Thanksgiving...

Isn't for quite some time, at least here in the good ol' U S of A.
However,
as we round second base on our home run trot, I thought I'd set down
some of
the thoughts which have been bouncing around in the last several
weeks.

As I assume you all know, our adventure started off with rather more
excitement than we'd planned. At first glance (well, peek through
fingers
over the eyes, at least), our "catastrophic grounding" had all the
elements
for about as much catastrophe as could be imagined with our
"comfortable"
(no bruises, broken bones, or other life endangerment) survival. Badly
hurt - maybe destroyed - boat, no home (nearly certainly the insurance
would
be a total loss and we'd lose the boat), and everything we owned was
either
on or tied up on/in that boat.

However... It's like the old bad news/ no! - good news stories.
Examples
follow:

We were shipwrecked, truly. But not abandoned, nor alone. We were
picked up
by the Coast Guard, deposited to dry (well, firm - it was still
raining)
land, and fed, medically inspected, given a place to sleep for a
while, fed
again, and then directed to the local Red Cross facility, which, due
to
their telephone and internet, allowed us to immediately get on with
getting
our lives back together. Thanksgiving came early this year...

We were homeless, and without transportation, having sold our homes,
given
nearly everything away, including - on the day we left - our only
remaining
vehicle, which had done heroic service in running up and down the road
between GA and FL during my initial refits and later for our mutal
work on
the boat, and totally committed to the boat (which we expected to
lose).
Yet, in less than a week, we were back aboard Flying Pig, had
transportation
donated to our cause, and two trust funds set up in our interest, the
latter
quite immediately and unknown to us. Since that less-than-a-week, we
have
been inundated with support, love, interest and assistance of all
kinds. To
try to enumerate them here would both be too long and impossible, as
I'm
sure I'd miss someone or something. Suffice it to say that we're
eternally
grateful and continue to "pay it forward" - except that in this case
we're
also paying it back. The trust funds alone allowed our painless stay
in the
repair facility - those donations covered the yard costs for the 3
weeks we
were there, for example - and the assistance of many folks to help us
restore our home has not only been the expected benefit it provided,
but has
led to many new friends as we work alongside them. Thanksgiving came
early
this year...

Many have wondered about our end results with the insurance side of
things.
I had an entire message to a couple of the mailing lists and forums on
which
I'm active about the subject but the short story of it is that
Allstate gets
my vote. However, the good news/bad news stuff is a bit more
telling...

* As expected, our boat adjuster's coverage decision totaled the
boat
(the boat was determined to be a total loss, and they would not
attempt
arranging repairs). Normally that would mean that we would have to
give up
the boat, or, perhaps, accept a negotiated, lowered settlement, or,
have to
buy back the boat as salvage, leaving little or nothing with which to
rebuild (after pre-existing commitment costs). However, in the course
of
many email and telephone contacts, the adjuster became aware of all
the work
we'd done in the last 3 years on our home, increasing the value of the
boat.
The decision came down - we were under-insured. Bad news, right?
No...
Because we were under-valued (the boat was worth more than it was
insured
for), they had no salvage rights. Instead, the entire value of the
policy
would be paid, and we'd retain ownership. Thanksgiving came early
this
year...

* That means: The salvors - those many folks who got Flying Pig
off the
dry rock it was banging around on - were paid off. The mortgage was
paid
off. And there's enough left over to provide a boating kitty against
future
disasters. Thanksgiving came early this year...

* Unfortunately, nobody will insure us - or, at least, the boat -
as
there's been a wreck. However... We can't be insured. Many cruisers
self-insure, due to the costs of true bluewater (offshore, not covered
in
coastal cruising)insurance. That is to say they are responsible for
any and
all of their own losses, and have a good reserve for emergencies, but
the
main reason cruisers self-insure is to save those considerable costs
of
insurance. Because we can't be insured, we also don't have to spend
that
considerable amount. Because the mortgage is paid off, we aren't
required
to have that insurance, but we also don't have to pay that mortgage
amount
each month. The difference in monthly income (insurance and mortgage
payments not made) may mean we won't have to work as we'd expected.
Thanksgiving came early this year...

Back to giving away the car, here, to one of the yard folks we felt
could
benefit from having it. When we wrecked less than two days after
leaving, we
called to ask if we could borrow it back for a while, as we were doing
our
expected repairs. He'd already given it to his son (part of the
reason we
chose him as the recipient), and it was unavailable. Within another 36
hours, one of our Morgan mailing list members - someone we'd never
even had
correspondence with, let alone met - in the Marathon area had given us
another work-suitable vehicle. We'll pass it on. Thanksgiving came
early
this year...

In our pounding on the rocks, we fully expected to find great holes in
our
side when we returned for the salvage removal of the hull. Instead,
the only
water intrusion was next to a fitting which had been bashed loose.
The
bilge pump very easily kept up with it. Literally every one of the
team of
salvors expected us to have to gather up the pieces and put Flying Pig
on
the equivalent of air mattresses in order to tow it to the yard for
insurance review. Instead, she was towed on her own bottom, with her
own
steering. To a man, they were astounded, and hugely complimentary to
Morgan
Yachts and Flying Pig. Thanksgiving came early this year...

The boat was pounded on the rocks by the surf for 36 hours. During
that
time it must have been lifted and dropped, and rocked, not less than
5000
times. As the fuel tank was about half empty, if there was any crud
remaining after my months of fuel polishing prior to our departure, it
certainly was dispersed by the time we were removed. Sure enough, when
I
changed the fuel polisher filters after running them for the three
weeks we
were ashore, there was a large accumulation of debris in the bottom of
the
primary filter. Then, just to make sure, we ran the pumps for the
entire
time of our return to Salt Creek. During that trip, there was a 36
hour
period where we swung between a 40-45 degree arc in the waves, and got
pitched (forward and aft) as well due to our heading. If there were
any
remaining particles not suspended before, there weren't any left after
that
trip. As we ran the polishing system the entire time, and very rarely
turned
on the engine, we are confident that we have a clean fuel tank and
clean
fuel. Thanksgiving came early this year...

Among the friends we've made in this adventure is a salvage operations
owner
(not the one who pulled us off), here in Salt Creek Marina. He, too,
pays
it forward. Among his adventures was a charity boat donation which
was
located in Ft. Lauderdale. He was leaving the next day after we
arrived
here, with a crew, to sail it back, as his donation (a delivery
captain and
crew would be thousands of dollars for that trip). He agreed to give
me a
ride to Marathon as part of that trip, so I could pick up the car
above.
Making a long story short, this donation wasn't nearly ready to sail
home.
So, for the next two weeks, he and I went down and worked on the boat,
essentially rebuilding the engine (in place!) and preparing to rebuild
the
fuel system. Trading time, this very experienced boatwright is
working with
me in the restoration of the interior structural integrity. I
couldn't buy
his experience, let alone afford it. Thanksgiving came early this
year...

On which subject (interior structural integrity)... The exterior/hull
of
the boat was repaired fully, with the exception of the rudder, which
I've
just finished fairing out to make a symmetrical shape so water flows
more
smoothly, before we even left Marathon. That the hull was as strong
as it
was allowed a quick repair. Thanksgiving came early this year...

As to the interior, however, with some inspection and adjustment,
we're
proceeding to what will be a very strong restoration. It's more
technical
than most of you want to hear about, but it suffices to say that
instead of
being nearly impossible, we'll have Flying Pig put back together such
that
even the most picky of surveyors, the quality control and service
manager at
Morgan Yachts during the entire production run of our model boat, will
give
her a clean bill of health. All this at little cost to us.
Thanksgiving came
early this year...

In the course of doing the reattachment of reinforcing points, to get
to
some of them, I had to do some disassembly in the engine room. As is
common
on boats of this age with wooden components, there were some parts
which
were rotten. I've since finished making those repairs, but without
this
accident and the required disassembly, we'd never have found those
until
they failed. Thanksgiving came early this year...

Back to the exterior, the new bottom paint has been applied. However,
as
some of the October 06 launch pix show, our waterline has crept upward
as we
have continued to add gear and live-aboard materials of all kinds. It
got
worse as we provisioned her for months in the Bahamas. As such, we
were not
adequately protected from sea critters' taking up residence at the
waterline. However, we had to come out of the water to finish our
repairs.
That made altering the waterline very easy. Along the way, we made
some
cosmetic improvements along with correcting some prior paint alignment
errors. The new work will look better, and perform better, at a
minimal
cost. And, Lydia's getting pretty skilled as a painter. We have no
doubt
that were she not already committed, if she wanted a new sailing
partner,
all she'd have to do would be put on her shorts, get the stepladder,
and
grab a brush. The men flocked around! Not to help, of course :{))
But, we
continue to acquire new skills and confidence as a result of our
"disaster."
Thanksgiving came early this year...

In our rush to get on the way with our adventure, we made the decision
to go
immediately to the Bahamas, and work our way down island, eventually
getting
to the Eastern Caribbean, and then cruising up and down that chain.
This
adventure (as it has unfolded) has provided the wakeup call to suggest
that
perhaps it would be effective to gain much more experience with the
boat and
its systems before starting over on our long-term plans. So, instead,
we've
taken the decision to do the US East coast, following/chasing the
warm, but
not hot, weather as we go. In exchange, we'll be: Within range of
our tow
service should we ever need that kind of help; Within range of umpteen
different chandleries (boat parts supply houses), should we ever need
parts;
Within the US so we can receive some benefit, should it be needed,
from our
COBRA health insurance continuation following Lydia's retirement; Able
to
explore and enjoy literally hundreds of US locations and attractions,
as we
may choose; Within easy transport of family and friends who may wish
to come
cruise with us for a time, and, not least; When it's time to head to
the
tropics, very experienced sailors, comfortable with our boat and
systems,
with most of the inevitable bugs worked out and/or killed.
Thanksgiving
came early this year...

And, finally, but hardly least, our enforced time ashore allowed us to
move
up our USCoastGuard Captain's school training from June, when we
expected to
have to come back to St. Petersburg, requiring not only that we find
someplace to keep the boat (originally assumed to be the Bahamas),
arrange
local housing, arrange local transportation, and try to find
employment in
the 4 weeks when we weren't in classes other than the weekends.
Instead, we
finished the classes last week, and tonight, following our exhaustive
4-hours' testing, we're both Licensed members of the Merchant Marine -
USCG
Captains. Thanksgiving came early this year...

We're still ashore, as there are many things yet to be done. But the
structural repairs are complete, and we're creeping up on the
remainder of
the wreck-related repairs/replacements. Soon we'll be in the water
again,
doing sea trials, and then it's off to the races as we leave the
state, this
time to head to New York City in late August, enjoying the US east
coast
along the way, and then heading back south, chasing/keeping up with
the warm
weather. We're incredibly blessed. Thanksgiving came early this
year...

L8R

Captains Skip and Lydia

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog and/or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its
hands.

You seek problems because you need their gifts.

On 7 May 2007 21:25:35 -0700, Skip Gundlach
wrote:

[...]
* Unfortunately, nobody will insure us - or, at least, the boat -
as
there's been a wreck. However... We can't be insured. Many cruisers
self-insure, due to the costs of true bluewater (offshore, not covered
in
coastal cruising)insurance. That is to say they are responsible for
any and
all of their own losses, and have a good reserve for emergencies, but
the
main reason cruisers self-insure is to save those considerable costs
of
insurance. Because we can't be insured, we also don't have to spend
that
considerable amount. Because the mortgage is paid off, we aren't
required
to have that insurance, but we also don't have to pay that mortgage
amount
each month. The difference in monthly income (insurance and mortgage
payments not made) may mean we won't have to work as we'd expected.
Thanksgiving came early this year...
[...]

One thing about not having insurance, it might limit where you can
stay. If you plan to stay at any marinas, most around here require
insurance.

Steve

Skip Gundlach wrote in
ups.com:

SV Flying Pig KI4MPC


Be thankful and pray for any sailors offshore of Charleston, this
morning. There's a full blown Nor'easter out there headed this way for
the last couple of days. I heard, on the radio this morning, the seas
were THIRTY FEET HIGH!

Everyone take a minute for those caught offshore of the SE USA this
morning. Winds in Charleston were near 50mph yesterday and are still
going to be very high, today. Trucks are being warned to stay off
bridges.



Larry
--
This spammer called my cellphone:
First American Payment
10101 E Arapaho Rd
Richardson, TX 75081
972-301-3766
They were nasty when I politely said I wasn't interested....(c;