5 February 2024

 Well, you have to start somewhere.

About now, I have owned Snow Goose, the 37 foot Nordic Tug, for just about 8 months.  She fell into my lap just days after delivering the Monk 36 to her new owners.  About ten days after closing on the boat, days that were filled with exporting odds and ends to Goodwill while importing odds and ends of my own, a 2,000 mile shakedown cruise began.

Sure, she was in great shape cosmetically and mechanically.  She was halfway through the Great Loop when the previous owners encountered a change of plans in the form of impending grandchildren.  What could she need?

Not much, actually.  That did not keep me from putting my fingerprints on it.  I need an inverter if I ever wanted to get a night's sleep at anchor.  I'm a big fan of AIS.  I am not such a big fan of Raymarine electronics.These items were accomplished in Maryland.  The pilothouse instrument panel now resembles a SpaceX cabin, with a 16 inch Garmin radar/plotter display and autopilot.  Starlink internet got installed, too.

Back in Florida in the fall, routine maintenance was done on the main engine and generator, a smarter crankcase breather system was installed and a fresh turbo aftercooler was installed to allay concerns about a life-limited expensive future failure.

Another welcome change was a new toilet. How folks had lived with the last one for 23 years is beyond me.  Its unique and oversimplified operating mode was so hideous that it prompted involuntary constipation and a reliance on shoreside facilities.  Not any more.

Another addition is the installation of the second criteria I was looking for in the next boat.  The first was the ability to get up and go when the situation called for it.  At the mere price of astronomical fuel burn, we can bump the usual 8.5 knots up to 12.  The second criteria was to put an end to schlepping the skivvies to dubious laundromats.  An all-in-one washer dryer is now installed.  Its small, will probably dictate doing laundry damn near every day, but the schlep is history.

The boat is nearing the end of the know project list, with a lovely teak and holly cabin sole being installed in the salon and pilot house, replacing old carpet that would never be clean again.

With that chore done, a bottom job is scheduled for the end of the month.  After that, she'll get a good field day and the provisioning can begin.

Stay tuned.  I will try to add some photos and more interesting content going forward.

Target for departure on the next excursion is around tax day.


Cheers

pw

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