Ed Robinson's Blog, page 15
May 2, 2014
Expired Documentation!
Our vessel is documented with the United States Coast Guard. Each year they mail out a renewal notice. One simply needs to sign the form and mail it back in order to receive a new document. Well I waited and waited for my renewal notice. It never arrived. Today I looked at our document and discovered that it expired two days ago. Doh!
Looking for the correct phone number leads me through the myriad of governmental alphabet agencies. The US Government / Department of Homeland Security / National Vessel Documention Center (in West Virginia of all places). If you have an issue with your vessel documentation the number to call is 1-304-271-2400.
I dialed and listened to a five minute recording that assured me my call was important. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and that they are short on staff at this time. Then I got the automated menu. I pushed “7″ for documentation renewal questions. I listened to a little muzak, then finally got a nice lady on the line. I explained that I never received a renewal notice. She informed me that my documentation was expired. I already knew that. She quoted the fine print on the back of the document, “Renewal is the responsibility of the owner.” I already knew that. I wanted to comment on the fact that a division of DHS can’t even mail out a simple form on time, but bit my tongue.
She was quite helpful though. For five bucks I could pay the late fee and she would send over my form to the renewal department. I thought, “What? You aren’t in the renewal department?” Anyway, we settled the matter over the phone and hopefully I’ll get new paperwork sometime this year.
When we bought our vessel she flew a Canadian flag. If that were still the case she’d currently be an illegal alien vessel. Maybe we ought to hide out in the mangroves so the NSA can’t find us, at least until our new paperwork arrives.
Lesson learned - You are responsible for renewing your documentation. Don’t wait until it’s too late to discover that the Coast Guard did not mail you a notice. You might be forced to hide out in the mangroves too.
For more adventures in liveaboard boating read Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat:
http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live/dp/1478720921/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
April 30, 2014
Quality Bilge Time
The other night while having a few beers with a fellow liveaboard, the topic of stuffing boxes and packing came up. He had a bad experience trying to get corroded nuts loose in order to replace his packing. His advice was to never let that happen as it turned into a dirty, knuckle-busting job.
I vowed to inspect mine and the beer drinking continued. Yesterday I dropped down into the bilge for a look-see. To my dismay, the bolts were unrecognizable globs of corrosion. After scraping and banging away at them with a scewdriver for a while, I managed to clear them enough to actually put a wrench on them. Should have taken a “before” pic but I didn’t.
A walk to Ace hardware for new stainless bolts and washers, plus a can of PB Blaster was in order. Now every boat owner knows that any job in the bilge is ten times harder than if it was on deck or even on land. It’s dark and cramped and nothing is ever easy to reach. In this case, my work area was further constricted by the a/c pump, strainers and assorted hoses that support the a/c system. Well, we haven’t used the a/c in over three years. I decided now was the time to simply remove all this useless stuff to clear up the work area. Busted knuckle number one was the result, but it did clean up the space and give me room to work. It also created another job for the to-do list. I may as well remove the a/c unit itself now that I’ve rendered it inoperable. I’ll take it to our local marine consignment shop and make a few bucks. That seems to be the way with a lot of boat projects. One job turns into two, or three.
I attacked the nuts that adjust tension on the packing first. They started to loosen just fine, but then stalled as they reached the corroded part of the bolt. Busted knuckle number two . . . More PB Blaster and a pause to climb out of the bilge for some fresh air. I finally got them off and started cleaning the bolt with a wire brush and more PB Blaster. Replaced the old nuts with shiny new stainless, using a locking nut as the back up to the first one.
Then I started on the bigger nuts that hold the backing plate to the bulkhead. The new nuts just did not want to cooperate going back on. Busted knuckle number three . . .They’d come tight and refuse to budge any further, well short of fully tightened on the bolt. I kept backing them off, spraying them again, and retighten. It was tedious work. My hands were now a combination of corrosion, sweat, blood and PB Blaster. Eventually I managed to ram them all the way up the bolts, but today I plan to back them off a tad and see if I can get them any tighter after soaking all night. Then I plan to coat them with a little grease to prevent any new corrossion.
Once finished, I had an ugly mess of goo beneath the shaft. Oh goody! Bilge cleaning. Again, one job turns into multiple jobs. If I was working on a similar project in a garage it may have taken a half hour or so. Down in the Holy Place it took several hours. Spending all that time in the bilge caused me to start mentally ticking off all the other items I should inspect or tighten soon.
So there’s a lesson for you. Don’t neglect this little maintenance chore or you too can spend hours busting knuckles in the dark confines of your bilge. My next book definitely needs to have the word Bilge in the title! For now though, you can read about other adventures of liveaboard boating in Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat, and Poop, Booze, and Bikinis, by Ed Robinson.
http://www.amazon.com/Ed-Robinson/e/B00F42LGJ8
April 24, 2014
A Day in the Life of a Pumpout Boat Operator
While we’ve been hanging out in Laishley Park Marina in Punta Gorda, I’ve been working part-time as a pumpout boat operator. The S. S. Clearhead was commissioned in October. When it arrived they had no one to run it, so I volunteered. Think it’s a crappy job? Well think again. Here’s my sweet ride:
On Mondays and Thursdays I take her out for a spin around Charlotte Harbor. I leave the marina at 10 a.m. looking for boats that may want a pumpout. Some call the dockmaster ahead of time to arrange a rendevous. Others contact me on VHF channel 16.
Leaving the marina:
As you can see it was glassy calm this morning. We had a new arrival on our mooring field so I floated on over to see if he needed my services. What did I find? The dude was naked. What is it with boaters and nudity?! I politely granted his request to come back later.
I crossed under the route 41 bridges and found dolphins playing in the Gilchrest Park anchorage.
I then proceeded to slow troll along the Punta Gorda waterfront. Here’s Fishermen’s Village:
You never know what you might see in or on the water around here. Here’s a spotted ray.
It was a trawler kind of day:
I arrive outside the markers to Ponce Inlet at 11 a.m. I’ve got some regulars that come out of this inlet, but no one showed today.
I did watch an impatient and discourteous power boater pass a sail boat in the very narrow channel. He then decided to throw a large wake as he passed close by while I was drifting.
Which resulted in this:
Okay, no takers at Ponce so I got her up on plane to make the run down to Alligator Creek. I arrive there at 11:30 a.m.
These two sail boats were anchored up, but did not require my services:
Next I completely cross the harbor and enter the Myakka River. Sometimes deeper draft vessels will stage outside the entrance to the lock at South Gulf Cove, waiting for high tide to navigate the shallow channel. I get there around noon. No one home. Here’s the El Jobean bridge:
Exiting the Myakka I head back north, around Hog Island and into the mouth of Alligator Bay. Sometimes boats will come out of the canals in Port Charlotte for a pumpout. Not today. Port Charlotte Beach complex:
I slow troll from there up the Port Charlotte waterfront and check outside of Edgewater Lake and the Port Charlotte Yacht Club until 12:30. As I start to head back to the Punta Gorda side, I see my friend Rodney out for a sail:
Then it was time to head back towards the marina and take care of whoever had arranged for a pumpout with the dockmaster. I stopped off and rendered my services to the guy on the mooring field, who was now fully clothed. Crossing under the bridge:
So today was not typical. Normally I have several pumpouts on the harbor and as many as a dozen within the marina. The snow bird season is apparently over. Less boats on the harbor. Less boats in the marina. Overall I ran 25 miles on calm seas under clear blue skies. I got paid for that. Not such a crappy job afterall.
If you make your way to Charlotte Harbor, keep in mind that this service is free. Hail Clearhead on VHF channel 16, Mondays and Thursday after 10 a.m. Give the pumpout boat operator something to do besides admire the scenery.
For more adventures in Poop, check out Amazon’s #1 bestseller in boating. Poop, Booze, and Bikinis is available for your Kindle at just 2.99. Click the link.
Po
April 22, 2014
Cruising Southwest Florida
Even though we have no home other than our boat, we consider Punta Gorda our home base. That may change in the future as we stretch our sea legs, but for now the areas closest to Charlotte Harbor is where we consider “home”. Punta Gorda is widely recognized on various “Best Of” lists for quality of life, best places to retire, low crime, town beauty, etc. We didn’t quit our jobs and live on a boat just to live in a town though. The boating and anchoring opportunities nearby abound.
Perusing the chart above, you can see that we are a short distance from several awesome destinations. Boca Grande sits on the southern end of Gasparilla Island. Cayo Costa offers pristine white beaches and the best anchorage in all of Florida. Captiva and Sanibel are just to the south. The Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on the Intercoastal side of Sanibel Island also has a beautiful anchorage. Across San Carlos Bay lies St. James City on the southern tip of Pine Island. Just across the Caloosahatchee River is Ft. Myers Beach. A great stop for re-provisioning.
Ft. Myers Beach Mooring Field
Heading north from The Boca Grande Pass up the Intercoastal presents dozens of neat little hideaways to anchor in. Englewood Beach is home to more than a dozen full-time liveaboards, but there’s always room for a few more boats. Stump Pass anchorage is a bit tricky to get into with a draft of 4 feet or more, but once inside it’s well protected and the views are stunning.
Further north once can explore Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island and on to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. Don’t forget a side trip up the Manatee River towards Bradenton. Happy cruisers can spend months, even years hopping from anchorage to anchorage along the west coast of Florida from Tarpon Springs all the way to the Keys. Key West and even the Dry Tortugas are within range from the mouth of Charlotte Harbor.
Pelican Bay, formed by the islands of Cayo Costa and Punta Blanca.
The Florida Keys get all the credit for scenery, but I’m here to tell you that SW Florida rivals the Keys in every way. The beaches are far superior. The anchorages offer much better holding and protection, and the sunsets are every bit as awesome.
If you’re thinking of buying that cruising boat and sailing off to the Keys, I urge you to reconsider. Southwest Florida is far less crowded, much safer, and dare I say, even more beautiful than the Keys.
The beach at Cayo Costa. Where are all the tourists?!
As I stated in my first book Leap of Faith; Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat, when you get your boat and make your way to Florida, look us up. I’ve got a cold beer waiting for you.
http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live/dp/1478720921/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
April 21, 2014
#1 Bestseller in Pain Management
The Untold Story of Kim is the hottest book out today on the topic of Chronic Pain and Pain Management. This was predicted on the back cover blurb: “Destined to become the most important book ever written about Chronic Pain and Pain Management in today’s health care environment”.
In celebration of it’s new bestseller status, the Kindle version has been discounted to just 99 cents for a few days. Click the link to get The Untold Story of Kim for only 99 cents!
If you enjoy the book, please write a review at Amazon.com
April 10, 2014
The Untold Story of Kim / Now Available in Paperback
It’s finally here! This work was very important to me and my wife. I wanted it to be perfect. I was not satisfied with the first proofs so I hired a professional formatting company to take it to the next level. Blue Valley Author Services did an excellent job of turning my manuscript into a top-notch professional looking book.
I hired a new editor this time as well. Martin O’Hearn did a fine job of finding my typos and correcting tense issues here and there. He really did improve upon what I gave him.
Pamela Sinclair of It Girl Designs made the cover really pop. I wanted the art to be dramatic and she succeeded in doing just that. My thanks to all of these pros for helping me produce a truly first class product.
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Early reviews are very encouraging:
Ed (and Kim), I finished reading this book late last night on Kindle and all I can say is WOW. What you went through, what you were put through, and your strength to carry on is incredible. You have put more evidence into the case that our whole society, our government, our social structure, and our entire way of thinking is headed in the wrong direction. Congratulations on making it through this together. It seems as though the two of you really are “Living the Dream”. This book is very well written and impossible to put down. I recommend this to everyone.
This is a heart-wrenching story that never abandons hope. Kim is hurt in a job-related accident, and instead of healing, she is left with chronic suffering. Ed tries everything imaginable to help her conquer the pain. When things seem as if they can’t get any worse, more misery piles on. The author lays bare his fear and anxiety concerning the bleakness of the SYSTEM, but his compass points to a solution, if he can just zero in on the coordinates. Author Robinson’s narrative is fascinating, and Kim’s fight is determined, sending a message of hope to many who suffer from a chronic illness. I loved the book.
This book is well written and accurate as to the condition Kim has to endure. It’s inspirational and personal for me as I too have had a similar situation. Ed is the only person that has been able to address the details of this type of injury in an accurate
way. It exposes the dirty side of our medical and legal systems.
Thanks for giving me the strength to go on.
We all know someone with Chronic Pain but this book brings home the personal struggle and frustration with the “System” of the sufferer and the caregiver.
A must read for everyone.
Hats off to Ed and Kim for persevering against unbelievable odds and hardships, for having the courage to step out of their comfort zones and for sharing this amazing story with the rest of us. WOW!
Great Read Ed. I am positive that your book is going to help a lot of individuals with chronic pain. It gave me a little insight as well. I have read all 3 of your books and have not been disappointed. Can’t wait till your next book comes out. P.S. Kim best of luck to you, may God keep you under his wing.
My wife and I love the inspirational words. For us it is a light. My wife lives with chronic pain in her neck and back and is trying to ween herself off the pills. We have lived our lives for the past four years with high stress and doctors and specialists. This book will be our light that this can be done. She can be free of pain and her light can shine again.
We never get to see behind what’s going on with chronic pain. The dependency doctors have on hard core drugs is appalling.
This is an awesome book that encourages the reader to become a survivor.
Order your copy today exclusively at Amazon:
St
April 8, 2014
Planning Another Leap
Forty months ago Kim and I left our old life behind. We sold everything we owned, bought a boat, and moved to paradise. It’s been a fantastic experience. We were chasing happiness and we found it aboard Leap of Faith, in SW Florida. Our boat, the Gulf Coast and the Keys, our life in the sun – all of it is more wonderful than we ever dreamed it could be.
Then I wrote a book. It was all down on big yellow legal pads, handwritten while on the beach or the back of the boat. I needed to type/format/etc. I needed to learn how to get a book published. I needed reliable internet. So after three glorious years at anchor, we returned to civilization and . . . Gasp . . . a marina. We’ve been tied to the slip for six months now. It’s my fault. I wrote and published two more books. I’ve networked and promoted and done radio interviews and became immersed in the world of publishing. It’s been exciting and rewarding. I’d do it all again, BUT – this life on/near land is killing us.
The people, the noise, and the drama are wearing away at our seafaring souls. Fortunately we have a plan. We still have dreams. We still have bucket list goals to achieve, places to go, things to see. Our first tropical destination that we want to check off our list is the Dry Tortugas. See those sailboats in the picture below? We are going to nudge right in amongst them with Leap of Faith.
We’ll swing by Key West again and up the Keys. Then on to the Bahamas! I wish we could leave today. What’s stopping us?
Well it’s like this; we need to refill the cruising kitty. Book sales are going great, but the royalties are slow in coming. The big checks will just start to arrive in late April and May. All three books are going strong today so some level of future royalties is assured. We hope to have sufficient safe funding for another multi-year adventure by the Fall, or within the year at the very latest. In the meantime, the boat will undergo some upgrades in preparation. Crossing the open Gulf and east coast Gulf Stream are nothing to take lightly. Our first order of business is a new stove to replace our 34 year-old propane range. Then we’ll need new bottom paint before setting off. We’re going to need to replace our battery bank as well. It all costs money.
Just knowing that we have a plan, and that we won’t be stuck here permanently is heart-lifting. Soon we’ll start taking off for several days at a time just to escape. Pelican Bay awaits. The beach at Cayo Costa is calling our name. The Dry Tortugas and the Bahamas are out there in the distance, but we can see them.
Those books of mine are our ticket to paradise. If you haven’t read them all yet, please consider buying them today.
The one that started it all is on sale for just 99 cents until sometime tomorrow.
It’s currently ranked #5 in Happiness and #10 in Social Sciences.
Book number two is still Amazon’s #1 Bestseller in Boating after two months.
Book number three is currently Amazon’s #1 Bestseller in Physical Impairments, and #19 in Pain Management.
Anyone who purchases any of these books is due a free drinking session aboard Leap of Faith. Where ever the wind blows and the sun comes up, that’s exactly where I’ll be.
The Rebel Heart Saga
There has been a lot of media attention to the Kaufmann family this week. A young couple who lives aboard their sailboat and cruises the Pacific with two very young children had to be rescued when their vessel was disabled.
Criticism galore from various major media and social media outlets – so many people bashing the life choices of this couple. “Taking those kids to sea was dangerous and stupid” they cry. Of course, non of these complainers are sailors or liveaboards. This couple has been living the life they chose for 7 years. They are not inexperienced. They happened to have a few children along the way. They chose to raise them without the dubious distractions of modern life on land. No video games, iPhones, malls, etc. It seemed a wonderful way to bring up a child too me.
If you follow this couple either via their blog http://www.therebelheart.com/blog/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/svrebelheart
You’ll see loving parents exploring a fascinating world with small children. You’ll see a tight-knit family that is rare in today’s world. I’m appalled at some of the criticisms I’m reading about the whole affair, some from my friends. I did find one somewhat sympathetic article at the NY Times parenting blog: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/20...
There has also been a bit of a rally from the liveaboard community. For example here’s a call to action from Live Bloggin the ICW:
http://bloggingtheicw.blogspot.com/2014/04/rebel-heart-and-making-difference.html
I feel really bad for the Kaufmanns today. Not only have they lost their home, but they face the storm of nasty remarks regarding their parenting decisions. I’m sorry if you disagree, but I myself admire them and the life they have chosen. Modern society holds no good will towards children today. Fortunately they are all safe, and live to dream another day. Whatever they decide to do with their future, may good fortune find them.
March 28, 2014
Asking For Blogger Help / The Untold Story of Kim
Would some of you be so kind as to share on your blogs and/or Facebook/Twitter pages?
Bestselling non-fiction author Ed Robinson brings you a powerful true story of one woman’s triumph over pain. It will lead you to hate doctors, lawyers, and insurance companies. By the time you finish, you’ll have fallen in love with Kim.
This deeply inspiring tale is destined to become the most important book ever written about chronic pain and pain management in today’s healthcare environment.
Amazon #1 Bestseller in Physical Impairments, top ten in Pain Management.
KIndle version available for just $2.99
Paperback coming soon
March 26, 2014
Epic Novels About Places I’ve Been
I grew up on and around the Cheapeake Bay. At some point I tackled reading Chesapeake, by James Michener. It’s a huge tome. It’s sheer size is intimidating. Let me tell you something. Once you start reading you can’t put it down. Having a connection to the area made this monumental story feel close to my heart. For many years this was my absolute favorite read. If I could only recommend a few books to you, Chesapeake would be among them.
I’ve since read more of Michener, and really enjoyed The Caribbean.
In this classic novel, James A. Michener brings his grand epic tradition to bear on the four-hundred-year saga of America’s Eastern Shore, from its Native American roots to the modern age. In the early 1600s, young Edmund Steed is desperate to escape religious persecution in England. After joining Captain John Smith on a harrowing journey across the Atlantic, Steed makes a life for himself in the New World, establishing a remarkable dynasty that parallels the emergence of America. Through the extraordinary tale of one man’s dream, Michener tells intertwining stories of family and national heritage, introducing us along the way to Quakers, pirates, planters, slaves, abolitionists, and notorious politicians, all making their way through American history in the common pursuit of freedom.
http://www.amazon.com/Land-Remembered-Patrick-D-Smith/dp/1561641162/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395879547&sr=1-1&keywords=a+land+remembered+by+patrick+smith
Praise for Chesapeake
“Another of James Michener’s great mines of narrative, character and lore.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[A] marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages . . . An emotionally and intellectually appealing book.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Michener’s most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Magnificently written . . . one of those rare novels that is enthusiastically passed from friend to friend.”—Associated Press
Later in life I moved to Florida. I quickly absorbed all I could find about local history and folklore. Somewhere along the way I stumbled on to A Land Remembered, by Patrick Smith. It entranced me. Another truly classic historical novel. Again, if I was limited on reading recommendations to you, A Land Remembered would be among them.
n this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life with his wife and infant son, and ends two generations later in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. The sweeping story that emerges is a rich, rugged Florida history featuring a memorable cast of crusty, indomitable Crackers battling wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the swamp. But their most formidable adversary turns out to be greed, including finally their own. Love and tenderness are here too: the hopes and passions of each new generation, friendships with the persecuted blacks and Indians, and respect for the land and its wildlife. A Land Remembered was winner of the Florida Historical Society’s Tebeau Prize as the Most Outstanding Florida Historical Novel.
