Back to back celebrations this weekend!

Ten weeks after my accident and spinal surgery I boarded Kindred Spirit. I expected that I may experience a wee bit of PTSD as I stepped onto the swim platform, but it was actually ok. Backed into the slip makes it very easy to just step onto the platform. We only stayed for a few hours. It may look like I am back to “normal”, but believe me, I am far from it. On the other hand, the progress has been good. Patience and persistence! Time to celebrate that progress!

Anthony and Annette had arrived in Groton on Magnolia and were on our mooring in the outer field. They had lots of packages shipped to our house over the past couple of weeks. That makes perfect sense and we were happy to provide a land shopping address for them, but you know how disappointing it is to find that a package does not have your name on it …….. right????

Back to celebrating…………

Six years ago I wrote an extensive blog post about our naming ceremony and “christening” of the Mariner 38 – The Christening of Kindred Spirit. After all, I was under the assumption that the Mariner was our last boat and I wanted to do it right. I had decided that the Kadey Krogen, as our new “last” boat deserved an even better and bigger celebration; any excuse for a party. 😉 Alas, Covid-19 brought those plans to a screeching halt.  Plus, at the moment, I am in no shape to plan and throw a big party. This concerned me because our Kadey Krogen needed to be properly named.

We are living in strange times and must learn to adapt so that we stay safe and keep others safe. I thought about all the children whose birthday parties were held over ZOOM; graduations and proms that never happened; and wedding plans that had to adapt to this new social “norm.” A boat christening is nothing compared to those life events, and I believe our Kadey Krogen will understand that she is and will be loved even though the celebration was smaller and simpler. 

We quickly gathered a few friends and plenty of Prosecco to hold a naming ceremony so that the nautical gods will look kindly upon Kindred Spirit. If you are interested  in what a proper boat naming ceremony should be, check the link to the Mariner’s christening. 

Once again, we decided that  Kindred Spirit is the only name that would do. Kindred Spirit (#4). In case you missed it the last time around – Why that name? Just before we found our Catalina 34, we were watching the PBS mini-series, Anne of Green Gables. Al and I had only been married for a few years, and friends who were also watching the series, commented that Al and I had found our “kindred spirit” in each other. Ahhhh…..

Marcia & Dan and Anthony & Annette joined us for a socially distant, with masks (although they were pulled down at times) ceremony.

Our version of a naming ceremony always includes our “Black Box.” If you are intrigued and want to know more about this “black box” visit John Vigor’s blog. We first stumbled on his Black Box theory in an issue of Good Old Boat nearly 20 years ago. We try to live by those rules and even made our own physical black box that has resided on all four of our Kindred Spirits.

After toasting with our Prosecco, we all had dinner together, covid-19 style. Everyone brought their own dinner, drinks, and supplies. We ate in the clubhouse (with air-conditioning) and set up individual tables 6 feet apart. We had a lot of catching up to do!

During the early stages of my recovery, Al took care of everything. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, and even dressing me. (He still has to put my shoes on for me and help with my compression garments.) I am ever so thankful that I married such a wonderful man. I needed to find a way to show my thanks and love, something he wouldn’t expect. Anthony created the KK39 logo so I could have personalized Kindred Spirit clothing made. Al was surprised and I think he liked it. We both have polo shirts, denim shirts, and hats.

Marcia and Dan passed on this very special Sea Bags wine carrier, with a bottle inside. It will be our turn next to pass it on to someone for a special occasion. What a great idea this is!

Here we are, about nine weeks later than originally planned, but finally ready to launch the new Kindred Spirit into the water. A late launch is better than no launch. Is that why they say “better late than never?”

Before launching, there were still a few things Al needed to accomplish.

Back in May, we prepared to change the name from The Edge to Kindred Spirit while she sat on the hard. Al removed the old name. I planned to give the transom one last cleaning. Well, we all know what happened on that day. That was the day that the stool I sat upon slipped out from under me and dumped me flat on my back 6 feet to the ground……. followed by surgery, 3 weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation facility, and many, many weeks still recovering.

The coronavirus restrictions meant that Al and I were apart for those 3 weeks – no visitors allowed. 😞😢 I won’t even try to describe what that was like for both of us. I insisted he spend these days working on the boat to keep busy, and because once I returned home I would need him by my side for a while.

Our old mooring ball was stolen 2 years ago.  The “new” used one needed a thorough cleaning, painting and marking. Our original plan was to use the mooring this summer and sublet our dock, but after my accident and surgery we realized that was not safe or feasible for me. A bouncy dinghy or launch ride out to the mooring might be difficult. For now, we have our mooring in place but we will be using our slip. The boater who sublet decided not to put his boat in the water this season after all.

After we sold the Mariner and purchased the Kadey Krogen, we found ourselves with 2 dinghies and 2 engines. Our 15-hp Yamaha engine, bought in the Abacos in 2016, is a keeper, but both of the dinghies had minor issues. Al made some repairs to them and to the other engine, also a 15-hp Yamaha, and put it all up for sale. With the sale dollars, we splurged and bought a brand new 9.5 foot AB aluminum bottom inflatable at the March Defenders sale. I don’t think we have ever had a brand new dinghy. WooHoo!

Dean gave a hand to hoist the dinghy up to the flybridge using the mast and electric winch system.

The Kadey Krogen came with a 25 kg (55 pounds) Rocna anchor. You know we loved our 33 kg (73 pounds) Rocna. This bothered Al – we now have a heavier boat, but a smaller anchor. Back to Craig’s List……. He found a 33 kg Vulcan anchor. The Vulcan is made by Rocna and is the first major redesign since the original launch of the Rocna. It retains the holding power while the removal of the roll bar allows it to fit more bows. This Vulcan happened to be on a Kadey Krogen in Virginia. The owner transferred it to Magnolia on a planned car trip near Galesville, Maryland. Magnolia carried our anchor with her while she traveled north to New England.

One chore that absolutely must be done before launching is painting the bottom. This is Al’s least favorite chore (and here I thought he loved it all!) 😉

And now, the moment we have been waiting for! Launch Day! Launch day is always a big day, but this was an especially big day – new boat, long wait.

After leaving the well, Al and his crew took Kindred Spirit out towards Fishers Island for a 30 minute test run. She did 8.2 knots at 2500 rpm and 7.2 knots at 1900.
For this season Al decided that we would back into the dock instead of “bow in” as we have done for years with both the Morgan and the Mariner. I was always at the helm and bow in was much easier for me. But this year, because of my physical challenges, it will be easier for me to step from the dock onto the transom, compared to a three-step stool mid-bow.

The only thing left is to “launch” me.

The head/holding tank, solar panel and batteries installations and galley were the major projects for the “off-season.” There were also many “minor” watsonizing projects that kept Al busy all winter and early spring. Some were necessary and some were just because it suited our style better. These “minor” projects still took considerable time and effort – Al’s time and effort!

The KK39 has an amazing engine room for its size. One might say we bought an engine room with an attached boat. Since Al enjoys maintaining the engine and systems, it is a real plus to have this spacious area. Although one of the smaller  Kady Krogens, the 39 is the one with a walk-in engine room. The next size with an engine room is the Kadey Krogen 48 feet.

To step down into the engine room, there was a wood step. Al shortened that step so that he could lift up the hatch in the floor for easy access to the hydraulic pump for the stabilizers.

The starboard side of the engine room has an awesome workbench.

Al organized the tools and workbench area to better suit his needs.

Bowthruster & Rudder Barnacles

The bowthruster tunnel and dual props were encrusted with barnacles. This is pretty typical in hard to paint places that are underwater.

“Fins” and “Wings”

The Kadey Krogen 39 has “stabilizers,” a whole new world for us. Stabilizers are fins mounted beneath the waterline and stick out from the hull to reduce a boat’s rolling caused by wind or waves.

Our stabilizer fins needed new outer seals, which required a professional. 🙁 Hmmm…. A project that Al cannot do. Every once in a long while that does happen.

Al did have some work to do on the stabilizer wings. The wings, made of fiberglass, were damaged so he removed them from the fins for repair work at home. (The wings are the bottom part of the fins.)

During the survey, the water from the cockpit shower would not shut off. The surveyor noted that the plastic enclosure for it was cracked in three spots. He researched a new housing only to learn that the cost was outrageous. With his fiberglass skills, he repaired the existing housing, rebuilt the faucet, replaced the washers and installed a new hose and shower head. Good to go!

The boat came with a bimini on the flybridge, but it had no “windshield” which would make windy or chilly conditions a little uncomfortable up there. We enjoyed using the flybridge on the Mariner. In fact, 90+% of the time we steered from up there, especially me. Here, in New England, it is nice to have a windshield for comfort.

Winter is a great time for Al’s sewing projects —

Getting closer to a launch date!

When Al is watsonizing, the boat develops it’s “winter look” as I call it. That’s a nicer phrase than calling it a total mess. Most of these galley photos were taken during the winter so please excuse any visible mess.

The galley on the Kadey Krogen was one of the features that sold me on a new “last” boat. The Mariner’s galley was ok after Al made significant modifications for me, but it was never easy to work in (although I will miss that Engel freezer built in under the counter…..) The KK39’s galley is very, very nice. Even so, I requested a few minor changes.  My turn!

Although there is certainly plenty of storage for galley equipment, I always worry about pantry storage – all of the nonperishables that need a home. Sometimes I think I still provision with a long term cruising eye which is a bit silly now. On both the Morgan and the Mariner, Al created amazing pantry storage. After studying the KK39’s galley we made a decision. There was an icemaker to the right of the sink under the counter. We have never had an icemaker and do not feel that we need one. I’m a pretty good ice maker myself, given a tray and a freezer.  We decided pull-out shelves would work nicely in that space. 

Back to IKEA……..The model kitchens there have a multitude of shelving options which can be purchased as separate components. Amazed, we found  pull-out shelves that were just the right width!

Where does the trash bin reside in the galley ??? That’s always been an issue for us on every boat. We don’t want a trash can out in the open and susceptible to flying about, getting knocked over, or just in the way. On the Morgan, the trash bin fit under the stairs down from the cockpit. Al was very creative on the Mariner and cut a tilt-out opening in the side of the galley where a plastic bin fit under the sink.

On our Krogen there seemed to be plenty of space under the sink for the trash can – out of sight and accessible. We often (pre-covid 19  days) wandered around IKEA for ideas. IKEA is a great place for inexpensive solutions for boats as well as houses. We discovered a close-out sale on a pull-out trash bin. Checking the KK39 measurements that I always kept with me, it sure looked like it would fit. It came with one large bin or two smaller ones.  We don’t know which will work better for us yet, but it’s nice to have options!

There is plenty of overhead cupboard space. I’m glad that I am average height because reaching up there is a stretch even for me. How do petite Admirals manage this?? I keep a small folding stool handy, just in case.

We only carry place settings for six. If there are more than 6 guests, pull out the paper plates! When I placed all of the dishes in the cabinet, there was a lot of empty space above the dishes. Stacking all the assorted sizes of plates on top of each other would be harder for access. I found a shelf organizer that would fit inside.

Although it wasn’t necessary, I wanted a new higher faucet that pulls out and changes to a sprayer. After searching in the home improvement stores and online, we decided we liked the one we have in the house the best and just got another.

Al installed a fan in the galley on the Mariner because there was no opening port near the stove/oven. The Krogen has a nice round opening port over the stove top but Al decided I still needed a fan. Makes you wonder how much I complain, doesn’t it? It took a bit of McGyvering to get this fan in just the right position so that it will function well and allow the port to open and close.

In the corner, next to the oven is a lift-up top to access what we call the deep storage.

I had the opportunity to work in the galley when we brought the boat home from Virginia last October. I was thrilled with it then and now it is even better. I do think it will take some time to figure out how best to utilize the space. I will probably spend at least the first year changing things around.

Photos of the full galley will have to wait until we are in the water!