After 35,000 Miles
sea, the rails are in constant use as guards against the
occasional “sneaker” wave. Bunks are fitted with double
safety belts, and there are four-point harnesses in the
saloon, which we use when crossing breaking bars and
once in a while offshore in really big seas.
Of the 3,500 hours we’ve been under way, we’ve
experienced 98 hours when these features were
important, and in most cases we purposely sought out
these conditions to test the boat. This includes a crossing
Above: While checking the belts at 1,400 engine hours, we
noticed these small defects. This belt probably would have
been good for another 500 hours, but we replaced it and the
other engine’s belt just to be on the safe side. Above right:
Hanging Aqualift mufflers have significantly reduced our
exhaust noise. (The muffler is the black canister on the left
side of the photo.) Below right: We replace our saltwater
pump impellers once a season. This cover plate is beginning
to show wear at the 2,000-hour point and will be replaced.
of the notorious Tasman Sea between New Zealand and
the tropical South Pacific, cruising under the Pacific high
between Hawaii and California, a trip to Mexico and
back, several trips along the Pacific Coast, two jaunts
across the Gulf of Alaska, a spring passage from the
Bahamas to Nova Scotia, and the passage across the
North Atlantic to Greenland.
Do we recommend optimizing the interior and hull
designs for that 1 percent of the time when conditions
are rough? You bet. When we are out in adverse
weather, even if we know it is just for a short period, we
want all of the design factors on the side of our security.
Having this arrangement is so emotionally and physically
comforting that the benefits spill over into the 99 percent
of the time when conditions are pleasant.
Photos courtesy of Steve and Linda Dashew
ANCHORS AND ENGINES
Another part of pleasurable cruising comes from
having the right systems aboard. For us this starts with
ground tackle. We’ve been using a 240-lb. Rocna anchor
on 3/8-inch Schedule 7 heat-treated chain, controlled
with a Maxwell V4000 24-volt DC windlass. The Rocna
is the best anchor we’ve ever used. It works well in thin
sand over coral in the tropics, digs down through soft
