About “Pot ‘O’ Gold” and Joe & MBA

About me page

“Pot ‘O’ Gold” is a 1969 30’ Morgan sailboat that we purchased in 2002 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and had it trucked to PEI and placed beside our house in DeSable while we did the necessary upgrades.  The boat was rock solid, but had no upgrades done to it since original.  Over the next year and a half, we upgraded the:

Roller Furling (Simplicite).
Windlass (non electric, chain and line), added a 33 lb imitation Bruce, 100’ chain, Danforth, 250’ rode.
Replaced all halyards, sheets with new.
Cleaned and rebuilt head, holding tank.
Repaired main water holding tank (100 gal), installed new 10 gal freshwater holding tank.  Installed new electric pump for fresh water to galley sink, installed new hand pump & lines to galley sink.
Installed cold plate in ice box (later removed, returned to ice box/storage and installed new Waeco fridge).
Installed new two burner non pressurized alcohol stove.
Installed new lights in the galley, sitting area, V Berth (reading lights), nav area, both quarterberths.
New wiring through a circuit breaker.  New 120 V AC plug and connector.  Switch for two battery bank system, 275 AH house bank.  115 Watt Solar Panel, Wind generator, solar controller (burnt out when we got in Florida, strong winds and sun together is more than the 21 AMP unit I had, is now a Xantrex 40 AMP). 1500 W inverter, 300 W inverter.

Custom sternrail that supports the wind generator, solar panel, and dingy davits.  I had it made for the small hard shell dingy I had at the time, it does not hold the new inflatable dingy in the air, but I use it to lift and tow, and it works well).

2 new opening Beckson Portlights with screens.

Re-cover all cushions, new curtains, and new memory foam mattress for V-Berth.
New “Natty” Dodger.
New 3 bladed bronze prop (the folding 2 blade prop kept as a spare).  New cutlass bearing & shaft.

The boat is 30 feet long, 10 foot beam, and weighs 10,500 lbs (with empty tanks).

What I did not have surveyed when I purchased her was the engine, as I took it for granted I would have to repower.  After it arrived, and the engine ran (albeit with issues), we determined we would keep the engine and learn about it and get to know it.  The list of work to the atomic 4 gasoline engine is long, and can be viewed at

http://joeamelia.ca/atomic%204%20overview.htm

in addition, during this cruise there was more work done including replacing the head gasket and head, rebuilding the fuel pump and carburetor.

While getting near Drummond Island, Michigan to clear customs, we hit the rocks and had to be towed off.  At this time, the centerboard was restored to as new condition, the centerboard box was rebuilt, the bottom of the keel rebuilt, a new rudder was installed, and a new tiller was installed.  Photos are on the blog.

We have been preparing for this trip for over 5 years with this boat, and are two thirds of the way through our trip, and everything is performing wonderful.  Although the specs for the boat say it will sleep 6, we say it will sleep 2.

The deck logs of our 3 break in cruises, one to the Isles de la Madelline, one to the Bras d’or Lakes, and one to the Atlantic Ocean, can be read by clicking on them on the sidebar, under “Shakedown Cruises”.  They make fun reading, and demonstrate just how little I know.  They also show what a good sport MBA is.

Pictures of the boat, us, and our family are below with captions.

To email, check the front page of the blog.  Thanks for reading.

Joe & Mary Beth Amelia
S/V “Pot ‘O’ Gold” currently in “paradise”, Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL waiting for warm winds

Joe & Mary Beth in Paradise

My daily transportation (and getaway)

I call this my “eat what I catch” program

After a hot day sailing, refreshing relief

MB ready to lock through

Moving lines at the bow so we can drop anchor and chain

Our son Lee, girlfriend Anna, MBA in Montreal for a visit enroute

Our son Mike, wishing us fair winds on leaving Charlottetown

Karen, my Karen, Trevor and my two grandchildren

Two beautiful girls

my two favorite grandchildren

CC all decked out in Jimmy Buffet clothes

Addy may take the place of the most beautiful girl I know

Now here’s a wannabe drummer if ever there was one, cool Trevor

Here’s the real drummer coming to play!!

My brother Tony and family on the Rideau for a visit

Two cute girls on the Rideau

Roberto, watch out, your waking that houseboat!!

My brother Tony, just sitting back, enjoying the ride

Ralph and Peg in Charlottetown, saying goodby to MBA

Joe’s mother and her favorite toy

This page was a lot of work, time for a cocktail