April 2014 Endcap

Dates: Apr 1-30, 2014

Elizabeth City, NC – Dismal Swamp – Portsmouth – North Atlantic – Nyack, NJ – Castleton on the Hudson

Sailing: 16 hr

Motoring: 103 1/2 hrs (includes motor-sailing)

Mileage: 552 Nm (Nautical Miles)

Budget Amount:      $1590.00 US (All budgeting is in US funds)

Charts/Books:          $      0.00     

Boat Parts:               $     42.00     

Marinas:                   $    40.00

Diesel:                      $  120.00

Beer:                        $    17.00

Grocery:                   $  197.00

Entertainment:         $   285.00

Fees/Services:          $    69.00     (pump-outs, laundry, wifi, taxis, etc...)

Clothing/Shopping   $   121.00

Misc:                        $    130.00     (Propane, hobbies, etc...)

Total:                      $1021.00

Debit/Credit:           $  569.00

Another under budget month, this one way under. There are many factors affecting the reduced cost of living, but I think the biggest reason is the cheap ass that I live with. A couple of successful under-budget months has fuelled her frugal nature, and made spending money needlessly, an evil sin. Just kidding, Sweetheart. We are trying to use up all the stores that we bought to sustain us in the islands, we are almost at the end of the big beer shopping spree we did in Florida, and we have been sitting around with our thumbs up our butts, and nowhere to spend the dough. Sprinkle on a dose of we are running out of cash on hand, and the poor performance of our dollar, and you get the frugal moving over to cheap.

We did spend a little more on restaurants, but we were under budget, so we were a little frivolous while we were out wandering. We also paid for 8 days on a mooring ball at Castleton Boat Club, and for use of their mast crane. We would have stayed longer on their moorings, but they raised the price to $25 per night, and there is no way I am paying that if I don’t have to.

For the 9 month trip, we budgeted $1590 per month, and we ended up being $5000 over budget. Much of that stems from work to the boat that never got finished before we left, but most of it was for things we didn’t yet have, and either needed or wanted to make the trip more enjoyable. Things like foul weather gear, Go Pro underwater camera, and a sailing kit for our dinghy. I think it is safe to say that the next trip will cost a little less, barring any unforeseen circumstances, like, oh, an engine….

So the plan for the month of Apr, was to get to Castleton on the Hudson, take down the mast, and be ready when the Erie canal opens on May 1^st. We succeeded, but not without a little rough weather. And, the canal is delayed until May 3^rd. Of course, if the rains they are calling for in the next few days have their way, it could be a longer wait. But we watch, and pray.

We have determined that we need to slow down a little, but we also know that it’s not in our nature. As it is, we have been sitting still for 11 days, no where to go, and little to do. A bit too slow I’d say. We have also figured out that we like to be able to get off the boat more often. Having somewhere to land the dinghy, or even dock Vita is nice, but we are also too cheap to pay for a marina, so that becomes and issue. Next trip we’ll try and keep that in mind, and find places to go that cater to that ideal.

This will be our last month end, at least for some time. Next month finds us moving from the boat to a small camper on our building lot in Marmora. We were going to pack Vita up for the summer, but I think we will keep her ready to go. A little sailing vacation once in awhile might be a welcome break from building the house. Unfortunately she is not likely to get the work done on her that she requires, at least until she is out of the water. There are a couple of leaks that need to be addressed, some vents that never got installed, raise the waterline once again, finish the woodwork, work on the black water tank and fittings, and a few other little things that will have to wait until lift-out.

Now back to your regular blogging........