Check Out Sunshine’s Makeover

Sunshine looks brand spanking new! Captain Pat sure takes good care of anything mobile. Wonder if he’ll let the Admiral get a makeover? (He better! She will deserve one after this trip.)

Clarification – you may remember from last year’s blog posts – Cindy is the Admiral, Patrick is the Captain.

While in winter storage at West Harbour Marine, Sunshine received a new hull paint job and all new non-skid extensive flooring topside, as well as a bottom job. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.

A new lithium battery bank was installed with charging power from a 500-watt solar system. This will enhance the cruising range of Sunshine and minimize the need to run the generator during morning and evening hours.

We had other miscellaneous repairs completed while Sunshine was in storage and during spring commissioning.

Splashing Sunshine

Wednesday, June 28, Sunshine made her splash! She was launched under the capable hands of Graeme Aris, Jeff Heron and Dan Lepage.

Captain Pat finally positioned himself behind the wheel and docked her in Slip 101 – with no scratches on that new paint job!

Here is an article on how to prepare taking a boat from ‘on the hard’ to being splashed.

Splash! 5 Tips From On The Hard to In The Water!

Climbing Aboard

Thursday, June 29, we were finally able to get on the boat and start organizing. Friday, we checked out of the hotel and officially moved into Sunshine. I wouldn’t say she was exactly ready for move-in – but that’s another story.

We soon discovered a seized-up water pump that required replacing. The pump should arrive July 4. In the meantime, as we are docked at the marina, we can use the shore power water (and electricity) until the boat’s water pump is installed and running.

Thursday evening, we are leaving for our last night stay in the hotel. Just as we are exiting the boat, we hear an alarm. I thought it was batteries needed in a fire alarm. Nope. It’s the bilge pump alarm. The boat is taking on water.

It’s six o’clock, all the mechanics have left. The marina owner, Graeme, comes over to help. We first think the mechanics over the winter missed connecting a line. We disconnected the water, so Sunshine would seize flooding.

We arrived next morning to the marina and Aaron Leroux, the master mechanical technician, came aboard to assess the situation. Turns out we need a new bathroom faucet. The line in the faucet ruptured and is leaking. So off we go to Home Depot to buy a new faucet. There is always something on a boat.

It’s amazing what elbow grease and cleaners can do to transform the interior of a boat. We should have taken before photos. Bill Raney can tell you how bad she looked. Here are photos of our current living quarters on Sunshine.

Here is our kitchen – called a “galley” on a boat.

And here is the bathroom – known on a boat as the “head.”

The salon – “interior social space on a boat used like a living room in a home” – is still under construction. The engine is below the salon and work is being completed. So no sense putting it together until the mechanics are finished.

A Place for Everything, and Everything In Its Place

The first weekend on the boat is always a challenge, just getting used to where you stored everything. You’d think that wouldn’t be too difficult in such close quarters. One observation – we each have two drawers and two overheads. The Captain has two full length closets. What happened to the Admiral? Demoted? Who says women have more stuff.

My entire life is stored in these two overheads and two drawers for the next five months!

Happy Canada Day!

Saturday, July 1, Canadians celebrated our equivalent of July 4^th – Canada Day. The holiday was officially observed Monday, July 3. Saturday the marina gave everyone free ice cream and there was a terrific fireworks show that evening.

Sunday we took our first ride out on the boat. We drove to another local marina, Hindson Marina, to get fuel and ice. I learned you have to be careful when paying by credit card. For the first time at a purchase, I was given the option to pay Canadian or US dollars. I selected US.

Afterwards Captain Pat told me to always select Canadian. Let our credit card company convert it to Canadian. Otherwise the merchant (the marina) charges you an extra 4%.

The good news is I was only paying for the ice – not the fuel!

Here are some miscellaneous photos from our first few days at Harbour West Marina: