The boat has done well. The engine did quit in Port Royal Sound as it did going to Manteo but both were after a couple of hours of pretty violent rocking and rolling. I had plenty of fuel both times but it is possible the pickup tube sucked some air. Maybe the extra labor caused engine heat but that should have happened again powering against some of this current. A big roll could have tricked a sensor into thinking the oil was low or even gone. The boats bottom has some growth and yet only one sailboat has passed us. With a good prop and true running gear she will hang with some of the trawlers. Not once has she given up her attachment to the bottom. No dragging! Good ground tackle and low freeboard may be responsible. The front to the cockpit enclosure can hurt visibility but sure cuts the cold wind. The woodstove was a great addition. I have found that the hickory chunks sold at Walmart work the best. On my wish list would be a windlass, an autopilot and maybe a depth sounder to hunt out the shallower options when it comes to anchoring. Of course a chartplotter would make life easier but that can also dull your awareness. I would run a route on my netbook and then upload it to my Garmin eTrex handheld GPS. There is very little sailing going down the ditch when you are alone because the courses are constantly changing. Roller furling on the headsail would have been nice though. I had some thoughts about converting her to a great loop boat with just a cargo boom for the dinghy up and down and maybe extending the enclosure so the main hatch could stay open. Most boats I saw had full enclosures, anchor wash, windlass, chartplotter and more. A tricked out version of “Spark” would be fun to try. The basic version did just fine. I say all this because I might have to sell her soon. It will be sad.
living small as a lifestyle