GoneFarrell
Guru
Been about a year since the “other woman” came into my life, my Farrell 34.
Looking back:
One of the best decisions I’ve made in some time, really fun, a lot of refurbishing work too! I am not complaining.
Plodding around at 7 or 8 knots is good for me, slows me down, gives me time to appreciate what’s going on around me, on the boat and on the water. Makes 10 to 12 knots through Deception Pass seem fast!
Planning ahead for the ebb and flow breaks me out of land routine, gets me back in phase with the outside world. No facebook on board my boat!
Hanging out in the harbor is good too, free show every day. Lots of coming and going. Almost everybody waves. Outside, everybody waves, there is no hazard from texting drivers!
Glad I got a flybridge boat, I like the big space feeling and ability to scope the waters 360 around, get warmed up by the sun.
Like others have said here, I spend more on food/drinks and just getting to/from the boat than I do on diesel. Maybe that will change next year when I wander farther afield, but doubt it. I can only burn so much fuel a day with an Isuzu DA120.
Went through almost every system on the boat, learned it, fixed this and that. So now I know the status of almost all my boat systems, how to fix them, where to get parts and so on. I like being able to fix things, now I can monitor the boat systems on board and do better preventative maintenance.
Stuff donated to Neptune:
BBQ brush, drill bits, Magma BBQ parts, countless screws, sanding blocks, scrapers, foam kneepads (got one back!), hose nozzle, silverware. Things have a way of bouncing on deck so they swish through the scuppers non-stop. I only drop things that sink, the wind blows away things that float.
Stuff I learned the hard way:
Windlass is most hazardous piece of power equipment on the boat (dingy O/B 2nd), it can hurt you and the boat if not maintained/used properly and safely. Sticky foot switches in the deck suck, changing over to radio remote control and better/safer procedures.
Chain doesn’t always flake down when you really wish it would! Made a small hoisting procedure change that fixed that.
Fuel filters like to clog when entering a harbor or trying to set an anchor in the wind. Glad I can switch over to filter B quickly. May add a simple fuel line neg pressure gauge to monitor this condition.
Engine bilge has high local gravity field (due to large mass of cast iron) that attracts all objects, a sort of marine black hole from which tools cannot be recovered. But screws and nuts are able to break free of the field and wedge themselves into a bilge pump switch float at night.
Using thrusters and jamming windlass at same time on a low battery is not gonna work, can blow a fuse that way. Thrusters are really nice to have, but you still have to have a plan B and capable hand at the helm if they go off line.
Raw water impellers are easy to replace at the dock, not so easy under way!
Stuff that makes me smile:
Good hands on board are worth their weight in rum! I can solo OK, but this is way more fun with good and capable hands of first mate and pals. Boat is big enough there’s room for all.
A small fish can get into a working raw water strainer, take the beating for a while, then swim back out when the engine is turned off!
Looking at the brightwork I spent a ton of time refinishing this summer. I am guilty of wood boat disease, gotta have my varnish fix! Boat can hold its own in Port Townsend, so I am happy.
The diesel really likes fresh engine oil, it just sounds happy to be splashing around in it!
Good food and grog tastes even better on board and with good company! BBQ and boats are a great combo. Liquor & beer disappears twice as fast on board vs. land.
Pollen/air pollution count is way low on the water, nose works better, I sleep better.
Modern chart plotting apps are really easy to use, great tool to have on board, but I will always cross-check that with dead reckoning my course, speed, depth and position.
Barry Farrell seems to have created a hull that works great when seas get choppy ahead.
Looking forward:
Want to get back into the local islands for spring shakedown cruises, then head north into BC boating grounds.
Float around with others here in Puget Sound and then up north along the inside passage.
Figure out what sort of fishing/shrimping tackle to put on board.
Better listing and stocking of spares, who to call for what.
Extend the USB power system and on-board wifi/bluetooth use. Minimize new wiring.
Continue changing out old bulbs to 2700K LEDs. Really brightens up the boat without being harsh on the eyes.
Improve the 12V house bank alternator/regulator, maybe rewind the alternator for more amps.
Thanks to all on this forum for your many thoughtful/useful posts on everything trawler. It’s really helped me make better choices and given me cross-checks to all manner of stuff hardware and procedure.
See you on the water somewhere between here and there!
Looking back:
One of the best decisions I’ve made in some time, really fun, a lot of refurbishing work too! I am not complaining.
Plodding around at 7 or 8 knots is good for me, slows me down, gives me time to appreciate what’s going on around me, on the boat and on the water. Makes 10 to 12 knots through Deception Pass seem fast!
Planning ahead for the ebb and flow breaks me out of land routine, gets me back in phase with the outside world. No facebook on board my boat!
Hanging out in the harbor is good too, free show every day. Lots of coming and going. Almost everybody waves. Outside, everybody waves, there is no hazard from texting drivers!
Glad I got a flybridge boat, I like the big space feeling and ability to scope the waters 360 around, get warmed up by the sun.
Like others have said here, I spend more on food/drinks and just getting to/from the boat than I do on diesel. Maybe that will change next year when I wander farther afield, but doubt it. I can only burn so much fuel a day with an Isuzu DA120.
Went through almost every system on the boat, learned it, fixed this and that. So now I know the status of almost all my boat systems, how to fix them, where to get parts and so on. I like being able to fix things, now I can monitor the boat systems on board and do better preventative maintenance.
Stuff donated to Neptune:
BBQ brush, drill bits, Magma BBQ parts, countless screws, sanding blocks, scrapers, foam kneepads (got one back!), hose nozzle, silverware. Things have a way of bouncing on deck so they swish through the scuppers non-stop. I only drop things that sink, the wind blows away things that float.
Stuff I learned the hard way:
Windlass is most hazardous piece of power equipment on the boat (dingy O/B 2nd), it can hurt you and the boat if not maintained/used properly and safely. Sticky foot switches in the deck suck, changing over to radio remote control and better/safer procedures.
Chain doesn’t always flake down when you really wish it would! Made a small hoisting procedure change that fixed that.
Fuel filters like to clog when entering a harbor or trying to set an anchor in the wind. Glad I can switch over to filter B quickly. May add a simple fuel line neg pressure gauge to monitor this condition.
Engine bilge has high local gravity field (due to large mass of cast iron) that attracts all objects, a sort of marine black hole from which tools cannot be recovered. But screws and nuts are able to break free of the field and wedge themselves into a bilge pump switch float at night.
Using thrusters and jamming windlass at same time on a low battery is not gonna work, can blow a fuse that way. Thrusters are really nice to have, but you still have to have a plan B and capable hand at the helm if they go off line.
Raw water impellers are easy to replace at the dock, not so easy under way!
Stuff that makes me smile:
Good hands on board are worth their weight in rum! I can solo OK, but this is way more fun with good and capable hands of first mate and pals. Boat is big enough there’s room for all.
A small fish can get into a working raw water strainer, take the beating for a while, then swim back out when the engine is turned off!
Looking at the brightwork I spent a ton of time refinishing this summer. I am guilty of wood boat disease, gotta have my varnish fix! Boat can hold its own in Port Townsend, so I am happy.
The diesel really likes fresh engine oil, it just sounds happy to be splashing around in it!
Good food and grog tastes even better on board and with good company! BBQ and boats are a great combo. Liquor & beer disappears twice as fast on board vs. land.
Pollen/air pollution count is way low on the water, nose works better, I sleep better.
Modern chart plotting apps are really easy to use, great tool to have on board, but I will always cross-check that with dead reckoning my course, speed, depth and position.
Barry Farrell seems to have created a hull that works great when seas get choppy ahead.
Looking forward:
Want to get back into the local islands for spring shakedown cruises, then head north into BC boating grounds.
Float around with others here in Puget Sound and then up north along the inside passage.
Figure out what sort of fishing/shrimping tackle to put on board.
Better listing and stocking of spares, who to call for what.
Extend the USB power system and on-board wifi/bluetooth use. Minimize new wiring.
Continue changing out old bulbs to 2700K LEDs. Really brightens up the boat without being harsh on the eyes.
Improve the 12V house bank alternator/regulator, maybe rewind the alternator for more amps.
Thanks to all on this forum for your many thoughtful/useful posts on everything trawler. It’s really helped me make better choices and given me cross-checks to all manner of stuff hardware and procedure.
See you on the water somewhere between here and there!
