Electrical update

Another fix has been completed since the last posting. The shore power electrical panel has been replaced and upgraded to a marine safe panel from a Menard's special. It also was relocated for easy access. The next step is the Raycor fuel filter replacement. This cuts the list to more than half done. The blocks that the engine sit on will likely be replaced this coming month as they are at least 30+ years old.
Spring can't come soon enough for us. Cabin fever, so to speak, has set in with a vengeance as we have less to fix and the daylight is starting to get longer. As photos become available, we will post them for all to see.

Spring is coming!

Winter Blues

As of this posting, Soteria has been winterized and put away for the winter. Upgrades will continue as the weather allows. It's sad that we'll never sail on the Mississippi River in our old boat again, but the anticipation of starting a new sailing experience is starting to get a hold of us. Boxes of "stuff" are piling up as we started packing up the house. Boxes that go and those that stay. The go pile is taking up most of the living room! Hopefully, the kids will take some of it and the rest goes to The Salvation Army. It never ceases to be amazing what you can collect over the years.
More later as we progress towards retirement.

Upgrades galore!

Getting prepared for next year involves upgrades to Soteria. Resetting portlights and hatches were small time, but the bigger problem of moisture in the cockpit area has been addressed to no small expense, but worth it. Next will be the engine mounts, cutlass bearing, new fuel filter, tachometer, replacing the shaft seal and new prop. The saying "A boat is a hole in the water you pour water into", is sooo true.
It may seem that we are are spending way too much on this stuff, but this is going to be our home for at least the next two years. So it's sort of like investing in your home.
Sorting through all the stuff from our old boat has been enlightening as well. It is amazing just how much stuff you can fit in a 26' sailboat! I only hope we don't cram in too much on this one!
More to come as the time comes closer to moving on board.

The beginning...

As of June 2009, an Endeavour 32 sailboat named Rajah, became our future cruising home. The almost uncanny events of how she became Soteria are as unique as her new name. When we left Iowa to check out yacht brokers along the East coast of North Carolina and south, little did we realize that our "dream boat" was waiting in Washington, NC. We had checked the web the day before we left and really didn't see anything in our price range or wish list, but we still went expecting a relaxing vacation.

We stopped by McCotters Marina, (our chosen future home port and frequent stop for the past 4 years), and started looking around. Henry Mallard just happened to have a new listing of an Endeavour 32 (first coincidence). It hadn't even been fully updated on their site yet. The price was right and she was basically all we were wanting, but wanted to be sure. So enter the surveyor. 7 hours, 1 great sail on the Pamlico River and $620.00 later(second coincidence), we were fairly sure she was "it". After checking the survey report, we made an offer. Now, the original price was $19,900.00(and the third coincidence). The offer was $1,225.00 less due to a few things that needed fixing. The owners accepted and $$ changed hands and she was ours!

Now to explain the coincidences:
1. McCotters is to be our home port. Rajah's owners lived across the inlet and McCotters were their work marina.
2.The surveyor's fee of $620.00 was exactly one of my paychecks, to the penny.
and finally
3. The list price of Rajah was $19,900.00 the exact Bible chapter and verse (Luke 19:9), where we found her new name two years before. (You'll have to wait for a later post to find out what it means!)

We never stood a chance! Most would say "just coincidences", but we both agree that God has had His hands on this since the beginning. We firmly believe that this is His plan for us both, and that He will continue to guide us as we go on.

So, now the real work begins. The items that needed fixing are being worked on in Washington, NC. We have renamed her Soteria with the christening to occur next spring right before Elden retires and I pre-retire in late June 2010.

Photos and a more detailed description will follow in the months to come as we prepare to become full-time liveaboards!