Category: Preparing for Cruising
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Preparing Your Boat For Summer
Our summer plans include leaving the sailboat in the Berry Islands, Bahamas, at Great Harbour Cay Marina. I thought I would share how I prepared S/V Mahi for our absence during the tropical hurricane season. When you leave your boat for an extended time, there are many issues to consider. Here is our main list:…
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Provisioning Mistakes
Since our current trip to the Bahamas was the first major provisioning opportunity for Mahi, I knew there would be a steep learning curve. Mistakes would be made. So, I decided to share what has not worked in order to help future cruisers. In preparation for leaving, I had read multiple books on how to…
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Advice to New Cruisers
Joe and I have now experienced the steep learning curve of cruising- including a boat search, purchase, driving across the country to move aboard, then a refit, then back on board, provisioning, outfitting and now setting off. We thought we would post advice we wish someone had given us- or advice we wish we…
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Random Boat Stuff
Living on a 43-foot cruising sailboat is much different than living on land. I thought I would share some of the little differences. Washing Dishes by Hand– Yes, everything must be washed by hand. Plus, you do not have a garbage disposal, so no dumping food scraps down the drain. If you plan to sail,…
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Provisioning
One of the last steps you do before leaving the US on your sailboat is to provision. Provisioning means you supply your boat with food, drink or the equipment you need for the journey. In this case, we plan to be cruising on Mahi, our Taswell 43, in the Bahamas for about 5 months before…
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Set a Deadline
When you are planning to cruise by sailboat, it is helpful to finally set a deadline. From experience, I can easily say that if you do not set a deadline for taking off, you and your boat will never leave the dock. With this in mind, Joe and I sat down this morning and set…
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Getting Closer Now…
We have been living back on our Taswell 43 sailboat for over 2 weeks now. Love it, it is cozy, comfortable, and we are working away at all the needed jobs to do before we take off. I am happy to report that Mahi once again has refrigeration!! It is so much easier to live…
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Improving the Smell on Your Boat
When Joe and I were hunting for our cruising sailboat, one memory stands out. We were viewing a 44-foot sailboat for sale, and when we went below, there was a scented candle burning. “What smells are they trying to mask?” I whispered to Joe out of earshot. Once we opened the floorboards, the moldy odor…
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Refit Almost Done!
All of the refit work is winding down or being completed on board Mahi. The electrical work is wrapping up, lots of wiring upgrades, new breaker panel organization, plus new cabin fans added throughout the boat for added comfort in the tropics. I chose Caframo Bora fans in black. This fans has 3 settings, and…
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Favorite Galley Things, Part 1
The holidays are upon us, so I thought I would share some of my favorite galley items. Please note that I am not affiliated with any of these products, nor benefiting from my recommendation. If you are looking for a gift for your favorite sailing or land-based cook, keep reading: Kuhn Rikon Pressure…
SV Mahi 