August 2009--I've spent most of the month getting the boat ready for the trip to Mexico. In the past few weeks I have installed an underdeck autopilot (Raymarine) installed cooling fans in the cabin, and installed the Viking Liferaft that I purchased on E-Bay. I have also installed solar panels and additional batteries. I still need to install the new Raymarine Chartplotter, AIS and Satellite Radio--which will bring the boat's electronics up to date.
I've debated about whether to buy and install a radar. I've decided to do without one for a while and see how it goes. After much discussion, Claudia and I have also decided to do without refrigeration. We will rely on the boat's large, well-insulated icebox, and stock it with ice, for the time being. Doing without refrigeration means we can get by with smaller, cheaper solar panels, a smaller battery bank, alternator, etc., which will keep our costs down.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The Boat
Our boat is a Mason 33 sloop, designed by Al Mason and built in 1985 in Taiwan's well-known Ta-Shing Shipyard by Pacific Asia Enterprises. It is a comfortable, heavily-built cruiser. We bought the boat in 2007. It had been lightly used for most of its 22-year life: there were only 400 hours on the engine and the interior, including the bilge, was amazingly clean and new looking. The boat has extensive storage space, which should make it a good live-aboard. When purchased, it had only the most basic electronics (VHF, depth gauge, knot meter), which I liked because it allowed me to upgrade to my choice of new equipment.
The boat was previously known as Sous Le Vent (Downwind). In anticipation of the upcoming sabbatical year, we rechristened her Sabbatical. The re-christening followed all the require formalities--including a toast to Neptune.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Plan
Academic sabbaticals are supposed to be a time for careful reflection--an opportunity to read and think broadly, retool intellectually and perhaps work on long-term projects. As I thought about ways to spend my sabbatical, it occurred to me that I could pursue all of the traditional goals while living on a sailboat--and have a sailing adventure at the same time. Thus, I decided to spend my sabbatical on Sabbatical (which, not coincidentally, is the name of my sailboat).
The timing is right. I just completed a three-year term as Chair of my academic department (Criminology, Law & Society) at UCI. Our youngest child, Elliot, is beginning college this Fall. So I am free of most administrative and parental obligations. I am working with a few graduate students, but all are at a stage where they can (and should) be working independently; I can continue to help them from afar by e-mail.
The plan, then, is to rent our house in Irvine, move onto the boat, and go sailing. We'll be starting in the Fall, so we'll begin by heading South toward warmer waters and keep going as long as far as it's fun.
The timing is right. I just completed a three-year term as Chair of my academic department (Criminology, Law & Society) at UCI. Our youngest child, Elliot, is beginning college this Fall. So I am free of most administrative and parental obligations. I am working with a few graduate students, but all are at a stage where they can (and should) be working independently; I can continue to help them from afar by e-mail.
The plan, then, is to rent our house in Irvine, move onto the boat, and go sailing. We'll be starting in the Fall, so we'll begin by heading South toward warmer waters and keep going as long as far as it's fun.
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