Projects a plenty!!

We've been on our boat a little over three weeks now and we have been super busy tackling the project list! As you saw from the video I posted earlier this week, we have already started stripping the teak trim around the cockpit. Still have a lot more teak trim to refinish, but you gotta start somewhere and this is where we're starting. 

Slow & steady process

All sanded and ready for the next step...

Pretty & clean

Here hubs is applying the first coat of Awlwood primer/finish...

I've spent a lot of time getting to know our teak. And so far, I can say, I enjoy it!! Of course, this is my first time redoing it...I'm sure that will all change after the 6th or 7th time I have to do it. Who knows?!? Maybe not! 

Another improvement that we have had done is, we had four hatch covers made, as well as the companionway cover below. 

Canvas being installed

Next up on the continuing canvas projects will be, getting a new Bimini & dodger, and eventually interior cushions!!

We also wet sanded the old name off of the transom, in preparation of adding the new name to her! I wasn't able to get any photos of this job being done, because well, I had one hand on the boat for balance and the other hand holding wet sandpaper and sanding the boat, all while standing in a floating dinghy!!! I tried to convince Joe to take photos/video, but instead he jumped in the dinghy with me (almost making me fall into the water) and started helping me sand....good thing too, because painted on names are a pain to remove & I needed all the extra elbow grease I could get! 

Before w/old name

As you can see, it's still faintly visible! So, we'll have to do some work on that before the new name goes on. 

Old name {mostly} removed

One of these days, we will get ourselves a GoPro so we can fully document our projects. But for now, I hope you enjoy reading, because all these projects are using up every cent we have and there's no money left for fun things, like a fancy camera. ;)

So you bought the boat, now what's the plan?

As you may have figured out by now, we are not trust fund babies. {I know, shocker!} We work for everything we have and we save for anything we want! So, we are living on the boat and saving in order to take some time off in the near future to go sail, cruise and explore by way of the boat! 

When is this near future departure date? No one knows....not even us! But we do know there are certain things we want to cross of our 'To Do' list before we leave....and let me tell you, the list ain't short! 

This was Joe in the middle of winter starting our to do list. Notice the smirk on his face? Hmm!!

In case you couldn't zoom in enough, here's a closeup shot of our list. 

Of course the first thing he writes in my column is, 'get job' .....um, I had/have a job, I just had't started it yet, when he was first writing out the list! {crazy man} ;)

Sure, we love living on the boat, but that was only the first part of a much bigger dream! And after recently checking out our neighbors boat, Joe got inspired by their 'to do' lists {things they need to do before they leave to go cruising}. 

Now, we have started our own 'to do' list. One major item that's not listed {because it's a no brainier}, is the fact that we need to save up enough money to be able to take off work for (at least) an entire year so we can truly enjoy the cruising lifestyle that so many of our fellow sailor peeps are also doing! This means we need to have enough money saved to pay any ongoing bills that you can't pay off, (insurance, cell phone, etc), any docking fees/boat maintenance, oh and money for food for an entire year! Joe might be living off fish, but anyone who really knows me, knows it's nothing from the sea for me!! I may not look like it, but I actually eat a lot! In fact, just writing this post is making me hungry. 

--->quick break from writing to have some chips & salsa<---

You may have noticed it's been a while since my last post and that's because we've both been working every chance we can get so that we can work at paying off a few things while also saving money, like its going out of style!!

Our list at Christmas looked like this....

As you can see, a few things have actually been crossed off, but at the same time a few things have also been added. I have a feeling this is going to happen quite a bit. :[

Living at the marina we see a lot of people come and go. Some live on their boats for a short time and then sail away but for some, it takes a lot longer before they are ready to leave. We are part of the latter group. Because we chose to live on a boat while saving and prepping for our departure. 

We can now cross off getting the bottom job done & purchasing a dinghy! 

We're getting closer every day, but don't be surprised if you don't see us out cruising next year. While that would be awesome, we are trying to be realistic and not jump the gun, just because we are impatient and want to go now! 

Plus, there's that one other thing we want to do before we go....and that is to sell this boat and buy a more sea-worthy boat!!! 

Welcome to our ever-changing, but truly wonderful, life!!! :)

Until next time....