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Our Sailing Hideaway Blog and YouTube videos will remain active. Join the HideAways as we tell, through blog stories and videos, what life really is like on a small, 23' Com Pac sailboat. We'll show the joys, thrills and chills of the sailing life, but also what it takes to maintain a boat, trailer and truck. You are just as likely to learn how not to do something correctly as to do it right. That's important too! New! The Hideaways take to the road! Follow Traveling Hideaway: Winds of Wanderlust Transitioning from Sailing Hideaway to Traveling Hideaways as sailors learn to travel without heeling, well, not much, anyway. The Paint Wasters Society unlocks the art of paint squandering with sheer delight, free from the shackles of remorse or guilt. Trust me, a century down the line, nobody's going to bat an eyelash, so why not indulge in some paint splattering shenanigans today? Let's turn those pricey pigments into a canvas of laughter and joy.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

The OOPS Factor - The HideAways Turn Oil Into Cream

Awhile ago we chronicled rebuilding the lower end of our 1994 Evinrude 8hp outboard motor in a series of videos on HideAways Utube channel.

The good news is the motor keeps its cool during the most stressful of times such as running horizontally during a recent heavy weather event on Tampa Bay as HideAway buried her rail for a lot longer than one would think possible.

Her exhausted, salt encrusted crew took two days to return HideAway to her trailer and two weeks to sew up her damaged sails and glue her dink back together.



Linda sews while two crew members watch
 












HideAway and the Dink locked rub rails






Then someone asked why Mr E, our faithful outboard, was hemoraging a cream colored substance from his lower end. The answer to which can be found below










SMALL BOATS ROCK!

Compac 23 V Berth Conversion



The V berth in my Compac 23 is a wide and spacious place originally designed as a double berth separated from the main cabin by a full bulkhead. For the cruising couple the V berth has one major flaw common in most boats of this size. Smack dab in the middle of the berth lurks the head which in most cases is a self contained Marine Sanitation Device. No doubt this is the best and only practical place to install such a device but it is a real pain in the neck if one of the berth’s occupants needs to use it at night. In addition, if you are using the V berth for sleeping where do you put your other stuff?



I happened upon the plans for a Cape Dory 25D.  The concept of sleeping in the V berth is abandoned in favor of using the space for the head and storage. Applying the concept to HideAway, I replaced the original porta pottie with a larger one rigged to use dockside pump out equipment. Not only does this mitigate the worst of the undesirable chores on HideAway it also provides an outside vent for the MSD. Then I developed and installed a sink with a cabinet added an electric water pump and plumbed the vanity to an unused thru hull.



SV HideAway Vanity





In cruising mode the V berth area is home to our main jerry jug water supply, extra sails, tools and supplies. Now all of our cruising gear and small coolers labeled by day of use can be stored in one place.





The early Compac 23s had no cabinetry beyond the sink/ companion way steps. While a bit stark compared to the Compac 23/IV that feature a slide out sink and galley with additional cabinetry along the settees.

Compac 23 IV port side


 The HideAway has human size settee berths that are comfortable for sleeping.


A fair trade off to me as the thought of cooking something below decks makes no sense to me and with the reconfigured V berth space the settee cabinets are unnecessary.





HideAway is the earliest known Compac of this design in existence.  

SV HideAway Compac 23 Hull #2
Now I can stand up to put on my pants – A decadent luxury.


Small Boats Rock!!

A Word from our cruising kitty-


 Classic Sailboat & Dink Mousepad
Browse for more mousepads from zazzle.com.


A nice thick mouse pad is hard to find.  
This on fills the bill-- 

Add your boat and text.  It's easy!  I did it!


Friday, April 22, 2011

Boca Ciega Yacht Club Open House

Looking for something fun to do Saturday?  Come on down to our sailing club for free sailboat rides and more at Boca Ciega Yacht Club’s Open house  1- 4pm Bring the kids old and young- go sailing – have a hot dog – paint your face – learn about the sailing life style and more!  www.sailbcyc.org

4600 Tifton Drive South
Gulfport Florida

Gulfport Marina

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Pine Island II

It’s only 17 miles from HideAways berth in Gulfport Fl to Pine Island near Apollo Beach according to our ancient GPS. The math is easy; distance divided by speed concludes the trip will take about 4 hours. Factor in the weather and wind speed and maybe add an hour or so for the safety factor and we find a mid afternoon arrival in the realm of some reality.




The HideAway carries her navigation table in a three ring binder containing large font course plans for various expected wind as well as tide and weather forecasts for the period. In addition each course has been plotted on a water proof paper chart with detailed notes. Her crew are equally well versed in the plans’ details and are prepared to take over navigation duties at a moments notice.



Despite passing St. Petersburg and anchoring fairly close to Apollo Beach there is little opportunity to replenish supplies of gas on this cruise. A refueling stop would add too much time to the trip therefore the HideAways carried nearly nine gallons of gas, should extended use of the motor be required. She returned with less than one gallon in her tank.



Sailing like a scalded cat across Boca Ciega Bay at 6 kn/GPS while pulling our East Port Pram brought large smiles to the HideAways. Seventeen other boats of the fleet sailing out of Boca Ciega Yacht Club stretched across the bay like a work of art Saturday morning. After a slight delay getting under Structure “C” the fleet proceeded along the ICW past St Pete Beach to the next drawbridge to the East with the inspired name of Structure “E” that separates Tierra Verde island from the mainland.



In the good old days each bridge raised on the twenties so a boat would have little delay making both bridges. Given the strong currents around “E” this was an important benefit. Then some Bozo from the State of Florida decided to put “E” on the halves in favor of the wealthy home owners on Tierra Verde. (We have the best government money can buy apparently.)

To be continued...