It seems that the winter months on Endless Summer have been going by quickly. Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, a haul-out and engine service, and a short Gulf coast get-away, the weeks have been flying by.
Other than a long Thanksgiving weekend on board, we didn't spend much time on the boat in November and December. I guess after living on board for most of the summer and then the long trip back to Florida from New England, we were both ready for a break and to sleep on solid ground. Not to mention, it was time to catch up on things like doctor appointments, car service, seeing our friends and enjoying our wonderful home base in Orlando.
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| Home Sweet Home - The view from our home in Orlando |
Once Christmas was past and we were into the new year, we were ready for some time back on the water. In January we decided to take a little mini-cruise along the Gulf coast for a week in Longboat Key, Boca Grande and Captiva Island.
While the northeast was getting pounded with bitter cold and snow, we were enjoying perfect Endless Summer weather -- and that was the whole idea from the start!
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| Sunset cocktails and chips on Boca Grande |
While at South Seas Resort on Captiva, we were approached by the Director of Marketing asking if they could use Endless Summer in their brochure photo shoot. While at first somewhat hesitant, the lure of free dinner and a good bottle of wine convinced me otherwise! With professional models and photographer on deck, Endless Summer was really showing off!
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| South Seas Resort Yacht Harbor - one of our favorites! |
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| Endless Summer being used for a resort photo shoot |
Once we got back, it was time for all the annual service work to be done on both engines, pod drives and generator. Of course there were a number of maintenance "odds and ends" that had to be dealt with, which fortunately, I was able to handle on my own. The big job was having the boat hauled and a fresh coat of bottom paint applied along with a special paint for the pods and props. This is by far and away the most expensive service that has to be done, but when you travel thousands of miles in a year, the bottom needs extra attention and care. The last piece of the puzzle is to have the hull and topsides waxed before we head north in April.
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| Time for some bottom work! |
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| Before and After |
Won't be long now before we start restocking our provisions and gear for the return Spring migration to New England!
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