Today, at 1:00 PM, we headed down to the boat to meet with Deborah and the representative from Zeno, the custom mattress maker to make decisions on mattress height and hinge locations (to enable installation and access to under berth storage).
Background: The foam mattresses that come from Taiwan provides are
extremely hard. We like a hard mattress but theirs are over the top. Further, we learned at the Outer Reef Rendezvous that every one of the owners had replaced the original mattresses. Hence, in early January we visited Zeno, a custom mattress maker in Fort Lauderdale, to select mattresses for the master and VIP staterooms.
When we arrived we found that the clutter in the salon and master stateroom mostly cleaned up. This was due to the installation of all of the exterior cushions and the lovely aft deck table. The protective canvas covers were also installed. Here's are few photos:
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| Newly installed black mesh windshield covers & canvas bow seat cover |
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| Newly installed Garmin 4 foot open radar array |
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| Bow seating cushions |
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| Kodi approved the Flybridge settee with newly installed cushions |
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| Canvas cover for the grill |
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| Aft deck table and newly installed settee cushions (excuse the mess) |
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| Canvas covers for the aft deck table and settee |
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Kodi enjoying the salon settee and table (finally accessible)
Notice the flag poles |
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| Master stateroom without yesterday's clutter |
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| First view of the washer and dryer |
Another big decision involved the MarQuip boarding ladder.
Background: The 63 can be boarded from the swim platform, aft deck boarding door and the pilothouse boarding door. In a perfect world, we would dock at facilities with floating docks and board from the swim platform.
Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. Some marina's floating docks sit high requiring a big step down. Sometimes the swim platform is not accessible when the slip is too short and the boat is parked bow in. In these cases, a boarding ladder or stairs are needed to utilize the boarding doors.
Other marinas do not have floating docks, which almost always rules out the swim platform. And then there are the tides, which range from 3 feet in the south to 8 or more feet in the north. The good news in that the staggered height of the boarding doors can account for approximately three feet of up or down tidal movement.
The photo below (poorly) shows some of the challenges. The step up to aft deck boarding door was 2 feet or more at close to high tide. Easy for Diana and myself and OK enough for Kodi. But notice how the fenders complicate matters by pushing the boat at least 12 inches away from the dock. Now add in pilings, which are found in many older wooden fixed docks and the boat moves even further away. The use of fender boards further increases the distance. Now it becomes very difficult and dangerous to board, especially for Kodi. Note: Readers who followed the Great Loop adventure will recall that we purchased a boarding ramp and trained Kodi to use it. Diana & I used it occasionally but it was not safe (as our weight exceeded the placarded limit).
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| Aft view showing step down to the swim platform and 2 feet step up via the aft deck boarding door |
Finally, we made arrangements to move aboard and complete the commissioning process. Here's the plan:
- Friday afternoon: R&L Carriers delivers the storage tower (8' H, 4' W, 4' D)
- Saturday & Sunday: Outer Reef on "overtime" finishing commissioning
- Monday morning: Closing at Outer Reef's offices
- Monday morning: Load boxes, bikes and Kid stuff stored at Outer Reef's offices
- Monday noon: Unload crate and car and move boxes to boat
- Monday afternoon: Begin unpacking
- Tuesday: R&L Carriers picks up the crate
- Tuesday morning: Moving the 63 to the Miami Boat Show
- Tuesday& Wednesday: Complete unpacking
- Thursday: Miami Boat Show begins.
- Saturday: Christening Party
- Monday: Miami Boat Show ends
- Tuesday: Install window treatments and Marquip boarding ladder
- Wednesday: Outer Reef takes video of the boat including aerial photography underway.
- Thursday: Cruising north to the Trawlerfest Boat Show in Lake Park with Lesley, Scott and Amelia
The next few days are full of activities. What fun.
Written by Les.
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