Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.
Halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.
https://shellerina.com/2022/02/01/february-1/
Aka Groundhog day.
I guess for us cruisers, it means we should have at least half of our winter projects completed by now!
Today’s project: install larger lights in two places where we really needed it. Galley sink and in the Head.
$22 (w/ sales tax) for two LED light fixtures, galley & head.
From the manual:
Addendum
March 19, 2025
While the original propane stove served us well for 4.5 years, and a reconditioning project went great a couple years ago, the oven continued to have issues.
Shelly makes a great home made pizza; the air fryer isn’t large enough for a whole “ZA”. (Though its great for reheating the left overs).
So the 25 year old range was replaced today.
This stove, found on Amazon is the closest physical fit that we found. It was only ($538 delivered) 25% of the cost of the top quality brands like Force 10.
The Admiral is very happy!
Shelly and I both grew up with propane, as a chef it gives her more control over the heat. Most Mainships were finished with electric ranges. We are so glad we found one with a propane integrated system on-board.
Addendum Sunday 1/19/2025
Our first home made pizza:
Our friend and dock mate, Kellie Norrgard, in front of the “shingle” across the street from European Street Cafe.
Ray sought her help with a medical condition of chronic neck pain. Meds, PT, etc. was simply not making the marked improvement he sought.
This was the first time Ray ever got a professional massage therapy session. “Now, hours later, my neck is feeling great!”
Thank you Kellie! We’ll be back.
https://healingartscollectivejax.comhttps://healingartscollectivejax.com
And, related post:
https://shellerina.com/2024/12/14/happy-birthday-kellie-dock-mate-here-in-jax/
Addendum
Wednesday’s sunset 1/15/2025 off the stern of Shellerina.
We’ve got some pool days coming up!!!
https://www.instagram.com/share/BALiailT4_
Blowers are SO important in gas inboards or stern drives.
Hillside Cabins
Linda Klein notes the lake is starting to freeze there.
Happy Holidays to you and Erik Norrgard of Islander!
.
Wigs and other paraphernalia were “in” for this great party at Port 32 Ortega Landing’s beautiful captain’s lounge.
Shelly & Erik!
Thanks for inviting us to help you celebrate your BD!!!
.
ADDENDUM DEC 4
We could not get that parameter to work with the more expensive/advanced unit even working with great tech support at Citimarinestore.com staff.
That energy saving option is more important than the WiFi option… since we will attempt to run this system on solar energy. The “soft start” hardware option is also acquired, and it may be installed tomorrow or the next day.
All the “pot luck” sides were outstanding! So much to be thankful for. 30 plus attended.
Our grandson, Lucas:
Coming soon:
Janthena’s turkey preparation!
Below:
Captain Gene of Galene and I tested out the 3-blade spare we carry on-board last week. Results: not as good as the 4-blade, but it works as a good spare.
The fish will certainly like this new polished wheel!!!
.
FYI (full disclosure):
Our 2000 Mainship 390 has a CAT 3126.
There is quite a bit of variability among Mainship 390-s in engines, transmissions, gear ratios, props, and typical cruising RPM-s.
e.g. Yanmar, CAT, Volvos, etc. So, in my experience, taking one MS390’s prop spec for another may not yield the desired / optimum results!
It is more “FUN” putting in the new unit compared to pulling the 24 year old unit out.
Tomorrow, I must finish mounting the electrical box, and A/C unit to the deck, and finish the enclosure. It appears that the same plywood panel covering this enclosure will be able to be used.
No major changes to plumbing or electrical was necessary.
Doing this project myself, with the alternative brand new unit came in at about $2500, much less than the $5800 quote to have it done by others. Admittedly, getting the old unit OUT was more work than getting the new unit IN!
Seems strange to be putting so much work into an A/C project when tonight’s outside temp is 47°F !!! LOL
But the reverse cycle means it can heat as well.
Florida is certain to give us plenty of chances to test the A/C mode, even in late November.
A good and successful project!
Special thanks go out to:
Woody Sherrod, MTOA member. He generously provided very valuable advice and technical assistance over the phone!
Thanks also to Gene Rutkowski of Galene for referring me to Woody.
Finally, my great vendor recommended by Woody;
https://citimarinestore.com/en/. Their customer service is great.
Addendum Nov 26
The red “up” button on the new wall mounted control unit has gone “soft” and unreliable.
So a new wall unit is expected tomorrow Wed 11/27/2024.
We may likely opt for the sexy touch screen WiFi capable control unit on “Black Friday” when the price comes down.
In any case, this 16k BTU a/c unit is delivering great a/c and heat with less vibration and noise as the compressor cycles on and off.
Very happy. Citimarinestore.com has provided great customer service as we work through the issues.
Only works if you have a WiFi network on your vessel.
My dad passed away this afternoon after a short but painful fight with liver cancer. Thankfully not a long extended fight.
Mass Maritime Academy graduate
USN (retired) served on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga CV-14
Served in the US Naval Reserves and Merchant Marine
Sales Engineer and sole proprietor of Linekin Industries for most of his career.
Past president of Maine Chapter ISA – Instrument Society of America. The ISA was a large and influential technical trade group in the 1970s and 80s when pulp and paper mills and wastewater treatment plants were all adjusting to the regulations of the Clean Water Act, AND the technology changes from analog / pneumatic controls and signaling transitioned to digital / microprocessor-based controls and telemetry.
I remember one large annual ISA meeting that Dad presided over with over 250 members present. During this meeting he knew every members’ name as they would raise their hand to ask a question or weigh in on an issue. Very Impressive to everyone.
He has five children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
FCC Ham Radio operator N1MHC
Certified Tennis Pro, United States Professional Tennis Association
Loving husband to the late Agnes B. Sirois and surviving wife Shirley Sirois of East Boothbay Maine.
.
.
My grandfather Albert R Sirois is in the broader pic next to Uncle Ron, far right side in back. Albert Rene my “Grampy” died a short time (weeks or months?) after this pic was taken.
I was old enough to remember MANY outings and events with my “Grampy”. He and Dick Charette (Shelly’s dad) were also very close.
L-R: Shelly [aka Shellerina] is on her mother Nora’s lap. Andre Charette is on his father Dick’s lap. My sister Suzanne Sirois is on her/my mother Agnes’s lap.
The fellow in center bottom is Capt. David Albert Dragonas. My father was his godfather and Andre’s as well. (We lost Andre of Rockland Maine to a heart attack a few months ago.) Nora is still with us and is frequently driving around her home on the north shore of MA!
David is one of the last remaining persons alive that calls my dad by his childhood nickname: “Buster!” (David and I reconnected on Linked In this morning.)
Family was clearly important to my father early on, having hosted events like this one and others for many years that followed.
These types of shops are getting harder and harder to find!
A late season hurricane, Raphael, which made landfall in Cuba is becoming disorganized and is heading away from Florida.
We are the 15th cruiser to anchor in here tonight. Many of us have insurance that won’t allow us south of this island until November 1.
Day off tomorrow!
64.22 miles for today… we went 2 hours longer than originally planned to give ourselves a day off tomorrow.
Friday: All the way to our Slip C-103 at Port 32 Ortega Landing, Jacksonville.
This Beaufort SC marina is on Factory Creek (which is also a well protected anchorage IMO) can take your reservation using Dockwa.com. However, I suggest you call Kimberly at their main telephone number and make the reservation in-person. She is a sweetheart and will make you feel like YOU are their most important customer ever!
Of course, she will say, “While I am helping YOU, you ARE my most important customer.”
Across the way, in-town Beaufort, are large public docks (free for the day/evening) with lots of great dining choices and shops.
The famous and popular “Gene’s Anchorage” is just south of town. Any chart will show you how to safely enter from the south.
When we plan to come to Beaufort for a few days, we mix it up with a free dock stop or two, some anchoring out, and always a visit with Kimberly at Ladys Island Marina to do laundry, shower up, and re-provision. We usually have our mail and packages forwarded here as well. This marina also has a discounted WEEKLY rate!
There is a wonderful write-up about Kimbery and her husband’s cruising experiences in the Oct 2024 marina newsletter.
https://ladysislandmarina.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/October-newsletter.pdf
48 miles from Church Creek (ICW mm 488.2), noon to 5:30pm… to ensure some tide beneath our keel and prop through some skinny water.
Solar had no problems bringing the bank of two Battleborn GC3 LiFePO4 back up to the max.
We winter in the St Johns River in FL. We are getting close! We have a car waiting, and our slip, dentists, physicians, and scheduled maintenance.
Today we completed a 53 mile trek to Church Creek (aka New Cut Landing) mm 488.2, longer than we like. Here is our float plan for the finish of our trip to Canada that started on April 1.
Sat Oct 26 Ladys Is Marina mm 563.3 (48 mile day tomorrow).
Sun Oct 27 Bull Creek mm 565 (28.7 mile day)
Monday Oct 28 Delegal Marina + visit Marlyse & Phil Libby mm 601 (36 miles)
Tuesday Oct 29 Dupline River mm 649 (48 miles)
Wednesday Oct 30 Cumberland Island South mm 711 (62 miles). “Rubber Day”as our yacht insurance won’t cover us south of this island until Nov 1. We can also split the 62 miles by staying in north Cumberland THEN move to south Cumberland Island… breaking up that 62 mile day!
Friday November 1 Sisters Creek FL mm 740 (29 miles)
Saturday November 2 Port 32 Ortega Landing Marina mm 740+25=765 (25 miles), and then Clay County.
We plan to vote in-person on November 5. Then Shelly flies to BOS on Nov 6 to be with family for brother Andre’s “Celebration of Life”.
.
.
Addendum Nov 1
We stayed at Cricket Cove Marina in North Myrtle Beach NC last night. Zack from Jimmy’s Marine came to our slip to get the generator running again.
Wacca Wache Marina has $3.15 diesel fuel. We’ll fill up tomorrow at the cheapest cost per gallon in all of 2024, less than half what we paid per gallon in Canada!
Sat Oct 19 Carolina Beach North anchorage. mm 295.1
Sun Oct 20 Holden Beach Marina. mm 323.4
Mon Oct 21 Cricket Cove Marina, North Myrtle Beach. mm 345.
Gotta average 40 statute miles per day to make Port 32 Ortega Landing (JAX) by Jan 2. 
.
ICW mm 157.5 Hobucken NC (close to nothing!)
It was COLD last night. We burned diesel fuel with our generator to stay warm. Plus it got windy this a.m.
SO, Tying up here at MAYO was the right move. Plus we got some seafood + hardware. Great prices.
5 days in Belhaven were “nice” but being disabled is never a good feeling.
“Community” means we all depend on each other for help. None of us can go it alone. We helped local businesses; they helped us. We like Belhaven (and Oriental a lot… (NC)).
But, it is nice to be underway on our own power again.
It has a better than 50/50 chance of developing into a named storm, which would be called Nadine. “Everyone” is watching!
Addendum: Tuesday
ADDENDUM Wed night
.
Addendum Oct 18 Fri
.
We met several new friends and a long time friend at Spoon River, Belhaven NC – ICW mm 136.
Billy & Sara of Coconuts
Greg & Lisa of Beach Breeze
and “local” Diana joined us all tonight for a great dinner together. ((Packed house even on a Monday night! Reservations recommended.))
Do not be bashful to call (former single-handed cruiser) Diana for a ride or any local favors you might need. She helped us with our CAT parts delivery needs today.
Related past posts:
https://shellerina.com/2023/07/22/belhaven-nc-cruisers-ambassador-port-officer/
https://shellerina.com/2023/07/21/belhavens-most-famous-dinner-spot/
Addendum October 31, 2025
So, here is the rest of the story:
Crocks have the pointier snout, are usually larger and more aggressive.
To date, we have not seen either. But the southern St Johns River, we hear, will certainly be a place to see one or both of these species.
Reportedly, there are occasional sightings in the northern St Johns River and Ortega River where we winter.
FMI:
https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/reptiles/crocodiles-and-alligators/
We experienced a bad electrical smell after securing on the hook in the southern end of the Alligator River. We had successfully transited the Albermarle Sound and the Alligator River in great weather conditions… without a problem until we STOPPED and dropped the hook?!?!
The smart shunt indicated that there was 76 Amps of draw from the main lead acid bank.
Unfortunately, the engine would still not start. The mechanics here at River Forest Marina suspect a failed 130 amp circuit breaker in the same circuit. The starter may also be faulty as one thing I tried was to jump the starter solenoid with a wrench, and the starter turned, but the Bendix Gear did not engage the engine’s flywheel.
UPDATED paragraph:
The starter is less than a year old, so it was covered by CAT’s warrantee. No cash had to be exchanged for a new starter. CAT accepted the 11 month starter giving full credit…
Everyone here at River Forest Marina has been great with their help. TowBoat US took care of the tow through the Alligator-Pungo Canal to get me here.
This is one of our favorite towns on the Loop and ICW. So, we could be holed up in worst places!
The third ownership transition in as many years just took place this month here. More details on that will soon follow!
Search our blog for:
Grand Manor Marina
River Forest Marina
Belhaven NC
.
ADDENDUM Wed Oct 16
Our engine starts again!
Bill was reasonable.
Belhaven: Oct 11,12,13,14,15
Today:
We crossed Pamlico River and anchored at Goose Creek aka Eastham Creek anchorage ICW mm 153.5.
611 sm to go … to Ortega Landing.
Everything is good here except it can be a bit “rolly” depending upon the wind.
The Grand Manor mansion on premises is a popular wedding venue, for people who get married a lot. There were two weddings during our tenure this week.
Daily: “Thanks for being my wife again today!”
445 statute miles to go for Ortega Landing – Fairfax / JAX FL in about 23 days. (Avg: 20 miles per day.)
Hurricane Milton is likely to mess up the west coast of FL from Tampa south to Ft. Meyers. Flooding from rainwater is expected in the St Johns River, our hailing port. With a narrow Mayport Inlet being the only place to drain, the water levels at our winter “home” marina will likely take weeks to recede. We are still 3+ weeks from there. We are safe and feel in control of things. Many friends of ours are less fortunate.
Unfortunately, others will not be as fortunate.
Leaving Indian Creek, Kilmarnock VA this morning.
Departed 8:45a.m. Arrived 3:30pm. 54.8 sm on the day. 3400 miles for the season, so far. 506 miles left to go to Ortega Landing in JAX. Average about 18 miles per day. Easy pace.
Atlantic storms (Kirk&Leslie) appear to be non-issues. But there may be something cookin’ on the Gulf of Mexico.
.
Addendum: Sat Oct 5…
Congratulations to Favors who had a third day in a row of transiting well over 50 miles per day. From Phoebus anchorage (N of Norfolk VA) with us Friday night, they continued over 60 sm to make Coinjock NC. (That marina is known for its prime rib BTW.)
Indian Creek – Kilmarnock VA from Solomons Is MD.
This is one of our favorite anchorages.
Norfolk is at ICW mm Zero.
The St John’s River in FL, where we hope to be on Nov 1, is at ICW mm 740.
Friday is a definite GO!
Saturday is also looking good to make AYB Atlantic Yacht Basin ICW mm 12.2… easy to re-provision there, and cheap fuel: $3.05 tax incl if 200 gallons.
I observed sea water coming into the aft bilge when the generator was running, and to a lesser extent when the generator was not running.
Zimmerman Marine fit me into their schedule today and this is what they found.
We are very pleased with the service and results here at Zimmerman Marine, Solomans Is MD
Gregory also installed a second (larger) hose on the outside of the 5/8” business hose to shield it from the chafing.
Yard Manager, Ryan Ducey was “on it” calling me first thing this morning; I filled out the online service request last night after hours. Joanna was great too. “All good!”
This hose was not that old. It was replaced in Aug 2022 when the heat exchanger was re-conditioned. The sea water pump was new in May 2021 before we started our Great Loop circuit. So this was not a neglected system.
Just goes to show: “Stay ahead on maintenance tasks!”
Noteworthy was 8 days in Atlantic City waiting for a weather window south (outside) to Cape May NJ.
The inside route ultimately worked…
Goal is October 31 to Cumberland Is GA (ICW mm 711), then Jacksonville two days later.
We met Steve and Sally in Atlantic City. We all were waiting for a nice weather window on the outside to make Cape May. We ultimately chose the NJ ICW inside route, which worked out just fine!
Steve & Sally aboard Favors have been buddy boats with us since Atlantic City, shown here on the Chesapeake.
Hurricane Helene messed up some friends and their boats along the Florida panhandle aka the “Big Bend” and north into western No Carolina.
We are pressing on to make Norfolk VA, mile marker ZERO on the Atlantic ICW (110 miles to go). We will have more protection from storms once we are inside there. The month of October will be spent traversing to Cumberland Island GA, then St Johns River (mm 740), close to our winter “home” on the Ortega River. The National Weather Service does not allow hurricanes in FL after November 1. So our yacht insurance says it is OK to be in FL after that.
Good supper tonight – Solomons.
Lots of friends and family are concerned about our safety with severe weather here on the east coast.
Know that we are in Cape May NJ tonight. We want to make Delaware City tomorrow or Friday.
Even better than Thursday if needed.
Charlie gave me a lift to the wine store during his lunch break today! Thanks Charlie!
We only got 179 Engine Hours out of the 10 micron primary fuel filter element this time around. I guess I’m going back to the 30 micron variety!
I changed both fuel filters up on the Trent Severn Waterway just 2.5 months ago.
Prior two fuel filter changes were done at delta 435 hours (2022) and delta 729 hours back in July, (both runs with 30 micron.) So this one needed so soon means we go back to 30 micron!
During these 2.5 months, we took on fuel in Peterborough ON, Clayton NY, Whitehall NY, and Manasquan NJ.
A first for us.
We saw no less than 6 feet of water beneath us the whole day. 6.5 hours, 50 miles, not nearly as scary as the charts show!
I recommend it!
Click on video below.
Fortunately, this marina had a reduced rate for a week-long stay. (They use Dockwa.)
We stayed at the Sen. Farley State Marina for seven nights waiting for a weather window on the outside, that never came; plus we spent a night anchoring out in Rum Basin. We lost over a week of progress before finally deciding to try the inside route. Both Janthena & Galene had done this passage years ago, and Destination did it a week or two ago. So, “Can’t be scared!”
As it turns out, it was a very good cruise. We’ll certainly do this route again, without hesitation. “Just time it with the tide.”
Our passage was complete when we pulled into Sunset Lake just north of Cape May.
Very close to Cape May, this is arguably, a better anchorage than by the USCG Station and Boot Camp. No current, less wake, etc.
Just don’t tell anyone!
.
It was a relaxing morning! We went back to sleep.
As the day progressed, it got windier later in the day; plus there were lots of weekend pleasure craft and excursion boats in the area. It coulda been better; it coulda been worse.
Monday Morning
The weather forecasts pointed to several days of wind, plus we were out of some staples that we needed. So we used Dockwa to get a slip at the huge marina at Golden Nugget called the Frank S Farley State Marina, named after a beloved US senator from NJ who died in 1977.
Tuesday 9/17/2024
We converted our Dockwa reservation here to a 7-day stay because the weather looks nasty for several days. (Basically we can get 7 days for the price of 5).