Dave watches Orion Jr leave Faith We continue our volunteer efforts at Faith, working with a small group to transform 5 rooms into space for Beyond 90. But our efforts to sell all things boat-related were successful in a big way, when Orion Jr became the property of a new owner as February came to an end, and we ended our 19 years of living and sailing on a boat of our own.
Hitching the trailer up to the jeep. Moving On
After our first showing of Orion Jr yielded no response, we were keeping our expectations in check when we had a scheduled a showing a week later. Since the prospective buyers were arriving at 11:30, Cathy made her way to the boat in the morning to set up the bimini. Before she could even get on the boat, she was getting facebook messages from a different person. After informing him that we had an appointment already, he said he would be there in 40 minutes. With that accelerated schedule, we set up the canvas and set aside the other work we had planned for the morning of what would be a record-setting hot day.
With Dave as guide, the father/son pair looked over the boat and learned what she had to offer. Within a couple of hours, it was beginning to look like a sale might happen. Since they seemed very serious, the obvious question was, “how well does the outboard run?” Oh, yes.
While we were confident it would run well, we didn’t have fuel ready and we needed hoses to enable it to run safely. Grabbing hoses from the RV, the fuel tank and gas from the truck and oil stored in the boat, we managed to mix up a gallon of fuel and connect it to the outboard. We had kept some “muffs” that enable the hoses to connect to the lower shaft of the outboard.
Dave then pressed the button and . . . nothing happened. After some head-scratching, he realized the battery switch needed to be turned on. While the electric start was then working, it wouldn’t turn the motor over. So, Dave just pulled the cord (something we almost never did while cruising Orion Jr), and it started right up. Whew!
After our first showing of Orion Jr yielded no response, we were keeping our expectations in check when we had a scheduled a showing a week later. Since the prospective buyers were arriving at 11:30, Cathy made her way to the boat in the morning to set up the bimini. Before she could even get on the boat, she was getting facebook messages from a different person. After informing him that we had an appointment already, he said he would be there in 40 minutes. With that accelerated schedule, we set up the canvas and set aside the other work we had planned for the morning of what would be a record-setting hot day.
With Dave as guide, the father/son pair looked over the boat and learned what she had to offer. Within a couple of hours, it was beginning to look like a sale might happen. Since they seemed very serious, the obvious question was, “how well does the outboard run?” Oh, yes.
While we were confident it would run well, we didn’t have fuel ready and we needed hoses to enable it to run safely. Grabbing hoses from the RV, the fuel tank and gas from the truck and oil stored in the boat, we managed to mix up a gallon of fuel and connect it to the outboard. We had kept some “muffs” that enable the hoses to connect to the lower shaft of the outboard.
Dave then pressed the button and . . . nothing happened. After some head-scratching, he realized the battery switch needed to be turned on. While the electric start was then working, it wouldn’t turn the motor over. So, Dave just pulled the cord (something we almost never did while cruising Orion Jr), and it started right up. Whew!
Outboard in place ready to test That began a series of preparations to complete the sale, and it became apparent, to get Orion Jr ready to move because they planned to take her with them. Dave went with the buyers to the bank, taking the title paperwork if it could be completed there. Cathy stayed behind to start making the boat ready to move. She brought over the compressor to inflate the trailer tires. Then the bimini had to come down and the bimini bows needed to be secured. The license plate had to be removed from the trailer. Each task required a different tool that always seemed to be back at the RV. No problem making her steps goal for the day.
When Dave returned, the paperwork still needed to be completed. We retreated to Asbury Hall to fill out the documents that would sell both the boat and trailer. Cathy went to make copies while Dave worked with the buyers to inflate the tires and finish securing the boat to move on the highway. Meanwhile the parking lot was getting pretty full, since a basketball event was being held in the gym. We kept an eye on the space around the boat to make sure they could maneuver the trailer out of the parking lot. But sure enough, by mid-afternoon, Orion Jr was underway, moving toward her new home in St. Augustine.
But we weren’t quite done.
We had offered to help them launch the boat and raise the mast the next day. So, we met them around 11am in the parking lot of one of the busiest boat ramps we had seen just north of St. Augustine. With 4 launch ramps, there were trailers constantly in motion. We had a little difficulty just finding a place to park. We talked the new owners through the steps necessary to get the boat ready to launch. When the time came to put the boat in the water, they positioned the boat on the ramp, but then had to stop and pull forward to extend the tongue to give the reach needed to launch the boat in deep enough water. Despite the added distance, the boat would not float off the trailer. Not to give up, they decided to extend the tongue one more position. With that change, Orion Jr was back in the water.
With some stronger backs available, they opted to use a winch and a pulley to raise the mast without the gin pole. And they were successful with one exception. The forestay wasn’t correctly attached at the top of the mast. So, sailing wasn’t going to be an option on this trip. However, with the bimini back up, they were ready to get out on the water. We waved goodbye and wished them well.
When Dave returned, the paperwork still needed to be completed. We retreated to Asbury Hall to fill out the documents that would sell both the boat and trailer. Cathy went to make copies while Dave worked with the buyers to inflate the tires and finish securing the boat to move on the highway. Meanwhile the parking lot was getting pretty full, since a basketball event was being held in the gym. We kept an eye on the space around the boat to make sure they could maneuver the trailer out of the parking lot. But sure enough, by mid-afternoon, Orion Jr was underway, moving toward her new home in St. Augustine.
But we weren’t quite done.
We had offered to help them launch the boat and raise the mast the next day. So, we met them around 11am in the parking lot of one of the busiest boat ramps we had seen just north of St. Augustine. With 4 launch ramps, there were trailers constantly in motion. We had a little difficulty just finding a place to park. We talked the new owners through the steps necessary to get the boat ready to launch. When the time came to put the boat in the water, they positioned the boat on the ramp, but then had to stop and pull forward to extend the tongue to give the reach needed to launch the boat in deep enough water. Despite the added distance, the boat would not float off the trailer. Not to give up, they decided to extend the tongue one more position. With that change, Orion Jr was back in the water.
With some stronger backs available, they opted to use a winch and a pulley to raise the mast without the gin pole. And they were successful with one exception. The forestay wasn’t correctly attached at the top of the mast. So, sailing wasn’t going to be an option on this trip. However, with the bimini back up, they were ready to get out on the water. We waved goodbye and wished them well.
Orion Jr at sail in the Gulf of Mexico Orion Jr was no longer ours, but that was a good thing. We still had lots of good memories of our time sailing and living on her. Those we will keep for a long time.
A few paint splatters Church Stuff
As we finished the drywall prep in the rooms for Beyond 90, we have moved on to painting and installing doors. With the unseasonably warm weather, Joe welcomed the chance to do some indoor work, re-framing 2 door openings to accommodate a smaller 32” door. Fred and Pat installed doors in the remaining new walls, and the rest of us picked up paint brushes and rollers and began painting. Some of us are a little messier than others.
As we finished the drywall prep in the rooms for Beyond 90, we have moved on to painting and installing doors. With the unseasonably warm weather, Joe welcomed the chance to do some indoor work, re-framing 2 door openings to accommodate a smaller 32” door. Fred and Pat installed doors in the remaining new walls, and the rest of us picked up paint brushes and rollers and began painting. Some of us are a little messier than others.
Joe rises high to change the parking lot lights Dave kept disappearing from the construction work to handle other tasks. He ordered a replacement computer and monitor for the livestreaming, gave some training on maintaining the website, worked with Beyond 90’s IT support to locate a problematic switch in our network, and supervised the installation of an electrical panel at Pastor Jacob’s, among other things. We both took a morning away to once again “spot” for Joe as he rode a lift up to replace parking lot light bulbs.
And, for the first time in almost 3 years, we took the reins of the livestream again. On Ash Wednesday, Nelson was going to be delayed and asked if we could cover for him. We were a bit rusty, but took some time to practice beforehand. It went pretty well, but Nelson took over shortly after the service began and that was probably a good thing.
And More
Cathy joined Pat one afternoon at the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit in downtown Jacksonville, which was an immersive experience in sound and images from Van Gogh’s work. It was a stunning display that is hard to capture in still images.
Cathy joined Pat one afternoon at the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit in downtown Jacksonville, which was an immersive experience in sound and images from Van Gogh’s work. It was a stunning display that is hard to capture in still images.
Nelson with his proud mom, Elsie The next week we were invited to the local high school to attend the Miss Englewood, Mr. Englewood pageant. Nelson, who runs the church’s livestream, was one of the contestants. It was a blast, and Nelson did a great job, taking the award for the most talented with his talent playing the tuba. Yes, that’s right. The tuba. You had to be there. He took 1st runner-up, and we enjoyed cheering him on.
