Rolling Stones and Sailors

Living on a boat has a lot of advantages - one of which is the ability to change neighborhoods with the casting off of the lines.

For the last two months I've been docked at the Fort Pierce City Marina and it's been great. The water is clear, there is always something going on here, I have a good friend in the slip next to me, and I love the Saturday morning Farmers Market. There's an old saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss..." I guess the equivalent saying for sailors should be, "A moving boat gathers no barnacles." (That's not really true but it sounds good). So, in two weeks, Annie and I will be moving again.

Sunset Bay Marina had a year long waiting list for liveaboards and because it is only five minutes from my work, (my current marina is 18.2 miles from work), I decided to put my name on the waiting list. Sunset Bay is a very nice marina on par with my current marina.  Amazingly, I was on the list for only two days when the Dockmaster called and said he had an opening. So, we set the date and as of the 25th, I will change neighborhoods. (Big plus, it's actually less expensive).

The trip is 26.5 nautical miles and will be documented via actioncam timelapse, (I hope it works this time).

Here are some shots of my new neighborhood in two weeks.

Fair seas and God bless!

Downtown Stuart

It's Getting Cold in Here!

It finally happened... I have refrigeration!

I decided to bite the bullet and go with the NORCOLD SCQT-4408 Icebox Conversion Kit. It is dual voltage 110AC/12V DC which automatically senses the power supply. It defaults to using 110 AC but automatically switches to DC if the AC cuts out or is disconnected.

The original plan was to put the compressor under the port settee right next to the icebox... but after closer examination and consultation with my buddy Jack from s/v Drifter, (thanks Jack), I decided to put it under the dual burner non-pressurized alcohol stove. This placement works best considering the copper refrigeration lines and ventilation requirements.

I'm not completely finished... I have to cut a ventilation vent, tube the ventilation supply, seal and insulate my PVC bulkhead, build a countertop for my stove that will still allow access to the compressor if needed, wire the 12V lines to the DC panel, and come up with some sort of shelving organization inside both the freezer side and refrigeration side.

At last check the evaporator was starting to ice and the freezer space was getting cold. (I do not have a thermometer to get exact readings).

Fair seas and God bless!

Getting started

The Evaporator

The compressor is intentionally angled due to the hull curvature

PVC divider

I need to go buy groceries.

39 and 23 Degrees Baby!

...and Fuji helped... (is that a yawn? Such a hard worker!)