Went down to Surprise last weekend and discovered the center solar panel laying on top of the bimini where it had ripped the canvas in several places.  Sailing plans went out the window and it becomes a work weekend. 
First task is to get panel of the bimini and then remount it.  After a trip to West Marine I have the parts and begin the install process which goes smoothly enough.  I also clear out the aft stbd cabin and test out plans for converting it into a storage area with tie downs to keep boxes coolers and such in place while underway.   I know have a plan for tie downs and straps. 
I also managed to adjust the valves on the generator getting it into running order again.  It will be great to have the generator running again. 
I am now working slowly to get Surprise into better shape and prepared for cruising in the future. 
More to follow.

April Update

Not a whole lot has happened with Surprise this year, about the only real update is I am trying to make some changes that will get me back to Surprise more often with a goal of heading to Mexico in the fall.... but not sure the timing will come together.  A lot has to happen before November for that to happen.  Its not beyond possible, but its going to be tough.  However I do need the escape I need the beginning of a new part of my life, I need to cruise.  Surprise needs to cruise, the more time I spend with boats inanimate they may be or seem I believe they have a soul its always been that way with captains and their vessels.  Surprise longs to be untied from the pier and sail, she comes alive when she gets away from harbor.  Its like that song the Blue Nose talks about how the schooner Blue Nose slips away with tide, ranging far south rejoicing with every wave.... Her bow rising free in a sunburst of spray she is always does best hard over as she will lay, I get those same feelings when I sail Surprise, she seems to speak to me when I get her hard on the wind, bounds like a race horse, wanting to run free over the horizon.  I long to let her run...to see where she will take me.  I want to put the miles under her keel and see where we end up.  I want that since of adventure, the exploration, seeing new places meeting new people.  LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST!  for me, I have done my twenty years in the army lived a life I am happy with but now I want to live a new life, a life that I have dreamed of.  Its time and nothing is going to slow me down. 

Okay, updates on whats been done to prep Surprise.  The carpets that I had down below had to go, and those have been replaced, hopefully they will have longer life.  I am torn some because I like having bare decks, but on the other hand the carpet in nice to have to.  So carpet it is.  its not a lot of carpet, just a few runs. I will try to get a picture up later. 
The next new addition is new fuel cans.  The cans that I came down the Ten-Tom with got lost in the last few years so they all have to be replaced.  The replacement cans are so much better I really like them a lot easier to use than cans I had before.  The cans are No-Spill  http://www.nospill.com/index.html  They are great for use on a sail boat.  I will be fitting out my compliment of cans the the No-Spill cans.  I need at least two more possible 4 maybe even a total of 8 that would give me 40 gal of extra fuel and would double my  motoring range.  Only problem is that's a lot of fuel on deck.  Will look into the storage and see what I come up with.  I have some ideas.  Well I will close here and write more later. 
Cheers, The Captain. 
P.S. enclose pic of fuel can. 

Well, I am back, what a year it has been.  A bad one for the blog, as I didn't write in it once, that's absolutely terrible.  Thia is a situation that has to be fixed.  I am going to try and start again, so enough of the dull stuff.  Lets update on Surprise. 
No real new updates other than the purchase of the Jordan series Drogue to be used if Surprise gets caught in heavy weather, this is a link to read more about the drogue.   http://www.yachtingworld.com/features/a-jordan-series-drogue-63180  and one more,  http://seriesdrogue.com/ 
I also moved my sensors for the SIRIUS radio and chart plotter GPS receiver to the top of the radar loop,

I also sold the spinnaker and purchased a whisker pole, while I was sad to see the spinnaker go, I was excited to get the whisker pole and after using it just a few times I was thinking I was crazy for not getting it sooner.  Sailing down wind so much nicer with the jib poled out. 

So all in all its been a great year of sailing, I will post more later about Rob and I and our annual trip, this time to New Orleans.  It was great more, so looking forward to more great trips.