Exiting New Hoses

Today I managed to squeeze aboard Alana. The close proximity an the adjacent boat meant that every strainer, hose, Heineken and filter had to be carried aboard individually, but with some careful maneuvering, I got it done.

I replaced the hoses between my though-hull petcocks and Alana's 4 strainers. Like everything I do for Alana, the job took twice as long as I anticipated. New hose and new double hose clamps should provide some peace of mind over the next 10 or so years, so I guess the sweat and banged up knuckles were worth it.

I also replaced the generator and auxilliary diesel's fuel filters which I had cleaned out over the winter, using all new fuel hoses. I'm hopeful that the cleaning and rebuilding of the petcock at the bottom of the generator's filter will resolve a nagging leak and allow the generator to function more reliably

ALANA's Specifications & Equipment

HULL

Hull Number: #37345, completed late 1998
Material: Solid fiberglass
LOA: 37’
LWL: 27’ 9”
Beam: 10’ 10”
Gross Tons: 12
Net Tons: 10

MACHINERY

Auxiliary Diesel: Yanmar 4JH2E
Reduction Gear: Kanzaki KBW20
Propeller: 17” 3-blade MaxProp

TENDER

Inflatable: Achilles LSR-96
Motor: Mercury (6hp 4-stroke)

ELECTRICAL

Generator: Fischer Panda (4KW)
House Batteries: Lifeline 100 Ampere/hour AGM (X 4)
Starting Battery: Lifeline 95 Ampere/hour AGM
Charger: Heart Freedom 10
Monitor: Xantrex Link 2000

GALLEY

Refridgeration: Seafrost 120v
Stove/oven: Force 10 (3 burner)
Microwave Oven: Amana Radarange
Water Filtration: Seagull

RIGGING

Mast: Aluminum (external halyards)
Boom: Aluminum
Standing Rigging: 1 X 19 stainless wire

SAILS

Main: Ulman w/2 reef points
Genoa: Ulman on Profurl furler
Stay Sail: Ulman w/1 reef point (hanked on)

DECK

Winches: All Harken (2) #16, (1) #32 & (2) #48
Steering: Whitlock wheel steering (mechanical)
Compass: 5” Ritchie Globemaster

ELECTRONICS

Radar: Furuno 1832
Plotter (cockpit): Northstar Explorere 567
Plotter (nav station): Raymarine C120W
VHF Radio (cockpit): Icom IC-304
VHF Radio (nav station): Icom IC-M59
Autopilot: SIMRAD AP24/AC12 w/remote
SSB Transceiver: Icom IC-M710 w/whip
Stereo: Jensen MSR7007 (Sirius, MP3, CD, AM/FM radio
Instrumentation: B&G Network

SAFETY GEAR

EPIRB: ACR GlobalFix Pro
Raft:
Carbon monoxide detector: Fireboy CMD-4MR

INTERIOR

Air Conditioning: Technicold
Water Heater: Electric w/engine heat exchanger

GROUND TACKLE

Bow Anchor #1: 35lb CQR w/300’ 5/16” chain rode
Bow Anchor #2: 33lb Bruce w/30’ chain and 150’ ½” nylon rode
Stern Anchor: Fortress FX-23 w/nylon rode
Windlass: Lighthouse 1501

Why So Few Cool Pictures?

I lost most of the good pictures I had of ALANA when my old computer crashed. I've learned an important lessen about the value of backups and promise to add some pictures soon.

First Post 3/8/09

INTRO

If you are reading this, you have at least a passing interest in my generally unexciting life. I don’t know how strangers will receive my blog, and frankly I have no plans to actively try and attract a readership. My goal in kicking off this blog is to allow family and friends to follow my travels. I’ll also be describing some of the more mundane maintenance and repairs that go along with keeping a sailboat seaworthy and functional.

First, let me establish that I am nothing like an expert on sailing, boat maintenance, or blogging. ALANA is the first boat I have ever owned, though my 24 years in the U.S. Coast Guard have given me a solid foundation in navigation and the Rules of the Road. I have operated Coast Guard cutters all over the world, and look forward to revisiting many of the same countries/continents once I hone my sailing abilities sufficiently. I am moderately handy and plan to perform 99% of ALANA’s maintenance myself. Doubtless I’ll make plenty of mistakes along the way, but I’ll not be shy about describing those events along with the occasional triumph.

THE PLAN

I have a few more months before I retire from the Coast Guard. As soon as it is warm enough I’ll be busying myself readying ALANA for a May, 2009 launch. She is currently on the hard at Cape Ann Marina in Gloucester, MA. Once launched, I plan to keep her on a mooring at Hawthorn Cove Marina in Salem. After retiring I plan to make my way down the East Coast, taking my time so as not to arrive in the hurricane belt before the end of the season.

THE BOAT

I purchased ALANA, a 1999 Pacific Seacraft, Crealock 37, in the fall of 2007 from a very conscientious owner in Key West, FL. Leona, the original owner was a very meticulous and knowledgeable owner, just the sort of person I wanted to buy a used boat from. ALANA had less than 100 hours on her engine and generator, and had benefitted greatly from Leona’s stewardship. Part of the reason I kept the boat’s name was the obvious affection that Leona had for her; plus, I liked the name.