Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of this section is to answer, in a systemmatic way, the most often asked questions that we receive from readers as we travel along.  Specifically: what are the boat features that we find most valuable to our cruise, or that we would add to our boat to make the adventure better.  These features have been divided into several sections to make access easier. 

Not every boat or boater needs everything we've listed below.  Remember, we're on a 70' power boat. 

Boat Structure

• Cockpit.  By the time the trip is complete, we will have docked (and undocked) more than 100 times.  It is critical to have easy line handling.   If two people are handing the boat, one is at the helm, and the other probably first handled the bow line, then one of the two people need to scamper to the stern to secure a second line.  With crosswinds, or currents, the stern can drift and it is critical to have easy line handling.  The cockpit design allows open areas for passing lines or snagging of pilings or cleats.
  
• Walk-around Decks.  Again, so much of this trip is docking and undocking.  Walk-around decks would make this easier for us, since now we have only a catwalk which is a little precarious, especially if there is much boat motion.   Walk-around decks would enable easy placement and removal of fenders and lines in perfect safety.
  
• Comfortable and Functional Helmseat.  We have a slightly strange helmseat arrangement that provides a place for both of us to sit, but not to sit and reach the controls.  A good helmseat should accommodate two people (could be two separate seats), provide excellent visibility, easy access to normal and heavily used controls, and provide good comfort.
  
• Bug-Free Outdoor Area.  We're salt-water boaters for the most part, and the Great Lakes caught us by surprise with regard to bugs. They're here by the billions.  Often we've not been able to be outside because we have no screened area.   For day-to-day living that would be a big plus.  In addition, screens for every port are a must.
  
• Bow Thruster.  Almost as valuable as having another crew member.
  
• Shaft Spurs. Spurs are special heavy duty cutters on each shaft located near the props.  If a line or rope is about to become wrapped around a shaft, the cutters will reduce it to short and harmless pieces.  Very useful, and saves a diving trip with an axe.
  
• Cleats.  Plenty of large and strong cleats spaced at intervals along the full length of both sides of the yacht.  We're adding four more cleats to the Interlude, two on each side.
  
• Winch on the stern rail.  We're added a two speed manual winch.  Often we need a little more leverage on lines than we have without some mechanical advantage.  Particularly handy with heavier boats in locks.
  
• External compressed Air Jacks.  Many boats have air compressors.  I suggest having a quick-release fitting on the starboard and port sides so that an air hose can be used on the dock for filling bike tires, fenders, etc.

Boat Systems

• Dual fuel filters on each engine.  There is nothing worse than loosing an engine while underway.  Loosing an engine because of a clogged fuel filter is only a semi-avoidable problem.  You can have an acceptably clean fuel filter when you leave and pull a lot of dirt, algae, etc. through it, and clog it while underway.  More likely this is a problem that creeps up on you.   Gradually the filter clogs, then the engine stops.  Having a second filter in parallel with the first is a great solution.  Even if an engine starts to starve for fuel, I have always had enough time to go below and switch fuel filters and restore the engine before it fails completely.  Then at the next port, I change the dirty filter, and a new backup is ready for a future use.  I also have vacuum gauges on each fuel line.   If the vacuum exceeds 30psi, it's time to change the filter.  That gives me some notice and as a result, we've had no problems on this boat.  But talk to me about our former boat which did not have these features!
  
• Parallel Battery Switch for Each Engine.  We have four batteries grouped in twos.  One battery in each group is for an engine start, the second is for one of the generator starters and as a house battery.  Our starting procedure is (1) generator, (2) starboard engine, (3) port engine, in that order. On cold mornings the huge Detroit Diesel 12V92s start hard, and I can parallel two batteries to the starter circuit by holding a momentary switch on the helm.  This added capacity makes starting a snap.
  
• Oil Management System.  Interlude requires about 42 gallons of oil in its engines and generators.  An oil management system enables oil to be pumped out of and into each of these engines through a central oil plumbing system.  Ours even has a 25 gallon reservoir for fresh oil so that as oil is required it is simply pumped where it is needed. This is a lot less messy and very functional since oil is an every day concern while passagemaking.

Electronics

• Chart Plotter tied to the GPS.  If there is one thing that has reduced uncertainty on this trip, it is the continual display of our precise location on a suitably scaled chart of the area.  At any given minute we know where we are.   Each day we plot our course for the next day, and then when we leave we have a roadmap to follow.  In unfamiliar waters, where inlets are difficult to spot, channels not well marked, and depths difficult to estimate, the ability to place the ship on a chart is invaluable.  We have an onboard computer with CRTs at both helms and they are tied to the Northstar DGPS. Charts are supplied on CDs and loaded in the computer.   It is a fabulous combination.  As a backup we have the same software loaded on a laptop that is connected to a battery operated Magellan GPS.  It is totally portable, and operates independently of ship's power.  We've used it a couple of times.  Also use the laptop to do our planning, that's a convenience, because I can move it into the salon and be part of the action while I'm working.   The software we use is Nobletec's Navigation Suite.
  
• Radar.  We don't use radar primarily to find our way in the fog or dark.  We use radar to (1) spot and track weather, and (2) for ranging--how far are we from shore, from another boat, etc.  Good radar adds substantially to the comfort factor aboard ship. 

Communication

• Day-to-Day Telephone.  I wish we had a good suggestion here.   We have handheld cell phones (AT&T's one-rate plan) which conceptually is the way to go.  Unfortunately, they work less than half the time even though they are supposed to switch from digital to analog automatically and even though AT&T assured us of virtually 100% coverage of the U.S..  At the fringes, they don't work at all.   We also have a 5 watt analog cell phone with an antenna mounted very high on the radar arch. It works much better but it is expensive to use.  We also have a Westinghouse direct-to-satellite phone that always works, but it is prohibitively expensive for day-to-day use.
  
• Day-to-Day Fax.  The Westinghouse Wavetalk telephone link works very well with their proprietary software for transmission of short faxes (three pages or less).
  
• Day-to-Day Data Link.  No suggestions.  We beg, borrow or rent any access to landside telephone lines we can since wireless doesn't work well.   Perhaps half the time you can talk the dockmaster into using his credit card phone line, or his fax line to upload or download e-mail.  There is almost never the opportunity for more extensive net browsing.
  
• ISP.  We have been surprised to learn that AOL, Microsoft Network, Compuserve, etc. don't have toll-free lines serving many of the more remote locations we've visited.  Further, some marinas will allow you to use their phone lines only for 800 or local calls.  We, luckily, anticipated this, and worked with our ISP (Internet Service Provider) to get a toll-free number that will work everywhere.  We use Verio, and they're OK but we were notified late in the summer that they are dropping their 800 access.  So much for Verio.

Clothing

• Don't Bring Too Much.  If you have a washer and dryer on board, you'll be able to wash when needed.  If not, almost every marina has a laundry.    Too many clothes and shoes just get in the way.
  
• Layers.  We have had many cool mornings that gradually warm.  The pilot house is cool in the morning, but when all the systems are brought up it creates heat--most of the time we end up in shorts and t-shirts.

Galley

• Marinized Refrigerator.  We have a standard refrigerator but hooks have been added to keep the doors shut while underway in rough seas, and there have been shelf retainers (fiddles) added to keep stuff on shelves.  Its made a big difference when we open a door after a rough passage.
  
• Crock Pot.  Great for "fixing" dinner while you cruise.  Jan has made some outstanding dinners in the crock pot.

Accessories

• Washer and Dryer. We have the stacking kind;  they're not big, but we can run a load any time and often do so while we're underway.
  
• Comfortable Bed.  There is enough going against a good night sleep without fighting the bed, too.  Buy the best mattress you can get.
  
• Cable Master.  Have you ever tried to lug 50 or 75 feet of 50 amp cable.  It's a load.  Cable Masters are a wonderful luxury. They electrically dispense power cable at the touch of a switch (I even have a fob so I can run it from the dock).  You dispense just as much cable as you need, then it retrieves it as well.  
  
• Power Cables. If your boat utilizes 50A, 240V service, plan to separate your breakers into two banks, and separate critical functions.  Often we've had only 30A 110V service.  We have a splitter adaptor so that we can still use our Cable Masters and the 50A cable, but our loads are separated so that we can get by on the 30A service.  We have separated salon AC from the water heater and the range so we can have both on at the same time.  Also, have some additional adaptors available--one night we needed a dryer-type plug with a ground pigtail--fortunately we had such an adaptor.  We also carry two 50 foot, 50A/240V extension cords, and two 50 foot 30A/110V extensions.  One combination or another has gotten us through almost all situations.
  
• Water Filter and Softener.  We have a sediment filter and a water softener that we setup on the dock to supply the boat with soft water for wash down and for use on the boat.  The boat ends up looking a lot better, we use less soap, and clothes are cleaner, too.
  
• Mini Blinds.  Mini blinds aren't the most beautiful, but they're functional at the larger ports and windows since they allow you to control privacy and sun/heat.
  
• Water Pressure Regulator. We burst a couple of hoses before I rigged a water pressure regulator for use at dock side.  It reduces water pressure to 40psi and saves hoses.  We put the parts together at a local plumbing store.
  
• Ozonator.   Boats seem to smell.  We purchased an ozonator which generates ozone and it does a wonderful job of controlling the musty smell on the boat.  A great addition for not a lot of money.