We did it! Took the work-in-progress Lotus Eater out for her first real trip.
We turned west into the Albemarle Sound yesterday afternoon, and made our way up the mile-wide Chowan River for another four hours (at 5 knots), turned eastbound up a twisty, but beautiful creek into the swamp, anchored for the evening just as the sun sank beneath the trees, took a short kayak ride, and had the whole wide place in the creek, a splendid anchorage to ourselves. It was so still last night that the anchor line never went taut after we set it, and by wine-o-clock, the twin of every star in an unusually clear sky was floating on the surface of the water. Just amazing! At first light this morning, we awoke to mist rising off the lake, still all ours. Beautiful evening, wonderful morning. Nice long ride home, another five hours. Such a peaceful trip-- until docking. A fluky crosswind and a retrieved springline that came loose at exactly the wrong time made it much too exciting, given the nasty rocks way too close.
We learned a couple of things: Air mattresses are cold! Especially if the person in charge of packing didn't bring enough warm stuff for a crisp evening. Next time we'll put a foam pad on top. The ad-hoc composting john was entirely too ad-hoc. Next on order is a real made for the purpose composting head. Need shelving fairly soon. The iPad/chart plotter works absolutely splendidly. A fine idea, as it turns out, both the free app and the $30 one. So-- it was great fun. Have pretty photos, and will upload one of these days.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

Congrats.
First real trip is always going to be the most memorable. It will take more than several trips until you get to point where you remember to bring almost everything you need.
As long as the wine is there, no real need for candles when you have moon and starlight.
I am happy for the three of you. Hubby, you and Amelia. Does sound a little kinky though.

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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober

Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay

Actually, Tony, it was just the two of us. We left the Killer Kitty home, thinking she wouldn't appreciate the long ride nor the confined quarters, even though she considers it Her Boat when it's docked. She met us on the dock this afternoon with every disapproving cat word she could think of. We were well and truly scolded, probably more for taking Her Boat away than for not being home with warm lap for Her Majesty.

Stmbtwle's advice to go use the boat long before it's finished was spot-on. We got back with lots of ideas of what's next.

If somebody will point me to the sticky that tells how to upload photos so they appear as pictures, rather than links, I might try that.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

'Nother question for you voices of experience. If hailing on Channel 16, do we identify ourselves as Motor Vessel Lotus Eater, or Houseboat Lotus Eater, or something else entirely? (I have no plans to do any hailing at all, but should the occasion arise, I'd like to sound semi-competent, for as long as that illusion might last.)

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

Amelia:
I hope you have many more pleasant trips like that one. I think you should identify yourself as Houseboat instead of Motor Vessel.
I am afraid that the shape of your boat will cause you to always have problems with the wind.
clarencio

Yup. 'Fraid you're right, C-- but that's what happens when you turn a Midwesterner loose to build his first boat ever. He thinks farmhouse-on-floats, instead of sleek and efficient. At least tall folk don't whine about the clearance under the ceiling fans...(the Southern sailor can but sigh. Nobody listens... ;-))

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

amelia, the boat looks great. we've had 3 pontoon type houseboats and actually prefer them over a full hull. i think they are much easier to handle in the wind and they track better in rough water and are more stable. we have a gibson now but i miss myt 54 playcraft.

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1991 gibson 44 executive
454's
norwich,ohio
docked on the good ole ohio river in marietta

I agree with Clarence. The whole purpose is to identify yourself. If someone is hailing you or you hailing them for passing signals (f'rinstance) there will be no doubt who you are. Eventually you will get caught in unexpected fog and the radios will be humming with everyone talking back and forth. YOu want the person talking to you to know exactly who you are and Houseboat Amelia will give them a clue.
When I was a commercial boat captain in the oil fields we would identify ourselves as Motor Vessel XXXXXXXX. Then when a reply came back we would respond with "we are the offshore utility boat - black hull, white superstructure and trident antenna."
By saying Houseboat, you will have saved a lot of IDing.

BTW Clarence, nice avitar

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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober

Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay

Thanks Tony---I had some help---wonder who??
Amelia, BTW I wasn't being critical of your boat in the wind. I fought the wind in mine, all the time . I think all Houseboats have that problem?? Maybe your double hull will alleviate that problem to a large degree. I hope.

Tony I googled "resize photos" and up came "resize my pictures.com" for free and in 3 easy steps. How about that??
clarence

Clarence
I will keep that in mind in case my old program wont work on Windows 7.

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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober

Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay

Oh, Clarence, the handling, even in a decent breeze while in open water is just fine-- she tracks like she's on rails. Reduce the power when approaching a dock, - with ugly jagged concrete ledges close on the other side, and differential power application notwithstanding, shall we simply say, there's a knack we just don't have yet. Hoping to learn how to do it smoothly before we have a large and critical audience. Or a marina full of multi-million-dollar bleach bottles.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

I'm happy that you made a trip on the Lotus Eater. Hopefully it will be the first of many this summer. Some of our best trips have been spur of the moment short trips that are fairly close to home. We've learned that you don't have to go far away to have fun. That being said I'm leaving tomorrow to sail a friend's boat from near Athens (not GA) to Marseilles, France.
I haven't been on this forum lately due to lack of time. It's really time consuming to be retired but I was able to put in a couple of weeks on our boat to get it ready for the summer (hurricane season). When you're retired everyone thinks that you have all of the time in the world to help with their projects.
Good luck and have fun.

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joetil
50x15 Burns-Craft in South Fla

Oh, my! What a wonderful adventure! Need last-minute crew? I may be a superannuated and clumsy deckhand, but know my way around a sailboat and am told I'm a right good cook....have passport...

Haven't figured out posting photos here, but some from this mini-trip are posted in an album on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/media/...100000900391881&type=1

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

Edited: 05/14/2012 at 07:04:52 AM by Amelia

Congrats Mimi!!

I have been looking forward to this post for what seems like 10 years!!!

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Banana Tom