It's hard to believe we have owned the sail boat for 4 months and have loved on it for 3. New challenges come up weekly especially in the Maryland Winters, we have learned to expect mishaps. Heat and water seem to be our main concern, for weeks the water tank seemed to be full after hand pouring 6 1/2 gal. of water into it, when we ran out of water twice we knew this was not true. The water line was frozen and had air in it, which was not allowing water in or out. Locating the line was also tricky, then defrosting it. . hand filling the tank is always a challenge with 6 1/2 gal. jugs at a time. We actually don't use a lot of water since we take showers in the bath house, occasional cooking(which will change in the New Year) and some dishes.
Over the holidays we had many visitors, our youngest daughter came from LA. to experience boating life, she was quite the trooper. Luckily we did not have many rocky days, we did have 6 inches of snow over Christmas that kept us away from the boat for 3 days. Visitors from NH came, at times I felt as if we were at a boat show where you allow only so many people in the main cabin at a time. During the week after Christmas the Sun became our friend and the enclosed cock pit was registering in the high 70's so no one minded sitting there and waiting there turn to go below. I was also lucky enough to have my brother, sister and mother pay Adventuress a visit with a nice lunch at a local restaurant after wards.
The main question asked is how do you live in such a little space. . . we do have a large family. . however we bought the boat for 3 to 4 people to live on, the rest being vistors. When most visit it will be Spring,Summer and early Fall, the deck and cock pit will be in full use at all times. Our living space is 2 cabins side by side at the Stern, a full bathroom at the bow, a main salon, galley and Nav station. I am the only one on the boat by day then Ava after school and Papa much later in the evening. The hardest part of boat living is you are constantly cleaning, especially with 2 cats and a newly 6 yr old.
The New Year is going to bring with it cleaning the sails and repairing 2, starting the search South for a marina to move to in the Fall of 2013. Our first trip will be in March to N. Carolina, April we fly to the Bahamas to learn Ocean sailing with our friend Captain John . Our goal will be in 5 yrs to be in the Caribbean for Winters, we do everything by 5 yr goals but they usually end up happening in 4.
We spent and will spend much time at the Hampton Inn in Middletown ,De for Winter breaks, it's only 12 miles away and has a nice indoor pool and hot tub. By August of next year we will rent a house or cottage for the Winter of 2011 close to Ava's school. .so ends the 50 miles a day one way I drive her to school now. The boat will be pulled out of the water next Oct. to have the bottom cleaned and painted and maintenance done. This is an every other year must, although I am sure we will keep whatever place we find as a back up for visitors and bad weather.
We realise we are entering the hard time of the Winter months now . . but . . .the end is in site. Which brings us to Spring and the challenge of putting the sails back on. . .YIKES.
I will say. . . the dock is a long walk and cold at night, it's extra hard to get out of a heated bed in the morning and step on to a 48 degree floor and sit on a cold toilet. I will also say there is nothing like having morning coffee or tea looking out to a beautiful Sunrise on the water.
To those that say we won't make it through the Winter or will be buying a house after this Winter. . .don't know who Kevin, Ava and Nita Knighton really are! Along with Adventuress we are enjoying this New Life and Welcome what the New Year brings us!
