My shake down cruise really started in Deltaville where the storage yard was supposed to have done some work which was well some was started and not complete, others were just not started, and some of what were complete were done poorly and leaked. So it took 2 months to get that straightened out. Then since I was a captive of the yard we had to get some major projects complete before she was water tight and could move on her own power. Once that was completed I got the heck kut of there as fast as I could. Example I had them fabricate a new fuel tank. The original tank held 35 gallons. The new tank was 30 and after it was filled up there was water in it. It took 5 tankfulls to get all that water out. There response was the old tank was not 35 gallons. Now I've owned this boat since 2001 I have put 35 gallons in the old tank after I had the tank cleaned. The list goes on, and on. No quality control, no testing after jobs was said to be complete, and delay after delay. I ended up having to pay other yards to fix what they did poorly and wohld not take responsibility for.

This is sort of like starting in the middle of a story. The adventure has started. A friend of mine suggested I write a blog. I had forgotten I had already started one in 2010. So here is an update and a little history. This part starts in Deltaville Va. HopeFloats was in storage due to me having not one but two arthritic hips. I was in a wheel chair for 4 years before my survery. Then in mid July 2011 I had both hips replaced and yes on the same day. It just seemed to be the thing to do?! There were some post surgery problems and I still have some problems which so far I've been able to work around and or modify HopeFloats so we can work together. From 7/2011 I spent a hear learning to walk again and work on getting my balance back somewhat back. Last summer I returned to HopeFloats and put her back togetber again. It was a long hot summer with mang frustrating moment and setbacks. We were due to launch the first of October and it was delayed. More to come

This is sort of like starting in the middle of a story. The adventure has started. A friend of mine suggested I write a blog. I had forgotten I had already started one in 2010. So here is an update and a little history. This part starts in Deltaville Va. HopeFloats was in storage due to me having not one but two arthritic hips. I was in a wheel chair for 4 years before my surgery. Then in mid July 2011 I had both hips replaced and yes on the same day. It just seemed to be the thing to do?! There were some post surgery problems and I still have some problems which so far I've been able to work around and or modify HopeFloats so we can work together. From 7/2011 I spent a year learning to walk again and work on getting my balance back somewhat back. Last summer I returned to HopeFloats and put her back togetber again. It was a long hot summer with mang frustrating moment and setbacks. We were due to launch the first of October and it was delayed. Finally HopeFloats was splashed in November. Then I had to take her to a different marina to have a new inboard autopilot, chartploter, AIS, and Ham radio installed (KJ4RTF). With that done I to off from Coastal Marine in Deltaville headed out on the first leg of the first leg. Once away the brand new autopilot lost its mind and wanted to do hard left-hand turns about every 20 minutes. There were some other issues that arose and needed to be attended to. That night I arrived at Fort Monroe in Hampton Va. The next day we sailed over to Norfolk through the tugs, ships, and bridges and through the Great Bridge lock and bridge to Atlantic Yacht Basin where we got all those pesky issues worked out. They did such a fine job James Taylor and his crew helped me get everything done. Some major like the autopilot some minor like a woodworking fix to the engine compartments cover. I left there January 3rd.

The first and least expensive change I made was her name. Dauntless just seemed to throw a challenge to mother ocean. So with proper pomp and ceremony her name was changed to HopeFloats. I named her from the movie. Seems Sandra Bullock said something to this effect. The ending of things is generally sad and the beginning of things is scary, so when you're scared you're probably at the beginning of something so just hold on and wait to give Hope a chance to Float.
Next the upgrades and changes so I will start at the bow and work backward:
1. Changed the anchor to a 45 lb. Delta type with 100 ft. 3/8' `HIGH TEST Chain to 300 ft 5/8" three stranded anchor rood.
2. Added red and green LED nav. lights on the bow
3. Added a starboard strip on the fore deck to absorb the bouncing of the chain when anchoring.
4. Installed the IDEAL Windless with assisted Ckt breaker and correct size battery cabling.
5. Added roller furling head sails.
6. Added fittings for center line high Jack lines.
7. Saltwater wash down pump and deck fitting.
8. Caulks to hold down fattieknees dink.
9. Hatch screens.
10. All new standing rigging.
11. All new running rigging.
12. Re-bedded all deck hardware.
13. Designed rainwater gathering system.
14. Added new chartploter and depth instruments.
15. Added new VHF radio antenna wire and antenna.
16. Upgrade radar unit.
17. Re-stuffed all cushions with harder foam.
18. Re-wired 85% of boat to accommodate 2 8d8 batteries with battery boxes and tie-downs.
19. Added high output alternator and charge controller/and wiring.
20. Re-place all hoses to and from all thru hullo fitting.
21. Changed all thru hull fitting to ball valve type.
22. Changed all engine exhaust hoses and intake water hoses.
23. Replace the old Sea Frost system the new BD type.
24. Had made a wooden bench seat to install in the companionway when remote steering.
25. Added 2 205 watt solar panels over the steering station to act a shade and produce about 12 amps per hr in good sun or 90 to 100 amp hrs/day dependent on the sky and the time of year.
26. Complete the charging system wiring and installation with a blue skies charge controller.
27. New working gibe cleaned and coated mainsail.
28. Re-built all manual bilge pumps.
The boat came with 100 gallons of water but only 36 gals fuel. But now it's time for the shakedown cruise. I chose to go round the Delmarva Peninsula.

This bloging thing is all new to me so here it goes. In Dec. 2001 I bought my first sailboat. A 1984 Bristol 40. Her name was Dauntless which I thought sounded like a challenge to the Sea Gods. Other then that she was the most beautiful boat I had ever seen, let alone own. She was the 2nd to the last B-40 launched. Hull number 143, her color is Robins Egg Shell Blue. Her interior is unlike any other B-40 I've ever seen totally a custom order. I believe she was very muched loved by her first owners and was used lightly and hauled out every winter. She was equipped for weekend/day sailing. I had crusing in mind which ment overhaul. That it for now, more to com