Here it is. The day after my birthday. I had several options available to choose from as far as things to do on my birthday. I chose to hang a friend's kayak in her garage.

I know! It does not meet most people's criteria for either fun or relaxation. I however, am not most people. I can tell you exactly why it suited me. She is a good friend who is always willing to help others. So it pleases me to help her when I can. I also got to use tools and figure out how to do it.(It is 17 feet long and certainly not lightweight. You can see that it is made for two people) These are all the right criteria for me having a good day. I also bought a good stud finder to make the job easier. Now how is that not a fun thing? New tool and get to use it!!! :-)

Today I am finding a slip in Southport, NC. Tomorrow I drive down to get Mary Lee. It will be at least two days of motoring up the intra-coastal waterway, if not three.

I will be installing a diesel heater as well as beginning the upholstery projects. I have finally figured out what I want to do with the space starboard side where I pulled out the settee. If you know me, or have followed the blog, you know I pick an idea. Then not only visualize it, but consider if that is really what I want. I change my mind if it is not. I am generally pleased with end results because I do it this way.

So the decisions to follow are subject to change as the circumstances and opportunities around me change. I will be posting more regularly as this blog is about living aboard Mary Lee, and that is where I will be.

I have been busy. With driving mostly. I had bought the first piece of foam for Mary Lee. It seemed appropriate to use it in a truck to see how comfortable it would be. So...I cut a twin bed size piece. It had plenty of support, but, being a pretty dense foam, it was a little less comfortable than I was looking for. So, I decided to try something a little different with it.

I bought some batting and upholstery material. I decided it at least needed a cover.

In the middle of cutting out the pieces that make up the cover, I had the brain wave.

How about adding memory foam to the top? I added 3 inches.

Back to cutting out the material. I used a hot knife. It was really slick.

Once all cut out and foam wrapped with batting.

It was time to break out the new sewing machine.

I bought a sailrite. Touted to be the best portable upholstery machine on the market. I have to say... I really like this machine. I also really like sailrite. I do a lot of learning new things. Sailrite is top notch in customer support.

So I start with the zipper placket. I have never done one, but sailrite has these great videos on YouTube. Shows machine setup and use as well as walking you through projects.

Zipper placket went well.

So I was off to the races.

Did I mention the need to lay your pieces out and double check before sewing? I did. I ended up cutting one new side piece and trimming two more. The top and bottom pieces were okay.

This was a learning project. I learned so much about covering cushions that it surprised me. Too much to mention here. But, as I considered this a practice run for doing the boat cushions, it was a success

Even though it turned out how I envisioned it, I was still a little bit surprised at how well it really did turn out for the first one. I am very much looking forward to doing the boat cushions and canvas.

Season finale is over. Trucks and trailers returned.

I still think it odd, that a place like Disney motel has no loading docks. We unloaded in the alley out back.

This time I took a couple hours to go visit California Adventures. It is a part of Disney.

It was a bit hot and crowded. But, I can say I went :-)

Went down to see Mary Lee yesterday. I measured for new cushions and the size of boards needed to build seats for booth. As always. Bilge was bone dry. Nothing leaks. She needs a good cleaning, but is otherwise fine.

We picked up fresh scallops and shrimp from the fisherman's market. Vivian whipped up a great dinner.

I ordered cushion, a portable air conditioning unit and fabric for the upholstery.

I think it is rather dark with all the dark wood and needs a shot of color to brighten it up. If it is too much color... I can re-do it in a couple years. Yes... I will be sewing my own upholstery.

Of course the compass goes back on. I have several other things here that need installed. I am taking the month of August to get it put together and moved to Charlston harbor. It will be busy. I will be staying with Vivian on the nights I have epoxy curing. The excitement is growing as things begin to happen.

Well here we are in July!! One last big show for me. Anaheim(Disney) for the big finale.

I have been busy packing stuff to the storage unit.

Getting full, but still have a bit to put in there.
This past week was the compass fix.

The dome had broke.
The cost of a new compass was between $600-$700. The sites I found wanted you to package it up and mail it in. Then they would let you know the cost for them to repair it.

I found the kit(dome, seals and special oil Ritchie uses) for $127. I just repaired my first compass.

The only trick was getting rid of the air bubble when done. It took about 4 tries to finally get it. It has been three days and no new bubbles. I will call it a success. The air bubbles seem to have been in crevices under the card after filling. No matter how much I thought I had tipped it around to free them, there would seem to be another the next time I looked at it. Just a little polishing and the install. It also gets led lights when it goes back on boat.

I am going to be moved back on Mary Lee right after I return from Anaheim. The boat cards came in yesterday.

I also ordered a couple of coffee cups just to see how they looked

Not too bad.
I am intending to head south a bit early. Like "the beginning of august early". I will be looking over the St. Mary's river north of Jacksonville, Fl.

I need to get some sailing in. A friend recommended it. I will also be looking for a local driving job. I have gear and a few projects that need done. The intentions are to move further south when ready. I want to make it out to tha carribean this year.

I will be working for Showstopper again next season. I want to make a crossing next summer if possible. All hobbies are on hold at this point. If it has nothing to do with sailing.... it is not necessary :-)

It is time to move ahead with this dream.

July is the last month before layoff. Showstopper is just a six month job each season.

Plans? Oh!!! I have plans. Remember that sailboat I bought in Baltimore five years ago?

Yes... this one. I will be moving aboard at the end of July. I have a little spit-polishing to do, but basicly I will be working on it in Florida. Truck driving jobs abound where I am going. Part time or full time. I have decided to drop all hobbies and concentrate my efforts on my boating dreams.
 It will be an adventure. I will be making a serious effort to get all the gear I need for a serious crossing. I have decided a first crossing makes more sense from this coast to the Mediterranean. After all... I live here.

Vivian and I???  She will be visiting... but she has a job to do here. It is important to her on a level that this is important to me. I explained it more on my facebook page. It is late and I work in the morning.

It has been a very busy winter. With returning to work and being out on the road

There has been a shortage of time to accomplish everything I have on the (to do) list. Yet I keep planning and buying the tools and materials needed for completion of said plans.

Yesterday I picked up the marine plywood for my nester dinghy build.

Epoxy and recorcinol glue should be here any time now.
I also picked up a very nice board of sappelle wood. I will build those louvered doors I want in the companionway as soon as the dinghy is done.

It will be a nice improvement for Mary Lee. The picture is similar to what I will be building.

I have given a lot of thought to the issue of where to put dorade boxes(vents). There really is no good place on Mary Lee's deck. So I have opted for these.

Battery and solar powered vents. I bought one for each hatch. Each vents over 600 cubic feet of air an hour. With louvered doors it should end the mold issue.

I was able to visit my Aunt Dorothy for a short time while going through my home town. Dorothy turned 90 in December.

She was out working in the yard when I got there. What an incredible woman!

There is so much more. I bought a good portable sewing machine for sewing the canvas and upholstery on Mary Lee. A sailrite. Their best portable. Claims to be best portable on the market

We will soon find out. There has been so much happening, it would be difficult to put it in one post. I have been back in physical therapy off and on. There is a good reason to think I need to be working for myself. Then I could monitor how much I do. On a day when I hurt too much, I could just take it easy.

I intend to find out if these nesting dinghies will sell. Building in the garage would work very well for me. It would also allow me to spend time on Mary Lee.

I will blog as the projects commence. I am thinking white with electric blue trim on dinghy.

We seem to be  having trouble with our wifi here at the house.... so I will just do a short update for now. Much has happened since my last post. It will require a bigger keypad to put it all together. I am still working for Showstopper. We have 3 weeks off until the season finals start. So... I am picking up the materials in the next few days to build that nester dinghy. Yep.... finally

So

 I should have it this far along in about a week. I like building dinghies... I will sell as many as I can , if people want them.

I have a pretty good setup (as far as tools go )in the garage.I cannot wait to get started. Also getting ready to begin projects on Mary Lee. More about that, and several other things, later when I can use the bigger computer.