In February, we visited Victoria and spent a couple of days on Kozad getting things organized, engine/transmission fluid changes, new fuel filters and replacing the faulty oil pressure sending unit.
Richard Soto (W40: MV Northstar) recommended Craig look at the Speedseal Product line and in particular Speedseal Life. This "handy dandy" product allows for easy replacement of the raw water impeller; take a look at their website: Speedseal for details. Of course, Craig has already ordered one!
Our diver Isaac from Scuba Scrubbers will be doing a bottom cleaning and replacing all of the zincs in preparation for our spring departure.
And finally, Abernethy & Gaudin Boatbuilders are working at fabricating and installing a stainless steel mast hinge which will allow us to fold down our mast. Currently our mast height is 21'6" above the water but we require a maximum clearance of 17' to allow us to get under cover at a new marina we have found for Kozad.
Yes, we have decided to make a change and to move Kozad under cover! The PNW weather takes it's toll on our boat! In particular, the outside wood surfaces especially the cap rails and also the grey painted anti-slip decks are taking a beating. It's exciting to make the change and we anticipate this being a great benefit for both the boat and ourselves!
In January, we attended the Seattle Boat Show and then spent some time visiting our friends Richard and Gwen Soto (W40 MV Northstar) on Whidbey Island. They took us for a drive to Anacortes to see Northstar's new home at Anchor Cove Marina .
Well suffice to say, one thing lead to another; and now thanks to Richard and Gwen we have also acquired a covered 40' x 16' single slip for Kozad at their marina.
Not only does this give us the benefit of covered moorage (like a carport); the marina also has secured parking which is fenced, gated and locked; also very nice and clean bathroom/shower facilities, plus the added benefit of having a single slip which gives easy access to each side of our boat! Our thanks to Richard & Gwen for becoming even closer friends last year and enticing us to this marina! We are excited!
Anacortes, Wa. is a 5 to 6 hour drive from Coldstream and as such alleviates the extra time and cost of taking the ferry to Vancouver Island every time we go to our boat (8 to 10 hours).
Anacortes is ideally situated for cruising San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands, Puget Sound and South Sound
Our moorage at Portside Marina in Brentwood Bay ends as of May 1st, then we will be cruising north on Kozad until we need to head south, in time to arrive in Anacortes the end of June!
We are looking forward to a couple of months cruising Kozad up Vancouver Island to Campbell River, Comox, Desolation Sound and all points in between. On a few nice sunny days we will be applying two new coats of Cetol on the wood surfaces as well as giving the anti-slip decks a new coat of paint.
Can hardly wait to get started on our spring cruising!
