Hermine Is on The Way!

SHIP'S LOG:

     I spent 4 hours this morning getting ABISHAG ready for Tropical Storm (maybe Hurricane) HERMINE. It is a pain in the but to go through this procedure, but when you have no insurance, one does what one has to do. Having a boat that is 39 years old and counting, most marine insurance companies won't touch her. Even those who might consider it requires so many upgrades that completing them would cost more than the boat would be worth. So I simply prepare as best I can.

     The anchors we removed from the bow of the boat and secured on deck. The way they sit on the bow could put them in contact with the mooring pennants if the surf causes her to hobby-horse and they would cut right through the lines (possibly). I also attached a second set of pennants to the mooring ball on the off chance that the primary ones let go. They are seven years old now and have held through IRENE and SANDY and numerous Nor'easters and will be replace in the spring. They are probably fine but you only know when they are not when they let go.

       I removed the jib, tightened the main in its furling tube, and tied down the mizzen. I removed the bimini and brought it home. It is a perfect opportunity to repair the various hole, tears and weak spots. If I can do some more sweat equity at the loft over the winter, perhaps I will build a new one out of SUMBRELLA clothe instead of the vinyl of the current one. All of the cushions went below, out of the expected wind. And chaffing gear went on every line on deck.

     Despite removing all items inside from high spots to low, the inside will look pretty much like a bomb went off in it if the winds get above 40mph. Locks on cupboards and lockers are never as strong as you would want them and things tend to shift a lot and are never happy with where they are and want to go someplace else.

     Well, ABISHAG is as safe as I can make short of having her hauled out of the water someplace, but I don't have the coins for that. So now we wait. AH, the joy of boat ownership!