We’re almost naked… well, that’s to say the interior of the boat is almost naked! We’ve taken down nearly all the walls and are now trying to figure out how to put them back.
Cupboard about to be ‘stripped’
Cupboard gone – designing new ‘bathroom’
We have a few neat ideas that should produce enough space for an island-bed and another full double (with walk-around space on two sides – that’s plenty for guests!).
We will put in another toilet, so the master cabin will have its very own, private, loo. And we’ve even found some wardrobe space and we can leave the main part of the hallway/corridor where it is.
Our ‘cabins’ are gone!
We had great fun when a copper pipe for the central heating split this week. Remember watching those comedy skits on TV, where the comedian is sliding around the floor, trying to hold back the force of water from a broken pipe, and letting go, so a great geyser of water sprays everywhere? We’ve found that those scenes ARE NOT exaggerated. Our central heating system is under pressure, so the water and greasy/oily anti-foul produced a wonderful fountain up the wall, windows, on the ceiling, carpet…. how lovely.
Noel fixed the pipe and then continued demolishing the boat!
All is fixed now – so it’s back to demolishing the walls.
The wheelhouse – once upon a time we could sit here!
The second ‘cabin’!
The construction is magnificent and exhausting – every piece of timber has been held in with excessive nails!
Hurry – it goes up to its usual price of $3.99 tomorrow!
All 5 star reviews : “I couldn’t out it down” “Buy this book”
PIRATES! STORMS! MAN-EATING CROCS! MUGGERS! WORKING IN A BROTHEL! SINKING! A NEAR ABDUCTION IN FRANCE! AND A WOMAN FINDING HER PLACE IN THE WORLD – PLUS MUCH MORE ……
I usually made bread during my nightshift on watch – about 3 am.
Of Foreign Build is for sale for just 1.99 cents for 24 hours! At Amazon.com (your location must be USA – you can set it there temporarily – wherever you are!)
“Did you know, the average women walks three miles a per day more than the average man?” I said to Noel.
“Walks or talks,” says Noel!
Aside from my humorous husband, I’d like to make today, Little Toe Day.’
Those little, wiggly, appendages on the edge of our feet need some recognition.
The little toe on your foot has many names. It is known as the little toe, baby toe, pinky toe, and the fifth toe. But its real name is Digitus minimus pedis. I refer to mine as Pinkies.
Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
We are bare-footed a lot, especially when sailing and cruising. Our little toes have taken some severe bashings over the years…. rigging, stanchions, anything solid really.
Basically they are strong little critters and very tolerant – so let’s say a big ‘Yay’ for our little toes and learn a bit more about them:
Interesting facts
Toes can be used to replace fingers
Stalin’s were webbed
You can wrestle with them (and there you were wondering what you were going to do tonight!)
When walking, each time your heel lifts off the ground it forces the toes to carry one half of your body weight
Butterflies taste with their feet (imagine doing that!)
Gannets incubate eggs under their webbed feet
Elephants use their feet to hear – they pick up vibrations of the earth through their soles
The average foot gets two sizes longer when a person stands up
Mmmmm yummy flower! Image courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I talk about shoes and ‘spreading’ feet in Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen). Over the years of being bare-footed on our boats, my feet spread and changed size.
I’ve had a lot of writing/publishing help and advice over the years (thanks Rachel Amphlett). Recently I’ve been asked to provide a copy of some notes that I scribbled. They are a brief detail of my process, as an Indie Author.
Coupled with reading a disheartening quote this week, ‘The book market is awash now anyone can publish, and most of those are misses…’ (Well, it went something like that). I am compelled to write this blog about what I love doing.
It maybe so, that many books are misses, and some authors may not put the time, effort, money, love and soul into their book – but I can’t imagine why you’d write something and not give it your all. Many authors lose a little of themselves in each book. Writing and publishing a book is not for wimps!
I am often up at all hours, thinking, writing, marketing…
I also read another quote, which went along the lines of, ‘When you view an artist’s work, you are not just viewing a picture you are viewing their life, their dreams, their soul.’ It is the same for author’s, in fact, anyone creative.
I have so many ideas, voices, characters, and stories in my head, it is a relief to get them out! So, for me, the ‘writing’ part is relatively easy… compared with what follows.
Months and months of editing
Months and months of reading
Months and months of researching
Asking friends to be my Beta readers to help with the next level
Re-writing their comments where necessary
Employing a good editor and taking their comments on board
Re-writing where necessary
Reading again
Checking again
Reading again
Checking again
Don’t let any of these short bullet points fool you – it is hard work, it is a slog, it’s a marathon.
Add to this:
Marketing
Marketing
Marketing
And then some more
And then:
Working with a printing & distributing company to reach that marvellous, unbelievable day when you hold your very own book. (Then, you read it, check it, make amendments and ensure it is perfect!)
Then, the real marketing starts!….
I make time to write anywhere/anytime!
Launching
At last, you are ready to launch and my goodness you’d better be brave; the time has come to put YOU on show. While terrifically exciting, it is extremely terrifying too.
But to get back to my point; Authors work hard, they help each other, they support, they learn they share. What you pay for a book is significantly minuscule compared to the blood, sweat, tears and time that has been poured into those pages (literally!).
Your choice as a reader is incredible. But if a book doesn’t ‘fit’ you, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t loved by someone else – even if it is ‘just’ the author…
Only you know your financial situation. It’s time to be honest with yourself!
In the first article we wrote:
1) What budget do I have to purchase a boat? Whatever budget you have it is extremely likely that you will find a boat you love just that ‘bit’ over your budget. This amount does NOT include:a) all the unexpected problems found during survey that need to be fixedb) all the things the vendor neglected to tell you that needed to be fixedc) all those things that just pop up at inopportune times that need to be fixed
d) on-going maintenance and repairs
e) additional equipment (your own ideas/wants)
Summary: Keep at least 10% of your budget for those unexpected issues.
What’s the real question?
The more pertinent question is, what do I get for my money? And, what other factors do I have to consider?
What do I get for my money?
Advice
The best advice is research, research, research. While sailboats vary dramatically in size, layout, design and price, after some in-depth researching you will create a feel for the value presented. Sorry to harp on, but it is all about research. And to only consider the boat purchase cost on its own is foolhardy.
Learn
Researching will expand your know-how. Ask questions, seek advice, you will be amazed how your knowledge grows. We spent two years searching for our second boat, all via internet (we wanted to buy a boat in America to experience the Pacific Ocean for a second time).
$0 – millions
You can spend millions or a few thousand. Actually, a few hundred if you are willing to put in the time/money to make is seaworthy. But then you have to consider whether you want to GO cruising now or WORK for several years on a boat first.
Other considerations
As mentioned previously, it is not just the initial purchase, boats have to be maintained constantly. The marine environment is extremely harsh. Without proper care your boat can quickly become un-seaworthy. The problems will spiral out of control – causing the costs to escalate out of control. Everything that moves wears out and will need replacing eventually, this includes sails. As a guide, everything that moves lasts about ten years, motor, winch, sails etc, then it will need an overhaul or replacing.
Costs to keep in mind: see here for full article on calculating your costs. Your on-going expenditure will depend on:
From what point you started, ie condition of boat
Equipment on board
A smaller, seaworthy, good condition boat is far better than a large, poorly maintained, vessel that will just become a money pit!
Size matters.
Size matters
The size of the boat will matter. We reckon about ten feet per decade. So:
If you are ten years old, you want a sailing dinghy of ten feet.
In your twenties you can get by on a twenty-seven footer.
When you reach thirty you may want a bit more comfort and so on.
It’s almost like a foot for every year of your life (up to about fifty). However, larger boats can be more expensive (longer length means a longer bill at marina), you may need more gear (longer rigging, larger sails). That said, you can make savings with a bigger boat by stowing more spare parts and stocking up at cheap locations.
Fibreglass/Timber/Steel/Aluminium/Ferro
Boat material will be a factor. Which material do you like working with best? That may make you a saving if you can work on it rather than employing someone else to do the work.
Our priorities when buying a boat
Watertight integrity
Seaworthiness
Material/keel setup
Heavy displacement (for crossing oceans)/handling capabilities
Equipment (is it all working? Can you maintain it?)
Age/condition
Can we accept, repair, replace, are familiar with all the things that are not perfect.
When we bought Pyewacket, we had to install solar panels and wind generators.
The Answer
The answer as per cost is dependent on:
Where you are buying (USA, Caribbean, UK, Australia, Europe . . .)
Condition of boat
What equipment does it comes with?
What skills do you have?
What is your budget (allowing for additional unseen/planned costs and running costs)?
Jackie Parry - author 