All play and no work? Nah

ssolsen12

Everyone knows THAT’s not possible. Whether your home is on the water or terra firma, it requires upkeep. On a boat, it’s not the number of chores, it’s the complexity that’ll toss a monkey wrench into things. In this case, “Appliance Swap-out Time!” Susie was super excited, like Ralph the Saint Bernard on Chewy’s Peanut Butter Box commercial.

We’re going with pictures for this tale.

Part I – the Washer

Fresh off the delivery truck! The 158 lb beastie just has to be lifted over the cap rail, into the cockpit,
skinnied through the back door, past the chairs,
lifted over the pinch point by the pennisula, carried up the steps to the pilot house,
and then halfway down the forward stair.
All the while, mind the teak, please!

But first, we needed to get the old machine (did I mention, heavy) out of the boat before we could bring the replacement in. Clearly, we needed some muscle. Not like we don’t have three sons, or something. I’m sure they’d all pitch in if they lived nearby. In this case, fortunately for them, they don’t. 😉 (Love you, guys. Just busting your chops.) For some reason, Susie thought College Hunks Hauling Junk would be a good plan. Hmmm, wonder why? At any rate, we ended up with a couple of nice fellas from a local moving company.

With the machine positioned in front of its cabinet, you have to be able to make the connections. Tricky.
Balance the washer on a carefully measured stack of random items. “Damage Control Kit” to the rescue!
Easy access to the plumbing under the stairs. Compared to some spaces in the engine room, this is roomy.
Had to pull “Stretch” (Susie-long-arms) into the action.
Zoomed in, Honey? Sheesh. Working here.
A couple days later, it’s in place and operational!
Just needs a bit of remodel to the trim work.
And… TADA!
“No teak was harmed during the making of this production.”

Part II – the Refrigerator

Uncrating the second new fridge. The first one had a forklift hole in the front of it. Oops.
Out with the old, stripped-down, sometimes working/sometimes not 2005 model.

Bringing in the new one revealed a whoopsie! When Todd verified the needed opening, the “as built dimensions” on the fridge were too big for the hole! Surely there is enough “slop” in the hole? Nope! After checking with a fellow woodworking friend for confidence, in dove our resident woodworker!

Fridge sat in the salon for a few days. Yep. 1/8″. I know you can do it, Honey! PS – mind the teak.
I do believe I hear muttering. ….1/8″…
Careful. Careful.
Yeah! That’s great! Not you, silly, the fridge!
Please put the shelf back together.
I need to put all this stuff away.
Note: operational fridge in hole. YIPPEE!
With one last request, the captain salvaged the teak panels from the old fridge.
And that’s a wrap! Hey, is that wine??

Shout out to dock mates for their assistance – Kevin from Destination Unknown for slithering way up in that cabinet when the washer connections insisted on leaking and Terry from Finish Grade for helping Todd muscle the new refrigerator into the opening! Who needs Thor when you’ve got willing friends?

Speaking of friends, November 1 has become something of an insurance-mandated “shotgun start” for cruisers. It’s the technical end of hurricane season and the first day most can venture below Cumberland Island, Georgia. You should have seen the boats heading out. We were delayed by Susie’s new spectacles (ha!), but for plenty of others, it was time to go south!

Helping Finish Grade off the dock
Hold it! We want to go, t-o-o!
Fair winds and following seas, ya’ll! See you in Florida!

With the chores sorted out, we can get back to what we enjoy about cruising – life on the water.

Spotted this Black-crowned Night-Heron fishing nearby
Tossed a stranded sand dollar back into the sound
Watched an armada of entertaining loons
Witnessed Mr. Pelican following the rules – making no wake
And enjoyed the always beautiful sunsets over Factory Creek at Lady’s Island Marina

We finally bid farewell to Lady’s Island Marina yesterday. Today, as we sit anchored in a totally idyllic spot creating this post about our time in Beaufort, I am pleased to report we did not forget how to anchor! Ha.

Leave a comment