More Stuff To Do In Alameda

Malo was starting to look and feel pretty good,  but there was still more to do. A leaky aft cabin needed to be addressed.  This was our first attempt of several, to repair a leak over our bed.  Dan tried to explain to me that.... "all boats leak!"  Being the persistent person I am, I really did not want to settle into that reasoning so quickly. Especially when the leak was over our sleeping quarters.

Dan trying to fix a leak in aft cabin. (eventually he succeeded)!!!

Dan trying to figure out the inverter and battery charging system.

While Malo is a sail boat, she still needs to use electrical power to run the navigation systems, lights, pumps etc.  Apparently this can be tricky on a boat, as it involves both AC and DC systems.  An inverter talks between the two systems.  I certainly do not understand this and while Dan was trying to figure our system out, all I could do was be quiet so he could think. The inverter was acting funky - i.e. it worked at times, and other times, it did not work.  As to be expected, this was troubling.  It worked well enough that we were able to sail Malo north to Oregon, although the engine had to run several hours every day to keep the batteries charged.  I will look forward to an eventual solar charging system on the boat.

The floor boards were taken up dozen of times, to expose the bilges and to find or replace wires, hoses etc.  (We would've just left them out, but that made walking around a challenge and a bit too dangerous as well.)

Norm, our broker from Sail California graciously gave us two tickets to the Richmond Sail Show which he said would be a terrific event for us to attend.  We hesitantly went. Why do I say "hesitantly"?  Neither of us enjoy driving in traffic, we actually find it very stressful and the Bay Area certainly has a lot of traffic.  We decided to go and it was actually delightful and very helpful.

Sail boats on display at the Sail Show 2016, Richmond, California

At the sail show, there were many wonderful booths and venders selling many types of nautical equipment.  We gained much knowledge and established some wonderful contacts there.  Navigational instruments, anchor, life raft, life jackets, sail step and more were all purchased at this one event.

A real bonus to the day was a visit to the Rosie The Riveter Museum at the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant in Richmond, California.  I found this most fascinating and educational as well.

Rosie The Riveter at the Ford Motor Assembly Plant in Richmond, California

This is a tribute to the Red Cross and all the wonderful people
who have volunteered or worked there - including my sister Carolyn!

Here I am visiting Rosie while she is having lunch!

Malo had a max-prop propeller which is apparently highly rated.  Yet, there was terrific vibration when the engine ran.  It took a lot of research and help from Bay Propeller in Alameda to determine that the feathering max-prop was over-pitched and over-sized.  A new two bladed propeller was ordered and later installed.

Malo gets pulled again at Svendsen's Boat Yard.

Switching the propeller.

One of the last things we felt needed to be done, was another climb up the mast, but this time to the very top.  A new anameter (wind instrument) had to be installed and a new wire brought down the inside of the mast. What an undertaking that was!   Dan was an avid rock climber in years past and he brought his equipment with him to the boat.  Now there was clearly a time that he could make it up the mast himself, but age and a few pounds added made it such that he needed my assistance.  I hosted Dan while he used ascenders to help himself up the mast. (Sort of like walking up a portable ladder).   Together we succeeded.

Dan is setting up his climbing gear to tackle the mast.  

Here he is climbing away.

Dan made it to the top!

We drove back and forth from Eugene, Oregon to Alameda, California a number of times over the course of the three months that we worked on Malo.  Once the primary things, i.e. safety equipment,  dodger, auto-helm and navigational aids were operating well, we were ready to think about a one-way plane ticket to San Francisco because we were getting ready to sale Malo north.

Our friend Bonnie, dropped us off at the airport for a one way ticket to San Francisco.

Dan cleverly installed our life raft on top of the deck.

I love to exercise and was starting to feel a bit frustrated because we were by the water, but I couldn't get "on" the water.  My solution, was to purchase a stand-up-paddle board, otherwise known as a SUP.  It turns out west marine was having a decent sale, so I went for it - carrying case and all.

The SUP board did not really fit into our rental car.

I was very happy out on the water again!

After 3 months, it was time to say goodbye to Alameda, California.

Malo was looking pretty good!

and we were ready to leave the safety of this beautiful harbor and voyage northward.

Preparing Malo For Safe Passage

We spent the next 3 months cleaning, upgrading and making Malo a boat that could handle the ocean.  It appeared that she was lightly used and only went out for occasional day sails.  Many systems were old, neglected and often did not work.  Norm from Sail California was most generous and allowed us to keep the boat on the sales dock while we worked on her, and even slept on her.  Weather was perfect in California.  We kept very busy doing all sorts of projects.  

First we went through lockers, and bilges to clean and remove things we would not use.  We really had to prioritize what absolutely had to be done before we could sail her north to Newport Oregon.  We worked hard and long days.  When it came time to get help, it was a delight to find so many wonderfully talented and professional boat workers on Alameda Island.  Svendsen's Boat Works, Bay Propeller, Star Marine Electronics, Chucks Marine, West Marine and Pacific Crests Sails were all very helpful to us.

One of the first things we did was remove the center table in the salon.  By opening up the salon, it made working on the boat so much easier.  It was not an easy task, but Dan figured out a way to remove the table. Once we got it out, both of us really enjoyed the spaciousness within the cabin.  So it has stayed out.

Dan removing center table in salon.

This is our old binnacle and navigation.

It became very clear that we needed to upgrade to a new navigation system and plotter.  Dan was hoping to do this once we got to Oregon, but after attending a Sail Show, we had the fortune of meeting Ian Wall of  Star Marine.   He was extremely professional and helpful with figuring out what we needed - a new Raymarine Navigation plotter and more.  It was very involved and complicated, but working piece by piece, and with lots of time and patience, Dan was able to puzzle it together while using some verbal coaching from Ian.  Of course he got lots of support and assistance from me too.  

Star Marine saved us with their professional knowledge.  Thanks Ian

Wall and his staff!

Dan with some of the old wire that was removed as a new navigations system
was installed.

The auto helm was not functioning.  Are you surprised as this was part of it. 

There was a hydraulic auto helm but it was not really functioning.  Because of my short statue I can climb into the lazarets easier than Dan, so it was my job to undo and re-do a variety of things in these small spaces.  Fortunately, Dan coached me along every step of the way.  I was actually glad I could do something somewhat mechanical, as usually Dan took over those jobs.  

Bev taking apart some controls for the hydraulic auto helm.

Here is the old hydraulic auto-helm which has been replaced with a new one.

The engine needed to be serviced and the recommendation from our broker Norm, was Chuck from Chuck's Marine. He was the best.  Even though he was very busy, we were still able to get him to work on the engine a couple times.  His problem solving capabilities were greatly appreciated.  The exhaust hose was mounted upside down,  a new water pump needed to be installed, the engine vibrated a lot, the throttle needed replacement and more....Thanks Chuck!

Chuck working on our engine.




Dan knew we needed a dodger for the sail northward. This functions like a "windshield" and provides some shade, but more importantly keeps rain and waves from entering the main cabin.  While Malo had a dodger frame, she needed to have a new sunbrella cover made for it and the frame needed to be strengthened to accommodate the force of wind and water.   Pacific Crest Sails were located on Alameda Island and did a beautiful job making Malo a new dodger.

Measuring fabric for the new bimidy!

Here is the finished dodger and see how well we can see out!

Here is our old binnacle and the dysfunctional navigation system located by the helm.  So the decision was to replace the compass and nav system with a new Ray-marine chart plotter.

Dan removing the binacle.

Here I am in the galley.  

Dan takes a well deserved nap. I myself am not really a napper,
but Dan assures me that I will learn.  The ocean will teach me.  

The salon got pretty messy at times, even though I did my best to keep it
a little organized.

It was a real pleasure for me to take a break and meet my daughters Kara & Ada as well as my siblings at my nephews wedding in Austin, Texas.  Dan stayed at the boat and installed a new auto-helm system!

Beverly (Me) with my two daughters, Ada and Kara.

Beverly, Carolyn, Donald and Marjorie - my Siblings!

Meanwhile back at the boat, Dan continued to work hard on getting Malo ready for a trip north.

The floor boards get lifted to run the wires down the mast for the new Raydome and wind instruments .  And a new radar reflector got installed on the back stay.

Dan installing a new radar reflector on the back stay.

Dan climbs the mast with climbing gear and I used the winch to crank him up the mast.  It was a team effort!

We did take a few breaks from the work to enjoy the scenery and watch the sail races going on. As I mentioned previously, the weather in the San Francisco Bay area was delightful.

At the end of the day, Captain Dan logs into the book important information he
wanted to keep track of.  A Ships Log!

Is Malo Really the Right Boat?

We put an offer to purchase Malo with Sail California.  After some negotiations with the previous owners, a price was reached.  Next a boat survey needed to be done.  Dan researched this and found an incredibly competent and nice surveyor named Kent Parker from Napa, CA.  Dan and Kent hit it off well, as both were woodworkers as well as boat people.  Here is a picture of Kent doing one of his inspections.

We then got to take Malo out in the bay for a "Sea Trial".  Norm hoisted up the sail, which didn't really go up that smoothly.  He used a technique called "sweating the line".  (Later Dan fixed the problem - a screw in the sail track that blocked the slides).

This is Broker Norm "sweating the lines".

Captain Dan was very happy behind the helm!

Alameda Island is just outside of Oakland, California - which had the biggest shipping center that I've ever seen!  We motored Malo right by these huge ships that were getting unloaded.  

Trying to figure out it the navigation system even works!

I even got a chance to take the helm and she seemed very responsive.

Malo was sailing and she was happy to be moving effortlessly over the water of San Francisco Bay.

It was looking as if our sailing dream was moving forward....but wait, there was still a big issue.  The engine motor caused the entire boat to vibrate.  I could never have handled that noise, nor that vibration.  Something was not right.  Next step;  have the boat hauled out of the water to check the propeller.

Svensen's Marina was the place !

Norm made some calls, and the next day we motored the boat to this delightful boat yard called Svensen's Marina.  They lifted it on their travel lift, power washed the bottom, and we got to examine the underside, as well as the propeller. 

Perhaps the pitch was wrong for the size of engine.  Who knows??

Now it was back to the negotiations.  Sea trials, inspection and boat haul out were all completed.  Dan did some more figuring based on results, and our final offer made and accepted.  On March 31, 2016 we were the new owners of Malo.

Captain Dan and First Mate Bev

We decided to keep her name, as we are planning to cruise in Mexico and Malo means "bad" in Spanish.  Also Malo means "good job" in Somoan, as we later learned from Keith, our dock master, at the South Beach Marina in Newport, Oregon.   Thus the name of this blog is:  Malo, A Boat Named Bad  In addition,  my dear friends Diane and Emily refer to people as being "bad asses" when achievements requiring great determination and perseverance are made.  This is and will certainly be within that classification of being bad ....

Searching for our boat!  Fall 2015 and Spring 2016

Finding the right boat, at the right price and in a location that makes sense is a challenge for anyone. Daniel, being the more knowledgeable one on boats, did a lot of searching various boat web sites such as www.yachtworld.com and boats.com.

We mostly looked at racer/cruiser sail boats.  If we are going to be sailing, we wanted something that performed well in various wind conditions including light winds.  We also desired something that was spacious enough for two and then perhaps two additional guests from time to time. Since we live in the northwest USA, we started looking northward - Vancouver Island, Canada; Anacortes and Seattle WA; and Portland, OR.   Once we saw our first C&C 37 plus on Vancouver Island, we knew that was the type of boat for us.

Originally a Canadian made boat, they appeared to be more common in the north.  But they sold quickly and we ended up heading south to San Francisco Bay Area on Alameda Island where we met with Norm Davant from Sail California.  He was very helpful and showed us the boat we eventually bought in March 2017.  Thank you Sail California!

The Marina Village Marina was beautiful and there were many nice looking sail boats.  It was a beautiful spot to be able to live on our boat as we worked for 3 months intermittently on overhauling her for our passage north.  The 9 hour drive from Newport, Oregon to Alameda, California was something we had to time correctly, so as to avoid the traffic in the Bay area. We usually did the trip in two days, while sleeping in the back of our van at rest stops and trying to enter the city after or before any rush hour traffic.  But there was always traffic.

Here is Malo - our new boat!

Looking at the salon,  navigation station on port, galley on starboard and V Birth in bow.

.Galley and entrance to aft cabin.

Aft Cabin

And her proud owners Captain Daniel and First Mate Beverly!!!!!