Maiden Voyage from Kent Narrows to Portsmouth, Virginia!

[jrbrein]

We finally brought our boat home to it's new home port in Portsmouth, Virginia. After almost 8 months since purchasing our 1981 43' DCFB we finished up with major service (not rebuilds) to our J&T 6-71 N's, electrical work and other assorted small projects. While I loved spending time at Piney Narrows, I was getting tired of the commute from our home in Chesapeake, Virginia and I wanted the boat home near me for the winter.
I am happy to report that the boat did great, the engines ran like they were supposed to and we only had a few boat "gremlins" in attendance. We had a 2 day weather window and took advantage of it thus covering the trip in 14 hours over the 2 days. We ran the engines at 2150 RPM, SOG averaged 12 - 13 knots and we burned 20 GPH with the generator running the whole to heat the boat. My plan is to run this boat at about 8 knots when crusing but we wanted to make time and get her home! The heat from the boat came up through the hatch adding some warmth to our enclosures covered cockpit.
Here are some photos. The Admiral is driving the boat.

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Sorry about the rotation some of these images! I have not figured out how to change the rotation.

 

[tom5518]

Congratulations on your new Hatteras Jonathan and on a successful cruise.

I hope you don't mind my helping out with the photos. The upload feature on many forums is often wonky and rotates pictures with no rhyme or reason. I usually avoid it by uploading them to photobucket and linking them in posts.

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

Congrats jrbrein! Who made the helm wheel? What a nice touch!

 

[SEVEN]

That's what I noticed first. That wheel is a new fashion statement. Where did you get it? Congratulations on your new 43. Beautiful yacht. Don't forget to take a clear photo of your helm and post it on a old post called show us your helm.

 

[Glory]

Congratulations.

Don't sweat the gremlins, you'll get them.

How about full photo?

 

[fissioneng]

Nothing like being out on the Bay on a cold winter's day! Congrats.

 

[jrbrein]

Thank you so much Tom5518 for fixing my pictures...and thanks also for the advice.

The wheel was on the boat when I got her. I plan to take the wheel off soon and take it home to sand it down and re-finish it with about 12 coats or so of Epifanes.

My wife and I love being out here on the Chesapeake when its cold while having a nice warm cabin below.