie.
This setup works great. although if we could have afforded it we would have probably gone with solar panels, wind generator, and a propane oven.
4. Do you get seasick?
LeeAnn does not get seasick. I do. I find that having a full stomach helps. I eat a lot of saltine crackers, pretzels, tortilla chips. Etc. High carb things seem to help.
I also am starting to think that my queasiness is stress related. I don’t see myself as a “worrier” so, when I am worried I don’t admit it. The worries build up, and I start to get queasy. It helps to sit down and take a deep breath.
5. Are you rich?
As in money? Unfortunately no.
6. How can you afford to do this?
We get this question a lot. Budget, budget, budget is our mantra.
We bought a cheap boat and fixed it up, opposed to buying a new one.
We NEVER take docks. There is ALWAYS somewhere you can anchor for free.
When traveling we never eat out. And generally we don't drink either.
Also keep in mind, we have no car or house payments, or any of the standard bills, such as: cable, internet, or anything like that.
7. So how much does "it" cost?
In 2005 we didn't think about "budgeting" at all and we spent $3,000 in three months… We spent the most in the first few weeks on nice docks and going out to eat.. Then scrapped by for the rest of the summer on hardly anything. We sailed from Canada to home on 500 dollars...
In 2007/08 our budget was $120 a week. $60 on food, $60 on Gas.
Some weeks we went way over, and some were way under. Generally it evens out.
For 2009 we plan on spending $140 a week. $70 on food. $100 on gas. Damn inflation.
None of these figures reflect repairs to the boat.
When all is said and done, we will spend $1,000 a month total. Something always breaks on the boat. Or we spend a few extra days in an expensive area (like New York) where we splurge.
8. Whatdo you do on the boat?
We have a flatscreen and a DVD player to watch movies. We both like to read, and we have three shelves and a drawer full of books. We enjoy cooking very much. Lunch and dinner are highlights of the day. we sight-see. Watch sunsets and sunrises. Fix the boat, and worry about the engine. Relax, pay guitar, listen to music. Sleep.
9. How do you do laundry / get groceries?
We use cruising guides ("Skipper Bob" is a great, inexpensive resource) to find out which anchorages have grocery stores or laundromats within walking distance. Generally we keep our walks under 1 mile.
10. How far from land do you normally go?Generally not very far.
We are "coastal cruisers." However I have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean
Our goal for 07/08 was to see the east coast. We would never see it if we were sailing off out of site of land.
We made many multi-day passages in 2009
12. Why doesn't LeeAnn ever give write in the blog?
She has tried it a few times. But doesn't enjoy it.
Other Posts about living on a sailboat that you might be interested in:
Sailing Books - A ciriculum to sail away
What is the food like?
How To Go Cruising Now (a step by step guide)
How To Make Money While Cruising
Creating content takes time. Time is money. If you enjoy this blog, please support it! Become a Patron!
Including our sail to Canada in 2005, LeeAnn and I have lived aboard a boat together for over two years. Not so long really. But long enough to answer some simple questions about our lifestyle that we are commonly asked:
1. It's an awfully small space... Don't the two of you get sick of each other?
Sometimes we get mad at each other. But living and traveling on the boat puts us in a constant state of challenge. It's very hard to get things done when we are mad at each other, so we are normally forced to make up quickly.
For example:
We get mad at each other and go to bed. A storm comes up in the night and the anchor starts dragging. It's very scary, loud, and annoying to have to get out of bed and go stand in a thunderstorm, wet and cold, in the middle of the night. But it has to be done, and we do it as a team. Our anger becomes secondary to our goal.
It's easy to say living under such conditions has improved our relationship greatly. It's a great pre-marriage test that I would recommend to anyone.
2. How do you take Showers?We don’t have a shower on our boat.
Three ways to get showers at a marina:
1. Fill up your gas tank and they let you take a shower.
2. Pay for a day dock and take a shower.
3. Somehow acquire the bathroom key code and sneak a shower after the marina staff leave for the night.
Three ways to get showers at a marina:
1. Fill up your gas tank and they let you take a shower.
2. Pay to take a shower.
3. somehow you acquire the combination and you sneak a shower.
Other ways to shower:
1. If the water is clean (like the Northern Great Lakes) you can take showers in the lake
2. If you are somewhere private you can take a shower on deck with a solar shower.
3. The worst option is to take a sponge bath inside the boat. Wash hair in the sink.
3. How do you cook?
We have a toaster oven that runs on electricity, and we have an Origo two burner stove top that burns denatured alcohol. We love to eat, and cook very good food.
Most people have a propane oven. These are very expensive, and you have to find a place to put the propane. Not to mention you have to eventually find a place to fill the propane.
We chose the electric oven because we charge our batteries with a generator. So our evening routine is to run the generator for about 2 -3 hours during which time we cook dinner, charge the batteries, and watch a movie.
This setup works great. although if we could have afforded it we would have probably gone with solar panels, wind generator, and a propane oven.
4. Do you get seasick?
LeeAnn does not get seasick. I do. I find that having a full stomach helps. I eat a lot of saltine crackers, pretzels, tortilla chips. Etc. High carb things seem to help.
I also am starting to think that my queasiness is stress related. I don’t see myself as a “worrier” so, when I am worried I don’t admit it. The worries build up, and I start to get queasy. It helps to sit down and take a deep breath.
5. Are you rich?
As in money? Unfortunately no.
6. How can you afford to do this?
We get this question a lot. Budget, budget, budget is our mantra.
We bought a cheap boat and fixed it up, opposed to buying a new one.
We NEVER take docks. There is ALWAYS somewhere you can anchor for free.
When traveling we never eat out. And generally we don't drink either.
Also keep in mind, we have no car or house payments, or any of the standard bills, such as: cable, internet, or anything like that.
7. So how much does "it" cost?
In 2005 we didn't think about "budgeting" at all and we spent $3,000 in three months… We spent the most in the first few weeks on nice docks and going out to eat.. Then scrapped by for the rest of the summer on hardly anything. We sailed from Canada to home on 500 dollars...In 2007/08 our budget was $120 a week. $60 on food, $60 on Gas.
Some weeks we went way over, and some were way under. Generally it evens out.
For 2009 we plan on spending $140 a week. $70 on food. $100 on gas. Damn inflation.
None of these figures reflect repairs to the boat.
When all is said and done, we will spend $1,000 a month total. Something always breaks on the boat. Or we spend a few extra days in an expensive area (like New York) where we splurge.
We have a flatscreen and a DVD player to watch movies. We both like to read, and we have three shelves and a drawer full of books. We enjoy cooking very much. Lunch and dinner are highlights of the day. we sight-see. Watch sunsets and sunrises. Fix the boat, and worry about the engine. Relax, pay guitar, listen to music. Sleep.
9. How do you do laundry / get groceries?
We use cruising guides ("Skipper Bob" is a great, inexpensive resource) to find out which anchorages have grocery stores or laundromats within walking distance. Generally we keep our walks under 1 mile.
10. How far from land do you normally go?Generally not very far.
We are "coastal cruisers." However I have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean
Our goal for 07/08 was to see the east coast. We would never see it if we were sailing off out of site of land.
We made many multi-day passages in 2009
12. Why doesn't LeeAnn ever give write in the blog?
She has tried it a few times. But doesn't enjoy it.
Other Posts about living on a sailboat that you might be interested in:
Sailing Books - A ciriculum to sail away
What is the food like?
How To Go Cruising Now (a step by step guide)
How To Make Money While Cruising
Creating content takes time. Time is money. If you enjoy this blog, please support it! Become a Patron!
Feb 28, 2010
Boat Food!
As a cruising sailor... your eating habits change a little...
Some people are lucky, and have huge freezers to stock up with tasty treats, like ground beef... and steak... Yummm!!
If you aren't one of the lucky ones... don't fret! You have lots of options:
Chicken Ramen Noodles,
Beef Ramen Noodles,
Shimp Ramen Noodles,
Oriental Ramen Noodles,
Chocolate covered Ramen Noodles!
Just kidding, there are more things to eat than that… There is also Spam!
Seriously. Fried spam is delicious. It's like … bacon, but more mysterious!
We’ve tried different kinds of powdered milk, and some boxed milk that will last for months with out refrigeration. LeeAnn said it was better than powered milk by far. But by the time she had tried it, she had already gotten used to not having milk and decided to use the extra money for the occasional treat of ice cream!
You can do a lot with canned chicken. For example, chicken Alfredo is good. Just use a McCormick package for the sauce, canned chicken, maybe some canned mushrooms, and a fair amount of garlic salt. This is a great meal to make in a big batch when there is bad weather. The rain adds to the flavor :)
Another canned chicken dish: Put the chicken in a bowl, adding a little mayo and some curry powder. Toss it on a tortilla shell and you are done! MMMM mmm!
A tip for condiments if you don’t have a lot of fridge space. Go to SAM'S Club, and pick up a box of each condiment in the little restaurant package style. Like the kind of ketchup you would get from the drive through at McDonalds. If you have a big boat with plenty of fridge space, this wont matter to you.
Here is my big finale for this post, my FAVORITE boat recipe... one I couldn't live with out.... PIZZA!!
What you will need:
Tortilla shells.
Pizza sauce
Mozzarella Cheese (buy it in blocks, it will last longer.)
Pepperoni
So, make a pizza on the tortilla shell, then put a little bit of oil in a pan, and toss the Tortilla shell pizza in the pan. Spin it around a few times so the oil coats the whole bottom.
Some people are lucky, and have huge freezers to stock up with tasty treats, like ground beef... and steak... Yummm!!
If you aren't one of the lucky ones... don't fret! You have lots of options:
Chicken Ramen Noodles,
Beef Ramen Noodles,
Shimp Ramen Noodles,
Oriental Ramen Noodles,
Chocolate covered Ramen Noodles!
Just kidding, there are more things to eat than that… There is also Spam!
Seriously. Fried spam is delicious. It's like … bacon, but more mysterious!
We’ve tried different kinds of powdered milk, and some boxed milk that will last for months with out refrigeration. LeeAnn said it was better than powered milk by far. But by the time she had tried it, she had already gotten used to not having milk and decided to use the extra money for the occasional treat of ice cream!
You can do a lot with canned chicken. For example, chicken Alfredo is good. Just use a McCormick package for the sauce, canned chicken, maybe some canned mushrooms, and a fair amount of garlic salt. This is a great meal to make in a big batch when there is bad weather. The rain adds to the flavor :)
Another canned chicken dish: Put the chicken in a bowl, adding a little mayo and some curry powder. Toss it on a tortilla shell and you are done! MMMM mmm!
A tip for condiments if you don’t have a lot of fridge space. Go to SAM'S Club, and pick up a box of each condiment in the little restaurant package style. Like the kind of ketchup you would get from the drive through at McDonalds. If you have a big boat with plenty of fridge space, this wont matter to you.
Here is my big finale for this post, my FAVORITE boat recipe... one I couldn't live with out.... PIZZA!!
What you will need:
Tortilla shells.
Pizza sauce
Mozzarella Cheese (buy it in blocks, it will last longer.)
Pepperoni
So, make a pizza on the tortilla shell, then put a little bit of oil in a pan, and toss the Tortilla shell pizza in the pan. Spin it around a few times so the oil coats the whole bottom.
So, make a pizza!
then put a little bit of oil in a pan, and toss the Tortilla shell pizza in the pan. Spin it around a few times so the oil coats the whole bottom.
Put a lid on a frying pan, and when the cheese melts... it's ready!
Put a lid on a frying pan, and when the cheese melts... it's ready!
Fried Pizza = delicious
Feb 24, 2010
Winter Time
This time last year we were in a very different climate!
Here are some pictures of our house, and the snow fall we got last night. No schools are closed or anything. Just another day in Michigan!
Outside of the place where I work:
Here are some pictures of our house, and the snow fall we got last night. No schools are closed or anything. Just another day in Michigan!
Our house! The smallest one on the block!
I really like the area where we live. Lakeshore Drive is a very "small town" where as the rest of Muskegon is pretty much chain store "anywhere America". We have the park behind us and the creek, and Lake Michigan is just around the corner. It will be very easy to run out for a quick surf on the lake this summer. When we get our next boat, we have a large marina right up the road!
Outside of the place where I work:
LeeAnn shoveling snow while I play with the camera... Heh heh heh.
Michigan's finest. Keeping those roads safe!
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