LIFE: Part 2

Archive for the ‘Preparation’ Category

Posted from Mar Menor, Spain.The rigging was supposed to arrive last Friday, but it is still sitting in customs. SO frustrating. But at least as places to sit and wait Cartagena is not too bad. While we were waiting last week we hired a car and drove across to Portugal for a week. Then last week we took a day trip to Mar Menor which is a large lagoon just around the corner. Lots of windsurfing and kite surfing but the towns were pretty unimpressive. Anyway, hopefuly soon we will be able to get on our way. By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, we have now added a photo gallery to the blog, plus also a google map showing all the places we have visited. Hope you like them!

After a 5 month break, visiting Panama, Canada, and the UK, we are now back on board Life Part 2 in Cartagena, Spain. Everyone told us that is was the warmest sunniest winter for years but, of course, as soon as we get here it starts to rain. No matter, we still had a bunch (Click to Read More...)

Posted from Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.Stainless steel rigging is subject to crevice corrosion. The problem with that is that you cannot see it until it actually breaks. Then it is often too late. For that reason it is recommended that the rigging be routinely replaced every 8 – 10 years. Ours is at that 10 year (Click to Read More...)

Life Part 2 was bought out of a charter fleet. That means it was pretty basic in its equipment – but its price reflected that. Now, chartering for a week or two is one thing, but living on a boat is very different. It is, after all, HOME! So like any self respecting home owner, (Click to Read More...)

Posted from Road Town, Tortola, BVI.How many times Noel had to go up the mast to complete installation of the radar??? The same amount of times I had to winch him up there….too many times! It took many tries, but it was always amusing! That's me up the mast! We started off with one trip (Click to Read More...)

One of the fundamental keys to effective anchoring is to use the correct length of anchor chain (called the rode) for the depth of the anchorage. Too little and you may end up dragging your anchor. Too much and you might swing into the other boats in the middle of the night when the (Click to Read More...)

Or at least it was the question at the start. You see, many cruisers sail without any insurance. The main reason is that it is darned expensive. Typically 2-3% of the value of your boat. So on a $240,000 boat that works out at $5000. A year. Then you have to consider there is a (Click to Read More...)