"Egret" N4674 - Scott and Mary Flanders

Ed. note: On February 10, 2011, Scott and Mary Flanders, on board their Nordhavn 46, Egret,arrived in the Canary Islands. In doing so, Egret became the eighth Nordhavn to circumnavigate the globe. It had been four years, five months since the couple departed Gran Canaria, intent on seeing as much of the earth as possible, although not necessarily with an end goal to circle the globe. Voyage of Egret do cuments the Flanders’ entire trip, an endless adventure that has put them intouch with the most fabulous places and interesting people. Much route planning and forecasting was required in order to get to some of their ports of call. But the days of detailed planning areover…fornow.“Egret” is now back in Fort Lauderdale, the place the couple called home for so many years, and, ironically, the starting point of their world wide cruising escapade that began withthe Nordhavn Atlantic Rally in 2004. They currently travel hither and yon, sometimes by boat,sometimes not.Here, the latestupdate from the Flanders as they keep us continually apprised.

May 8, 2015
Position: On anchor, Torrey, Utah.

Hello mis amigos, the Egret crew has been busy. Until a day ago our routine has been trails with the Jeep guys every other day or so and family doings the other days. The routine is much like boating except we have been in the same port (Moab, Utah) for a couple months. Jeep exploring has replaced dinghy exploring. We have seen so much western beauty its hard to describe. Mary was commenting today about how we thought the red rock area of Australia was so special, and it was at the time but it can’t compare to the American West. There are differences between the two and that makes both worthwhile but as far as sheer beauty of nature, this area has it beat.

One of the trails was a family day where it was an easy run to historical areas well off the beaten path. One area was unique. For years local Native Americans met at two close by flat rock areas to make arrowheads. Apparently it was a big social gathering and the men sat around chipping rocks. Remnants of the gatherings are scattered over perhaps an acre total. This photo shows a small area of chips. Kenny found a couple arrowheads that were near completion but were flawed in some way. Another area was full of petroglyphs and pictoglyphs.

Other days were a bit more challenging. These two shots were taken on Flat Iron Mesa trail. The first obstacle is called Easter Egg Hill. The ‘Easter eggs’ are large rocks that have to be climbed. The one in the picture is tricky. The front left tire must ride up the middle of the rock then down the left side using the tire sidewall to keep the Jeep from sliding into the rock on the passenger side. Sliding is common as well as donating a bit of side window glass to the rock. There is plenty of window glass on top and below the rock. The second shot is of a double downhill that begins well above where Gracie is now. This shot shows the value of rock sliders to keep rocks away from the sheet metal.

The red rock area was best described in a 17-minute movie we saw at the Visitor’s Center at Arches National Park. The movie described the entire area as “melting”. Melting is of course in geologic time but the more time you spend in the area you see the landscape melting first hand on a very minor scale. When the recent rains caused flooding in normally dry washes the water was heavy with yellow or red mud depending on the surrounding rock. The mud was rock at one time. Dry Valley running north and south in Arches NP has been flooded many times over the years by sea water. The cumulative salt deposits were over a mile deep at one time. When water finally breached the rock above the salt, the salt melted and depressed into a valley. On a Jeep trail high above Salt Valley it is easy to see exactly how it became to be in the movie.

For you photoheads, the movie* has some of the best time-lapse sequences we have seen. It is also a worthwhile introduction into the western landscape. After seeing the movie we immediately bought a copy for grandson Kenny to take back to Thailand.

*Arches, Window In Time. ISBN 1-56057-122-5.

Of course every boater knows what a BU is. If you don’t know what a BU is you must be a dreamer, not a boater. Boaters understand quickly. In photography there are CU’s – Camera Units – and now we have learned in Jeeping there are JU’s. Yup, a Jeep Unit. However, like the other two interests, Units disappear because it’s what we do and its OK. Gracie’s transformation is nearly complete at a cost of more than a few JU’s. However, every item was thought thru based our former car experience, experience with Ruby the first Jeep, and from our Jeeping buddies. We listen to everyone then made our decisions.

At the daily cocktail hour with the Jeep guys a newcomer described his Jeep as over capable and under utilized. I like that. It’s like taking a double barrel shotgun to a knife fight. Its like boating buddy Dennis Fox taking N55 Sea Fox up the Intracoastal to the Chesapeake. So we built Gracie to be High Latitude Rated just in case. Just like Egret – over capable. I doubt many of you are interested but we are working on a few folks to join the party so here’s Gracie’s transformation. Every addition was for go, not show.

Lift: 3 ½” Metalcloak Game Changer with Ol’ Man Emu shocks. www.metalcloak.com
Wheels: ATX 17” x 8” 5 spoke alloy wheels. www.atxwheels.com
Tires: Mickey Thompson 35” ATZ P3
Front Bumper: Gen Rite Stubby Aluminum with a short stinger. www.genrite.com
Front Bumper Mounted Winch: Warn Zeon 8,000lb with synthetic line. www.warn.com
Rear Bumper: Gen Rite aluminum
Front And Rear Fenders: Poison Spyder Aluminum www.poisonspyder.com
Rock Sliders: Ace Engineering www.aceengineeringandfab.com
Rear Tire Carrier: Tereflex steel tailgate mount. www.tereflex.com
Front Tie Bar: Metalcloak 1 3/8” solid chrome moly
Front Drag Link: Metalcloak 1 3/8” solid chrome moly.
Front Drive Shaft: Tom Woods Custom. www.tomwoodscustomdriveshafts.com
Passenger Compartment Roll Bar: Poison Spyder.
Front Axel Housing Bridge: Pure Jeep (Weld on bracing for strengthening the front axel housing) www.purejeep.com
Tow Bar: (for towing behind Bubba or a motorhome) 10,000lb Blue Ox.

Welding: there was minor cutting and welding on the exhaust pipe to clear a bar because of the lift. The exhaust tip was cut shorter to keep from getting flattened on drop-offs. There was a small bracket welded to the bar below the grill to mount the towing brake cable.

Inside the Jeep we have a CB radio for communication on the trail, fire extinguisher, and the usual tools. Miscellaneous items are: tree strap, 30’ tow strap, gloves, bottle jack, 2 ton come-a-long, 200’ of 5/16” spectra type line, emergency water, 2x4 blocks of wood, snack bars, tooth brush/paste, sweaters, nuts/bolts/electrical items, ½” air impact wrench, air cut off wheel/grinder and a high capacity ARB, double pumper air pump in a carry box for refilling the tires or using air tools. Most of the items are seldom used. These are carried in a heavy plastic chest that is held down with a ratchet strap. Hand tools are in a heavy bag next to that with the ARB air pump in front for easy access. There is a tray from Duffy Security in the storage area behind the rear seat which covers the repair items so the top of the tray is a second level to carry whatever. Currently we have 3 chairs ratchet strapped down on top with 2 chairs on either side held in place with bungee cords. The fire extinguisher is in a special holder mounted on the rear roll bar. Everything inside is strapped down to keep it from rattling or coming adrift in an emergency.

Jeep Rubicons come with armor underneath to protect parts like the transmission and gas tank. We kept the stock armor in place.

Jeeps: from 2007 until today the body is basically the same. In 2012 Jeeps got a new engine and transmission. This was a big improvement over the earlier models. 2012 – 2017 Jeeps are or will be the same drive package. 2013 on cleared up the teething problems of the 2012’s. All models except the Rubicon have the same running gear. It is badging, doodads and hype for the lesser Jeeps. The Rubicon is a relatively limited production model. The axels and housings, transfer case, lockers, gear ratios and basically all the running gear is much beefier and heavier duty along with performance electronics*. Lesser Jeeps are considered girl Jeeps and a Rubicon is a boy Jeep.

*These items used to cost tens of thousands of dollars for earlier Jeepers to upgrade and now it comes from the factory with a warranty plus advanced electronics like push-button sway bar disconnect, push-button front and rear lockers, hill descent, etc.

There is a big difference on-road and off-road between a 2 door and a 4 door Jeep. A 2 door on the highway is a bit darty and a 4 door is a rock. Off-road a 4 door is much more capable in nearly every instance except in very tight places where the shorter wheelbase is better. To put the tight places in perspective, perhaps once a week on the trails we have to back up to make a turn where a 2 door can make a single point turn. No biggie.

We built Gracie to be very capable but not extreme. We also wanted to maintain Chrysler warranty. Gracie is our only car and she does well on the highway. Extreme Jeeps are more capable off-road but for the 5% we can’t do it isn’t worth having such a specialized vehicle. Besides, the last 5% we don’t want to do. It’s not worth the risk. We also built her to be totally independent in case we got stuck or whatever far from help. With the equipment we carry there are few instances we couldn’t get out of by ourselves. Just like Egret.

So now you know.

OK, enough Jeep stuff, here’s the latest. (You’ll have to excuse me. It’s just another adventure. Freedom and adventure is what its all about.)

We left Moab yesterday on a grand loop of national parks before taking the family back to Salt Lake City to catch their plane to Bangkok. I towed the camper trailer with Bubba and Mary followed with the Jeep. Kenny rode with me. So after 2 ½ hours or so we spotted a flat area near a dry wash and we pulled in. Within minutes we were set up to dry camp (no facilities) and off we went exploring the nearby wash where we saw a jackrabbit and a curious beetle. Then the rain came. Then it quit, then it returned. &^%#@@#%^. At least it was dry for a hot dog roast with marshmallows and rum. Urp, not a bad dinner. We built a roaring fire and sat around telling spooky stories. Before dark we were treated to this scene to the west looking thru ancient cottonwood trees.

Today was a few more hours driving thru scenery you can’t believe it is possible it is so interesting and beautiful. There was intermittent rain and the road was very up and down with lotsa curves. If it were Mary and I alone in the Jeep we would have stopped a dozen times for pictures to share but in this case we didn’t take a single snap. We drove a few miles past the visitors center for Capitol Reef National Park to the small town of Torrey where we dropped anchor in a super clean campground. Tomorrow we plan to return to the park and leave Bubba and the camper here for another day.

(The route so far is UT191 from Moab, thru Blanding to UT95 west to Torrey. From Torrey we will take UT24 south to Bryce Canyon National Park on Friday.)

More to follow.

OK, today was Capitol Reef National Park. CRNP deserves more than the day we gave it. It is simply spectacular. We walked a few trails and took quite a few pictures. Here’s the Bangkok gang sitting in water formed holes in the rock. The rock formations …………I could go on but we’ll just show a couple snaps. What’s important is you know it is here if and when you decide to visit.

Looking at the Big Picture let me make a suggestion. This advice isn’t something we read about, its something we did and are doing. Boating is for the last youth you may have left. You may boat on any level you choose but boating is in my opinion the most rewarding venue for freedom and adventure that is easily attained. So what I’m saying is, don’t save boating for someday because decrepitude is around the corner.

After your boating years and things aren’t quite as easy, now is the time to explore inland. If you have boated for any length of time and particularly if you have gone somewhere, you change. Simple things become more rewarding. Like looking at rocks. Like going out of your way to see what the masses can’t see. Still explore like you did boating but inland. It’s a big world and there is a lot to see. Like these cactus flowers.

Now its time for a commercial. Let’s talk about Egret for a minute. As you know, Egret is for sale. There are no changes to her condition or what is included, however we have reduced the price. A couple issues we would like to clear up are her BVI registry and import duty which translates to; Not For Sale In U.S. Waters. She should be delivered in the Bahamas but 15nm offshore is legal.

We registered Egret in the British Virgin Islands by using a Florida based maritime attorney to form the corporation. This is 100% legal and Egret is one of thousands to do so. The corporation is easily transferable to the buyer’s name. We will pay for the transfer. Unless you live in a state with no sales tax, transferring the corporation makes sense. It requires a cruising permit that is good for a year. To renew the permit, the boat must go ‘foreign’ – Bahamas, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Mexico, etc and back. There are no insurance penalties to be foreign registered. The BVI Corporation costs $900 per year to maintain the corporation.

If the buyer prefers to flag in the U.S., no import duty has been paid and it must be paid. Import duty is 1 ½% of the value of the boat. We will pay this duty if the boat is registered in the U.S.

The listing broker is Jim Leishman at PAE in Dana Point, California. You may contact Jim or any PAE salesman or myself directly if you are interested in owning Egret. We have been asked before if the name may remain and we are happy if the name stays. The name will strike up visits from strangers on the water and the social whirl begins. You’ll see.

So there you have it. Is it Your Time?

Ciao.

Egret is listed for sale on the PAE website. Her details are shown along with photos and the price. Take a look if you are interested in a VERY GOOD sea boat at a great price. .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAR5wK-sWRs&feature=youtu.be

Ed. Note - The glossary of Egretism terms will be posted on the Captain's Log home page for easy reference.