s/v Field Trip

I’ve waited over a year before posting this blog.   I wanted to be certain of my conclusions and test, verify and test again.   Which props are the best -- the 3-blade Volvo or the 4-blade MaxProps?? Before I provide the answer, here is some background on the testing I’ve performed. I have both props aboard Field Trip.   I used the Volvo props for about a year, the MaxProps for about a year and I had one MaxProp and one Volvo on each shaft for six months.   I know this is overkill, but I wanted to make sure I had a very good feel for the best answer to this question – and using them in different situations has given me a definitive answer for our sailing needs. MaxProp Volvo with MaxProp in background Our answer - we elected to stay with the Volvo props.  Below are several charts outlining the data we’ve gathered.  I’ve provided an explanation of each chart with more information behind the data. The speed tests are not subjectiv...

“Worth every penny”, said Sarah. We found a great way to add more living space to Field Trip. Sarah calls it her ‘spa’. We took the plunge, and spent a week designing our new Sunbrella cover for Field Trip this summer. It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was down right painful. We had string strung all over the front deck, trying to find a way to make our space ‘usable’ with a cover. Some of our key criteria: No attachment to stanchion s – don’t want to have stanchions break in a gust or squall We must be able to stand up and walk forward - key if we needed to quickly fix anchor & crawling forward on hands and knees on non-skid deck isn’t fun Clear view around boat from inside salon – we wanted to still see outside and not be ‘boxed’ in with the sides of the canopy Cover our two deck hatches - we can now keep open even in rain for ventilation! Easy to put up and take down – if its not, it won’t get used  Reinforced to withstand 20kts+ of wind gusts - added bat...

We are tweaking our boat with lots of little items. None are essential, but most are further refining our live-a-board experience. Others are fixing mistakes made in hopes not to make them again! :-) We’ve not finalized our future plans just yet, but have a fairly good idea (plenty of back and forth) what we are doing beginning in December. Let’s just say it involves remote locations, no marinas or chandleries and limited access to most western ‘things’. This anticipation is driving our craze to get things done and tweak the boat ‘while we can’. I’ve broken up our tweaks in categories, with a brief explanation. Electrical The boat is wired beautifully. It’s easy to slam in wires. Antares has taken great care in making most of the wiring easy to follow and it is well labeled and organized. Wiring panel organization Anchor Light We added a sunlight sensor to the anchor light so it will turn ‘on’ automatically at dusk – when the anchor light is turned on at t...

Written By: Field Trip Sigh. I’m still in Saint Martin. Saint Martin is French – very French. I’ve noticed Mark and Sarah giggling as captain and crew of other vessels that should NEVER be naked - walk around naked on their decks. I’m just glad I don’t have to see those sailors strut their stuff on my decks! I woke up for a rolly night and overheard on the radio a Dutch ship asking if anyone was interested in heading to Rotterdam. Apparently they didn’t have enough cargo and wanted to ship 8 – 10 yachts to the Netherlands. Hmmm. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to be lifted out of the water, put in close quarters with a bunch of monohulls, and shipped 3,500 miles to Europe. I’m a sailboat and can sail there just fine thank you very much! It irked me a little that they would even consider shipping me. Should I be offended? I safely took Mark and crew over 12,000NM from Argentina. What the heck is another 3,500NM? Arg! Nevertheless, Mark and Sarah decided they would give...

We've made a couple of big changes aboard Field Trip over the past several months.  We significantly upgraded our solar installation & added wind generation. Admittedly, I'm not a big believer in wind & solar energy cost effectiveness (no subsidies) for private consumption.  Technology is getting better and the return on investment improving.  The principles are good, the raw economics not so much.  There are no subsidies on a boat to go green. For us, it is less about cost effectiveness, and more about reducing our need to burn diesel to supply our energy needs.  We have a finite capacity (159Gallons/600L) and prefer to use this for water making & when absolutely necessary - propulsion (that's why we have a sailboat...grin).  We like the idea of being completely 'off the grid', having complete reliance on the weather for energy generation.   The trick is weather.  Some days it's sunny.  Some days windy. ...

It’s over. The mother of all sailboat shows finished, and we were exhausted. It reminded me of attending the global OHUG conference in Vegas. Lots of people to see, social events, vendors everywhere, seminars and networking, networking, networking. We had the chance to see old friends and make new ones. Logistically, it was very busy. The busiest I’ve personally been since jumping on our boat. No violins expected, but it was crazy… J The biggest change for us was actually ‘being a sailor on our boat’. We had a list of things we needed to check off before leaving US waters. Most of them small, one of them large. Our biggest item – carpet. We followed the wake of Neil and Shaun, and got carpet fitted from the same designer. Christine at Annapolis Yacht Interiors was excellent. She measured, cut, and finished our carpet in less than a week. For us, this is biggest game changer inside. The boat just ‘feels’ like home. We love the wood floors, and like them even be...