Getting Better!

SHIP'S LOG:

I traveled to Branford to see ABISHAG today. The work is progressing rather well. The rudder is off and way for X-raying. From my discussion with one of the yard people, they do not anticipate the need to do anything with it. It could be back and in place by tomorrow. The skeg, onto which the rudder fits, has been ground down and a couple of holes drilled into it to let out any water that may have penetrated. It will be dried-out and then filled and faired, glassed over, barrier coated and painted. The same goes for the keel and the hull. Already, all of the damaged spots have been cleaned out, ground down, filled in and faired, and have had a layer of fiberglass applied. Another layered of glass, another filling and fairing and they will all be ready to have the barrier coat put down and the paint applied. The location and purchase of the appropriately sized prop to replace the old one should done by week's end. It is looking like I could be off again by early next week! Huzzah!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

The simple truth is I am not going to push it. I should have dropped the hook no later than 5pm. I should have planned for that eventuality rather than pushing to a specific goal. The pushing didn't necessarily cause the dragging but it did make me sloppy. With more time, I could have and probably would have, taken more time to check the setting of the anchor. I probably would have noticed that it had started to drag and might have been able to start the engine and move the boat and re-set the anchor. It has become a lesson hard learned - hook down and boat secured by 5pm.

The second good point of this adventure is that I won't have to be concerned about the prop. john the Yard guy said that he doubted it would have survived the trip still attached to the shaft, that it would have come off somewhere leaving me without mechanical power. Considering that there will be considerable motoring in the weeks ahead, it is a worry and a concern I am glad i no longer have.