Author: Jeff

I got the bottom painted today, and it was dry before the rain hit around 3:00. Phew. Spent some more time aboard looking at fuel system and other stuff. It all looks good.

Tomorrow we’ll get batteries aboard, and hopefully get launched. Then a day or two of checking systems, swapping gear and setting up electronics. I’m making (very) tentative plans to leave Monday and head down river. Mallory will join me then for a couple of days, which will be lovely. We booked this time together a while ago, when I didn’t know where I’d be or what boat I’d have. Glad that’s going to work out.

The bottom is done with Aquagard antifouling, which I’m pleased about. Water based makes for easy work and cleanup. It’s a big bottom!

Will try to remember to take some pics tomorrow.

I signed the agreement this morning, and George chauffeured me around in the rain to pick up a few supplies. Once back I got to work. I’ve uninstalled all the electronics on Mazurka, and started disconnecting the generator.

This afternoon once the rain stopped it was on to Escapade. I got the cover off, started uninstalling Scott’s electronics, and checked on a few things. All good. They’ve got bottom paint and all the other supplies I need here, so tomorrow morning I’ll get a new coat of bottom paint on. Will set an alarm, as rain is forecast later in the day.

The name is kind of growing on me, and I don’t have a better one, so it’s staying for now.

In other news, my dinghy has three holes in it. Weird. I was underway for a couple of hours yesterday in Mazurka towing the dinghy, and I noticed one side was flat when I came in. Today I pulled it out and checked. I’m quite certain that debris got caught at the stern by the lowered outboard and made the punctures. Likely driftwood. I could see where it rubbed one side and punctured the other, in the lower section just behind the transom. Lesson learned. I don’t think I’ll try to fix it. That dinghy was pretty scary at any speed. Bottom was almost flat. I’ll have to measure, but I’m pretty sure I can put a light 11′ RIB on the top deck. Crane is all set up. I’d really like to have a working dinghy when I leave, so may call around on a new one. The Highfield 340 looks like a good choice.

I’m excited about Escapade, and glad I found a good home for Mazurka.

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After a leisurely couple of weeks of inspections and negotiations we have a firm deal and a timeline.

Escapade – that’s the new boat – is ashore under cover. I’m going to uncover the boat and paint the bottom in the next two days. Friday Scott the seller is bringing the batteries – all 12 of them – and we hope to launch Friday or Saturday morning.

I’m taking the electronics from Mazurka and need to install them on Escapade. I’m also taking the generator from Mazurka. We’ll use a forklift to pull and transfer it after launching Escapade.

After a brief sea trial and check of equipment, we’ll close. Then it’ll be south to Lake Erie and back to Toronto. I’ve been targeting Labour Day weekend, but really there’s no big rush. I might slow down once in eastern Lake Erie.

I’ll also stock up on fuel filters and check safety equipment. Rig some lifelines forward. That’s about all I can think of at the moment.

The biggest fall ptoject is to design and install a heating system. I want to be able to stay unplugged, so it’s got to be diesel fueled. I’m leaning towards a hot water system for the whole boat, with 4 zones.

Other projects for the winter include installing A/C in the pilot house for use underway, and beefing up generating capacity on the main engine to run it. I’d love to have solar panels on the flybridge. There’s a lot of room there. Dinghy will live on the aft section of the flybridge. I can fit a bigger RIB, so that’s also on the winter list.

I’ll try to remember to take pictures tomorrow.

So, long story, but I’m trading in Mazurka for a bigger power boat. 

I’m reminded of a brief facebook interaction when I quit work to do the Great Loop on Mazurka

It’s now 29ish months, and I’ve now got a proper big tender!  I’m pretty chuffed.  And maybe retirement is the right term.  But that’s another topic…

This boat was built for the US Navy as a 50 foot utility boat.  Uniflite built them for years.  The photo above is a sistership that’s been done up and is for sale. 

They were used on aircraft carriers mostly.  Lesser ships had smaller versions.  12 tons displacement, single engine, up to 12 tons cargo or 150 passengers.  Ten knots fully loaded with DD 6-71.  Heavy rub rail all around, built in lifting points.  Pretty tough boats.

Mine ended up at Hindson Marina in Penetanguishene, and somewhere along the line it was converted to a trawler.  Later the original motor was replaced by a new John Deere 4045, a very good motor for that boat.

The current owner has had the boat for ten years, and spent a lot of time remediating issues and refinishing inside and out.  It’s almost too nice for me.  He’s taking Mazurka straight into the shop for a makeover, and I’m sure she’ll be a fabulous boat for him. 

I’ll take some pics of the actual boat when the cover comes off.  But there are lots of them in the listing.  Go take a look!

I’m anchored in Sarnia thinking of what I’ve done with Mazurka.  Here’s a summary of my travels.

2016: left St Joseph’s MI late May.  Entered Canada in Little Current, spent 6 weeks in Georgian Bay, then Trent Severn, Bay of Quinte, across to Oswego, Syracuse, Erie Canal to Buffalo, then Canadian shore to Port Burwell.  2430 NM.

2017: Back east through the Erie Canal to Oswego.  Thousand Islands, Kingston, Rideau to Ottawa return, Bay of Quinte, then Bowmanville for storage.  1110 NM.

2018: Bowmanville to Chicago via Trent Severn and North Channel.  Entered US at Sault Ste Marie.  Chicago to Houma LA via Illinois/Mississippi/Achafalaya Rivers.  2900 NM.

2019: Gulf ICW to Florida, south to Ft Myers, across Lake Okeechobee, St John’s River, up Atlantic ICW to NYC, Hudson River, Erie Canal back to Lake Ontario.  Wintered in water in Toronto.   3117 NM.

2020: Thousand Islands, Rideau to Ottawa, Ottawa River to Hawksbury, back through Ottawa to Kingston, Trent Severn, then up Georgian Bay and down Lake Huron to Lake St Clair.  1774 NM.

Over 11,000 NM, or 20,000 km. I should draw it on a map some time!

I had a great trip up from Lake St Clair, took a different route back up. I’m now anchored in Sarnia Bay, trying to put together a trade for a new boat.

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I also took a video while coming up the main branch of the river at speed. I removed a bunch of stuff from the boat, and with empty water tanks and half fuel the boat scoots. Nice ride @10 knots over the bottom, 12-13 through the water, about 2200 rpm. I haven’t run at that speed in a while.

Note: this was written Aug 11.

After three days at a marina I was ready to get underway again.  It was nice to be plugged in, as the weather was hot and humid. 

Today the weather broke, and after stopping briefly in Sarnia Bay for a late lunch it was off down the Detroit River.

I’ve been around here twice.  Five years ago when I was boat shopping I discovered Wallaceburg, and I trailered my RIB from London to go exploring. Pretty neat area.  At the time I thought I’d like to come back on my trawler.  The second time was last summer on Tin Lizzie, but I was sailing and had my hands full.

Tonight I’m anchored here in the marsh. Nice spot.

Tomorrow I’m heading up to Wallaceburg. Then I’m going to noodle south to Lake St Claire and head up the Thames to Chatham.

Well, that was fun.

I’ll have to remember to add pictures later. I’ve got a few nice ones.

I’m anchored here in Lake St Claire just outside the mouth of the Thames.

Yesterday I headed upriver. Got to Chatham and had lunch there, then continued on. I got pretty far, past the Maple City Country Club. I finally bumped around here and turned around, just in time to get back to Chatham before dark. Spend the night on the dock downtown.

Today I had Scott aboard for a visit and a brief cruise. He owns a boat I’m considering buying, and has lived in Chatham his whole life. Interesting to chat about some of the history of the area. There is a cannon on the bend just above downtown trained straight down the river, a defence during the War of 1812.

After stocking up on a few supplies I headed downstream, and got here just after dusk. Tomorrow I’m heading back up to Sarnia, taking a different channel through Walpole Island.

I’ve encountered very little boating traffic. A few small boats, but nothing my size. Even Lake St Claire was almost empty when I came across a couple of days ago. It’s a bit eerie.

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I’m anchored here near the mouth of the Thames River. It’s worth a look at the map.

I’ve found very few people who share my enthusiasm for rivers. So I won’t go on about it. But I’m excited to be here.

Tomorrow I’m going to fuel up – I’m running on fumes – and head upstream. I’m pretty sure I can get to Chatham. There was a notice of a closed bridge with 13′ clearance, but I can get under that I think. We’ll see.

I didn’t make it all the way into Wallaceburg as I encountered a bridge that was open but unattended. I didn’t call them, just dropped anchor and dinghied in to downtown for lunch. Pretty quiet place these days.

It’s lovely here in a sterile sort of way. Very little in the way of critters, though I was driven in by bugs at dusk. But nice evening. Calm and clear.

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I’ve made the decision to commit to the path of being a full time live aboard nomad. I like it. It’s me. It’s what I dreamed about doing when I was a kid. It’s sort of what I’ve been modeling with Mazurka.

I’ve also given up hope of traveling in the US in the near future. There are a few rivers there that are on my to-do list, but I’ll get there eventually.

I had been playing with the idea of buying a modest boat in Europe and spending a couple of years cruising the rivers and waterways there. But there are lots of challenges to that idea, particularly in today’s world.

My revised plan is to head for Eastern Canada. I almost went this spring, but a host of reasons kept me in Ontario. So will winter in Ontario, and try for next year.

So, what’s wrong with Mazurka? It’s in many ways the ideal boat for one or two. But it’s a pretty small space, particularly in the winter time. The interior has always been a man cave for me, and it’s not at all set up for entertaining or guests. Lots of that is on me, but I’d like to be able to zone things off. I also need a guest cabin for visitors.

I’d also like a tougher more capable boat. In fact I’ve mostly been considering steel boats. I don’t have serious offshore ambitions, but want to be self sufficient for a month and cover some remote areas. I like to explore. And it’s possible I will bump into things.

I also want a pilothouse. Much as I love hanging out on the flybridge, I really have to stay out of the sun. And I’m going to be aboard 12 months a year in Canada, so I need to consider heat, etc. I might be operating in nasty cold weather.

What else? Single diesel. Good fuel economy and range. 3+ mpg.

I considered a few motorsailers. But I also care about draft, and most of the smaller PH sailboats don’t do much for me. I keep coming back to power boats. I have three sailboats now, so I don’t need a sailing fix on my live-aboard nomad boat.

Budget matters, as always, and I sort of set myself an upper range of C$100k. Ready to go. Not a lot of money, but as I said, I like the hunt.