Splashdown 2010...

After the delay from Friday to Monday, we got a beautiful day for launch 2010.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky.  The breeze was minimal out of the NW.  We couldn't ask for a better day.

The electrician began his day of work on Ocean Breeze at 10:30AM.  He finished making some connections to test once we were in the water.

I spent the time preparing the dock, hooking up the power line extension and the water hose for the boat.  I sorted through the lines in the dock box trying to remember which one goes where.  One of these years I'm going to wise up and mark the lines to match the chocks on the dock!  And as I handled those lines, I considered which ones I would be taking in August for back up lines on the trip.

Almost everything we do or touch these days brings thoughts and conversation about the trip ahead.  We go about tasks and converse as though there is no possible road block.  I guess I should call whatever might cause a problem a water block!

As 1PM approached, the marina manager came by to make sure we were ready.  John Paul has been so very good to us all these years...at least 20 years.  He has known all but two of our boats and taken care of them as if they were his own during launch, during the week when we're not aboard and at end of season pull out.

On the road again...toting one heck of a big load again!

Into reverse...

This is the part I hate!  Backing up over the well.

See how close those wheels are to the well edge?

Splashdown...well, no real splash.  Just a gentle settling in.

Launch itself went off without a hitch.  The starboard engine cranked and cranked and finally came to life after it's long winter's nap.  However, the port engine battery didn't have enough power to start that big diesel engine.  When these big guys hibernate, they really go to sleep and need a lot of power the get them going!

Any other time, I have been able to get our generator started to add a charge to the batteries but for some reason today little Genny wouldn't start either.  Todd has always carried jumper cables since an incident early in our boating where we desperately needed a jump start.  A simple crossover switch would do the same thing, but there is none on Ocean Breeze.  Jumping the starboard battery to the port battery worked.

With both engines warmed and running well, we took Ocean Breeze to her dock without incident.  I spent the afternoon setting lines, hooking up our water source and getting the power to the boat, with Todd's help.  That one task takes two of us because of the huge 50 amp power cords we have to use.

With those tasks completed, I left to go shopping so I could stay out of Todd's and the electrician's way while they tested the electronics.  Before I went, I knew that the radar, depth sounder, radios, backup camera and GPSs were all functional.  As they started up each unit, there was excitement!  There was a small glitch with the autopilot that caused cushions on the salon couch to fly as the electrician grumbled his way to the power box secured in a storage area under the couch.  With that, I was ready to flee the scene.

I returned from the store well stocked and ready to put our groceries away but the boat wasn't ready for me.  Todd and the electrician had been tracking a problem with the AIS since I left.  There was frustration in the air.  Both finally gave up to work on it sometime today.

It was time to settle in to Ocean Breeze and we did.  The bed is comfortable, although the mattress is new and we both have to get used to it.  The ice maker is making ice, the refrigerator is cold and the freezer goods are frozen solid, the water is running and the heads are flushing.  Home sweet boat, intermittently now until we move aboard full time in August.

Oh yes, and what a difference a day makes...100% chance of rain...and it is...buckets!