Now that SunSmiles is ready for the cruising season, we putting together the books we hope to read on the water this year. At the top of that list will be the books of Fort Lauderdale writer, Christine Kling. Carolyn and I recently finished Christine's first novel, Surface Tension. In the words of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, “[Surface Tension] signals the debut of a writer who should have a long career.This won’t be the last time that we’ll be on the waters with Seychelle.”

Reading fiction by a writer that knows boats and boating 'from the heart' is a real treat. Though Christine's character, Seychelle Sullivan lives on land and captains the tug Gorda, this author of four novels set on the water, lives aboard her 35' Caliber sailboat, TALESPINNER. Her experience on the water makes her stories seem real.

As you're considering what you'll be reading while on the water this season, visit Christine's website for more on her books. This weekend I hope to drop anchor on our favorite creek just north of the Ben Sawyer Bridge; stretch out on the bridge, and start reading her second novel, Cross Current.

Spring has sprung; the cruisin's begun! Have you performed your pre-season maintenance? SunSmiles is back in the water with;

1. The outdrive serviced
2. New tiller & helmet installed
3. New bellows for the drive and exhaust
4. New raw water hose
5. Zincs
6. Shift cable
7. Oil, gear lube, and filter change
8. Bilge cleaned
9. Fresh water leaks stopped
10. Scratch repairs
11. Cleaning & waxing
12. Reconditioned starter
13. Hours of TLC
14. Tank of fresh fuel

For some it's hard to look at the old Cargile and imagine it running up the ICW at 31 knots, but that's how "she" responded to the new cruising season. Needless to say with the price of fuel, she will RARELY see more than 10 to 15 knots cruising.....and "No Wake" zones will be welcome!

In the coming weeks we will complete installation of a marine heat & air conditioning system, and the removal of the sundeck mounted, old original camper A/C. While it would efficiently cool the old boat down to meat locker temperatures, we want to improve the old "girl's" appearance and reclaim the forward sundeck.

If you're CruisingTheICW through Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry, and you see SunSmiles on the water, hail us on channel 16; we'd love to hear from you. Send us a picture of SunSmiles and we'll send you a couple of CruisingTheICW, Thinking Outside the Boat Koozies.

Thank you Allen Cargile for a wonderful old boat!