(Return to The Sailing Adventures of La Boatique)
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go from New Zealand? That question has been worrisome for both of us. Pete's dream was to sail to Tahiti. We did more than the dream by going all the way to New Zealand. We have traveled nearly half way around the world on La Boatique. We had high adventure on the high seas and in exotic lands. From our research the second half of a world cruise would involve more danger, many long passages, unfriendly destinations, and tougher ocean conditions. Our desire to continue all the way around is not as strong as our concerns for our comfort and safety.
During our time back in the United States we were able to appreciate so much more what we have in this country. Our mouths gaped in awe when we walked into our local Sears store and saw the abundance of appliances, hardware, and tools. We enjoyed the taste of real peanut butter once again. People in Ohio speak American English so we did not have to strain with a language barrier. I hate to admit it, but I enjoyed watching television once again. When we left the U.S. we were foreigners in a foreign land. We were given a time limit in each country and then we had to move on. Our home was La Boatique, but our neighborhood was always changing. We found during our travels that people in the United States and in Ohio especially have a strong work ethic. We rarely saw much of a work ethic outside the U.S. Sure, the lifestyles of the people at our destinations were laid back and less hectic, but just try to get anything accomplished timely and accurately. Even when the people tried to work hard, the tools and supplies were often not available.
We were often told how lucky we were to be U.S. citizens. But we had to leave the U.S. for an extended period to see for ourselves how truly lucky we are. It is as if we went "over the rainbow" and then realized "there is no place like home".
While Pete and I were together in Ohio we met the yacht, Haven. La Boatique is a superb cruising boat, but Haven seemed to open up a somewhat different cruising style that we now long for. The story of Haven will be in the months to come.
The decision to purchase Haven has helped us with our decision to sell La Boatique. In December La Boatique will be loaded on a ship that has been specifically designed to haul yachts across oceans. This ship, owned by a company called Dockwise Yacht Transport, will carry La Boatique from New Zealand to Tahiti on through the Panama Canal and end up in Florida in late January.
In May Pete returned to New Zealand to finish up loose ends and get La Boatique ready for the trip to Florida. I stayed in Ohio so that I could complete a book about our sailing adventures on La Boatique. Our adventures on Haven are about to begin.
Welcome aboard Haven
Haven is a 34 foot Marine Trader Trawler. June 18, 2002, was our First Day with Haven.
We found Haven in Cleveland, Ohio. Our decision to purchase Haven was a quick and fast decision. We miss the golden dragons of La Boatique. But now we have a golden eagle on the bridge of Haven. Both Haven and La Boatique were built in the same boat yard in Taipei, Taiwan. Their characteristics are similar.
Haven was brought out of the shed after nearly a year of hibernation. Haven had green shades on all the windows. She looked as if she was not used to the sunshine.
Starting at the Bottom
Our first experience with Haven started at the bottom. The bottom job was dirty and smelly. The days were hot. The work was fatiguing. The hours were long.
Pete removed the old bottom paint on our first day with Haven. Pete should have used a respirator instead of a paper mask. It is not good to breath the paint dust. Pete's shoulders were covered in a fine gray paint dust from the VC17 bottom paint that he removed. Pete used a power sander with 40 grit sanding disk. After the paint was removed we inspected the hull and found it to be in great shape.
We used blue tape between the bottom and the green stripe on the side of the boat. We washed the boat with solvent in very small sections and immediately wiped each section with a clean white towel. We put a gray colored (Interlux 2000E/2001E) epoxy water barrier on the hull to prevent osmosis. Then we added three coats of antifouling paint. The first coat was blue and the next two coats were green. That way when the blue shows through the green we will know that it is time to start thinking about redoing the bottom paint again. Next, we moved the jack stands and completed the whole procedure again where the jack stands held up the boat. Finally, we removed the tape.
After the job, Haven's bottom looked about the same as before we started. But looks can be deceiving. Haven's bottom went from being OK for a few months of being immersed in fresh water to being able to withstand a year or two of continuous immersion in fresh or salt water.
Our decision to purchase Haven was a quick and fast decision. We miss the golden dragons of La Boatique. But now we have a golden eagle on the bridge of Haven. Both Haven and La Boatique were built in the same boat yard in Taipei, Taiwan. Their characteristics are similar.
The Fireworks
We had our first 4th of July in the U.S. in 4 years. We went out in Lake Erie on our trawler, Haven, to watch the fireworks display at Cedar Point. Along with us were my mom, dad, sister, and another couple. Cedar Point is the greatest amusement park in the world as far as Ohioans are concerned. We rode over a small chop for 2 hours to get to the sandy beach by Cedar Point. Anchored offshore were over 200 boats. We watched the people ride the rolly coasters and heard their screams. At about the time the fireworks started, a big wind came up. The wind blew the hot ashes over the watching crowd ashore. Soon after the fireworks started, they were stopped. We did not see much of a display. Then, with the big wind, the seas began to build, and we still had a 2 hour ride home ahead of us. The night sky was dark because there was no moon. All along the shoreline fireworks displays continued. We were entertained on our 2 hour drive back to Vermilion by boats in distress calling the coast guard. One boat drove up on the sandy Cedar Point beach by mistake. The people reported that they were on the beach trying to push the boat back into the water. The coast guard told them to get back in the boat and put on their life jackets. We had a good laugh.
We were a little challenged trying to find the opening into the Vermilion River (where we keep Haven). The background lights along with occasional fireworks confused us. The entrance to the Vermilion River is protected by a breakwall. Entrance to the river cannot be made directly from the lake since boats must go around either side of the wall before turning into the river channel.
Checked your insurance lately?
Wednesday, July 17th, started out as a hot quiet midweek morning. Vermilion Powerboat Yacht Club looked nearly deserted. The air was as still as the empty boats tied to their docks. The 90 degree forecast was keeping people in cool air conditioned locations rather than enjoying the sunshine on their boats.
Pete and I were on Haven trying to get boat jobs done while staying cool. The air conditioner running nonstop in our cabin certainly helped. Pete was designing and constructing a shower sump so shower water would not go into the bilge but instead be drained overboard through a through hull. I was cleaning our leather seats on the bridge.
I noticed a fuel tanker arrive and then depart. Soon after the fuel truck departed I commented to Pete that I smelled gasoline fumes. We both assumed that the smell was from the tanker truck dropping fuel. But the fumes continued long after the tanker truck departed.
About the time the tanker truck left, a 35 foot power boat with a flying bridge arrived to take on fuel. The powerboat was soon to have some big problems caused by a hose clamp malfunction. The filter hose between the deck fill and the tank became disconnected from the fuel tank. Gasoline poured into the boat's bilge instead of flowing into the fuel tank. Soon the bilge began to fill with fuel. The bilge pump kicked on and pumped the gasoline into the Vermilion River. Eventually someone noticed the fuel coming out of the bilge pump. Nearly 40 gallons of gasoline was pumped out of the boat and into the river.
The employees at the marina tried to contain the spill as best they could.
First on the scene after the marina employees was a police car. The police car arrived as if on a routine patrol. I paid little notice to him. When the firemen arrived in their bright red trucks, they got everyone's attention. They pulled in with sirens blaring. Along with two fire trucks they brought a small boat and a hazardous containment trailer. The firemen lowered their boat in the river and then dragged white booms across the river. The white booms are designed to soak up and contain the spilled gasoline.
The authorities began to arrive. There was the insurance adjuster wearing his shirt and tie who just happened to be at the marina on other business. The coastguard arrived wearing dark blue uniforms. The EPA man wore a hard hat. I did not get a good look at the guys from the division of wildlife. For all I know they could have been wearing camouflaged clothes so that the ducks would not be frightened. But the ducks we normally see swimming near the boats were no where to be seen.
The boat owner will probably be responsible for all the clean up costs along with a big fine. As we reflected on the day's events, we thought it was about time we updated our insurance.
August was spent getting Haven ready to be a cruising boat. We also spent a great deal of time selling and marketing the book, The Sailing Adventures of La Boatique. We took cruising trips to Erieau, Ontario and Port Clinton, Ohio.