Welcome aboard the Sailboat Chaitanya. The Jarman Family (Ian, Heidi, Jonah and Gabriella) fulfill a dream of voyaging to tropical waters aboard their own sailboat. This site will serve as an information clearinghouse for family, friends and hopefully some curious others as well. Enjoy, and please drop a line!Let's get this party started!
Well, it's Saturday night and tomorrow we drive our rent-a-car to the boat in Alameda. I have been back in Oregon for a week now and Heidi and the kids have been here for two. Our last stint in California was about a month and nearly wiped me out. It started with a wonderful two days covering Life Force Chiropractic for Drs. Jim and Heidi. That is one of the most ideal practices I have had the pleasure to witness. The clients are warm and welness bound, they understand the power and mystery of chiropractic and are very grateful for our service.
After that, Heidi worked 12 hour shifts at the Kaiser Oakland PACU each Saturday and Sunday for three weeks. She also did three weekday shifts in there. On Heidi's days off, I would try to get boat projects done. Anyone reading this who has owned a cruising sailboat is aware of the multitiude of little and big projects onboard. I replaced the starting battery, had the outboard serviced, fixed the toilet, replaced the refrigeration unit and many other tasks. Two Mondays ago, Heidi took the kids north to Oregon and I went to work on the boat in earnest. I Cetol-ed the ham radio shelf that Dad and I had built, the portlight screen frames, and the false front for the water maker control panel. I completed plumbing the cabin heater and hot water heater to the engine. After six months the diesel started right up and ran like a top. I had also replaced the raw water strainer, intake hoses, cleaned, painted and replaced the heat exchanger. I traced out the plumbing in order to assess the remaining work for the watermaker. I installed the ham shelf, bought and installed the radio tuner, picked up the backstay with the new isolators and installed it, then connected the high voltage antenna wire from the backstay to the tuner and the tuner to the radio. All we need now is the ground, pactor modem and our laptop, and we will be doing email from the boat. Yes!!!
Our friend Sonny will be joining us Tuesday to wrap up the watermaker install (hopefully) and we should shove off from Marina Village on Wednesday- bound for Sausalito at the least. Then, weather willing, we will leave for Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, some 20 miles south of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sonny will be with us for a week which-again, weather willing- will get us to Monterey.
I am already $3000 over my outfitting budget, tho I can't imagine any more large purchases unless (knock on wood) we find a problem with a critical system. My philosophy is that if any non-essential items give us trouble and can't be repaired without minimal cost or effort, they're going overboard.
Oh yeah-more things done on the boat. I spliced a thimble onto our 200 feet of 3/4 inch stern anchor line and shackled that to 30 feet of high test 3/8 inch chain. This will be connected to our FX-16 lightweight stern anchor, or if need be, we'll bring the secondary bow anchor back to act as stern anchor. Previously this summer, I had cut the 4inch by 3inch hole in the deck for the stern anchor rode hawsepipe. Last visit, I installed a stern anchor roller which will allow the anchor line to be led to the jib winch for retrieval. I installed a quick release helm nut that allows us to remove the helm wheel and store it on the rail, opening up our small cockpit significantly. I installed the Sirius satellite radio antenna. Each new wire that goes through the deck and all holes drilled in the deck require oversize drilling, filling with epoxy, then drilling again with the proper size to eliminate chance of water leaking into the deck core- a layer of endgrain balso wood sandwiched between fiberglass layers. I installed a new shower sump and cockpit speakers.
Believe it or not, there's more to do. Stow the stern anchor rode, affix the cockpit canvas, store the new Honda generator, stow the dinghy, ground the ham radio, replace portlight windows (cosmetic) wire fans (I have six 12 volt fans to mount around the boat that should be appreciated in the southern climates.
I am anxious- mostly about what degree we will enjoy this lifestyle. I know, you're saying "what are you kidding me?". But you never know. There is a lot of pressure on the Captain of a small boat with his wife and children aboard. If I could give any advice at this point it would be to help your mate to understand the how's and why's of everything on the boat and all procedures. Second, keep things simple enough so you can teach someone else the systems and procedures of the boat. I am working on a manual for crew and visitors as well as a SOP (standard operating procedures) which outlines plans for any procedure aboard. Skippers- start this SOP now. You'll be amazed at the knowledge you have and overwhelmed by the volume of information you would really like anyone else who steps aboard your vessel to know!
Our love and thanks go to our family who have helped so much this summer with preparing. Thanks go to our friend Steve who has been an invaluable resource. Thanks to Mike and Amy for the inspiration and knowledge shared. Thanks to Tom and Amy for giving us a reason to be extra excited to be making this trip this season. Here's to the adventure!
After that, Heidi worked 12 hour shifts at the Kaiser Oakland PACU each Saturday and Sunday for three weeks. She also did three weekday shifts in there. On Heidi's days off, I would try to get boat projects done. Anyone reading this who has owned a cruising sailboat is aware of the multitiude of little and big projects onboard. I replaced the starting battery, had the outboard serviced, fixed the toilet, replaced the refrigeration unit and many other tasks. Two Mondays ago, Heidi took the kids north to Oregon and I went to work on the boat in earnest. I Cetol-ed the ham radio shelf that Dad and I had built, the portlight screen frames, and the false front for the water maker control panel. I completed plumbing the cabin heater and hot water heater to the engine. After six months the diesel started right up and ran like a top. I had also replaced the raw water strainer, intake hoses, cleaned, painted and replaced the heat exchanger. I traced out the plumbing in order to assess the remaining work for the watermaker. I installed the ham shelf, bought and installed the radio tuner, picked up the backstay with the new isolators and installed it, then connected the high voltage antenna wire from the backstay to the tuner and the tuner to the radio. All we need now is the ground, pactor modem and our laptop, and we will be doing email from the boat. Yes!!!
Our friend Sonny will be joining us Tuesday to wrap up the watermaker install (hopefully) and we should shove off from Marina Village on Wednesday- bound for Sausalito at the least. Then, weather willing, we will leave for Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, some 20 miles south of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sonny will be with us for a week which-again, weather willing- will get us to Monterey.
I am already $3000 over my outfitting budget, tho I can't imagine any more large purchases unless (knock on wood) we find a problem with a critical system. My philosophy is that if any non-essential items give us trouble and can't be repaired without minimal cost or effort, they're going overboard.
Oh yeah-more things done on the boat. I spliced a thimble onto our 200 feet of 3/4 inch stern anchor line and shackled that to 30 feet of high test 3/8 inch chain. This will be connected to our FX-16 lightweight stern anchor, or if need be, we'll bring the secondary bow anchor back to act as stern anchor. Previously this summer, I had cut the 4inch by 3inch hole in the deck for the stern anchor rode hawsepipe. Last visit, I installed a stern anchor roller which will allow the anchor line to be led to the jib winch for retrieval. I installed a quick release helm nut that allows us to remove the helm wheel and store it on the rail, opening up our small cockpit significantly. I installed the Sirius satellite radio antenna. Each new wire that goes through the deck and all holes drilled in the deck require oversize drilling, filling with epoxy, then drilling again with the proper size to eliminate chance of water leaking into the deck core- a layer of endgrain balso wood sandwiched between fiberglass layers. I installed a new shower sump and cockpit speakers.
Believe it or not, there's more to do. Stow the stern anchor rode, affix the cockpit canvas, store the new Honda generator, stow the dinghy, ground the ham radio, replace portlight windows (cosmetic) wire fans (I have six 12 volt fans to mount around the boat that should be appreciated in the southern climates.
I am anxious- mostly about what degree we will enjoy this lifestyle. I know, you're saying "what are you kidding me?". But you never know. There is a lot of pressure on the Captain of a small boat with his wife and children aboard. If I could give any advice at this point it would be to help your mate to understand the how's and why's of everything on the boat and all procedures. Second, keep things simple enough so you can teach someone else the systems and procedures of the boat. I am working on a manual for crew and visitors as well as a SOP (standard operating procedures) which outlines plans for any procedure aboard. Skippers- start this SOP now. You'll be amazed at the knowledge you have and overwhelmed by the volume of information you would really like anyone else who steps aboard your vessel to know!
Our love and thanks go to our family who have helped so much this summer with preparing. Thanks go to our friend Steve who has been an invaluable resource. Thanks to Mike and Amy for the inspiration and knowledge shared. Thanks to Tom and Amy for giving us a reason to be extra excited to be making this trip this season. Here's to the adventure!
posted by Team Chaitanya at 6:25 PM
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