Our Mainship is a 2006 34T trawler. She is 34' in length (LWL) and 14'-2" in beam (width). Her hull is painted flag blue, hence our naming her "Blue Moon". She has a single 380 hp Cummins diesel engine and is equipped with a 8kw generator. We have both a bow and a stern thruster installed. These are very handy for docking and operating in close quarters. We also have a 9' inflatable dinghy that is attached to a swim platform on our transom.
Most of our time underway is spent on the Flybridge where we have a helm station. We can also operate Blue Moon from a lower helm station in the salon in the main cabin.
We have electronics consisting of chartplotters, an autopilot, VHF radios, and a just installed AIS receiver that is connected to a third chartplotter. Before we leave on our trip, we will also install a wi-fi capability to allow the chartplotter to "talk to" an iPad that has navigation software installed.
We are very ready to begin this trip. We have been in the planning stages for almost a year. Last Spring, we cruised from Jacksonville to Captiva Island on the West Coast of Florida and then back to JAX. The experience was exhilarating, and we learned so much about the boat and the conditions in which she operates. We also learned a lot about ourselves, as well, and we are now prepared to venture out for the next year or so and travel the 5,000 miles that comprise the Great Loop. We are ready to circumnavigate the Eastern United States!
For the next month, we will chronicle what we have done to get ready for the trip, and what we are doing as we lead up to our April 3 departure. We will continue to blog as we cruise. Come along and join us for the ride. It is sure to be exciting and eye opening!
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