What with the spreading Covid-19 pandemic and the concerns for both our health and that of the populous in general, we’ve been giving a fair bit of thought to our rather unique (to a small group) circumstances.
The guidelines for “flattening the curve” of the outbreak include eliminating all avoidable travel – but what do you do when your home is a traveling device, and the only way to get to your other “home” – a house in Maine – is to travel? Is that travel avoidable? Or not?
Certainly we’ve taken the social distancing and hygiene guidelines to heart. We cancelled all our planned and long anticipated visiting in St. Augustine, and except for a couple of brief outdoor’s forays ashore we stayed isolated on the boat, contacting others only to the minimum extent necessary to service the boat, provision, and get out of town.
But is that enough? Could we do better?
I don’t think we could do better. By staying aboard and continuing our travels, I think we’re obeying the spirit of the guidelines to the fullest, perhaps having even less significant contact with others than we could if we were in “lockdown” at the house in Maine.
There are still some question marks ahead, though. We do need to stop at a marina – or at least at a dock – every 4-5 weeks, just to fill the water tanks, buy diesel fuel, and restock the cupboards. Is that different than what we’d be doing from a land base? We don’t think so – and we have the advantage here of plenty of fresh air, and no other people within 150 feet or more.
I guess we’re doing ok.
But it’s looking to me like we may not see much of the Chesapeake on this trip, either. We missed it in 2016 because of my eye, and we may just fly through this year due to Covid-19. That’ll be a disappointment, but it sets us up for a future cruise, too.
Looking for that silver lining!
'Til the butter melts 
March 22, 2020 at 1:20 pm
There can be no such thing as rather unique! Simply “unique” is sufficient.
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March 22, 2020 at 4:04 pm
I think you’re doing a better job of helping to flatten the curve than many. Keep safe, keep clean hands, and enjoy your journey as best you can. Least you get to see new things with every day of travel…unlike the rest of us seeing just our own space. And, the snow won’t leave fast enough so we could at least get out and do yard work…😏😉😎😀🥂
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April 2, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Just wondering if you have ever replaced the cutlass bearing in your boat and how that went. I needed to replace the stuffing box so I had to pull the prop shaft. Which also needed to be replaced. The cutless bearing actually looks OK but it has to be 20 years old. I want to replace it but looks like I will have to try and cut it out. There was a place on the top and bottom of the stern tube I think were for set screws but unclear if they were there or not. I drilled those out but even with a home made puller can not remove bearing.
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April 2, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Chris, sorry I’m no help there. Sionna was retrofitted with an Evolution drive (sealed, ball-bearing unit) before we got her. Love it, no stuffing box or Cutlass bearing.
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