A New Beginning...

Here's the big surprise I told you about a while back... (http://dominamari.blogspot.com/2014/10/electrical.html).

Today, "s/v Domina Mari" officially became "s/v Dreamboat Annie".

When I started this journey I thought I had this whole name thing all figured out. She would be called "Domina Mari" which is Latin for "Lady of the Sea". It sounded sophisticated, smart, and worthy of a blue water boat like the Westsail 32. Still, tough I posted to this blog bearing that name, something just didn't feel right about the name. It didn't really fit in some way...

Then, back in early October I was feeling nostalgic and was listening to one of my favorite bands of the seventies - Heart. One of the songs that popped up in the YouTube selection grid was a song called, "Dreamboat Annie". It was one of their early songs but being a child of the seventies, I remembered it. After listening to the lyrics, I immediately knew... "DREAMBOAT ANNIE" is the name. It fit the boat, the dream, and me... (The lyrics to the first part of the song are below).

Heading out this morning into the sun

Riding on the diamond waves, little darlin' one

Warm wind caress her

Her lover it seems

Oh, Annie

Dreamboat Annie my little ship of dreams...

The re-naming ceremony consisted of writing all her former names on a stone and then casting that stone off the stern into the sea giving those names back to the sea, (or back to Neptune if you believe in the Roman gods: Poseidon if you believe in the Greek gods). I even included "Domina Mari" though that name was never official. Then she was christened with a whole bottle of champagne while declaring her new name and allowing all the champagne to run over her bowsprit and into the sea in order that the sea could join in the celebration of the vessel's new name.

This blog, http://dominamari.blogspot.com/ will remain in place for the sake of history and reference. 

From this day forward, all new postings will appear here,

http://svdreamboatannie.blogspot.com/. 

The Domina Mari blog will not be updated any further. So, update your bookmarks and links... today starts a new chapter in Annie's refit.

Follow me on the new site as Annie, "My Little Ship of Dreams", and I ride on diamond waves.

May warm winds caress you and may God bless you.

Both previous names, (and any others I am not aware of), were given back to the sea.

Alex coming to get  her (everyone knows how long she has been on the hard).

Waiting for her ride back to the sea

Strapping her in!

Only 200 yards to go...

SPLASH!

 

All But Ready for SPLASH!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful that I got to work on my boat all day and tomorrow is SPLASH! Everything is all but done... dock lines, fenders, and stern light tomorrow, before and after splash.

The bad news is while I was putting her name on, a gust of wind blew the exposed vinyl letters and they stuck together...beyond repair... Oh well, back to the sign shop on Monday. (If the Coast Guard comes around, I'll write the name on a sheet and hang it over the side).

I'm exhausted, so I'm going to try to get some sleep... I'm also very excited so I'm not sure if sleeping will be easy. Tomorrow is a big day! She will go back in the water after five/six years on the hard!

(Oh yeah, mom wanted to see a picture of the Galley...down at the bottom mom...love ya!).

Fair seas and God bless!

The Crunch is On!

As of this posting I have approximately 2 days, 15 hours, and 30 minutes until splash. Needless to say, the CRUNCH is on! I still have nine items to complete on the splash punch list. STRESS!!!

Today, I completed a major time consuming item - bottom prep and paint. I got almost as much paint on me as I did the bottom of the boat, but I must say, she looks great. For some reason, some of the pictures I took did not save to my phone, but I did get a few.

Rain tomorrow, so I'll be taking care of insurances, web work, and inside work.

2 Days, 15 hours, and 30 minutes! Stress?! Who me?!

Fair seas and God bless!

Living Aboard...

Well, I did it! I moved aboard Friday, November 14th and it has been great! Of course, she's still on the hard which makes it a little more difficult due to bathroom facilities not functioning when she is out of the water, but that has been a minor thing with marina facilities nearby..

The first night, I bought a few groceries and settled down with my laptop, internet, and the first season of House, M.D.. I used my two burner non-pressured alcohol stove to make my first meal aboard, (fried egg sandwiches). The sandwiches were great and I love the way the stove cooks! I then made a cup of hot chocolate and enjoyed the beginning of a this new lifestyle.

Last night, the temperature dropped into the forties and I got a little cold since I did not bring my small space heater aboard, but cold events are a rarity in South Florida so I doubt the cold will be a frequent issue. What was new was listening to the halyards as they gently knocked up against the mast as the wind picked up... I know it's weird, but I sort of liked the sounds she made as the winds taunted her during the night.

Eight more days and she will be in the water! I ordered and dated the remaining punch list items to ensure I complete them all by splash date.

Fair seas and God bless!

Moving Aboard!

The boat is reorganized and awaiting cushions, mattress, cookware, dishware, groceries, laptop, and ME! Friday, all of those things and I will move aboard. There's exactly two weeks until splashing, so I need to be onboard as much as possible to finish the last of the splash list items. Moving aboard early will accomplish that final push.

The pattern is cut for the mattress which is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. I have a WIFI booster which will enable me to pull in the weak internet signal in the yard, which will allow me to work from the boat and will provide outside communication with the world. The stove is fueled, no refrigeration as of yet, but she is livable in a camping out sort of way.

I'm excited about moving aboard...here's how she cleaned up. I can't wait to take pics tomorrow night with my Navy-Blue recovered cushions in place and my six inch custom cut mattress in place.

Fair seas and God bless!

Ready For Engine Test...

Everything associated with the engine is now complete. The throttle/gear mechanism has been installed and is functioning perfectly, (I think...), the shaft is aligned, etc. etc. etc..

Soon, I will, (with the help of a couple of fellow sailors), hook up a water supply and we will test the engine, transmission, shaft spin, water muffler, etc.. I know the engine runs great but I still want to verify the linkage, water flow, and uncover any issues before she goes back in the water.

The splash list is now down to a few items.