And So It Goes! ! ! !

SHIP'S LOG:

I was sent a fax from the BOATSHOP at Captain's Cove Seaport where rests ABISHAG. It was a "Winter Service Contract," listing all the things that could be done to "winterize" the boat before storage. I hadn't had the contract in my hand an hour when I got a phone call from one of the owners of Captain's Cove Seaport. He did some fancy dancing around a couple of concerns he had about winterizing ABISHAG.

First of all was the engine. As you might remember from "The Engine Saga" of this past winter, a metal fixture on the engine crack and led to the engine overheating problem. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that the Mystic Shipyard Staff could not find a replacement part. In a choice between manufacturing a custom part, they chose to epoxy the old piece with a special epoxy designed to hand the heat and pressure. It has worked fine since they did it but the Yard Boss at Captain's Cove is "uncomfortable" winterizing the engine with such a repair in place. He was not very complementary toward the Mystic Shipyard's crew and he wants me to winterize the engine. I am not sure that I can handle it and will try to work something out with the Seaport yard staff. I'll see if they are willing and able to custom manufacture the part.

Secondly was the head system. The Yard Boss doesn't like the plumbing for the holding tank in the aft head. He doesn't like the location of the holding tank in the aft Cabin. They don't want to winterize the head system plumbing. I will be able to do that. I am already planning to remove the holding tank from the aft head and use it in the front head, replacing the LECTROSAN Unit, as there are fewer and fewer places where you can discharge it. I'll return the aft head to its former glory as a direct discharge unit.

Three was the fresh water system. He doesn't like the way the hoses run and where the fresh water pump is located. He thinks the hot water system is terrible and he doesn't want to winterize it less it should break down and leak over the winter, possibly making them liable for damage.

Fourthly, the Yard Boss was also concerned about the fact that the interior of ABISHAG was "obviously kept in a very personal manner." In other words, he was concerned with all the personal items that were on the boat and the "chaotic" state of the interior. I tried to explain to him that ABISHAG was a live aboard boat. I also tried to explain that when the boat laid over during the grounding, everything on the port side took it upon itself to transfer to the starboard side and I really hadn't had the time to get it all back in place. Try picturing the scene in the movie "TITANIC" where, as the ship is sinking, everything is falling off shelves and slidding all over the place and you will get a sense. I let Yard Boss know that I would be removing all the personal stuff from the boat and that seemed to cause him to breathe easier.

Suffice it to say, ABISHAG will be winterize and stored and snuggled down for the winter, probably by next Monday. And then the winter truly begins.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

What a drag. The phone call from the owner with the stuff about winterizing was something like pouring salt in an open wound. Thank goodness for all that I have been through because I am fairly sure that had I not had the expereince, I really would have done something stupid, like put ABISHAG up for sale. All of these problems can be worked out and will be, but I want them to go away as quick as possible. I just want someone to make them all go away, but I realize that I am the only one who can do it. So I will. It will be another "root-canal-done-through-the-ear" sort of exercise, but it will get done. the I will have several months to plan and dream and try to figure things out. It was what I wanted to do on the boat but now I will simply be doing it off the boat.