THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!

After much delay, Cookie (Scout) is in Kentucky! I cannot express how good it feels to actually have the boat right here within my reach. I can walk outside and touch it, caress it, climb aboard with my captains hat on and daydream of being on the ocean while Jimmy Buffet croons on the stereo. I have not actually done that yet but with enough beer in me I just might! All of my co-workers, friends and neighbors think I am crazy anyway, why not prove them to be correct!

I can only imagine the anxiety that cruisers must feel when they have to leave their boat in a foreign port and fly home or whatever. I have not experienced that but I can tell you that the last month has been a long one filled with doubts. Since leaving Cookie in Annapolis five weeks ago, I have been stressing out over the details of getting her here to Kentucky. I am exaggerating a little when I say stressed because I had some very good help in achieving this milestone.

The staff at Ferry Point Marina actually made this whole boat transport affair a memorable and pleasant experience. First they recommended TNT Marine Haulers (John Richards 410-897-2080). John proved to be a real professional with reasonable rates. The marina then did an outstanding job of securing and preparing the boat for John to transport. I could have just as easily gotten mixed up with a marina who doesn't give a shit or a hauler who only sees dollar signs. I have always gone out of my way to be fair, friendly and kind, maybe that good karma is now paying off?

So now I begin the next phase of the plan which is refitting and restoring this mighty Alberg 30 to her former glory. First up is removing the A4 engine. I will waste no time on this and expect to have it out early next week. By the way, I read in the Palm Beach Post that a boat exploded and burned to the waterline off of Singer Island on Tuesday killing one and severely injuring another. It happened when they attempted to start their inboard gas engine. Human error yes but if it had been a diesel those people would be telling fish stories right now. Of course no engine would be even better but that is not an option for me considering my plans :)

And now...BOAT PORN!

A fish out of water

 

HAWT!

Faster than blue garbage cans!

THE LIST!

I have compiled a list of things I need to do to the boat in order to make this whole thing happen. It is somewhat in chronological order but then again it is not. Working on a boat is not as cut and dried as say, mowing the grass. For every move forward there may be three or four steps sideways that need to be addressed first. Anyway, I did try to put them in some kind of order and group them together and it is not complete, I might add. This process has been enlightening because for the first time I realize what a monumental task just getting the boat ready will be! I will not mention the other monster of getting rid of all my stuff that will not be going with me! That is proving to be painful and emotionally draining. Anyway, here is the honey-do list:



▪ Buy a boat - COMPLETE! April 2011
▪ Have trailer made for boat - COMPLETE! May 2011 Sail Trailers of Columbus, GA.
▪ Move boat to my crib  - COMPLETE! June 29, 2011


▪ Construct plastic/pvc cover over boat
▪ Remove all exterior fittings, check for core rot, repair where needed
▪ Replace hull to deck bolts (gah this will suck)
▪ Fill all existing holes, repair cracks, glass over the hull to deck joint
▪ Sand the decks, sand some more, sand sand sand!
▪ Paint the decks, cabin and cockpit
▪ Reinstall exterior fittings with backing plates
▪ Install large hatch over engine in cockpit
▪ Apply no-skid paint where needed
▪ Sand and paint the hull above the waterline
▪ Strip and re-paint the bottom (anti-fouling)


▪ Remove old gas engine and all of its components - COMPLETE! Sept 2011
▪ Install garboard drain in bilge
▪ Degrease the engine compartment and bilge
▪ Remove old head, holding tank and all fittings - COMPLETE! Sept 2011
▪ Remove the old icebox - COMPLETE! Sept 2011
▪ Remove all thru-hull fittings, glass over the holes - Partially complete! All old thru-hulls are out
▪ Remove all old wiring  - COMPLETE!
▪ Install new bronze seacocks in engine compartment/galley
▪ Remove aft saloon bulkheads
▪ Reconfig/build new settee port & strbrd
▪ Insulate interior above water line
▪ Build new icebox/refrig
▪ Reconfig/build cabinets
▪ Install new stove - Went with kerosene, no installation, COMPLETE!
▪ Install new bronze seacocks in galley
▪ Paint engine compartment/bilges/under cabinets/anchor compartment with bilgecoat
▪ Build/install composting head in foreward cabin
▪ Install new water tanks in forward cabin (possibly in bilges also) - Existing 30gal tank found to be good.


▪ Plan out new wiring diagram
▪ Build battery compartment
▪ Rewire entire boat
▪ Install new lighting (LEDs)/outlets
▪ Install new instrumentation
▪ Install SSB radio with exterior grounding plates (antennae will be backstay fitted)
▪ Install VHF radio and antennae
▪ Install CD/Ipod/AM-FM radio (this is a need, not a want!)
▪ Install GPS antennae
▪ Install radar (this is a want, not a need)


▪ Install new fuel tank(s)
▪ Install new diesel engine/shaft/pilot bearing/stuffing box (Big job!)
▪ Install exhaust system
▪ Install engine gauges (where they wont get wet!)
▪ Insulate engine compartment
▪ Install Kerosene tank with exterior and interior fittings
▪ Install zincs


▪ Build new companionway hatch
▪ Build new lazarette hatch
▪ Repair forward hatch (new lexan)
▪ Re-seat all portlights (windows) I may glass in the big ones or replace with some that open
▪ Build D5 wooden dinghy (I may opt for an inflatable zodiac type tender)


▪ Build anchor sprit
▪ Buy and Install a windlass (maybe, not a need)  - BOUGHT!
▪ New standing rigging
▪ New running rigging
▪ Replace winches with self-tailing (maybe, not a need) - Bought 2 new ST winches
▪ Build/install arch on aft deck for radar, antennas and solar panel(s)
▪ Replace vents with solar powered Nicos
▪ New heavy duty dodger
▪ Run jack lines/purchase safety harnesses and tethers
▪ Purchase new mainsail, repair old sails
▪ Install new "Mack-Pack" sail cover/lazy jacks
▪ Install outboard chainplates on exterior of hull
▪ New boom with internal reefing - NO!
▪ Purchase anchor chain/rode+Manson anchor+fluke type anchor (already have a 35# CRQ)
▪ Compile rigging and sail repair kit
▪ Compile engine part kit
▪ Buy Marine 3000 medical kit
▪ Buy netbook backups for my Toughbook
▪ Buy a life raft
▪ Water maker - Bought 20gph RO


▪ Go on 3 month shakeout cruise in the Bahamas
▪ Fix what broke in Bahamas, tweak everything else
▪ Leave for good on trans-ocean voyage!


April, 2013 is the target date for the last bulleted item! I have my work cut out for me but my determination and desire to make this happen is greater than the sum of this list!

PICTURES!

When I was in Annapolis I took a gazillion pictures of the boat. I was hoping to document in great detail all of the bits and pieces for future reference and I think I succeeded! These will serve as the "before" portion of a future "before & after" expose'. Most of these pictures will only be of interest to people that love good ole boat porn in its most simple form. If you are one of those boat nuts, enjoy!

Links:

Pics of every nook and cranny - very first time aboard

Details and measurements of the hatches that need rebuilt

Pics of the engine mounts and beds for repowering considerations

SEXY!

Why name the boat Cookie?

As I mentioned in the previous post, I will be renaming the boat to "Cookie". This was a big decision since it is a major ordeal to de-name and then re-name a boat properly. I will explain that process in greater detail in a later post.

Cookie was not my first choice actually. I had chosen a different name, "Bahala Na!", over a year ago long before I even had the boat. Bahala na is a Filipino term roughly meaning "Happen what may!" or "I will do all I can do and leave it to God to take care of the rest". The term is really more of a Filipino national philosophy and is ingrained into their culture. This is why you will be hard pressed to find a Filipino that is not happy even if they have nothing to their name and apparently living a sub-human existence. They are happy no matter what and the bahala na concept is why. This is why I chose this term as the name of my boat at first. It fits my personality (Ako pinoy) and I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.

I recently changed my mind though. It was the weekend after Mother's Day and my sister had posted a picture of our mom on Facebook. I was admiring the picture when suddenly I realized that memorializing my mother by naming the boat after her was a much better idea. After all, are not boats traditionally named after women? My mother's name was Shirley but all of her family knew her as Cookie. It was her childhood nickname and I can still remember my grandparents calling her that. So there you have it. How and why I decided to not name the boat after a Filipino philosophy and instead name it after a beautiful, fiery red head!

Cookie: