Allison, Author at Boating Journey

January 10, 2021January 10, 2021

Check out this 2000 Silverton 392 MY

This Silverton 392 motor yacht has an awesome layout and really could make for a great live aboard. Scott and I toured this yacht at Union Marine back in November and we were very surprised to see how much space it has.

The owners have put in some custom cutting boards in the cockpit above the refrigerator, which allows for great entertaining on the stern. We love how much open space there is in the cockpit for relaxing.

The Fly Bridge

The fly bridge on this Silverton 392 offers great visibility. One thing I noticed right away (and I think it’s a great idea), is the owner put labels everywhere to help who ever is operating the boat.

We also noticed that on the bridge, there were switches for engine fire extinguishers. How cool is that?!

The Silverton 392 Motor Yacht, with its innovative “SideWalk” flybridge steps, offers much improvement in safety, space utilization, and mobility. Never before has going forward been so easy and so safe.

The Interior

Compared to our Bayliner 4087, the salon offered much more space for entertaining. You could easily seat 6 or 8 people around the settee. For relaxing at night, the couch was directly across of the tv and it also has a reversible ottoman.

There is tons of storage space under the couch cushions, plus plenty more in the built-in cabinet under the tv.

With the galley just steps away from the salon, you can easily cook and entertain at the same time. There is a lot of storage space and I love that the stove top and oven are electric. Be sure to watch our YouTube episode, for a closeup tour (link at the end of this blog). For some reason, I hate propane ovens/stoves. I know they are the most practical for cruising, but if you are at the dock with shore power, I’ll take electric any day.

Two staterooms

Unlike our Bayliner 4087 that had three staterooms, this Silverton 392 only has two staterooms. However, someone could sleep on the couch, but that wouldn’t offer any privacy. The forward cabin has a double size bed and has plenty of drawers for storage.

There are two heads on this yacht and each has a VacuFlush toilet. The guest head does have a separate shower stall, which is a major plus. On our Bayliner, you had to use a shower curtain in the bathroom when you showered and things still got wet.

The main stateroom is an aft cabin, much like our Bayliner 4087. I feel this cabin is slightly smaller, but Scott disagrees with me. What do you think? I think that our bed was longer than the Silverton making the room bigger?

About our second boat — Main stateroom on our Bayliner 4087

The main head was a little smaller that I expected, but still offered everything you would need.

The Engine Room

This Silverton 392 MY comes with twin Caterpillar 3116 diesel engines which have a combined 740hp and they only have 150 hours of use! Access to the engine room is in the main salon.

This boat comes with a Kohler Generator and also has an oil change extractor! Super cool, especially if you have ever pumped out your oil manually.

Upgrades also include a WalVac system (a must!!), Inverter and an AB dinghy with a Honda 15hp outboard motor.

Overall Impression

Scott and I were pleasantly surprised by this yacht. It has a great layout, it’s comfortable and comes with many upgrades. While we loved our Bayliner 4087, had we looked at both boats at the same time, chances are we would have picked the Silverton.

Would it make a good liveaboard? Any boat can be a good liveaboard – check out our episode about living on a 32′ Nordic Tug. But in the end, we’re looking for a boat that’s a bit bigger with more storage. If you are looking for a great cruiser for the Northwest, be sure to check out this yacht. You will be impressed.

As always, thank you for following our journey! 2021 has a lot in store for us, including our (hopefully) upcoming bare boat charter on a power catamaran in the British Virgin Islands in April. If we can’t find the perfect liveaboard (or slip to go with it), we may decide to buy a smaller boat just to be able to get back on the water this year. Stay tuned! In the meantime, we hope you all have a fantastic New Year and we hope to see you on the water! See the full tour in the YouTube episode below.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

December 26, 2020December 26, 2020

Tour a 2006 Navigator 5100

This past summer, while touring a Viking Sport Yacht, broker offered to show us a 2006 Navigator 5100. She had overheard us talking about our love for Navigator yachts and she had one on the other dock. Unfortunately at $449,000 it’s out of our price range, but we were thrilled to be able to take a quick tour.

Almost identical to the 5300

If you have been following us this summer, you’ll remember that we toured a Navigator 5300 up in Bellingham. The big difference between this yacht and that one is, this one has furniture in the salon (because the 5300 had sank at the dock). Though two feet shorter, none of the layout appears to be tighter or smaller.

The cockpit is nice a roomy, perfect for a day out fishing. You enter through the heavy duty sliding glass door into the main salon, which is very spacious and comfortable. The salon and galley of the Navigator reminds me very much of a “home”.

The television is hidden in the cabinet until you’re ready to watch it.

One of my biggest issues with the our Bayiner 4087, was we couldn’t relax on a couch and watch tv comfortably. We had to sit in the settee to watch tv. This salon offers a great area to unwind and relax.

Large Upgraded Galley

For anyone who knows me well, you know I love to cook – even on a boat. But small kitchens and galleys, drive me crazy. Even in our big huge house that we sold, we had pretty limited counter space for prep. The Navigator galleys offer tons of prep space, plus a full pantry under the floor in the galley.

Up behind the galley, is the interior bridge. There’s a large settee behind the captain’s chair, which could be used for an office as well.

The bridge had great visibility and all upgraded electronics.

Expansive living quarters

Just like the Navigator 5300, the 5100 offers a large master stateroom with a washer and dryer.

The master stateroom had tons of storage, perfect for a liveaboard. The master head was enclosed and it has a separate shower to the right of the Vacuflush toilet.

I was also shocked about how much storage the cedar closets offered. Plus they smell great!

Room for the entire family!

Down the hall from the master, you’ll find a double bunk stateroom and a VIP v-berth stateroom. The amount of storage that is included in each stateroom was amazing!

The guest head has plenty of space & storage and the shower is a stand alone shower stall here too.

Up to the bridge

To access the fly bridge, you enter through the interior helm area. One thing I really like about the exterior of the Navigator 5100 is the height of the railings. Since I’m short and usually the one putting the fenders out, I feel safer with a taller railing.

When we toured this Navigator 5100, they had taken all of the cushions off, to keep them protected from the elements. One disappointing fact about this Navigator 5100 is that it does not have an enclosed fly bridge, which is a must for us.

As you can see, there’s tons of storage under the seats. Below is what the bridge looks like with the cusions.

There’s so much room up on the bridge! We do wish there was some kind of table, but so far, none of the Navigators we have looked at, have had one on the bridge.

Again, the upper fly bridge offers great visibility for ease of docking.

Is the Navigator our next liveaboard?

Scott and I admit, that after touring three different Navigators, that this is what we are looking for in a liveaboard. We especially like the Sundance model with the main stateroom located mid ship.

So we will continue to search for Navigators and hope that one will come with a liveaboard slip. If you know of anyone wanting to sell their 50′ – 55′ Navigator with a liveaboard slip, please DM us. Be sure to watch the full tour on our channel, video below.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and like most of you, we’re celebrating at home by ourselves thanks to covid-19. Thank you for following our journey and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on social @BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

December 14, 2020December 14, 2020

Packing for the BVIs

Last Christmas, we were getting ready for our trip to the BVI’s and many of the gifts I gave Scott were for our trip. Unfortunately, the trip was postponed due to covid and now is rescheduled for next April. In this week’s blog, I’ll share with you many of the items I bought him (affiliate links are in this blog).

Since we have never chartered a boat outside of the US, we’re not sure what to expect. If you have chartered a boat in the BVI’s, please let us know if we are on the right track or if we’re missing something.

Drinking Water

I’m a water snob, as many of you know from our multiple posts about potable water and our drinking water episode. Our first boat had terrible water and I never even brushed my teeth with that water. On our second boat, we used a special antibacterial hose, with an external filter to add water to our fresh water tank. Then we had a drinking faucet with a 3M filter which provided us fantastic quality water.

Having no idea what the water quality is on the charter boat, I bought two things for drinking water. First, I bought Vapur ShakeFilter packets (what I thought were filtration packets) for drinking water. But the more I look at the product, it’s doesn’t say anywhere that it removes bacteria and that is one of my biggest concerns. (Glad I have 75 packets!!)

Next, I bought the world’s smallest water filter in a straw, called Clean Sip! These straws filter up to 200 gallons of water and they remove bacteria. I ordered one for each of our crew members for the trip.

Travel Guide

If you have ever traveled outside of the US, you have most likely used a travel guide from Fodor’s. I bought the Fodor’s Travel for the US & British Virgin Islands for our trip and I love it. It not only has all the travel info for hotels, restaurants, mooring balls, etc., but it also has information about the types of reef life, health information and currency. This guide is not only light weight, but the cover has a coating that protects it from moisture.

Phone Protectors

When Scott and I were at the Annapolis Boat Show a few years ago, we stumbled upon a cool new product for your phone & credit cards, called the Ugo wear wallet. The cases are made out of scuba gear material and zippers and they float. We love using these for dinghy rides or kayak trips.

For this trip I also bought us a waterproof bag from Earth Pak, for our longer trips to the beach. This pack also came with a waterproof phone pouch which we use all of the time when we go out crabbing.

Body Protection

While I love being in the sun, Scott does not because he burns so easily. For our trip to the BVI’s I bought him a Baleaf SPF 50 long sleeve shirt that we can wear out in the sun. It’s light weight and very comfortable.

Head Light

When I bought Scott a Cobiz LED head light last Christmas, I didn’t necessarily think we would take it with us on our trip. But after all of the issues we had on our last charter, we might want to rethink that. This is a great head light, with multiple functions. It also comes in a hard carrying case.

Mini Tri-Pod

I admit, we have a lot of tri-pods for all of our camera equipment. But when we are traveling by plane, we need to stay as light weight as possible. I found this great lightweight tri-pod from Pasavant. It only weighs a few ounces and it comes with a travel pouch.

Portable Camera

Last Christmas, Scott bought me all kinds of camera equipment including our drone and DJI Action Camera (all of those links can be found under shop our gear tab). One camera I love and will definitely take with us, is our DJI Pocket. It comes with a gimbal, it’s lightweight and really easy to use. Plus, when you are filming yourself in public, you don’t have this huge camera in your face drawing attention to yourself.

What’s the latest update on our trip?

I wish we were actually packing for our trip, but unfortunately we’ve moved it from February to April of next year. The BVI’s were open and they just closed again until January 21st. Before they closed again, their restrictions were so strict (4 covid tests, 8 days of quarantine, restrictions on to where you could travel), that it wasn’t worth going in February. As a result, we moved the trip to April, but we may very likely have to move the trip again. With vaccines on the horizon, perhaps we might make it.

If there is anything we’re missing here that we should take on the trip, please let us know. As always, thank you for following our journey! You can find us on social at @BoatingJourney. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! See our YouTube episode below!

Cheers, Scott and Ally

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020

Tour a 2005 Sea Ray 55 Sedan Bridge

In this week’s blog, we take you on a tour of a 2005 Sea Ray 55 Sedan Bridge, located at Union Marine on Lake Union. This 55′ motor yacht has a fantastic layout and is in impeccable shape. During our video, you’ll also find out why this is also one of our worst boat tours to date.

Worst Tour? Why?

Well, as you will see even in our photo, image quality was too dark. We have since corrected that issue, so be sure to scroll to the bottom to find out what we have done to correct that. One of the reasons it was so dark, is this Sea Ray 55 is stored in an inside floating showroom or boat house on Lake Union. This provides ample protection for the yacht during bad weather, but boat houses can be dark and loud.

The Interior Tour

Immediately, you move from a very large cockpit (which is great for fishing or relaxing) and into an expansive salon. The heavy duty glass sliding doors work great in the rough PNW weather while cruising.

This yacht has a 16′ beam, offering an expansive interior salon and entertaining space. There is extra storage everywhere from the ottomans to the couch settees.

Galley Up Entertaining

One great feature about the Sea Ray 55 MY is the entertaining space. Guests can relax in the salon, while you prep dinner in the galley up. Everything is so open, that you never feel cramped.

Could we live on this boat?

If Scott and I could afford this yacht, for sure! The asking price for this Sea Ray 55 is $500k, so it’s out of our price range. But it does offer all of the amenities we are looking for in a liveaboard. It has a washer/dryer in the hallway, large staterooms and heads. It also has really great storage for long passages or liveaboard needs.

There are three staterooms on this Sea Ray 55 Sedan Bridge. The double bunks, the VIP V Berth and the master stateroom.

How big is the master stateroom?

The master stateroom was very large with plenty of walk around space around the bed. That’s a must for any live aboard for me. (Oh, and I need to be able to stand up! LOL – see our Meridian tour). With plenty of storage space this is a boat we could easily live on.

Let’s check out the Fly Bridge

One thing I will say about this motor yacht, is the steps leading to the fly bridge were not as steep as we have seen on most Sea Ray yachts.

Once up on the fly bridge, there is a ton of entertaining space and the enclosure is awesome. This yacht is definitely geared for the PNW weather.

This yacht comes with twin Mercury MAN Diesel 765 horsepower V8 inboards, which is a higher fuel capacity than most yachts in its category.

Full confession

I should also confess that while I’m writing this blog, I had septoplasty surgery three days ago. While we thought it was going to be fairly minor, I ended up with some complications. Three days later, I’m starting to be on the mend, but unfortunately this probably wasn’t the best blog I’ve written either.

We were shocked when we watched the video, we were disappointed to see how poor the quality was of the videos. Scott did some research and ended up buying a LED light and a wireless microphone – see our affiliate links below.

Scott and I are looking forward to trying our new camera equipment and seeing how well they improve our videos. Our next tour is another Navigator from this past summer. It’s a beautiful yacht, so be sure to tune in!

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel (link at the end of this blog). You can follow us on social media @BoatingJourney.

November 29, 2020November 29, 2020

Loan Options for Financing a Boat

In this week’s blog, we welcome Lauren Cordell, a guest blog writer. She shares with us different loan options for financing a boat.

4 Loan Options to Lower the Financing Costs of Boat Ownership

There is nothing more refreshing than driving down to the lake on a warm summer day and lounging about on your boat. However, unless you have a tremendous amount of cash lying around, you’ll likely need a boat loan to bring your fantasies to life.

For most people, financing a boat is a heavy financial challenge. Fortunately, there are a few boat loans to ease the load from boat financing. Setting aside time to think about a reasonable spending plan and financial capability for your purchase can undoubtedly help you choose the type of boat loan that caters to your lifestyle.

How to Finance Your Boat

Financing a boat begins with searching for a credible lender for boat loans, discussing, and applying. Finding a boat loan lender is not that back-breaking since banks have found that most boat purchasers are great customers for loans.

Nonetheless, you can also opt to hire a boat loan expert instead of directly contacting a boat loan lender. Boat loan experts commonly interact deeply with the client regarding the application, credit faction, examination, and underwritings.

Boat Loans

It’s undeniable that the costs of boat ownership are expensive. Thus, a lot of people opt to get a boat loan to help them financially. A boat loan is a type of installment loan with a scheduled regular payment, which lasts from 2-15 years. Loan terms and interest rates differ depending on the lender, your loan size, income, credit score, and the type of loan you chose.

Secured Boat Loans

A secured loan implies that the cash lent to you comes with a need for collateral. Collateral is something of significant worth that the lender can use to recover the loan’s expense if you fail to pay the installments. Vehicles, homes, and other valuable things are the usual loan collaterals. Furthermore, you can also sign off the boat itself as collateral.

Secured loans provide borrowers with many benefits. First, they commonly have lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans. Lower interest rates are an effect of the lender receiving lower risks because of the collateral. Secured loans are likewise open to borrowers who have a messy financial record. Furthermore, secured boat loans generally have longer reimbursement terms and higher loan cutoffs than unsecured loans.

However, the primary risk is that you’d need to give up your collateral if you fail to pay the installments. Secured loans are ideal for borrowers who need a more significant loan amount, are OK with the risk related to it, and those who don’t qualify for unsecured loans.

Unsecured Boat Loans

An unsecured loan does not need a guarantee. However, that does not mean it comes without risks. Unsecured loans generally have larger interest rates and many additional limitations compared to secured loans. Even the application process is more complicated to make up for the absence of collateral.

Numerous individuals opt to apply for personal loans when searching for the ideal boat financing choices. A personal loan is a type of unsecured loan that can provide preferable rates than traditional funding entities. They commonly have flexible reimbursement terms and competitive interest rates. You can likewise make additional installments or take care of the whole debt early.

To reiterate, in contrast to secured loans, you don’t need to sign off your boat or other valuables as collateral. An unsecured loan is solely dependent on your financial soundness and evident income. After receiving your loan request approval and funding, the lender will transfer the whole sum into your account.

In-house Financing

In contrast to the more specialized terms in the boat financing world, many boat dealers also offer in-house financing. It’s financing that happens “in house.” It generally occurs inside the walls of the dealership, wherein you plan to purchase your boat.

If you’re prudent, you and the dealer can both benefit from this fiscal agreement. You get your dream boat, pay the interest throughout the loan’s course, and the dealer profits from the income. Win-win situation for both parties. Some even closely manage the lender’s application up to closing deals for a quick and hassle-free experience.

In the most ideal situation, you acquire your boat and pay a competitive interest in it throughout the loan period. If you default on the advance, the dealer keeps the money you’ve already paid. In addition to losing cash, they can also repossess the boat based on the terms that you consented to when signing the agreement.

Second Mortgage

You can go for a home equity loan or a second mortgage on the off chance that you decide not to apply for a personal loan. Home equity loans would utilize your house as a guarantee for your boat loan. And because it requires collateral, it is considered a secured loan.

As stated before, interest rates tend to be lower for secured loans compared to unsecured loans. In short, home equity loans can be incredibly risky because the stakes are exceptionally high. If you fail to pay off the loan installment, the lender has the power to seize your house.

Where to Get a Boat Loan

The three most common places you can turn to for a boat loan are online lenders, banks, and credit unions. Usually, the application process is quick, and approval is mainly dependent on your financial assessment and capacity to repay the loan.

When weighing where to get a boat loan, consider the loan lender’s annual percentage rate, which incorporates the interest rate and additional expenses, to compare the costs and installments that are ideal for your budget.

Banks

Banks and other loaning organizations are the standard go-to’s to apply for a boat loan. Inquiring in your local bank for loan options is a smart start. Establishing a positive, pre-settled relation with a bank can be very useful in helping you get faster approval with a decent rate.

Although many boat dealers currently offer financing choices of their own, this isn’t generally the case. Furthermore, any financing that a boat dealer offers should be subject to comparison with rates that different loan lenders offer.

Credit Unions

Credit unions are like banks but are non-revenue driven organizations intended for individuals who share a collective bond. You might be qualified to enter a credit union for numerous factors — maybe it’s for individuals who live in your locale, people who went to or are in the same school, or have likewise served in the military.

Luckily, the majority of credit unions do not have uptight membership prerequisites. Thus, becoming a member to apply for a boat loan won’t be that much of a challenge. However, while credit unions ordinarily offer personalized client support, they don’t generally keep track of the most recent banking tech. As a result, applying for a boat loan online may not be possible.

Online Lenders

Searching for boat loan lenders online can also be another practical technique for boat financing. Some online lenders offer any type of loan that caters to your lifestyle and needs. At the point when other lending organizations can’t provide the terms you need, finding an online loan lender could be the key to owning your boat.

Takeaway

Setting sail on your boat is a precious experience, and your lack of funds should not hinder you from achieving that dream. Apply for a boat loan that you know you can take on financially today and in the days to come. Furthermore, choose a lender you can trust and provide you with the best terms for your lifestyle. With a little effort and consistency, that summer day lounging in your boat will not be far along in the future.

Author’s Bio

Lauren Cordell has worked as a professional content writer for over five years. She is an avid fan of the outdoors and especially loves incorporating her travels in her writings. Lauren usually spends her free time with her family during the summer and drives down to the lake to spend their afternoon on the family boat.

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020

Thankful this Season

Though 2020 packed a lot of punches, we’re still thankful this season for everything we experienced this year. While Scott and I are celebrating this Thanksgiving as a party of two, so are many others. When we owned our large house, we hosted Thanksgiving every year for up to 27 people and even after downsizing, we continued to share the holiday with my family. This year is different, thanks to the covid pandemic.

How can we be thankful this year? Well, considering the shutdown, we still had a fantastic year. Yes, our trip to the BVI’s was cancelled, but we were able to spend time on the water with family and friends all year long. Considering we sold the boat in July, we were very fortunate.

During the shutdown, we were still able to take the boat out and anchor for lunch.

Scott and I used the shutdown to get more projects done on the boat and work on the dinghy. While we may not have been able to visit marinas that were shut down, we were thankful to be able to spend quality time with family and friends on the boat at our marina.

Remember, when the gray whale swam down our fairway?

Making the best of it

Once the restrictions started to lift, we managed to visit a lot of places this past year. Though it was obvious things were different with the pandemic in place. Port Orchard was quiet, Camano was distanced and the crowds were few. My motto is, “you have to work with what you have and make it great”.

When we were in Port Orchard, our favorite restaurant has this sign outside of the restrooms. How ironic, right?

The beauty of the PNW

While we were stuck at home for most of the shut down, we also are thankful that we have such a great place to live with an awesome view.

Our last trip on the boat was a trip to Des Moines with my close friend Jen. We headed down for the day simply to get fuel. Not a bad day on the water.

With family and friends on Camano, there was never a shortage of time at the beach or on the water.

Our annual family photo for July 4th certainly had a different feel this year though.

No shortages of dogs either

Scott and I miss our two goldens, Mac and Maggie, everyday. So when I have the chance to love on one, I never miss a chance. This year, we were so lucky to have so many encounters. My favorite one, was getting a visit from Tiller, who I met a few years ago at our company rendezvous. She reminds me of Mac and I sometimes think he’s come back as Tiller.

The Journey is part of the Fun

Scott and I finally met one of our Instagram followers, Jeff from MV Why Knot, who lives on his 32′ Nordic Tug!

Looking for our next liveaboard, we traveled to Anacortes and were finally able to “getaway” for a weekend.

Wanting something longer, we decided to charter a yacht and cruise the San Juan Islands. It certainly wasn’t the trip we were expecting, but then it wouldn’t be a journey otherwise. Plus, we’re thankful we didn’t sink.

At the end of the day, we can honestly say we’re thankful for how everything turned out for us this year. It could have taken many different turns and we’re truly blessed on how the year unfolded. Take a moment this season to give thanks and appreciate what you have. It could be gone tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families and thank you for following our journey. Follow us on social at @BoatingJourney and please subscribe to our YouTube channel (see our latest episode below)

Ally & Scott

November 16, 2020November 17, 2020

Tour a 1995 Sea Ray 550 Sedan Bridge

As most of you know, Scott and I are looking for a liveaboard boat, and in this week’s blog, we take a tour of a 1995 Sea Ray 550 Sedan Bridge. Sea Ray has a long history of producing beautiful yachts going back to the 1980’s. Then in 2018, Sea Ray announced that they were no longer going to produce any boat over 35′.

The Sea Ray Sundancer has been an iconic brand among cruisers. With roomy interiors and fast motors, they quickly became the perfect vessel for families and for entertaining. This 1995 Sea Ray has all of the original features, so it was fun to go back in time and check it out.

Classic design of the 550 Sedan Bridge

Though this motor yacht is 25 years old, it still has a classic design. The exterior is sleek and is in great shape.

The cockpit has plenty of seating and comes with seat covers that look practically brand new. Enter the salon through the large sliding glass door (a feature we love). On our Bayliner 4087, we had to go down a set of stairs to get into the salon and we like this setup much better.

1995 Upgrades

The first thing you will notice when you enter the salon on this 550 Sedan Bridge, is the dining room table. This is actually a plexi-glass table and chairs, which was an upgrade option in the day.

We love the comfy couch and all of the extra room you have to entertain in the salon. The bar stools are original and fit perfectly!

The galley has all of the original equipment, including a built-in coffee maker, icemaker, microwave, liquor cabinet and stovetop. Considering when this was built, the backsplash is still very up to date!

If you love old movies, you’re in luck! This yacht also comes with a VHS & DVD player. Just like our Bayliner, this yacht offers a lower helm, which we never used.

Living Quarters

All of the sleeping berths are down in the forward section of the yacht. The master stateroom is in the V berth, which offers a queen size bed. Plus it comes with a fun quirky rug!

It had plenty of storage for clothes, plus a make-up vanity. I suppose you could use it as a desk, but you would be staring at yourself all of the time!

The master head was nice and roomy, with a separate shower and a vacuflush toilet.

But wait! There’s more!

There are also two more staterooms off of the hallway. One has bunkbeds and the other has a day bed with a vanity. Again, you could use that as an office possibly. The bunkbed stateroom, is where the washer/dry combo is located. Both staterooms share a fairly large head, which has a separate shower (a big plus for us!)

Plus the day bed stateroom also came with a built-in tv.

The Fly Bridge & Engine Room on the 550 Sedan Bridge

One thing that does give me pause on this boat is the stairs up to the bridge. A deal breaker for me, is any sort of ladder. But once you get up there, it’s awesome! There’s lots of seating for entertaining, plus built-in cup holders and a mini fridge.

The helm has B & G with Raymarine electronics and has great visibility for docking and cruising.

The engine room was pretty roomy with access from the cockpit. This Sea Ray comes with twin Caterpillar 3406 diesel engines that have less than 1500 hours. Diesel engines typically are good up to 5000 hours, so this boat has a long life left in it.

So did we make an offer?

This 1995 Sea Ray 550 Sedan Bridge is a great boat, but for us to consider it as a liveaboard, we would need to give it a cosmetic facelift. Unfortunately, we’re not looking for a fixer upper, as we want something that is turnkey. But it does have everything we are looking for (except a walk around bed too).

If you are looking for a great cruising boat for the PNW, this is a fantastic yacht and it’s ready! This boat was actually in the Tri-Cities and the owner cruised it down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, up around Neah Bay and to Lake Union! That’s pretty impressive!

If you would like to check this boat out, please visit Union Marine at Lake Union in Seattle!

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel (link at the end of this blog). You can follow us on social media @BoatingJourney.

Next week, we’ll take you on a tour of a 2005 Sea Ray 550 Sedan Bridge. This will be a fun comparison of the 1995! Stay tuned! You can view the boat (until it’s sold) here: www.unionmarine.com . Check out our YouTube episode below.

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020

Sailing Lessons on Lake Union

Scott and I have wanted to take sailing lessons for years and last month, we finally took a lesson from the Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) on Lake Union. The Center for Wooden Boats offers a variety of sailing packages or single lessons. We decided to take a lesson and schedule a “sailing checkout” so we could rent one of their small sailboats boats at any time.

The center takes reservations online and when I booked our lessons in August, they were full until the end of September. Luckily, it was a gorgeous sunny day and perfect for being on the water.

Normally the center is open to the public, but with the pandemic only those with reservations were allowed in. The boats are moored at their livery. At the turn of the 20th century, liveries were boathouses where the working class could rent a boat for leisure. The CWB Livery continues that tradition.

What type of sailboat did we learn on?

Scott and I have only sailed on a party catamaran and a small Hobie Cat in the Caribbean. We understand some basic terms, but sailing is much different than power boating. Everything has a name and a purpose. Our instructor Christian was very knowledgeable and shared a ton of information on the different terms.

Our sailboat was about 20′ long and known as a Blanchard Junior Knockout (a fractional sail boat). According to the CWB, the Blanchard boat company was formed by experienced boatwright Norman J. Blanchard Sr. in 1923 on the northeast side of Lake Union. It went on to become one of the most well-known and respected boat shops in the northwest. In 1932, N.J. Blanchard and Ben Seaborn designed the Blanchard Senior Knockabout, a small cabin sloop, in response to comments made by local boaters about how the International Star design had no cabin. The Senior was a cabin daysailer with the rig of a Star. (credit CWB)

The Blanchard Junior Knockabout was a new design which came shortly after. A 20’ open sloop, the hull was scaled down from the 26’ boat. The 20’ boat had only a short fore deck and aft deck and the long cockpit would easily seat 3 adults on each side bench. The 26’ cabin cruiser was called the Blanchard Senior Knockabout (BJK) and the 20’ version was the Blanchard Junior Knockabout (BJK). (credit CWB)

Time to take sailing lessons!

Christian got in the boat first and raised the main sail. Then I climbed in and sat in the front, so Scott could steer from the stern. Remember, there’s no motor on this boat, so Scott gave us a big push off and we headed north. Our instructor was so calm explaining everything to us. I immediately got nervous that we were heading towards a very large yacht and Scott was completely in charge of our forward direction.

Christian dove right in and showed us how to catch wind for moving forward. Our issue was we really didn’t have any winds. They were coming from the north at 1-2 knots, and predicted to kick up to 3-4 knots a couple of hours later. So Scott did his best moving us up the lake. At one point, the boat keeled over about 15 degrees and it freaked me out, as I was on the downside of the boat, near the water line. Watch the YouTube video and see how I reacted.

During our sailing lesson, we learned about wind indicators on the sails, different types of knots and how to hold the lines properly. Let’s just say, there is a completely different language in sailing, compared to power boating.

Christian also did a man overboard exercise by throwing a floating cushion into the water. Our job was to tack back and work our way to the cushion to rescue it. When you are a power boater, whether it’s a motor yacht or a dinghy, you rely solely on your engines to move you. By only having a sail and wind, it’s a lot of work!

Docking the boat

After an hour and a half, it was time for Scott to dock the boat and let me take the helm. We’re used to not only docking with engines, but with thrusters. This should be fun! With the winds coming from the north, we headed south. You sail the boat parallel with the dock and then turn perpendicular towards the dock. When the bow is about 3′ or so from the dock, you use your tiller to turn parallel to the dock. Also, keep in mind, the tiller works in the opposite direction you want to go (similar to a hand-controlled outboard engine). Scott did a great job!

Once we touched the dock, we switched seats and I was at the helm.

We only spent about 30 minutes with me, as it was 2:30p and we had reserved our lessons from 1 – 3p. Our plan was first the lesson, followed by a scheduled “check-out.” Before using the sailboats, you must pass a short checkout sail to make sure that you are comfortable handling traditional small boats. Checkouts cost $25, take approximately 30 minutes, and require demonstrating single-handed sailing and docking skills, and understanding right-of-way rules.

By 3pm, the winds picked up to about 5 knots and Christian asked Scott if he still wanted to do his checkout. With the winds and our limited time on the water, we all agreed we need more practice before attempting our sailing checkout. Figures, the winds picked up after our lesson.

Are we going to become sailors now?

Scott and I both agreed, sailing is hard work! It’s bad enough trying to steer a power boat through tight, shallow channels and watch for debris. But then to be on a vessel that has a lot of moving parts (sails, lines, halyards, winches), no thanks! However, in the future, we might still complete the checkout, so we can rent a boat on nice days. The CWB has more than just the Lake Union location. They also have a livery on Camano Island at Cama Beach! Who knew?

Overall, it’s a great program and very affordable for those who want to learn to sail. We’re fortunate to live so close to and have so many options to be on the water.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel (link at the end of this blog). You can follow us on social media @BoatingJourney.

Next week, we’ll take you on a tour of a 1995 Sea Ray 55 Motor Yacht. Stay tuned!

October 25, 2020October 25, 2020

2006 Meridian 411 Yacht Tour

In our last blog, we wrapped up our four day charter trip on a 2006 Meridian 411 yacht through the San Juan Islands. While we were anchored at Stuart Island we did a quick tour of the boat, so you can see what kind of layout this Meridian has.

The tour

Scott and I have been wanting to buy a Meridian yacht for a few years. We are interested in Meridian yachts that are 45′-50′ long, so this yacht was a bit small for a liveaboard. The outdoor space was great and the salon offered comfortable seating.

(Unfortunately, I also didn’t think to take official photos of the heads or flybridge, so be sure to check out our YouTube episode for the video tour.)

The galley was a bit small, but we did like that the sinks had covers, so you could make additional counter space. The fridge was a bit small and the stove top only had two burners (which were really small too). We made it work though. For breakfast, I cooked up the sausage ahead of time and kept it warm on the grill, while I used the same pans to make the eggs.

The microwave is also a convection oven, but it took up a huge part of the counter. We ended up using the top of it to store our plates and napkins. However, each time we were underway, we had to put everything away that was on the counter.

One part of the settee seat is reversible for the captain’s chair. The settee was also very small. It barely sat four people and that meant that one person always ate on the couch for each meal.

Linens for the Meridian Yacht charter

When we first got on the boat, I was surprised to see towels and linens stacked in the salon and on the beds. While your charter does come with linens and towels, the charter company now leaves them for the guests thanks to covid-19. Their sheets were not fitted, so it took us a bit longer than normal. We had also brought our own towels due to the pandemic.

Which is the Master Stateroom?

Scott and I went around and around on which room was the master on the Meridian 411 yacht. The mid-ship cabin was big, had a full walk around, a small sitting couch and two big closets. However, not only was the day head connected to it, but you could not stand up in it!! (Be sure to watch our last video for the tour of the stateroom).

The v-berth was also a queen size bed, but you have to hop up into it. It had a private head, so we finally determined that it was the master. With all of the drawers under the bed, we ended up using those to store all of our food.

Overall Impression

This yacht was definitely nicer than the Carver we had originally been booked in. It is a great cruising boat for a couple with small kids. My brother-in-law Kurt ended up sleeping on the couch in the salon and he had plenty of room.

We also like that it had somewhat good storage. Since the boat came equipped with pots, pans, utensils, etc, it took up a lot of the storage space we would normally use.

Would we rent it again? Not for more than four people. It was just too snug and difficult to prepare meals for everyone. Be sure to tune in next week, as we take you on a quick tour of Stuart Island and anchor for the first time overnight.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel for future episodes. Follow us on social media @BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

Click on the video below for a full tour. In hindsight, we should have recorded the tour before things go messy inside. That is easier said than done, because the tour was the last thing on our mind when we arrived to Anacortes.

October 18, 2020October 25, 2020

Getting to Friday Harbor & Back Home

Last time, we anchored overnight at Stuart Island and planned to head to Friday Harbor the next day. The boat still had a leak of unknown origin, so we decided to take a direct route to Friday Harbor (versus stopping to explore) to meet the technician early in the afternoon.

Around 11am, we pulled up the anchor. Luckily it only had a small amount of seaweed on it.

The weather was fantastic, with light winds coming from the south.

Our plan was to travel around 10 knots, stop after 15 minutes and let the mid and forward bilge pumps pump out the water. Interestingly, the high water alarm came on after going faster at 12 knots for about 10 minutes. Could there be a correlation? We wondered if going faster was putting more pressure or torque on something causing it to leak faster.

Kurt headed down to the engine room again and took off the cover over the dripless shafts. Then we put the boat into forward and sure enough, the port side seal on the shaft was leaking pretty badly. At least now we knew where the leak was coming from.

Arriving to Friday Harbor

We hobbled into Friday Harbor and they assigned us our slip on the inside of C Dock. There was literally one 60′ space between two boats and Scott had to parallel park the boat to dock (this is not a photo of our time in Friday Harbor). He did a fantastic job docking and everyone was impressed! Luckily the wind was coming towards the dock, so it pushed us right in.

I called Anacortes Yacht Charter to let them know we made it safely and that we found the source of the leak. The technician was supposed to meet us at 1pm, but he rescheduled for later in the afternoon. With that said, we headed into town to explore a bit.

Check out their dinghy dock!

Exploring downtown Friday Harbor

Downtown Friday Harbor is located steps away from the marina and there are quaint shops and a few restaurants. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, a lot of businesses were still closed or open with limited hours.

It was pretty warm, and soon we were all parched. Time to stop for a cold beverage. We stumbled into Herb’s Tavern, the oldest in town. This is a very cool bar, with a lot of character!

I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t find a great souvenir shop. I hadn’t liked anything I saw along the trip, so I was hoping Friday Harbor would have a gift store. They had one that sold a few things, but I didn’t like anything they had.

The gang then ventured back to boat to relax and get ready for dinner. On our way back, we ran into Susie’s Mopeds again! Definitely on my bucket list for next time.

We stopped by Downrigger’s restaurant to make dinner reservations; the earliest we could get in was 7pm. Glad we made them, because they were nearly full.

The technician finally arrived!

Though Scott told the tech where the leak was coming from, he still wanted to take the boat out for a sea trial that afternoon. I explained to him that there was no way, we were going back out to troubleshoot this.

We told the tech where it was leaking and he maneuvered the shaft seal hoses around and sure enough, a huge stream of water shot out!

Be sure to tune into our YouTube episode to see all of the footage! It was pretty shocking to all of us.

He then said we should be fine heading back to Anacortes, if we go slow and pump out. Here’s the catch – he forgot to bring a new aft bilge pump! I told him he needed to install the pump and he replied saying he didn’t think we needed one! WHAT?! Are you kidding me? We’re taking on 500 gallons of water with only two working bilge pumps. I insisted he go get the new pump to install.

Around 5pm, the tech headed back to the shop and returned with the new pump. Hallelujah! Time for cocktails and a nice dinner after all that!

Dinner in Friday Harbor

It was a beautiful warm night and we sat outside on the deck at Downriggers.

One note of advice is if you sit outside, they have no lighting. so by the time our dinner arrived, it was pitch dark. Tracey had to shine her phone flashlight on our food so we could see what we were eating! But we had an amazing dinner with great friends, so we couldn’t ask for a better night.

Heading back to Anacortes

Before heading back to Anacortes, we walked back into town to grab breakfast. We found the Rocky Bay Cafe and the food was great! The portions were so huge, they could feed two people!

Anacortes is just under 20 miles from Friday Harbor and we figured it would take us about two hours. Unlike our trip leaving Anacortes, the boat ride was comfortable and enjoyable.

Returning the Boat

One of the requirements of the charter company is you have to fill the boat up with fuel. We all debated on doing this, as we wanted an option should they not refund our money. But I told the group that we need to do our part of the agreement to show good faith. Luckily, there was only one boat waiting to fuel up and we got in about 10 minutes later.

Once we finished fueling up, we notified Anacortes Yacht Charter that we were heading to the dock. When we arrived, they had a dock hand ready to help us. He even brought down carts. The only other requirement the charter company has is you have to remove your trash and strip the linens. They do everything else. The charter company does do a walk through to ensure there is no damage.

We loaded the truck back up (how did we have more than we had coming here?) and headed to the office to talk to the GM.

Turns out that the GM wasn’t in when stopped by. We ended up talking to the senior service manager, showed him our video and he assured us they would take care of us. The next day, Scott and I had a lengthy call with the GM about the situation. I told the GM that the charter company was very lucky that we were experienced boaters. We probably preventing the boat from sinking. He said he needed to talk to the owner of the boat and his boss to see what they could do for us.

Stay tuned for our next blog and video to find out what they ended up doing for us. We’ll also give you a tour of the boat and breakdown our costs of the charter. Please be sure to subscribe to our channel to see future episodes. Link at the bottom of this blog.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Follow us on social media @BoatingJourney. Cheers, Scott & Ally