With every new boat there comes a learning curve. We went from a 1990 35’ Sea Ray Express with twin 454 engines to a 42’ Tiara with twin CAT diesel engines. That was a huge change and then we needed to learn how all of the “house” features worked. The first year we had a lot of issues and many were us not knowing how to work things. We had never had an inverter before and we had no clue how it worked. We finally discovered that the inverter has two huge batteries that needed to be replaced at a cost of over $700 a piece. We, also, ended up replacing the inverter. The generator stopped working in August. The generator is tucked back in the aft portion of the engine room. Due to the noise reducing cover we could not get access to the generator to perform repairs. As if turned out it was only a switch but we weren’t able to have it fixed until after the boat was pulled for the winter. There was water appearing in the forward bilge. It appeared to be clean water but we had no idea where it was coming from. We suspected the shower sump might be leaking. The head system (although we were used to the vacuum flush system)’ we had difficulty with the valve for pump-out and overboard discharge. Part of that lesson was user error and part was just poor design. When we had the boat pulled for the season we had the after coolers tested. While the engine room was ripped apart we had the cover removed from the generator for easier access and we had the switch that was broken replaced. Generator issue solved! The head issue was, as I mention, user error. We have a service that pumps the head once a week. We didn’t realize that the valve was in the wrong position and nothing was coming out when the service came every week. We also discovered that the gauge for the head was not working either. Mix that together and you have a disaster. The tank was over filled and would then back up into the filter, which fell in line with the top of the tank, causing a lot of smelly issues. We moved the filter to be above the tank to alleviate part of the problem. We labeled the valve so we knew what position it needed to be in. Although the first season was definitely frustrating we also learned a lot and enjoyed our trips.

The second season was a much smoother season. We still had some issues but at least we got to enjoy the boat a lot more. While on our trip to NY city we realized that we had water in the mid bilge. When we stopped in Greenport we emptied the bilge but we still couldn’t get it to work. We had the marina take a look at it. It turns out the previous owner had the engine painted and many of the old paint chips ended up in the bilge and the hoses. After a thorough flushing, we finally got the bilge issue fixed but we didn’t know where the water was coming from. We left NY and headed to BI. More water in the bilge! We finally found out that the grounding plate was not on the boat. A board was used to cover the holes from the original grounding plate but the leak was there. It wasn’t a big leak so we felt we could finish off the season. The boat would need to be pulled to repair this issue. We also had issues with the GPS cutting out. A replaced battery in in the antenna and a software update solved that problem. We finally figured out that the holding tank gauge was shot. The system originally used on the boat was no longer manufactured so we would need a whole new system. Another post season job. We still had an odor from the head system so in the off season we decided to replace the head hoses. None of the issues this season were earth shattering and we had a great season cruising in RI and NY. At the end of the season we had a list of things to repair. The boat smells were so much better with new hoses for the head system. We had a new gauge installed for the holding tank. The board that covered the old grounding plate was removed. The holes were fiber-glassed and repaired and a new grounding plate was installed. As we prepped for the new season we discovered that we weren’t able to get new chips for the Raytheon GPS system. Doug has hated it from day one. He has always had Garmin and loves the ease of charting courses, etc. We replaced one of the Raytheon GPS screens with a new Garmin system. I suspect, shortly, that we will be moving from the Raytheon system to all Garmin, but for now the one screen will work and we have a second back up Raytheon screen still in use.

Season three has started. We got the boat in the water in April and it has been a nice respite from the COVID-19 craziness. The new GPS is great. The boat smells a whole lot better in the cabin. As we recommissioned everything we found out that the faucets in the head and the galley weren’t working great. We had great pressure everywhere else except for those two places. Debris had built up on the strainers. While researching that issue we found out that the water in the forward bilge was from a leaking drain line in the shower. Replaced the hose and no more water in the bilge. At the end of last season we started hearing this horrible rattle….almost like a water pump gone crazy, but much louder. We finally determined that the air compressor for the horn had a leak and was loose in the bracket. Replace a hose line, a part on order, tightened a screw and we are back in business. While it is still too cold to really take overnight trips on the boa,t, we have been taking short cruises and enjoying the change of scenery while still social distancing. We are hoping that we can still leave for Florida some time in September. Until then we hope to enjoy some local cruising and learn to work the Go-Pro and the drone so we can document our trip to Florida.

Due to Covid-19 we spent every weekend on the boat - social distancing. Unfortunately our trip to Florida has to be postponed until next year. Covid numbers are high and with having to test everywhere it would be a nightmare. We want to be able to sight see and we wouldn’t be able to do that either.

Season Four was not exactly a great season weather wise but we made the most of it. Most long weekends were windy and rainy. We did manage to spend 10 days at Block Island. We made a few other trips to Block and to Potters Cove. We have begun the prep for the trip to Florida. Our plan is to leave around Columbus weekend. We hope to take three weeks to complete the whole trip.

We installed solar panels which don’t seem to run all of the house items but I guess it helps. We are still questioning why it won’t run everything - or at least our refrigerators and freezer. We determined that one of the issues with our head was that the seacock was letting water seep in. It was back filling into the holding tank. Four seasons and we have the head issue fixed! We had an issue earlier this season with the aft bilge. When we stopped for gas we noticed the mid bilge wasn’t shutting off. We couldn’t find the source of the leak but the water was salty…never a good sign. After a bit of searching we realized that the aft bilge was back flowing. The after bilge pumps out in the stern scup. With the hard bottom raft on the back that bilge hose was under water. Somehow it sucked in water and started filling the back bilge and flowing forward to the mid bilge when we stopped moving. By disconnecting the hose and getting the end above the waterline we stopped the backflow. A new bilge pump and hoses are now installed. Now we have a steering issue and the part is on order. We are hoping it arrives on time. Boat parts are getting harder and harder to find.

The cost of the trip before we even leave the dock is growing. We bought two new electric scooters for exploring while in port. Doug had to upgrade his drone so we could get some action shots on the trip. We ordered and designed boat cards to exchange with fellow boaters, family and friends. I am still trying to figure out how to upload picture, videos, and create the blog. We have been cleaning off the boat and taking off some of the things we use as a family but won’t really need for this trip. The lists are endless at this point but the count down is on!

Island Girl II made it to Florida without any troubles at all. While in Florida we will had the boat pulled. We hit something on our trip but it didn’t seem to create any issues while running. Once we pulled the boat we realized that one of the prop blades was bent so we sent both props out to be checked and polished. That task has been accomplished. We are having the bottom painted and new zincs installed. The bottom was flaking pretty badly from years of paint so it will be stripped down to the gel coat and repainted. We have given up on the grounding plate that falls off every year. We have had the system tested and they thought they found that the inverter was wired incorrectly and was causing the grounding plate to corrode away. Obviously, that wasn’t the case as it was gone again this year. The screw holes for that will be permanently filled. We are throwing our hands up in the air on this one and are just giving up trying to resolve this issue. Other than all of this, there wasn’t much that needed to be done. We hope she will be ready for out trip to the Bahamas in February and then back to RI in April.