Naming the Tartan 37 'Living and Loving Life'.

Tammy and I were able to finally get the boat renamed, so we can take her out of the slip!

What a cutie, yes and Tammy's beautiful too.

The renaming commencement,

The drinking begins.....

The alcohol abuse, but necessary....

This year will bring lots of creative, cool, sailing changes to the adventure stay tuned.............

WIFI aka Wirie

Installed, now for some free wifi!

De-naming the boat complete.

We were finally able to de-name the boat, now waiting on naming ceremony.

Propane finally ran out....

Propane finally ran out and well so did the authorization to fill it.  But after a few bucks and separation anxiety all is well.

Redfish Island Cruise

Tammy & I were cruising this Labor Day weekend in S/V Living and Loving Life out to Redfish Island in Galveston Bay near the Houston Ship Channel.  We anchored out between there and Bubba's Shrimp Palace had fun visiting with the crews from S/V Out Way Too and M/V Untide, as well as Dana & Donnie(Wimpy) who conned me into one cigar now for two later, I wont forget mine next time.  We were all awakened at 3:05am with heavy rollers from a huge ship moving down the channel, stuff crashing about.  After a couple of hours of observation making sure we held anchor I was able to get a nap.  We visited Redfish Island on the borrowed dinghy and watched Kelly McGuire perform from Star Gazer then head back. Dinghy-ed ashore for a hike to Railean Rum Distillery and lunch at Bubba's Shrimp Palace.....what a great time!

Maiden Voyage

We finally made the insurance company happy on the items to be repaired or replaced, so we invited a few hands to fend off if necessary, and went out!  The boat handled nicely except for backing up, just as the previous owner had warned us about.  I'll eventually figure it out.   Woohoo!!!!

Water Vent and Propane Connections repaired

 

Removed fresh water vent from bilge to vent overboard and removed spade connectors and used crimp connectors for propane tank per surveyor's recommendations and insurance insistence.  Now with all items accomplished we can go sailing!

Headsail installed

Dean and Katie helped us install the headsail and determine that the spinaker halyard pulley was hanging up on the furling sail.

Windex replacement, spinaker halyard replacement, and spreader underside cleaning

Joshua Tactor was raised up the mast to replace the Windex, spinaker halyard, and clean the underside of the spreaders, great job!  Dean and Jamie helped provide safety and I cranked him up.

Head Sails, main sail cover and wheel covers resewn.

The head sail ultraviolet protection was in need of being resewn, the main sail cover zipper was also resewn on, and the wheel cover zipper needed to be replaced.  Roberta pulled out her Sailright sewing machine performing all of the above and then some, thanks Roberta!

Scupper Hose replacement

 

 

 

Scupper Hose replacement.  They were such stiff hoses in the short distances of 9 1/4" and 14 1/4".  Also secured the bilge pump hose to the bulkhead.

Strainers-Bilge Cleanup

 

 

Strainer Oyster

Now evicted oyster, he had already expired and long since past.

 

 

 

The bilge water was too high for me so I am moving the float switch to a lower portion of the bilge.  All sea creatures were evicted from the strainer system, now we have our home to ourselves.

Sanitation System replaced

Before 

After 

Before

After

Here are the before and after shots of the Sanitation system replacment.  It took 4 days and with my chief engineer and friends advice, Dean Calkins, it is a lot simpler and completly meets USCG standards.  Oh, I should mention without Deans hair dryer to expand the hoses over the barbs, I know personally they will not go on, thanks Dean (I'm always learning.....)! The macerator to be installed.