You know you're a plugger if.....

your watermaker looks like this. I know, eat your heart out, these are the no-voltage models, Rain-Watermaker 1 and Rain-Watermaker 2, variable gph models. 

Unit on right is Rain-Watermaker 1, to be utilized with moderate rainfall. Unit 2 comes into play with the BIG rains. Together the gallons per hour can be amazing (with a little help from the skies). Ok, thinking we'll call them R.A.I.N. Watermakers (Rapid Aqua Intake Now) patent pending.

     Collecting water from the top deck  - really good idea to let the rain wash the debris from the deck prior to positioning the tubing into the tanks inlets (wash away that nasty spider poop and other "stuff"). Or have it already hooked up in anticipation of the rain and let it run overboard a bit.

Now the most technical part of filling both tanks at the same time, route the hoses, set the funnels (one in each inlet), install the filters (Bounty sheets or coffee filters) and let the rain do its thing (pour down). This was a really good rain, 190 gallons! Our Spectra 12 volt DC unit produces 6 gph. This was a really good rain! The timing was pretty nifty too as we were down to 110 gallons and some long Spectra runs (31 hours). Now if we could just schedule rain fall.    

What to do on a rainy day in Maine?

Cruise ship Independence arriving in port with it's 100 or so passengers.  Watching the Captain maneuvering the ship entertained us for a bit.  

Then it did a 180 in front of us and then slid in sideways at the dock between a mega yacht and a sailboat. Amazing to watch with only inches to spare.  We then got out our yellow rain slickers and headed into town in search of breakfast.  Just a suggestion, do Boothbay in the the rain - less people out and about.  Found a great breakfast place called the Bridge Street Cafe - famous for their Blueberry Buckle - also serving up a big breakfast at a reasonable price.  

We knew it would finally happen - when Broulee turned with the current - our at anchor flopper-stopper almost hooked us some lobster dinner.  Although lobster pots are everywhere, lets guess a million of them out there (but who's counting, just check some of the past pictures) - we managed to snag one passing between the pot and its toggle (sometimes tough to figure out which toggle goes to which pot), and fortunately it slide right off the stabilizer and showed up bobbing intact behind the boat. (whew)

Burnt Island Lighthouse and Horn

Leaving Boothbay, Friday the 17th at 7:30 am - Carina was in the next bay over from us -Linekin Bay, we are both heading to an anchorage at Biddeford Pool (still in Maine).      

The Cuckholds Light and Horn, Boothbay Harbor - the most photographed lighthouse in Maine.  Built in 1907 it is still (thanks to donations) in use till this day.

Anchored at Biddeford Pool and Happy Hour on Carina - they are on a beeline for their homeport of Marion, MA  - we have a good weather window so we will be traveling together (as we appear to be on a beeline).  We had hoped to stop and see our friends, Wayne & Carol in Portsmouth, but they will understand you need to take the good weather opportunities when you can.  Yes, we hate to admit it, but we are once again on a "schedule".  Want  to be in Great Bridge, VA before Sept. 5th due to a railroad bridge closure.

Up early for a 5:30 am departure - next stop Gloucester, MA (bye, bye Maine).  We (Carina and Broulee) have mutual friends that summer in Gloucester, so a get together for dinner at the local Italian restaurant was arranged.  Good to see Martin & Betsy Basch (Molly Blossom - Krogen 42) and catch up on their travels. 

Sneaking out of Gloucester Harbor at 0-dark-thirty.  Today we will do 80+ miles  - to Carina's homeport of Marion, MA. and a pass through the Cape Cod Canal. The weather, wind and waves cooperated, making the run to the Canal smooth and uneventful. Well, at least until entering the Canal on a Sunday (supposedly a no-wake zone). We don't have a picture, but a large cruiser followed closely by a large sportfish going east against the current in the Canal created dangerous 6-7 foot steep swell waves making it crazy for many boats, including us, heading west. Lesson of the day, (everyday is a learning experience) don't travel the Canal on a Sunday afternoon!    

  Sunrise leaving Gloucester - looks like a good day at sea. 

Again no picture, but Marion, MA is a wonderful, quiet town and anchorage. Beautiful, well maintain old town homes and a favorite mooring location for many locals. Carina arranged for us to take a friends mooring (they are still in Maine). It was our last night with Jules and Carol as they are home and we have miles to go. By the way, Jules and Carol are those rare people you meet, bond easily with, hold a wealth of boating knowledge and we hope the next meeting isn't too far away. Thank you Jules and Carol.

To bring this blog up to date (nearly), we ran from Marion (8/20/12) to Block Island, again with great seas. Forecasts were also great for an over-night to Cape May, but while the Captain loves offshore cruising, forecasts have been known to change for us, so its inside passage on Long Island Sound and the Hudson to Sandy Hook (we're not in that much of a hurry). Posting this at anchor in Port Jefferson Harbor, Long Island after an 83 mile day (good currents, 11 knots through Plum Island Gut and for the next 10 miles west!) Now calculating the tides and ride through Hells Gate on New York's East River, the Battery and on to Sandy Hook.