First Foray

With beautiful weather and calm seas, we decided to spend our weekend reaping the delights of all our hard work. I feel as if the weather gods are smiling upon us and rewarding us for all of our hard work by granting us a "summer weekend" in October.  We started our weekend by zipping (haha!! in the trawler) over to Hughlett Point on Friday after work for a quiet leisurely evening enjoying the warmth and the gorgeous sunset while sipping wine.

Saturday was another beautiful day. We rendezvoused with some friends and made our way to the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Festival by boat. My first ever seafood festival and overnight on the boat anchored out! Our friends have a Chris Craft.

We tethered our two boats together since we were both overnighting.

The morning dawned crisp and clear. Cool, but not cold. We used a denatured alcohol burner to make coffee (my wonderful husband did that).

It was a bit chilly in the morning, so we used a portable heater. Which does an amazing job--a must have for our overnights in the cooler weather for me. Our friends were more prepared than I as they had made ham biscuits for the morning. I had not really given a thought to breakfast on board. So I will be prepared next time!

Our anchor windlass has not been re-installed, but luckily I have Shawn! We weighed anchor and spontaneously decided to spend the day cruising the area rather than going home.

I got to pilot the boat!

And enjoy the cruise!

I think we need some type of remote control so Shawn and I can sit together and enjoy the cruise.

A wonderful weekend and a phenomenal first overnight on the boat for me! I cannot wait for more!

Splash Down!!

IT'S OVER!!! DONE!!! The YellowBird, not our marriage!! (Although there were times...). 

This past week after work, we went to the boatyard to complete the last minute "knick-knack" stuff. I completed the boot stripe by the swim platform (we changed our minds and decided we wanted it there). Shawn made sure the electronics on the flybridge and main cabin communicate. He also installed a new (to us) radio on the flybridge. 

Bigger stuff that Shawn did in the late afternoons and evenings: he installed a new floor under the cockpit AND put the water tank in for me! While I said I would deal with no water for a bit he knew I would feel better with the tanks installed and filled. I have the BEST husband!

Sadly, I was at work for the actual splash down but Shawn sent me pictures to keep me updated.

In all seriousness, we are VERY fortunate that we both LIKE projects and we LOVE spending time together. And now we can begin our cruising (and continue to work on the YB while ENJOYING her)!

Love my captain!

Close...so very close....

A very productive weekend. We are so very close to launch!

Shawn worked Friday evening on the boat alone.

He got the railings and the windshield up but not permanently fastened.






Saturday, we worked at fastening the flybridge and the railings. This actually involves several steps. Some of the flybridge we thru-bolted. The "thru-bolt" process requires two people: one below and one above (I always opt for above because I find it "easier". "Easier" meaning it fits my skill set better!)

So Shawn drills from below and we dry-fit the bolt. Then...I have to use an adhesive sealant in a caulk gun (I call it "5200" as we work because that is the first sealant we used but in this case is actually 4000 and is some type of quick dry adhesive/caulk/sealant) and fill the hole, then coat the threads, then shove it into the hole, all the while trying to stop the sealant from oozing out of the tip of the container (which is placed into a caulk gun)...I need to be an octopus...but it sure beats having to tighten the bolt from the underside! So we repeat this process for every screw.

It seems like such a "little" thing, but it is time-consuming. We had to stop mid-afternoon to go to Shawn's FORTY year high school reunion! Fun time!

Sunday morning, we headed over to the boatyard to finish the screws/bolts. We completed the flybridge and ALL the railings.

We attached the bimini (which was harder than I thought...it is awkward to maneuver).

Then Shawn tackled all the flybridge electrical reconnections while I scrubbed the drip railing and painted the bottom (again!) with a "Carolina coat".

Lastly, we reattached the helm chair so that my Captain Shawn has his seat!

Shawn started the engine and she started right up! (We ran a hose to use water to cool the engine as she ran). She is as ready to go as we are!
And I took a moment to sit on the flybridge deck and imagine that we are cruising...

So at the end of the weekend...our YellowBird looks great and she says she is ready to go!!! Just a few little odds and ends and we can launch!