Another successful conference call today with a most patient and encouraging KKY guru.
Somehow, with the help of plan drawings (they give me the hiccups), pictures of other boats and a lot of help from Tom B., the following decisions were made today - and in under 35 minutes. I'm really getting the hang of this whole project (not a minute too soon I might add). Do I hear a collective sigh of relief and "it's about time" being muttered?
As mentioned yesterday, today was the day to decide on the galley counter top. In the all-important galley, we finally decided to sweep the one level counter into the salon so that 2 people can sit comfortably at the "breakfast/cocktail bar" without needing knee surgery after the event. I'm a neat nut, so keeping the counter free of kitchen gadgetry isn't a problem for me. In fact, although I live alone in this lovely apartment, there is not one extra thing out on the counter, or anywhere else for that matter. This "bar" will have a bull nose edge while the inboard facing counters will have a granite fiddle. We decided that the galley is so nice to look at, including the lit glass fronted cabinets facing the salon and the tiled stove back splash, why block the view with a shelf? Just another place to acquire clutter.
I gave my approval to switch out the reading lamps in pilot house, guest and master staterooms for the wonderful Cygnus single-arm wall lamps. We also added 2 of those lamps to the salon - one on the port bulkhead, the other above the wine fridge adjacent to the galley ( on this boat, the wine fridge will be across the room on the port side facing inboard to allow for the new pilot house access steps on the starboard side).
Tom B. sent me some drawings of a 58' with the steps to the flybridge cleverly blended in with the bookcase in the guest stateroom to give me an idea of how my guest stateroom will look with the steps to the pilot house. There are also 3 solid paneled doors in the wall looking aft to allow for some storage in addition to drawers under each of the 2 twin beds. Though I won't encourage excessively long visits, a guest can comfortably stay aboard with plenty of room to spread out.
Under review are the 2 helm chairs for the pilot house. We had a Lebroc helm chair on Serenity and loved it for its good looks, comfort and price. I'm looking at the Tradewinds model in ultra leather to match the settee (color TBD). I'm opting for stainless components instead of the white or black powder coat option. Since trim on the boat is stainless, I like to maintain continuity throughout the spaces. Since I'm not a big person, the regular width seats will be just fine for me and fit nicely in the area behind the helm.
Speaking of the helm, I'm keeping the oversize destroyer wheel Tom had to have. It'll be nice having it in my hands, knowing this wheel was so important to him. You've by now noticed the obvious lack of conversation about the electronics. Tom had made many decisions on what this boat would have in the pilot house. Some will stay, others will be modified. That is where I am now. I'm getting new quotes and new ideas, so no news for you right now. In my mind, the electronics and name share a rarified position in this build process, so no conversation about either for now.
Another important decision coming up is the salon table. Though I love the one KKY puts on the boats, I'm not wild about the stainless pedestal in a room rich with the warmth of cherry and leather. I spent a considerable amount of time (at work) today looking at a dizzying array of tables. I loved the movable tables on earlier KKY models, but understand they were not very stable when underway. So I continue to weigh my options for a hi-lo table that can fold out to accommodate about 6 people for a seated, served meal and still look like a beautiful piece of furniture - oh, and also somewhat reasonably priced. Therein lies the challenge.
Mentioned in an earlier post was the idea of using cherry blinds (not real wood of course) in the rooms needing something on the windows. KKY would build a frame in cherry around each window for a custom and sleek built-in look. This seems to be de riguer (sp?) on the mega yachts that I've seen in magazines. To be determined is the width of these blinds: 1, 2 or 3". I'm leaning towards the 1" size - less surface to collect dust and more visibility when in the down/open position. This size will also present a smaller stack and therefore, disappear inside the valance when pulled up.
Every time I read what I've just written, I have to chuckle - sounds like I actually know what I'm going on about! LOL. For those of you contemplating building a brand new boat, you need to be strong- minded,strong-willed, decisive and have some basic understanding of how to read a plan view (I'm ok with the former, but oh dear, those plan views kill me!).
Despite the very important decisions needed (lucky for me and the boat that Tom spent a VERY long time in the engine room and in the other interior/exterior important boat spaces), I'm having a wonderful time building this boat with the KKY team. It's a bittersweet process for all of us, but everyone is determined to give me the experience of a lifetime while making prudent and fun decisions in a timely, calm environment.
I'm amazed that so much has been accomplished in a week. I don't feel overwhelmed (only when I have to look at those plan views) and I'm happy with the decisions made. I've second-guessed myself on a couple of occasions, but with the help of more experienced, saner minds, reason prevailed.
I'll be watching the mail for the ultra leather color cards Tom B. will be sending so that I can select the color of salon and pilot house settees (they'll probably be the same color - I'm thinking a light neutral) and the helm chairs. Big doings! Woo hoo!
That's all for tonight folks. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Day off from boat decisions
Though I didn't make any boat decisions today, a 6 pm email from KKY set my thought processes in motion.
Since the interior of this boat will be a brand new design, there are some changes that will occur without precedent. Since I am totally inept at conceptualizing plane drawings, we have some challenges ahead. For example, I was asked to look at the guest stateroom which I will configure with twin beds to accommodate the different types of passengers that will be aboard. Since the new steps to the pilot house will be above this room, we have to account for them overhead. Additionally, I'm planning to place the entertainment system components in an electronics cabinet that will be at eye level in a cabinet that will front into the starboard companionway and protrude into the guest stateroom. After my first thought that this would look awful, I was brought to my senses with a drawing that showed the bookcase above one of the beds blending into a header, soffit, whatever, that would hide the steps and cabinet protrusion. I should have known better that KKY would build anything in a boat that didn't elicit sighs of contentment.
Next on deck for tomorrow (pun intended), is to decide on the sweep of the galley counter. Translation: I've asked that the counter overhang into the salon a bit so that bar stools could be placed at the counter looking into the galley for impromptu cocktails while dinner is being prepared, a quick breakfast when the weather doesn't permit al fresco dining, or whatever else occurs in that area. As we boaters know, there is never enough seating space - especially on a party boat.
Since good lighting is so important on a boat, I am in the process of changing out the standard reading lights in various places for the single arm Cygnus lamps I had and loved on Serenity. Instead of having a bunch of lamps around that need to be stowed during trips, these sweet wall lamps are classy, neat and out of the way but provide the perfect light at the right height for reading wherever one may be sitting. So, you'll probably see these lamps in the salon, guest and master staterooms and in the pilot house. I'll still have room for a decorative lamp or two, but they won't be a necessity.
So this is where I am right now. Making all these decisions and selecting furnishings is fun and exciting but also a bit stressful at the same time. Since this boat will be my home, I want to put the best I can afford into every detail, knowing full well that I will have to make choices when necessary. I'm getting excellent, objective advice from the very people that build people's dream boats, so I'm in good hands.
Looking forward to tomorrow's ideas, decisions and continuing the dream.
Since the interior of this boat will be a brand new design, there are some changes that will occur without precedent. Since I am totally inept at conceptualizing plane drawings, we have some challenges ahead. For example, I was asked to look at the guest stateroom which I will configure with twin beds to accommodate the different types of passengers that will be aboard. Since the new steps to the pilot house will be above this room, we have to account for them overhead. Additionally, I'm planning to place the entertainment system components in an electronics cabinet that will be at eye level in a cabinet that will front into the starboard companionway and protrude into the guest stateroom. After my first thought that this would look awful, I was brought to my senses with a drawing that showed the bookcase above one of the beds blending into a header, soffit, whatever, that would hide the steps and cabinet protrusion. I should have known better that KKY would build anything in a boat that didn't elicit sighs of contentment.
Next on deck for tomorrow (pun intended), is to decide on the sweep of the galley counter. Translation: I've asked that the counter overhang into the salon a bit so that bar stools could be placed at the counter looking into the galley for impromptu cocktails while dinner is being prepared, a quick breakfast when the weather doesn't permit al fresco dining, or whatever else occurs in that area. As we boaters know, there is never enough seating space - especially on a party boat.
Since good lighting is so important on a boat, I am in the process of changing out the standard reading lights in various places for the single arm Cygnus lamps I had and loved on Serenity. Instead of having a bunch of lamps around that need to be stowed during trips, these sweet wall lamps are classy, neat and out of the way but provide the perfect light at the right height for reading wherever one may be sitting. So, you'll probably see these lamps in the salon, guest and master staterooms and in the pilot house. I'll still have room for a decorative lamp or two, but they won't be a necessity.
So this is where I am right now. Making all these decisions and selecting furnishings is fun and exciting but also a bit stressful at the same time. Since this boat will be my home, I want to put the best I can afford into every detail, knowing full well that I will have to make choices when necessary. I'm getting excellent, objective advice from the very people that build people's dream boats, so I'm in good hands.
Looking forward to tomorrow's ideas, decisions and continuing the dream.
Friday, March 14, 2014
More boat conversations today
Even though there was no scheduled conference call today, I managed to stay on the phone for close to an hour with one of my very favorite KKY folks discussing many fine details. As a woman who will soon need to start cooking before real starvation sets in, my interest in the galley appointments has been tweaked. Amazing what necessity does to one's outlook on things.
If you've been reading my previous posts, you certainly know that my Tom was the cook in the family. He was such a good cook (without benefit of recipes), that I gladly retreated to other parts of the boat/house while dinner was being prepared. I would secretly giggle to myself when Tom announced that he didn't feel like cooking. As soon as I heard those words, I flew to the Chart Guides if we were in an unfamiliar marina to see which nearby restaurant took reservations. Hardly very Italian wife of me, but this is a whole new generation, right?
I digress. Today's conversation concerned the galley and some parts of the salon. Many minutes were devoted to the inboard corner cabinet facing aft in the galley, the one at the end. In the 55 brochure, 2 different styles of this cabinet are featured on the 2nd facing page. The upper photo features the cabinet with 2 glass doors, the bottom photo features a closed fronted cabinet with louvered doors. I've decided to go with my heart and opted for the glass fronted cabinets. Though I'm giving up some storage for beauty, this is not such a big sacrifice on this boat since there is a LOT of storage, especially with the new interior design. I have some beautiful crystal pieces that mean a lot to me. So, with the help of museum putty and the glass doors, I'll be able to enjoy looking at these pieces every day. Besides, the lighted cabinets in the evening lend a soft glow to not only the galley and salon, but also to the companionway, since the cabinets are glass on both sides. Neat, right?
Next huge topic is the backsplash behind the stove - what material to put there? Stainless steel is standard, but to those of us who have battled with stainless refrigerator doors and other equally impossible to clean appliances, I have absolutely no interest in trying to clean a stainless steel backsplash, behind a stove of all places! My assignment is to haunt tile stores to get some ideas of what is out there. I'm thinking of doing something that is easy to care for but beautiful to look at. Mosaic, tile, travertine, granite, tile with a center pattern, on and on, the choices are endless. Since I've already decided to go with granite on the countertops, I now need to visit a quarry to attempt to make a decision while we're still in this century. When we did the kitchen counters in our house, I was in the quarry til they told me they had to close. When Tom heard I still hadn't made a decision, he said he would call the quarry and have them lock me inside until they opened the next day. This is a huge decision folks. Since it's sort of permanent and will be seen every second I'm on the boat, it's important to get it right the first time!
Since I'm absolutely wild about cherry, I decided to wrap most of the boat in this gorgeous wood, including the walls of the galley. I'm not a fan of formica and dislike the abrupt ending of wood between the salon and galley. Besides, the window in the galley is huge and oddly shaped, so will blend in better with the cherry. Since cherry is a light wood and the boat light-infused, there is no problem with the wood making the boat's interior look too dark. So another decision made on a Friday afternoon in which absolutely no office work was accomplished.
For those of you who are concerned about how "custom" you can make your Krogen, have no fear. When I'm finished with this blog, I will do 2 unusual things: measure my cat (yep) and measure the length and height of her litter box. Among the discussions of bow thrusters, stabilizers and dishwashers, was the one concerning the location of my adorable tuxedo cat's litter box. Since I will most likely always have company on this boat (call early for your reservation), my cat needs a comfortable place to get away from the lack of privacy she is now used to. Cats can be finicky, so to forestall any "bad" litter box behavior, I'm being proactive here. We've narrowed the litter box location to the master stateroom since that is the one place Zoe (my cat) can be alone to do her business. Now we need to figure out just where in the stateroom to put that box. Not a huge amount of choices. One was to take the bottom 2 drawers out of the vanity and coat it with epoxy to present a smooth, easy space to clean. Another was to put a removable piece of plastic on the bottom of the shower stall and just plop the box in there. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd be thrilled to hear them.
Whew, I've exhausted myself just thinking about all the decisions that have been made and are still to be made. So far, this has been an exhilarating process peppered with a sense of disbelief that I'm really going ahead with building this boat after all I've been through in not quite 6 months (Monday the 17th will be exactly 6 months since I lost Tom). At the end of the day, this boat is all about Tom and honoring his memory all the days I own the boat. He will be aboard with me always.
Have a great weekend everyone! More to come on Monday I 'm sure.
If you've been reading my previous posts, you certainly know that my Tom was the cook in the family. He was such a good cook (without benefit of recipes), that I gladly retreated to other parts of the boat/house while dinner was being prepared. I would secretly giggle to myself when Tom announced that he didn't feel like cooking. As soon as I heard those words, I flew to the Chart Guides if we were in an unfamiliar marina to see which nearby restaurant took reservations. Hardly very Italian wife of me, but this is a whole new generation, right?
I digress. Today's conversation concerned the galley and some parts of the salon. Many minutes were devoted to the inboard corner cabinet facing aft in the galley, the one at the end. In the 55 brochure, 2 different styles of this cabinet are featured on the 2nd facing page. The upper photo features the cabinet with 2 glass doors, the bottom photo features a closed fronted cabinet with louvered doors. I've decided to go with my heart and opted for the glass fronted cabinets. Though I'm giving up some storage for beauty, this is not such a big sacrifice on this boat since there is a LOT of storage, especially with the new interior design. I have some beautiful crystal pieces that mean a lot to me. So, with the help of museum putty and the glass doors, I'll be able to enjoy looking at these pieces every day. Besides, the lighted cabinets in the evening lend a soft glow to not only the galley and salon, but also to the companionway, since the cabinets are glass on both sides. Neat, right?
Next huge topic is the backsplash behind the stove - what material to put there? Stainless steel is standard, but to those of us who have battled with stainless refrigerator doors and other equally impossible to clean appliances, I have absolutely no interest in trying to clean a stainless steel backsplash, behind a stove of all places! My assignment is to haunt tile stores to get some ideas of what is out there. I'm thinking of doing something that is easy to care for but beautiful to look at. Mosaic, tile, travertine, granite, tile with a center pattern, on and on, the choices are endless. Since I've already decided to go with granite on the countertops, I now need to visit a quarry to attempt to make a decision while we're still in this century. When we did the kitchen counters in our house, I was in the quarry til they told me they had to close. When Tom heard I still hadn't made a decision, he said he would call the quarry and have them lock me inside until they opened the next day. This is a huge decision folks. Since it's sort of permanent and will be seen every second I'm on the boat, it's important to get it right the first time!
Since I'm absolutely wild about cherry, I decided to wrap most of the boat in this gorgeous wood, including the walls of the galley. I'm not a fan of formica and dislike the abrupt ending of wood between the salon and galley. Besides, the window in the galley is huge and oddly shaped, so will blend in better with the cherry. Since cherry is a light wood and the boat light-infused, there is no problem with the wood making the boat's interior look too dark. So another decision made on a Friday afternoon in which absolutely no office work was accomplished.
For those of you who are concerned about how "custom" you can make your Krogen, have no fear. When I'm finished with this blog, I will do 2 unusual things: measure my cat (yep) and measure the length and height of her litter box. Among the discussions of bow thrusters, stabilizers and dishwashers, was the one concerning the location of my adorable tuxedo cat's litter box. Since I will most likely always have company on this boat (call early for your reservation), my cat needs a comfortable place to get away from the lack of privacy she is now used to. Cats can be finicky, so to forestall any "bad" litter box behavior, I'm being proactive here. We've narrowed the litter box location to the master stateroom since that is the one place Zoe (my cat) can be alone to do her business. Now we need to figure out just where in the stateroom to put that box. Not a huge amount of choices. One was to take the bottom 2 drawers out of the vanity and coat it with epoxy to present a smooth, easy space to clean. Another was to put a removable piece of plastic on the bottom of the shower stall and just plop the box in there. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd be thrilled to hear them.
Whew, I've exhausted myself just thinking about all the decisions that have been made and are still to be made. So far, this has been an exhilarating process peppered with a sense of disbelief that I'm really going ahead with building this boat after all I've been through in not quite 6 months (Monday the 17th will be exactly 6 months since I lost Tom). At the end of the day, this boat is all about Tom and honoring his memory all the days I own the boat. He will be aboard with me always.
Have a great weekend everyone! More to come on Monday I 'm sure.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Our conference call today was quite productive. We actually have learned not to all talk at once and to try to stay on the topic under discussion until we get resolution. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and forget if we actually did get resolution or if we need to continue the discussion thread. For example, I woke up 3 times last night thinking about the build out for the blinds. Try as I might, tossed around like a fish and tried to meditate, those cherry valences and blinds would not go away. So take a wild guess on one of the first topics of our call today - brilliant, yes it was about the blinds!
We decided to create a visual border on all 4 sides for the blinds in the salon, guest stateroom and pilot house to give a built-in appearance. They would look silly in the galley with the way the window is positioned, so we decided to build out the valence a bit. This way, if I decided to put something there, maybe a pleated shade that would only be down while in a slip, the shade would be hidden while up. Big move in the right direction!
Second huge decision was whether or not to retain a varnished capstrip around the entire boat or paint some or all of it. Because of this boat's unique widebody design, it is impossible to get to the port and starboard sides at the waist. That would require a worker alongside in a boat, not only expensive, but not practical. I thought it might look odd to just have the sides painted, so we decided to paint the bow and sides using Awlgrip Snow White and leave the capstrip varnished in the aft cockpit. That would retain the classic look while leaving me more time (and money) to romp and play.
We also discussed extending the boat deck railings to encircle the tender. This conversation grew out of 2 issues: where to put the flag, since it was a pain to position on Serenity. I had to uncover the Whaler and actually climb into it in order to put out or retire the flag. The other more serious issue is my fear of working on the dinghy in an unprotected area. My clumsiness and lack of cat-like reflexes is legendary - ask the local hospital who has fixed each of my four limbs. Though extending these railings would limit me to an 11' tender (same as on Serenity), it will be a small price to pay in comparison to the security it will afford me. We also just found a great spot for the flag! Another enormous decision made.
The balance of the call was devoted to the sound/entertainment system. Though we still need to move this discussion along, it looks like I'll do a Bose sound system in the salon, galley, aft cockpit and guest stateroom and perhaps a Fusion system in the pilot house and boat deck. Serenity had a sophisticated system set up so that Tom could watch TV in the salon or pilot house while I listened to music in the cockpit. Since I'm into music more than TV, that won't be a very difficult issue to decide on.
We also VERY briefly discussed the electronics. They had already been specked out by local folks while we still had Serenity. Tom pretty much had things laid out, so there won't be too much work there. I did decide to do a stateside installation however since I'm going with Garmin again and Garmin is best done here. The helm will be state-of-the-art of course, with a few less bells and whistles than Tom had planned for, but impressive nonetheless.
Also decided was to go with line cutters in light of the mess our waters are in, not to mention those damn crab and lobster pots in the most unlikely places. We had already planned for them, but it was still a discussion that had to be had.
I have to look at my notes (which are in my office) to let you know the exact names of the colors selected for the bottom and bow sheer stripe. Though the sheer stripe is an extra, it will look very sharp on the bow. It's a big bow to go naked.
All this was decided in a smidge under an hour. This is one focused group. We actually discussed a few other things, but nothing of great note to anyone but me. The level of detail is absolutely amazing. Tom and I built our first home in Houston. Though I did have some meltdowns during that process, this build is far more intricate, needing many more decisions. After all, homes don't propel themselves through water.
In any case, I'm amazed at the progress made in the past 3 days! A detailed build sheet, dedicated and tireless people who want nothing more than to build my dream boat and a time line to work within, is getting us to where we need to be while still having fun and enjoying the whole, exciting process.
No conference call tomorrow, so I'm taking the night off to have dinner after work with friends. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be back with more of the build process next week. Hope you're enjoying the reading.
We decided to create a visual border on all 4 sides for the blinds in the salon, guest stateroom and pilot house to give a built-in appearance. They would look silly in the galley with the way the window is positioned, so we decided to build out the valence a bit. This way, if I decided to put something there, maybe a pleated shade that would only be down while in a slip, the shade would be hidden while up. Big move in the right direction!
Second huge decision was whether or not to retain a varnished capstrip around the entire boat or paint some or all of it. Because of this boat's unique widebody design, it is impossible to get to the port and starboard sides at the waist. That would require a worker alongside in a boat, not only expensive, but not practical. I thought it might look odd to just have the sides painted, so we decided to paint the bow and sides using Awlgrip Snow White and leave the capstrip varnished in the aft cockpit. That would retain the classic look while leaving me more time (and money) to romp and play.
We also discussed extending the boat deck railings to encircle the tender. This conversation grew out of 2 issues: where to put the flag, since it was a pain to position on Serenity. I had to uncover the Whaler and actually climb into it in order to put out or retire the flag. The other more serious issue is my fear of working on the dinghy in an unprotected area. My clumsiness and lack of cat-like reflexes is legendary - ask the local hospital who has fixed each of my four limbs. Though extending these railings would limit me to an 11' tender (same as on Serenity), it will be a small price to pay in comparison to the security it will afford me. We also just found a great spot for the flag! Another enormous decision made.
The balance of the call was devoted to the sound/entertainment system. Though we still need to move this discussion along, it looks like I'll do a Bose sound system in the salon, galley, aft cockpit and guest stateroom and perhaps a Fusion system in the pilot house and boat deck. Serenity had a sophisticated system set up so that Tom could watch TV in the salon or pilot house while I listened to music in the cockpit. Since I'm into music more than TV, that won't be a very difficult issue to decide on.
We also VERY briefly discussed the electronics. They had already been specked out by local folks while we still had Serenity. Tom pretty much had things laid out, so there won't be too much work there. I did decide to do a stateside installation however since I'm going with Garmin again and Garmin is best done here. The helm will be state-of-the-art of course, with a few less bells and whistles than Tom had planned for, but impressive nonetheless.
Also decided was to go with line cutters in light of the mess our waters are in, not to mention those damn crab and lobster pots in the most unlikely places. We had already planned for them, but it was still a discussion that had to be had.
I have to look at my notes (which are in my office) to let you know the exact names of the colors selected for the bottom and bow sheer stripe. Though the sheer stripe is an extra, it will look very sharp on the bow. It's a big bow to go naked.
All this was decided in a smidge under an hour. This is one focused group. We actually discussed a few other things, but nothing of great note to anyone but me. The level of detail is absolutely amazing. Tom and I built our first home in Houston. Though I did have some meltdowns during that process, this build is far more intricate, needing many more decisions. After all, homes don't propel themselves through water.
In any case, I'm amazed at the progress made in the past 3 days! A detailed build sheet, dedicated and tireless people who want nothing more than to build my dream boat and a time line to work within, is getting us to where we need to be while still having fun and enjoying the whole, exciting process.
No conference call tomorrow, so I'm taking the night off to have dinner after work with friends. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be back with more of the build process next week. Hope you're enjoying the reading.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
The latest decisions to be made
I almost went into withdrawal without our conference call today about boat "things". The feeling was short-lived though. Around 4 pm, in came a message itemizing several topics that had been discussed, but not decided on. Here's what's on the radar:
Name boards or not? If yes, painted or varnished? If not, where will name go in addition to transom?
Cockpit cabinet or not? Considerable add-on
Cap strip varnished or painted with Awlgrip paint? If varnished, just cockpit, or entire boat?
Wood window trim for blinds in salon, guest stateroom, galley and pilot house? Another considerable add-on, but I really love the way cherry wooden blinds look when they're encased in built-out window trim.
I equate these decisions to those one makes when going shopping for big ticket items. Somewhere along the way (unless one has just hit the lottery), the real cost must be weighed against the "wish list" and choices made. Dreams can be expensive, but with careful planning, it's possible to have it all without breaking the bank. I'm at this point now. What I always keep right in front of me is that a week ago, I wasn't sure the bank would agree with my idea of buying this boat at all. A week later, I'm discussing whether or not to have name boards! Holy cow!
Speaking of name boards, I think I've selected a name for the new lady. I'm calling her a lady cause she is so much more than a girl. Though you're welcome to offer your suggestions and even take wild guesses, I'm going to leave that a secret until later. How much later? you ask. Well, you'll have to just hang in there with me to find out.
I'm sure you're finding these endless paragraphs tough going without pictures, but the only pictures I have were shared with you on September 12th (a lifetime ago for me). I don't know about you, but I am in my glory recounting all the details and planning that is going into this magnificent boat, the boat I refer to as the boat of dreams come true. Unless one is fortunate enough to build their dream home, this is as close as I will get to that. Right now, I have zero interest in a land-based home and actually love the apartment I'm in. Not having a house, property and all the headaches that go with such ownership is wonderfully liberating. Though a boat requires endless care and tons of work, it will gladly be a labor of love and devotion. Besides Tom had tough standards I'm going to have to continue, otherwise......
As if the conference calls didn't make this endeavor real enough, I called Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, FL today to book a slip for January, 2015. Though it might as well be a century away, in reality, it's only 10 months away and when you're building a boat, 10 months is nothing. Due to Sunset's popularity with the Krogen set and because Serenity was there in the winter of 2012, I was able to charm Sam into putting me on C dock with other Krogens and give me slip C-8 (I actually asked for B-8 since that was the slip Serenity was initially assigned until we were delayed by Hurricane Sandy). I am so excited about this little nugget of gold I was able to secure. Sunset is a beautiful marina, conveniently located in walking distance of a charming downtown with great shops, restaurants, museums and a waterfront park that offers Sunday concerts in season. Yay!!! Now I just have to hope C-8 is as wide as I remember B-8 was. 18 ft. of beam is a lot of boat to snuggle into a slip. I do intend to do the snuggling by the way, so you might want to get your deck chairs out, pour the wine and watch the show. I promise entertainment.
Speaking of entertainment, that's all for tonight folks. Nite nite.
Name boards or not? If yes, painted or varnished? If not, where will name go in addition to transom?
Cockpit cabinet or not? Considerable add-on
Cap strip varnished or painted with Awlgrip paint? If varnished, just cockpit, or entire boat?
Wood window trim for blinds in salon, guest stateroom, galley and pilot house? Another considerable add-on, but I really love the way cherry wooden blinds look when they're encased in built-out window trim.
I equate these decisions to those one makes when going shopping for big ticket items. Somewhere along the way (unless one has just hit the lottery), the real cost must be weighed against the "wish list" and choices made. Dreams can be expensive, but with careful planning, it's possible to have it all without breaking the bank. I'm at this point now. What I always keep right in front of me is that a week ago, I wasn't sure the bank would agree with my idea of buying this boat at all. A week later, I'm discussing whether or not to have name boards! Holy cow!
Speaking of name boards, I think I've selected a name for the new lady. I'm calling her a lady cause she is so much more than a girl. Though you're welcome to offer your suggestions and even take wild guesses, I'm going to leave that a secret until later. How much later? you ask. Well, you'll have to just hang in there with me to find out.
I'm sure you're finding these endless paragraphs tough going without pictures, but the only pictures I have were shared with you on September 12th (a lifetime ago for me). I don't know about you, but I am in my glory recounting all the details and planning that is going into this magnificent boat, the boat I refer to as the boat of dreams come true. Unless one is fortunate enough to build their dream home, this is as close as I will get to that. Right now, I have zero interest in a land-based home and actually love the apartment I'm in. Not having a house, property and all the headaches that go with such ownership is wonderfully liberating. Though a boat requires endless care and tons of work, it will gladly be a labor of love and devotion. Besides Tom had tough standards I'm going to have to continue, otherwise......
As if the conference calls didn't make this endeavor real enough, I called Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, FL today to book a slip for January, 2015. Though it might as well be a century away, in reality, it's only 10 months away and when you're building a boat, 10 months is nothing. Due to Sunset's popularity with the Krogen set and because Serenity was there in the winter of 2012, I was able to charm Sam into putting me on C dock with other Krogens and give me slip C-8 (I actually asked for B-8 since that was the slip Serenity was initially assigned until we were delayed by Hurricane Sandy). I am so excited about this little nugget of gold I was able to secure. Sunset is a beautiful marina, conveniently located in walking distance of a charming downtown with great shops, restaurants, museums and a waterfront park that offers Sunday concerts in season. Yay!!! Now I just have to hope C-8 is as wide as I remember B-8 was. 18 ft. of beam is a lot of boat to snuggle into a slip. I do intend to do the snuggling by the way, so you might want to get your deck chairs out, pour the wine and watch the show. I promise entertainment.
Speaking of entertainment, that's all for tonight folks. Nite nite.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Off and Running
Today is only Tuesday, and since yesterday, I've already spent nearly 3 1/2 hours on the phone with the KKY build team. We had back to back conference calls to discuss the issues KKY was patiently waiting for me to address.
With a virtual tour of the other 55s up on the computer, we went to work. Since 55-005 will be the first with the new steps to the pilot house and engine room access configuration, there is no other boat to look at. The new design will move the pilot house access staircase to the starboard side and allow for a "landing" to decrease the pitch and size of the original staircase. As if that is not wonderful enough, access to the engine room will now be through a regular door in the guest head. That room will be moved forward, making the room bigger to allow a door with steps down to the engine room. All steps will be household size, making for comfortable movement up and down the steps.
As in other Kadey Krogens, there is ample storage, even for a liveaboard. Every inch of the boat is cleverly planned to accommodate one's "stuff". I was amazed at all the areas designed to store things of all sizes. I was even able to plan for shelf height to account for my "bar" items. Can't forget those bottles of scotch, vodka and other libations that make living aboard a boat pure bliss.
Though Tom and I had spent many hours planning the boat's interior features, we went back to each item and discussed the living spaces inch by inch, outlet by outlet. There is something so satisfying about being able to have exactly what one wants - within reason, of course. Since I've never lived aboard anything, I do have some challenges thinking about how the boat will be used during all my life stages.
What makes building a boat home so exciting, is the advice so generously offered by other Krogen owners. It is comforting to know folks have my back and will do everything possible to help me avoid mistakes or overlook something I didn't know to look for in the first place.
Luckily for me, my office is fantastic about how I move through these days. Since Tom's passing, they have been understanding and thoughtful, giving me the time and space I need to do what I need to do these days. I don't think they planned to have me build a boat while this generosity was being doled out, but that's where we are now. These past 2 conference calls were held at lunchtime, but I know my co-workers can hear every word I whisper. Anyone passing my desk took a second look at the notes, brochure and virtual tour on my screen - few have ever been around someone building a boat, so it is quite a novelty - hey wait, that includes me too!
I'm quietly excited (well, as quiet as I can be) about this new turn of events. It's not even a week since that life-changing call from the underwriter, but I'm already entrenched in all things marine. I still find it hard to believe that this magnificent boat will be mine, not only to spend fun weekends on, but to actually live on full-time. To think I won't have to drag myself off the boat Sunday nights makes me giggle with glee. On a more solemn note, Tom will be a very real presence with me on the boat since so much of his knowledge and experience went into selecting the boats running parts. My very safety has already been ensured by my beloved captain. For that reason, this won't be an ordinary boat to call home. It will always mean so much more to me.
Please stay tuned as the plans continue to evolve. As soon as there is something to show you, you can be sure I will be showing off this new lady in my life.
With a virtual tour of the other 55s up on the computer, we went to work. Since 55-005 will be the first with the new steps to the pilot house and engine room access configuration, there is no other boat to look at. The new design will move the pilot house access staircase to the starboard side and allow for a "landing" to decrease the pitch and size of the original staircase. As if that is not wonderful enough, access to the engine room will now be through a regular door in the guest head. That room will be moved forward, making the room bigger to allow a door with steps down to the engine room. All steps will be household size, making for comfortable movement up and down the steps.
As in other Kadey Krogens, there is ample storage, even for a liveaboard. Every inch of the boat is cleverly planned to accommodate one's "stuff". I was amazed at all the areas designed to store things of all sizes. I was even able to plan for shelf height to account for my "bar" items. Can't forget those bottles of scotch, vodka and other libations that make living aboard a boat pure bliss.
Though Tom and I had spent many hours planning the boat's interior features, we went back to each item and discussed the living spaces inch by inch, outlet by outlet. There is something so satisfying about being able to have exactly what one wants - within reason, of course. Since I've never lived aboard anything, I do have some challenges thinking about how the boat will be used during all my life stages.
What makes building a boat home so exciting, is the advice so generously offered by other Krogen owners. It is comforting to know folks have my back and will do everything possible to help me avoid mistakes or overlook something I didn't know to look for in the first place.
Luckily for me, my office is fantastic about how I move through these days. Since Tom's passing, they have been understanding and thoughtful, giving me the time and space I need to do what I need to do these days. I don't think they planned to have me build a boat while this generosity was being doled out, but that's where we are now. These past 2 conference calls were held at lunchtime, but I know my co-workers can hear every word I whisper. Anyone passing my desk took a second look at the notes, brochure and virtual tour on my screen - few have ever been around someone building a boat, so it is quite a novelty - hey wait, that includes me too!
I'm quietly excited (well, as quiet as I can be) about this new turn of events. It's not even a week since that life-changing call from the underwriter, but I'm already entrenched in all things marine. I still find it hard to believe that this magnificent boat will be mine, not only to spend fun weekends on, but to actually live on full-time. To think I won't have to drag myself off the boat Sunday nights makes me giggle with glee. On a more solemn note, Tom will be a very real presence with me on the boat since so much of his knowledge and experience went into selecting the boats running parts. My very safety has already been ensured by my beloved captain. For that reason, this won't be an ordinary boat to call home. It will always mean so much more to me.
Please stay tuned as the plans continue to evolve. As soon as there is something to show you, you can be sure I will be showing off this new lady in my life.
Monday, March 10, 2014
I'm Back
Thank you everyone for continuing to read my posts during my absence. As promised, I'm back.
Here we go.....
Friday, March 7th, 2014 dawned sunny and not so frigid, for a welcome change. I knew it would be a special day the minute my eyes flew open. The workday morning raced by, pretty much the way it usually does.
A little before 3 pm, the call I've been waiting for finally lit up the caller ID on my desk phone. With trembling hands, a catch in my throat and butterflies in my stomach, I managed to say, "Hello, this is Rosemarie" (my work/real name). The person at the other end asked how I was - I managed to say that would depend on what message was about to be delivered.
This call was about to transform my life yet one more time since September 17, 2013. For those of you who only know me through this blog, you may not know that on that horrific Tuesday, Tom, my husband of nearly my whole life, my soul mate and beloved captain of the ship we call life, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at 10:05 am. This is not the platform to discuss this tragic event in my life, but suffice it to say, my entire world as I knew it came to a crashing, heartbreaking end.
The following weeks passed in a blur of attorney and financial planner meetings, decisions to make, documents to sign and a house to dismantle. If you recall, Tom and I had sold our home and were anticipating a closing on November 8th. With the help of dear friends, I got the house emptied, contents packed/disposed of - including close to 900 hardcover books - and moved out of the now silent house and into a nice apartment town home. I know popular advice is not to do anything the first year after a loss, but this was not the time to wait.
While I was trying to make sense of my new circumstances without my life's partner, I had a monumental decision to make - alone: to continue building our dream boat, KKY 55-005, or make alternate plans for the boat. At this point, I felt as if my heart was being ripped apart one more time.
They say it takes a village to help make dreams come true; my situation was no different. In my case, the village was populated by those who have guided Tom and I in many of our ventures, and by those who truly care. From October to January, I wrestled with this huge decision until one evening when I was looking through my 55' paperwork, a little yellow sheet of paper fluttered out of one of the files. The sheet was filled with figures in Tom's handwriting - figures relating to our purchase of the boat.
That was it! Tom helped me reach a decision there and then. With all that was in my power, I decided to try to continue on with the building of the 55' and take delivery - maybe a bit later than planned, but try to take delivery nonetheless.
Fast forward to Friday, March 7th - the call I was waiting for came from the underwriter who had just secured my financing approval to move forward with the boat purchase.
KKY -55-005 is mine!
Here we go.....
Friday, March 7th, 2014 dawned sunny and not so frigid, for a welcome change. I knew it would be a special day the minute my eyes flew open. The workday morning raced by, pretty much the way it usually does.
A little before 3 pm, the call I've been waiting for finally lit up the caller ID on my desk phone. With trembling hands, a catch in my throat and butterflies in my stomach, I managed to say, "Hello, this is Rosemarie" (my work/real name). The person at the other end asked how I was - I managed to say that would depend on what message was about to be delivered.
This call was about to transform my life yet one more time since September 17, 2013. For those of you who only know me through this blog, you may not know that on that horrific Tuesday, Tom, my husband of nearly my whole life, my soul mate and beloved captain of the ship we call life, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at 10:05 am. This is not the platform to discuss this tragic event in my life, but suffice it to say, my entire world as I knew it came to a crashing, heartbreaking end.
The following weeks passed in a blur of attorney and financial planner meetings, decisions to make, documents to sign and a house to dismantle. If you recall, Tom and I had sold our home and were anticipating a closing on November 8th. With the help of dear friends, I got the house emptied, contents packed/disposed of - including close to 900 hardcover books - and moved out of the now silent house and into a nice apartment town home. I know popular advice is not to do anything the first year after a loss, but this was not the time to wait.
While I was trying to make sense of my new circumstances without my life's partner, I had a monumental decision to make - alone: to continue building our dream boat, KKY 55-005, or make alternate plans for the boat. At this point, I felt as if my heart was being ripped apart one more time.
They say it takes a village to help make dreams come true; my situation was no different. In my case, the village was populated by those who have guided Tom and I in many of our ventures, and by those who truly care. From October to January, I wrestled with this huge decision until one evening when I was looking through my 55' paperwork, a little yellow sheet of paper fluttered out of one of the files. The sheet was filled with figures in Tom's handwriting - figures relating to our purchase of the boat.
That was it! Tom helped me reach a decision there and then. With all that was in my power, I decided to try to continue on with the building of the 55' and take delivery - maybe a bit later than planned, but try to take delivery nonetheless.
Fast forward to Friday, March 7th - the call I was waiting for came from the underwriter who had just secured my financing approval to move forward with the boat purchase.
KKY -55-005 is mine!
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