A busy month ahead

Spray will be departing for points south in just over a month and I've got a lot to do! I've been keeping a list of tasks rolling around in my head and its boggling my mind, so I thought I'd post a list here, both for my own use and for others to read and maybe hold my feet to the fire.

For the boat:

- Install drinking water filter (this task is underway and almost complete).

- Install anchor windlass. Spray's previous owner purchased a nice vertical-mount windlass but never installed it. Proper installation will require some significant work on Spray's bow and foredeck. Today I removed the existing bowsprit and anchor roller. These need to be reinstalled about 15" lower so they are at foredeck height as I want to mount the windlass directly on the foredeck.

- Install 2nd 'house' 4D battery and switch.

- Engine maintainence:

- Change engine oil (12 qts!), oil filters, fuel filters.

- Inspect raw-water cooling system (strainer, pump impeller, heat exchanger zinc).

- Install larger waste holding tank (replace current 10 gal tank with 25 gal or larger tank).

- Modify galley sink drain (grey water) to allow for overboard discharge or discharge to holding tank.

- Scrub the slime from the bottom (fortunately the water temp is pretty nice right now).

I'll post some needed 'for the house' projects in my next post.

First Entry - Aug 21 2009

Hello out there!

I'm Bill Corbett and I'm creating this blog to document my upcoming voyage from Maine south to Florida (and further?) and back this coming fall/winter/spring aboard my classic Grand Banks 32 wooden 'trawler' named 'Spray'.

I'll be leaving my home port of Castine, Maine near the end of September, along with my rat-terrier, Riggs, and whatever foolish relative(s) and/or friend(s) I can convince to accompany us. While Riggs and I hope to have other travelling companions aboard for many legs of the trip, it will be he and I who complete the entire trip.

Between now and departure, I have several projects to accomplish, both aboard Spray and ashore. One such project is to begin this blog, so I'll end this entry now and see how it appears on-line.

Please stay tuned.....