Dinghy Tour

Dean & Katie crew of SV Our Way Too took us on a dinghy run for an hour or so.  We toured the marina's from a waterside view; lots of gorgeous boats.  We went out into Galveston Bay for the go fast view.  Then on Tuesday we were in demo mode of a yellow dinghy, woo hoo!

Sailing with Captain Paul Kindling

On a trip which ended up in Houston for the night, Paul and I decided to take L&LL out for a sail.  Tammy told her coworkers she wasn't talking to me over this (sailing her boat without her) but then they asked her how did she know where I was at and what I was doing lol!

S/V Living and Loving Life Video

First Real Sail

Tammy and I sailed S/V L&LL for the first time!  We were able to use the wind motor for 2.2 knots.  Our friends Billy and Tammy Conklin; in S/V Ruby Begonia another 25 Hunter; were taking photos of us while they sailed.  We were gratified with the ability she gave us of moving along Galveston Bay only propelled by the wind!  Now were dreaming of cruising, America's Great Loop or maybe the Caribbean.....

Vacation

Daughter Amanda with Devin and Colin before their quick ride on S/V L&LL before their return to Colorado.

Sails up in port for pre-sail check.

So we spent some vacation trying out S/V L&LL, First Mate Tammy and I explored Clear Lake and the channel after the kids headed back to Colorado.

We anchored in Clear Lake to test out our book knowledge of anchoring, whew it worked, while we made friends rather quickly with a motorboat headed straight for us and he signaled the oncoming waves with a California hello......Hidy-ho, neighbor!

Trailer Sailing aka Driving.

So Tammy and I finally got a trailer built and moved the S/V Living and Loving Life to Kemah, TX. 

After 12 days to build the trailer and pick it up in Kemah; we drove to Corpus Christi, TX and had it lifted onto the trailer.  The trailer had to be fit to match the Hunter 25.  After a power wash and scraping the barnacles off, we lowered the mast and strapped it down for the ride to Kemah.  That was the first time we saw her out of the water and 3' 11" draft is tall; I don't think the 14' tongue extension is going to allow us to float it off the water line is up to the roof of the truck.  Driving the H25 was no problem except for the truck having a cam sensor go out.  We parked the boat at Seabrook Shipyard for the lift out the next day.  Just to hold true to the whole trip, they rushed us just like the city lift did.  We didn't get the mast up until we got into the water.  Thanks to Tammy Conklin and Dean Calkins, his expertise, and their muscle raising the mast was accomplished.  Then I asked Dean to skipper it across to the Portofino Harbour Marina.  He cranked up the motor and brought her up to speed and I asked if this was too fast, and Dean promptly replied "No, you have to have steerage..." with a chuckle; what a newbie I am!  I learned many items every step of the way, from the trailing, mast lowering/raising to even running the Hunter 25 with a motor.

Much appreciation to everyone involved for showing me and helping me with this undertaking!  It's fantastic to have friends!

So, the Hunter 25 is in Kemah, TX.  Now Tammy and I have to apply our ASA Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification and SAIL!

Parents on board S/V L&LL

My parents hung out with us on S/V L&LL (this is not LOL Christy!) and went for a 30 minute tour!

Stock photo....lol....

Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted....

You know; "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted"; we started out to move the boat but things broke.  The main sheet broke (new one needed), the clevis keeper also broke that holds the main sheet down (I need spares), the engine wouldn't idle when warm (adjusted idle up), the main sail has a couple tears, some main sail stitching needed (took the main sail in for repair), no Boom Vang (put a new one on), and I killed the engine sitting on the fuel line (how embarrassing).  I also learned the engine will not stay in the water in 3 to 4 foot seas.  The boat hasn't been sailed in quite sometime.  Was able to spend 7 days hanging out with my wife and our boat.  We managed to replace the old water bladder just need to get a new hand pump; during a thundershower in the middle of the night I found 3 leaks; (sealed the speed gauge; sealed the entrance, and sealed the teak hand rail); and sealed the ice box.

I definitely had an experience which caused a lot of learning and oh yeah boat repairs.  Wish we could have moved the boat to Kemah, possibly next time off.