Hey there! I completely forgot about this post, but I think you might really enjoy it. We just got back from our 22-day trip to Mackinaw City and all the amazing places we visited. We weren’t home for two days, but we quickly headed to Lake Erie.

Kimberly’s Carousel, a beloved landmark in downtown Put-in-Bay, has been enchanting visitors since 1917. Constructed by the esteemed Allan Herschell Company, this vintage attraction stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of historic craftsmanship, captivating generations of visitors. This is one of my favorite Carousels. I love to ride on it and as I walk past I love hearing her play the old classic music. It reminds me of the show Mary Poppins. 

Some time around midnight, we were coming from Lake St. Clair River into the Detroit River. Suddenly, a buoy appeared in the middle of the shipping channel, almost causing us to nip it. Bryce alerted the Coast Guard to inform them of the presence of a wandering buoy. They asked us to backtrack and provide the GPS coordinates. Naturally, we complied. They then put out a watch on the radio to alert other boats to the situation. The Coast Guard requested that we take a photo and send it to them. It was a frightening occurrence that happened late at night.

One of our favorite stories about Put-n-Bay is the pool bars. We enjoy going pool hopping, one beer at a time, leaving enough money for a beer and a pizza at Frosty. However, it’s sad to say that this year was too chilly to enjoy the pools.

The talking horse. Right around the corner of Mr. Ed’s stable is a walk up pizza shop. A lot of pizza comes out of that place. lol 😂

Guess what? We were having lunch and noticed a man getting out of his cart. He was dressed casually, so you couldn’t tell he was a police officer handing out parking tickets to golf carts! It’s funny how things have changed over time. Back in the day, renting a golf cart didn’t cost you anything for parking.

Girls Gone Wild, huh? That’s quite a name! As we navigated through the mooring balls in our dinghy, we spotted her. However, there was a tragic turn of events. As they began to depart, the boat captain, in a moment of carelessness, accidentally ran over the mooring ball, causing the chain to wrap around his propellers. Consequently, they were stranded and had to wait until morning for someone to come and rescue them.

Hey, have you seen Perry’s Monument? It’s this huge 352-foot Doric column that’s the world’s tallest! It’s built on South Bass Island, Ohio, between 1912 and 1915. A team from different states worked together to create this memorial. They had a global competition to design it, and the goal was to promote peace and reduce weapons. It honors the people who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 and celebrates the peace between Britain, Canada, and the United States. The Memorial column is about five miles away from the Battle of Lake Erie, which is on the Canada-United States border.

Well, I apologize for the delayed response. We’re also exploring by RV, and our blog address is beebopperlandadventure.wordpress.com. If you’re interested in following our journey, we’d be delighted to have you. I’ll still be posting our powerboat and sailing adventures here.

If you have any questions about our travels please feel free to reach out to us.

Thank you all. 🌷

We stopped at another fantastic port along the eastern side of Michigan, Harbor Beach. It was an incredible area. We scootered into town, searching for the IGA. We arrived at the exact location Google had indicated. However, when we looked around, we couldn’t help but laugh. It turned out to be a gas station and a cornfield! I suggested we go inside and check if they had our coffee creamer. Bryce went in and came out with milk and creamer. He explained that it was a regular grocery store, just as big as Kroger. We scootered halfway back when Bryce remembered we had forgotten coffee. Haha!

This is just a tiny glimpse of the stunning bike and walking path that’s waiting to be discovered by us in the Harbor Beach area.

As we scootered along the bike path, we noticed this gravel road was an old Coast Guard building. It’s always saddening to see the deterioration of such places.

Next to the old building lies a cool fishing pier that you can step onto and enjoy the view of the lighthouse and harbor.

Oh my goodness! You won’t believe how many times we spotted the turtle on the rock. I swear he sensed our desire for a photo and kept sliding back into the water.

I was amazed to see the clock was still keeping the correct time.

Bryce couldn’t resist putting his head into the lion’s mouth. The lion laughed and threw water at Bryce, afterward swallowing him whole.

We docked right next to Bob and Lois here at Harbor Beach. They’re such a lovely couple! They’re first-time loopers from Maine. I hope we catch up with them again sometime.

We experienced a few rain showers, the clouds appeared ominous. Perhaps it was indeed a UFO space ship.

The Harbor Beach Community Theatre, a historic gem with stunning architecture, is mostly a digital movie theater, but it also hosts many community uses.

Murals are my jam, and I’m sure you all know that. This is the mural for the library, and it’s absolutely stunning!

“The Dinky,” a 36-ton, 26-foot-long steam locomotive, was fenced in by the Sensient Flavors plant, which produces colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients. Unlike other locomotives that generate their own steam, “The Dinky” was filled with steam from the factory and operated for two hours before needing to be recharged. It was retired when rail service was discontinued.

The Harbor Beach Lighthouse, built in 1885, began illuminating the lake with its light. Its outer shell is crafted from cast iron, while the inner walls are lined with brick and plaster. What sets this lighthouse apart is its six decks, each featuring rooms. The Lighthouse Preservation Society has dedicated itself to preserving this historic landmark. Through meticulous restoration efforts, the lighthouse is now open to the public for tours on Saturdays throughout the summer. For a fee of $30, visitors can embark on a short boat ride to and from the lighthouse, followed by a comprehensive tour of the lighthouse and a visit to the Grice House Museum. In 2015, the Harbor Beach Lighthouse celebrated its remarkable 130th birthday.

Well, I’m a bit late posting this. We departed from Harbor Beach and spent a night at Lexington Mi Marina. We left Lexington early in the morning and returned home. As always Thank you all for reading and following our journey.

For many years, we’ve traveled to Mackinaw City either by car or by boat. I must say, our preferred mode of transportation is by boat. I’m certain this isn’t a surprise to anyone here. lol As we strolled through town, we spotted new businesses and some that had been around since the dawn of time! If you’ve never been to Mackinaw City, you absolutely must visit! We especially loved Straight State Harbor Marina.

The water here in the marina is crystal clear and gorgeous! But, the geese have become quite the problem, and it seems like the crew here has a daily job keeping up with cleaning up goose poop.

The U.S. Mackinaw Cutter, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Great Lakes” and the “Largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes,” holds the distinction of being the largest icebreaker in the Great Lakes. Built during World War II as part of the war effort, its primary purpose was to meet the immense demands of transporting war materials and supplies during the harsh winter months. She’s now a museum here in Mackinaw City! We have an amazing view of her from the marina we’re in.

We’ve passed by Audie’s restaurant many times during our visits to Mackinaw City. Finally, Bryce suggested we give it a try. I opted for the chicken cordon bleu, which was absolutely delicious! Bryce had his usual BLT and enjoyed it as well.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of embarking on the Great American Loop is the delightful company you encounter along the way. We all gathered in the park to enjoy the music, but then we decided to venture out for a leisurely walk and indulge in a delightful scoop or two of ice cream. From left to right: Scott and Dawn, Bryce and me, and Rhea and Everett. Safe travels and fair winds, our dear friends.

The owners of Mackinaw Crossing commissioned the construction of a Mack-a-tron. As I write this blog, they are in the process of building two more. As I am sure most know this is a Transformers type beast.

As we strolled through the numerous stores in Mackinaw, we stumbled upon an extraordinary piece of art—a lion crafted from shredded tires. Surprisingly, it was priced at a mere $19.999.99

If you’re curious about the “Welcome,” there’s a great article in the Journal of American Revolution. It tells the story of the “Welcome” during the British war on Lake Huron. By the end of the American Revolution in 1783, British authorities declared Canada a success. Communities around Lake Huron, Michigan, and Superior remained loyal to the British throughout the war.

Every evening, the mall’s central area or the park near the marina comes alive with music. It’s always a delightful experience to take an evening stroll and immerse yourself in the pleasant ambiance of the music.

We’ve been eagerly waiting for the winds to calm down. It feels like fall here. Where did our beautiful, sunny summer go? Hopefully, the weather will settle down by tomorrow. Then, it’s time for us to head back south to our home again.

Thanks a bunch for checking out our blog! 🌷You can also follow our adventures on TrackMyTour: https://trackmytour.com/g366T

Cheboygan is an awesome place to visit! We made some new friends and explored the town on our scooters. It’s so convenient that everything is within walking distance. Usually, when we’re in this area, we always end up staying in Duncan Bay, which is a lovely place in its own right.

This area is incredibly charming. From our boat slip, we can see the Marina and the lighthouse, which are just a short distance away. The beach and playground are conveniently located together, making it a paradise for young children.

So, we decided to take a walk along the end of the lighthouse breakwater since the lighthouse was closer to the shore. At the end, there’s a flashing red light buoy to make sure other boats and big ships don’t accidentally hit the breakwater at night. There was a pontoon boat fishing near the break wall. I don’t think they caught anything. As we got closer to the end, you could see little crab claws on the ground. I think other fishermen were using them as bait.

Wow, that vibrant mural on the bathhouse is a real eye-catcher!

Bryce climbed up this massive play ramp, which led to a slide. It was certainly a large ramp! I can imagine children would love playing here.

Cheboygan Dam, a timber crib earth dam in Cheboygan, Michigan, is mostly built for hydroelectric power. It’s on the Cheboygan River and was designed and built in 1922. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources owns it now. The water was flowing swiftly.

The dam spillway has a maximum discharge capacity of 7,640 cubic feet per second, which is equivalent to 216 cubic meters per second.

Have you heard of the Soo Locks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula? Well, guess what? There are also locks in the Northern Lower Peninsula, called the Cheboygan River Locks. And get this, there’s a lock called “The Little Lock That Can” that’s a real gem! It helps thousands of boaters each year get to and from Lake Huron to about 45 miles inland. The Cheboygan River Lock can fit boats up to 16 feet wide and 75 feet long, leaving just a tiny bit of space on either side.

Dan and Gena have successfully completed their second Great Loop. We met them on their 45-foot Bayliner for dinner. Dan skillfully grilled some delicious food, while Gena prepared a homemade potato salad. The entire dinner was an absolute delight. We can’t thank you enough for your warm hospitality and great conversation!

Dan and Gena introduced us to Michel and Peter, who joined us for dinner. They’re on their first Great Loop; they’re from Texas and came here to buy their boat. They’re hoping to start the loop within the next two weeks.

Guess what? Dan and Gena invited us to join them at the “The Queens Head Theater”! Julieanne and her one-man band were absolutely amazing, and it was worth the walk into town. If you ever find yourself in Cheboygan, you absolutely must check out the Crown on Main Street. It’s like a one-stop shop for all your shopping needs, with multiple stores under one roof. And guess what? It’s all owned by the same lovely couple! It’s truly an amazing experience.

Well, we had planned to leave today and head up to Mackinaw City, but we overslept because we didn’t go to bed until 3 am. Consequently, we lacked motivation and decided to stay an extra day. To pass the time, we took a dinghy ride down the river to observe the local activities. On the other side of this bridge is the City Marina. We were in a dinghy, so we didn’t have to wait for the bridge to open.

Every few hours you hear a women voice coming down the river on a microphone.

Have you heard of Bois Blanc Island? There’s this cool lighthouse on the north end of the island. It’s a two-story, light-brick lighthouse that’s a landmark for a shoal that sticks out into northern Lake Huron. You can get there by ferry from Cheboygan to the island through Plaunt Transportation. Sadly, we couldn’t make it to Bois Blanc Island, but we’re hoping to visit it someday! 

Thank you all for reading and following our blog. 🌷

Hey everyone! Guess what? We stumbled upon another incredible harbor called Roger City! Have you ever felt like you’ve been to a place before, only to realize it’s totally new? Well, I thought we were here years ago when we took our kids on a three-week cruise on Boatniks. But I got confused with a different place. This harbor is amazing!

Bryce crafted a 3D umbrella holder for the stanchions in the hard top area to keep my pink umbrella from getting too sunny. After relaxing for a while, we walked to the Save A Lot grocery store, which is just two blocks from the marina. However, we first went for lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. They had a delicious lunch buffet.

As we strolled through the town, we stumbled upon a captivating mural that simply enchanted me.

Look at how massive that propeller is! I can hardly fathom the size of the vessel it belonged to. Darn, I can easily hold our propellers in my hands. Haha!

An American Great Lake self-unloading freighter met its tragic end in a Lake Michigan storm on November 18, 1958. Out of the 35 crew members, a devastating loss of 33 lives occurred in the sinking. Among the victims were 23 individuals from the port town of Roger City, Michigan. The probable cause of the sinking was structure failure, which was likely attributed to the brittle steel used in her construction and its extensive use throughout her 31-year career. For an impressive 22 years, she held the prestigious title of “Queen of the Lakes,” proudly serving as the longest and largest freighter on the Great Lakes. Roger City is another great place to learn about history, it’s like stepping back in time!

Well, I had no idea what the Great Lakes Maritime Trail was until Bryce mentioned it and shared his knowledge with me. I heard in Alpena, Michigan, that they have glass-bottom boats that take you out to show you some shipwrecks. If the weather permits, we’ll be stopping by Alpena on our way home. Roger City and Presque Isle State Harbor both have these Maritime posters hanging on their beautiful harbor wall, which allows us to see all these neat areas of shipwrecks. If you can tap on the picture and expand it, you’ll learn about W.G. Mason, Duncan City, and Chester B. Jones.

There are places where you can snorkel and see shipwrecks. We had no idea that we could do this here in the Great Lakes.

This small section of the break wall is an excellent place to walk. We’ve probably walked it twice already. This trip is definitely helping us get our exercise.

The break wall is right there, as far as you can see. And if you have your step tracker on, you’ll definitely get your steps in!

I guess smaller sailboats can take care of their own masts. This mast stepper can lift up to 1200 pounds. It was such a nice little stopover. We’re both learning a ton about the area.

This cute patriot arm will guide you to their charming town of Roger City if you turn right and start walking. You can also spot a beach if you look towards the water.

This is a free-flowing water area where fresh water enters the marina. Most of the marinas we’ve visited are super clean and have crystal-clear water.

While out walking, be careful not to get any surprises on your head!

Hammond Bay State Harbor

After leaving Roger City, we drove up to Hammond Bay. The checking-in process was a bit of a hassle. If you don’t book a day in advance, you have to use a yellow phone hanging on the wall outside the building. You can’t use your own phone, and the Harbor master can’t accept your payment or make a reservation. This can be a bit of a concern for late arrivals, as safety is a top priority. Despite its peaceful atmosphere, it’s important to be aware that anything can happen in the dark. Interestingly, it’s known as a certified Harbor of refuge.

I stepped onto the narrow dock and froze, like an ice cube. Panic started to creep in. Bryce asked me what was wrong, but I couldn’t move. He took my hand and led me off the dock. I just wanted to cry. I had a deep-seated fear of falling off the dock. I ended up staying on the boat all day, but the thunderstorms made it easy to do so.

Well, this blog has come to an end and we are now heading up to Cheboygan. Thanks for reading and following our blog. 🌷

You can also see our tracks on; https://trackmytour.com/g366T

We spent two days anchored in Presque Bay and two nights in the docks of Presque State Harbor. It was a bit of a bummer that the restaurant (the blue building) next to the marina was completely destroyed and gone. But hey, we still had a great time! We went to The Portage Store & Deli, and they’re opening a restaurant next to the store soon. I can’t wait to check it out!

Across the bay is Crystal Point. We dingyed over and had a great time relaxing on the rocky shore. It’s a bit tricky to walk on all those stones, especially when the ground isn’t level.

Guess where we are? On an island called Crystal Point! It’s like stepping into a real-life Jurassic Park! 😂 As we strolled along the rocky shore, we spotted an empty shell. Birds flew overhead, seemingly searching for prey. We wondered if the mysterious creature that emerged from the shell could detect our scent, so we decided to leave it alone. The island was buzzing with activity, and the loud noises of the birds made it difficult to hear ourselves! We also spotted some majestic eagles soaring overhead.

The following morning, we awoke to darkened skies as a storm approached. The winds howled angrily, and the rain poured down heavily. Suddenly, the hail began to fall, tossing quarter-sized balls of ice at us.

When things settled down, we decided to head over to the marina. That way, we could explore all the hidden gems that the Presque Isle State Marina had to offer. One of the gems was the store across the street where they sold ice cream. That was our treat after dinner. lol 😂 They had the best Orange Sorbet! My favorite.

Sand between my toes! I absolutely adore that feeling. Yes, I still have my shoes on in this picture, but they did come off! We unfortunately missed capturing a photo of a wonderful family we met. They’re from our area down home, or perhaps I should say they keep their boat at a local marina in Algonac. I want to express my gratitude to Heidi, Mike, Cam, and Chandler for making our day at the beach truly special.

Have you heard of the Old Presque Isle old Lighthouse? It’s one of the oldest lighthouses still standing on the Great Lakes, built way back in 1840 by Jeremiah Moors from Detroit. The harbor light was there until 1871 when the keeper moved to a taller lighthouse a mile north. But guess what? You can still climb the thirty feet tall tower and get a stunning view of the Lake Huron shoreline and Presque Isle Harbor. It’s a must-see if you’re ever in the area!

Have you heard of the old bronze bell from the old Lansing city hall clock tower? It’s a massive 3425 lbs! Can you believe it? It’s 60% heavier than the Liberty bell, which was cast back in 1896. People from all over come just to have a chance to ring it. The sound of the bell can be heard in the marina, it’s incredibly loud when you are standing near it.

As we approached the old lighthouse, we encountered an old, windless wheel. Surrounding the lighthouse, there are various objects for boys and girls to play with.

We scootered to the New Light House. I believe it was a 3 mile ride down a two line road. it was a beautiful day.

The Presque Isle Light Station is a must-visit for history buffs! It’s made up of three historic buildings, and the star of the show is the incredible light tower. Built in 1870, it’s the tallest lighthouse tower you can visit on the Great Lakes. And guess what? There’s even a keeper’s dwelling that’s been beautifully restored and now houses a museum. Oh, and there’s also an old keeper’s house from 1905 that’s still standing. All these buildings are located on a 99-acre township park that’s got everything you need – a playground, a picnic area, a pavilion, and even some nature trails. It’s a great place to spend a day exploring and learning about history. I can’t believe this was our first visit to the new lighthouse. We were attacked by biting flies as we tried to scooter to one of the pavilion’s.

Bryce, a train enthusiast, couldn’t resist checking out this vintage car.

As we strolled along the docks, Bryce spotted an outboard engine on a large Hatteras yacht! When we inquired about it, a man quipped, “Only in Northern Michigan will you find it!” 😂

Well, this concludes our trip to Presque Isle State Harbor. Thank you all for reading our blog. 🌷

You can also see our tracks on; https://trackmytour.com/g366T

Wow, summer has been a whirlwind! It feels like just yesterday we were basking in the sun, and now it’s time to start thinking about Fall. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to set sail this year, which is a bummer. I have to laugh! Because every time we plan to set sail in the past few years I either fall and break something or like this year we are dealing with personal issues.

But we will get back to long distance traveling soon.

So, we decided to take a month or so and explore Mackinaw and maybe venture a bit further north.

As we traveled through Lake St. Clair through Marine City, we watched people and probably some pets also enjoying the beach. What a beautiful day.

Along the shores of Lake St. Clair, locals were out sailing together or maybe even participating in a friendly sail race. This photo only shows a small portion of the boats in the area, but there were definitely many more. It’s always wonderful to see others enjoying the day and making the most of the beautiful scenery.

It’s always a treat to spot passing freighters. I can’t quite explain why I’m so captivated by them. Sometimes, the crew members will even wave as we pass by. It’s like a little glimpse into the world of the ship, and it feels like a magical moment.

The Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, spans approximately 1.17 miles, connecting Port Huron to Point Edward, Ontario. As we passed under the bridge, another freighter was entering. It’s said that your boat must maintain a speed of 5 miles per hour to safely navigate under the bridge.

Our first stop was on Lake Huron. We set sail with Boatniks around noon and covered 62.2 miles. It was getting twilight so we anchored near the shores of Port Sanilac. The lake was super calm and gentle, and the weather was gorgeous – sunny and beautiful. The water temperature was a pleasant 71 degrees.

When we woke up, the water was like smooth glass! It was so unusual to see something like that on Lake Huron. Bryce thought it was the perfect time to take some pictures of the Boatniks. So, he hopped into his kayak and went out for some shots.

We drove another 61.3 miles today and finally made it to Port Austin. The marina was closed for the night, so we found an open spot on the wall and slid into it, or should I say, we slid into it with our thrusters! 😂 The weather is gorgeous, but the visibility was like a fog lingering over the lake. But it is the smoke from the Canada fires. 

Crossing the Saginaw Bay has never been this smooth. What an adventure we had. We are heading to Harrisville. We planned a two night layover to go out and see the town.

Harrisville is absolutely fantastic! We had a delicious Hammy-Sammy at Shotmakers bar & Grill, and I think it might be my favorite one yet! Whenever people walk by on the docks, we always make sure to say hello. The funniest thing happened when this couple was passing by. Turns out they’re our neighbors just up the canal from us! Their names are Larry and Pam, and they have this adorable American Tug. It was such a treat meeting them!

Our luck took a turn for the worse. As we bid farewell to Harrisville, we had high hopes for a flawless morning cruise. But alas, it was not meant to be. I was feeling a bit restless and eager to set sail. Bryce, on the other hand, was craving a cup of coffee. Instead, he suggested that if we were ready, we could start the journey. It was around 7:00 am, and unfortunately, we were greeted with rollers from the East and strong winds. These conditions caused the boat to rock violently from side to side. We endured a whopping 51 miles of that bumpy ride! But hey, we made it to Presque Isle Harbor, where we’ve decided to anchor. We absolutely adore anchoring here, and there’s a marina in case the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Thank you for following us! 🌷

You can also see our tracking on TrackMyTour below.

https://trackmytour.com/g366T

I just wanted to give you a quick update on Boatniks. She looks absolutely stunning to me! We’ve given her a few more updates. Bryce has been working really hard on giving her a facelift. lol We’re going from blue to black. Doing the work yourself is tough, but it’s way cheaper than hiring someone else. I can’t even fathom how much it would cost if we had it done professionally.

The trial and error of creating a new top. There’s so many fittings on and off of the bimini you wonder if it’s ever gonna get done.

Well, she fits! She is all trimmed up. It’s just amazing I can visualize in my head what it will look like. 

After many fittings, the bimini seems to fit nicely. You can see the way it zips on the poles is much nicer than the old way of removing the poles and sliding the material through the bars. Way to go honey! Making life easy is awesome. 👏 both the top photo and bottom photo are showing the finished top. 

I took this photo from below to show how it all comes together. 

It was such a lovely day to witness everything coming together. I still see some blue areas that need a little more work, but that’s okay!

What a job it was. However, the job was well done, and we are happy with the results. In October, Boatniks will be 36 years young to us. I remember the day we purchased her, and she is still amazing to us. She did get a sibling along the way, another sister, Beauty, and next summer, Beauty starts her make-over.

Guess what? She is turning 36, and I’m getting a brand-new mattress! We ordered one from Wilderness RV Mattress. They come rolled-up in a box, which makes it super easy to fit inside the boat. This one is called the Montana Hybrid-Best Soft Pillowtop. This is an innerspring mattress. Fingers crossed it’s not too soft!

This mattress is 11 inches thick. Whereas the old one we had for the past years was 4 inches, with a 2 inch pillow top foam. It was like sleeping on a hard floor in a sleeping bag. Now as the plastic wrap is removed, it will explode into a whooping king size bed. Just like magic!

Bryce was almost smooshed as it expanded. Some parts of this bed area is small. This is a king size bed. Lots and lots of room. It doesn’t look like it but there is plenty of head room.

Hey, I wanted to show you how thick this mattress is. It’s just like a regular bed in the house. I ordered new sheets because of their thickness. I hate it when my bottom sheet keeps slipping off the bed.

Guess what Bryce did? Instead of drilling holes in our stainless steel frame to hold up our skirt on the hardtop, we now have these adorable post rings! They’re made with nylon 3D material, which makes them super strong and durable. This should come in handy during those strong winds. I’m so excited about this!

This shows how they tighten onto the rail. He has some pretty cool ideas.

It’s so great to see his hard work pay off! But remember, the real test will come when the wind starts blowing strongly. Have you ever wondered what Jane does? It seems like Bryce does all the work, but he really does for the most part. But I have my responsibilities too. I keep the boat in tip-top shape right next to Bryce. We design and talk about all the renovations that we want done with her. I am working right alongside him.

Things are coming together! There are a few bumps in the road, but I’m not complaining. I think it’s fantastic, and I feel more secure having the skirt around her. It’s funny how it actually feels like we’ve added a new room. I’ll call this our sunroom. I think I’d like to keep this part of her open so we can enjoy the fresh air.

Here’s a photo of the original Boatniks. She was stunning back then and still is today. We decided to give her a makeover, and guess what? With all the changes, it feels like a whole new boat!

We still have to finish the upper deck and stern, but I wanted to give you a quick update on her progress. I’ll keep you posted soon as we complete her next update. We’re planning another adventure this July with Boatniks. But don’t worry, our adventures on Beauty’s are far from over. We’ll start sharing more updates on Beauty next summer. Stay tuned!

Thanks for following us🌹 Remember if you have any questions please contact us. Sailbeauty.com

Oh..MY Ghosh, I told you all that I would update you on our new engines for Boatnik’s.  Well, the new engines are installed and we have tested them. So far so good. We are waiting for new props to arrive. For Christmas Bryce ordered me a water-maker so we will put it in Boatniks when this white (snow) stuff goes away.  It is really nice to see her changes come together. Unfortunately, We were not be able to start our 4th loop last year.

   Every year we traveled on Beauty with her mast down I would normally break a toe or two. Well Bryce fixed that by taping towels around the rigging attachments so I could stop getting hurt! lol   Then while getting at Beauty stuff at home, I fell off a ladder and broke a few fingers. All is good now! It was just a temporarily set back.

    Our power boat name is Boatnik’s, however underneath her name it will say: “Our little pocket Yacht”. Because she has as many amenities as a Big Yacht but in a much smaller package.

These two fingers had pins in them several other were just fractured. The only issue is that I still can’t make a fist with my left hand.

   The long await for the arrival of our 2 new Beta 50 engines finally came. We are so happy.  We said each month that passed by; “Maybe they will come in next month.”  We will have to say it was a pleasure working with Keith Dykes at Beta Marine. He was extremely helpful. He also grew up on a 3288 Bayliner so he knew about the boat we were putting these engines in. Thank you Keith for all your help and it was a pleasure meeting you and your brother at the Annapolis boat-show. 

We were so excited. We waited all winter for these. Bryce inspected them and all was great. He even helped the delivery guy push them up the driveway. fun..fun..

Time to remove the boxes and see what is inside. Lets hope they are engines and not a bunch of bricks. lol It was so satisfying to see them after the box was removed. Is this really happening? After the engines are put in, Boatnik’s will move at trawler speed like most boats on our adventures. Actually, If I think about it there is not much difference between the speed of the sailboat and the power boat. We cruise around 6.5 mile per hour with Beauty and with sails up in a good wind maybe 9-10 mph.  Boatniks will cruise at 9-10 most of the time. but if we want to save on fuel at 7-8 we will get 4-5 miles pre gallons. I think that is a win..win.. 

There is always a worry when you order big things like this. Will they run? Are they damaged? We were lucky; all was good. No major issues. Bryce started each one and they purred like a kitten. Gosh that was an exciting moment. 

Now the fun begins, Bryce started removing parts off the old engines to help make them lighter. The old Chevy 350’s weighted nearly 800 pounds a piece. Boatnik’s will be a tad lighter in the rear. lol I believe these engines are around 400 each. Together they weigh the amount of one gas engine. 

One piece at a time. I feel so bad that I wasn’t much help. But at lease he is wearing a back protector.  He is getting smarter with old age….I love it. and still has the energy as a young adult.

It’s getting time to get the sailboat ready for her help in getting engines in and out. First we had to remove the hard top with the assistance of the boom on the sailboat. Bryce lined the boom up to the stern of the powerboat. He used several strips to hold the top in place.

This photo shows placing the hard top in the yard while we put new engines in. I was hopping that we would not have to remove it. Bryce kept telling me that we had to, Just in case you are wondering why she is curved (other then being a girl) lol; it is so the water runs off. When it’s on you don’t even noticed it. 

Now the first thing is to remove is the generator to make room for Portside engine. There will plenty of room once the engine and generator are placed back in.

We also used our side by side along with the jet ski trailer to move around the old vs new engines to the garage. That little white block is the generator. I love having a generator it really helps because we anchor so much. Now with the water maker I will be able to do laundry at anchor also. It makes 40 gallons an hour. It’s called a Seawater Pro. I will give an update as we use it.

 

I can tell you it was a bit of nail-biting time watching the boom host up these engines.The come-alongs that he is using also lifts the boat out of the water in the fall. He has made the boat hoist every fall to store her on for over 24 years. So I wasn’t worried about their strength.

Look at that smile! He is happy. I am too.

WOO-HOO…. OMGHOSH! First old engine is out…It is a happy and a sad moment for us. We have had these engines since the day we bought her in 1989. They never let us down. We found a rebuilt boat engine place that wanted them so we were happy to let them go. Bryce moved the engines into the garage and will put them on the same cradle the new engines came on. This hoist sure does come in handy for us. It was bought to move jet ski’s around. He used to say he could used it to move engines. I guess he was right. 

Doesn’t she look pretty.. I get a kick out of the engines being red. They remind me of the “ The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. It’s a story book for children about a little locomotive carrying toys for kids.  I just added red and call them “The little Red Engine That Could.” I don’t know why.. I just do. It’s just funny to me. These new little red engines are full of pep for their size. I was once concerned about their 50 hp size.. but not any more. We took her down to Lake Erie and like always; you just watch the weather. It was so peaceful and I loved the fuel savings.

The first little red engine is on it’s way out back to be nested into her new home. . I tried to help the best I could but I have to give Bryce and Beauty (Sailboat) all the credit. I was bit useless this time around. I was good at moral support and as a  photographer. lol

Here Bryce is bolting the chains to the new engine so it can be lifted up into its new home. This was very nerve racking! But the boom did a great job at helping us. It was as if it knew what to do. There wasn’t any stress on her either you could tell by how smoothly she moved the engines. There wasn’t any bending with her; thank goodness and no sounds that would indicate stress. Bryce does all his mathematics to figure out what can handle what. He is a pretty smart guy.

It took two days to remove the old ones and replace them with the new ones. Now comes the fun part hooking up all the connections. You know I am joking when I say fun part right? I did work next to him handing him tools as he needed them. Just like I used to in the OR! lol I must say doctors and engineers are very talented when it come to operating on people and engines. They seem to have the same temperament too.  This is a look into the Engine room from the in side of the boat. Bryce now has plenty of room in the engine compartment. It is unbelievable how much space he gained. I am sure it will not take long to fill it up. 

Well, Boatnik’s is all put back together. Bryce spent about a week or so connecting the wiring and hoses together. Oh.. We had to remove all gas in the tanks also. Gas doesn’t work well with diesel engines. I was so impressed after Bryce pumped out the gas there wasn’t a drop left in the tank.  It was nearly 180 gallons.  We had gas for our cars for a month. That is what we needed to happen. But I wasn’t expecting the tanks to be so clean. We were able to start filling her up with two hundred gallons of diesel.

We bought new water lift mufflers for each engine to replace the noisy through mufflers of the gas engines.  So exhaust noise is minimal with the new Betas.  Exhaust noise is much quieter than the gas engines.  Although mechanical noise is higher.  All new water, fuel and exhaust hoses rounded out the installation.

We used the same transmissions from the gas engines, Bryce repainted them to match the new little red engines.  The transmissions are much higher rated that the diesels would require.  This should result in a long life for them.  However, they require different prop pitch.  With the existing props, we were only able to get 2300 rpm out of a 2700 max rpm.  So all our fuel economy testing was with over pitched props.  Since the existing props have significant slip at cruise speed, we changed from 3 bladed to 4 bladed, increased diameter by 1 inch and reduced the pitch considerably according to design practices.

This is a photo of the upper bridge dashboard. Most of the gages are cloudy after 36 years. But with the new engines came a new instrument panel.  Bryce was able to use the existing wiring harness for all wiring.  He just connected a matching panel connector to the new Beta panels.  This made connecting the new panels easy.  Same on the engines.  Each engine had a Beta connector.  Bryce attached the mating connector to the existing wiring harness.

This is the new upper bridge display. It really made a difference. Bryce was able to get everything fitted right.  The two mounts are for twins GPS’s One we use for navigating and the other on we use with the forward scanning sonar. As we get ready to set the anchor we can use the scanner to see if there is anything in front of us below the surface. We still have to learn what all we can used it for. The joy of new toys.

Unfortunately, I did not take a photo of the helm in the lower station before we replaced it with the new one to show you the difference.  But it really did give it a sharper view to look at. The little red line of lights are our indicators incase oil is low or of fluids are low. It’s a cool set up. Of course that is my floppy hat. lol

After spending the summer with these two little red engines, It looks like we will get at least 3 miles a gallon at max cruise.  And it should be more like 6 miles per gallon at 6-7 mph. That is not bad; we can easily cruise 600 miles before the tanks are empty and that will help in areas on the Intra-costal waterway and the full Mississippi to New Orleans.

   We are waiting for our new props.  Bryce made a custom prop puller out of 1” thick steel and used it to pull the old 3 bladed props off.

  On our last adventure with the gas engines we averaged 1 to 1.5 miles a gallon. That was a killer on wallet when gas prices were high during Covid.

Here is Keith’s info if anyone is looking for a Beta Engine: We do recommend Keith Dykes

Keith Dykes:  11702 Hwy 306 S Arapahoe, NC 28510 Phone (252) 249-2473

Thanks for reading.  

So we have good news for our followers. We have decided to keep only one blog. So I am happy to say we will keep www.Sailbeauty.com as our main site. This will be for all our adventures on both Beauty and Boatniks. I must say my brain gets confused when people use the term sailing for both powerboats and Sailboats. I’ll just go with the flow on that.

Beauty will stay here in Michigan while she gets her refit done. We normally spend the summers here, so we will enjoy sailing here in fresh water in the summer months.

 

Okay fuel maybe not so great! That is why decided to go with diesels. OM! Gosh.. Remember when we had to replace our little red engine in Beauty! Well, now we will have two little red engines in Boatniks. It’s so exciting to see all the transformations that Boatniks is getting. She is our little pocket yacht.  

So we are in Michigan spending the winter while we wait for our engines to arrive. In case a few of you don’t know we still have two boats. We never did sell Boatniks after we purchased Beauty. Boatniks blog was theboatniks.wordpress.com But as stated we decided to merge them together.

After we arrived home we were able to get the Aft hard top on and Bryce was able to make an enclosure. It even looks better in person. 

Well we have been busy. Bryce created and designed a winter cover for Boatniks. You know it is just getting crazy expensive to shrink wrap our boat plus they want it on the hard not on a hoist.

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It was a job. The wind was horrible so it took a while to get her done. 

We will continue to keep you updated on all our refits and adventures. Can’t wait to set sail LOL

Thanks for reading our blog.