That’s a wrap on our shakedown sail! In this episode, after sailing back across Lake Michigan to our home port of Racine, Wisconsin, and getting a little weird during the crossing (being alone on a boat definitely makes you go a little batty), we talk through everything we learned during our 3-week cruise along the west coast of Michigan.
We wanted to do a proper shakedown cruise for two reasons:
- FUN. After years of planning, saving and searching for a sailboat, we wanted to have some fun, see the west coast of Michigan, and sail into Charlevoix to achieve one of Kirk’s childhood dreams.
- TEST the BOAT. Even though we’d taken some daysails, up until this point we hadn’t used the boat like a cruiser, which was the big plan. Before setting off south from our home port, we wanted a better idea of what we needed to fix, change or upgrade on the boat. A multi-week shakedown sail/cruise gave us a much better understanding of what it was like to live aboard our Tartan 37.
Below is the TO DO list of things we decided were the most important and/or easy/cheap to complete before leaving on our big trip down the Mississippi/inland river system.
- Ground tackle upgrade
- New anchor – https://amzn.to/2ulA1sI
- Add windlass
- New anchor bridle
- New all-chain rode
- New chain hook – https://amzn.to/2JisyQ1
- New anchor swivel – https://amzn.to/2uoAo5S
- Replace leaky head with compositing head
- Convert all lights to LEDs
- Cabin – https://amzn.to/2Jlziwq
- Navigation – https://amzn.to/2L81N5L
- New battery bank
- Communications upgrade
- Purchase Verizon mifi – https://amzn.to/2ukuQcI
- Cellphone signal booster – https://amzn.to/2NMf821
- Marine cellphone antenna – https://amzn.to/2uxRCgj
- Wifi booster
- Insulate engine compartment
- Hydrogen sulfate monitor – https://amzn.to/2umsJVP
- Plumb 2nd water tank * Add foam to settee cushions
- Run spinnaker halyard internally
- Sew UV canvas covers for winches, handrails & compass
- Buy handheld VHF – https://amzn.to/2uydZCq
- Rig anchor light for river trip – https://amzn.to/2JmTvlp
- Buy jerry cans for diesel & water/make deck railing for stowing
- Diesel – https://amzn.to/2NQG8NV
- Water – https://amzn.to/2LgYjdZ
- Re-charge fridge
Stay tuned for the next episode as the projects begin!
Hope you enjoy!
Lauren & Kirk
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