SHIP'S LOG:
Since I had to go up to the Portland area, I took the time to swing by Yankee and take a look at ABISHAG. She looks rather forlorn in the snow. Hike through the snow and got aboard. The cockpit was full of snow so I took some time to clean the cockpit scuppers as best I could, which was only fair. Enough snow had melted so that I was able to find the screw that backed out of the base of one of the support legs of the Bimini frame. Took less than a minute to put it back in place and so finish the first maintenance project of the season. The rip in the Bimini cover is no worse than it was which is a good thing and I should be able to fix it with "rescue tape." This stuff is marvelous. Applied to, in this case, the vinyl cover it will literally become "one with the vinyl" and the will seal the breach.
The inside of the boat is a freezer, so much colder than the temperature outside. It is a good thing in the summer buck it is rather nasty during the winter, hence the reticence to trying to attempt maintenance before the weather turns. I am hoping that it will not be too long before it happens. Yet as all sailors know, you deal with what you get. The weather in Florida though ain't much better though it will break a lot more quickly there than here.!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Just Like Old Times!
SHIP'S LOG:
Wherever it is you might be, I hope you are warmer than it is here. Here along the south-eastern coast of Connecticut, it is brutally cold and the gusting winds don't help a great deal. The wind chill is driving the "apparent" temperature into the "minus" range, making it hard to believe that spring is anything but a distant dream.
Then again, there is Florida. According to the weather reports, the "Sunshine State" is once again the state with sunlight but no heat. Northern parts of the state saw temperatures fall to the "low 20's!" The southern half of the state wasn't all that much better, bottoming out in the low 30's. Ah, does that bring back memories. When I was in Jacksonville two years ago and it got that cold, NOAA was beginning its quarterly broadcast describing how to recognize the signs of frostbite and warning the locals not to put their space heaters too close to the drapes or the bed covers and the water temperature drop sufficiently to cause a massive fish kill in the ICW. It seems that four of the last five years, the deep south has gotten smacked with a short, say month long, cold snap that has been quite severe. Is it climate change or just an aberration of weather phenomenon. Whatever it is, it is COLD!
The cold doesn't bother me as much as the wind worries me. With the blizzard a week ago, we had winds that gusted to 60mph. This weekend, with the cold we had winds that gusted to 45mph. And I haven't had the chance to get up to ABISHAG to see how she is fairing. As I mentioned, a bimini support leg has come askew and the worn spot in the bimini itself has begun to "part" in a serious manner. With finances the way they are, I have to plan the expenditure of gas carefully. I now have a couple of reasons to head up toward the Portland area tomorrow and so I will stop by and check things out. hopefully, the yard did some plow because my P.O.S. is really, really, REALLY terrible in snow over 1/8 of an inch deep. If the hard ain't plowed, it means a trudge through the snow.
It's approximately 77 days until launching. In spite of the weather presently, it is creeping up rather fast. Hopeful, "Punxsutawney Phil" got it right and it will be an early spring and work on ABISHAG can begin soon . . . . though the last 10 days or so don't seem to offer much in the way of support for that hope!
Wherever it is you might be, I hope you are warmer than it is here. Here along the south-eastern coast of Connecticut, it is brutally cold and the gusting winds don't help a great deal. The wind chill is driving the "apparent" temperature into the "minus" range, making it hard to believe that spring is anything but a distant dream.
Then again, there is Florida. According to the weather reports, the "Sunshine State" is once again the state with sunlight but no heat. Northern parts of the state saw temperatures fall to the "low 20's!" The southern half of the state wasn't all that much better, bottoming out in the low 30's. Ah, does that bring back memories. When I was in Jacksonville two years ago and it got that cold, NOAA was beginning its quarterly broadcast describing how to recognize the signs of frostbite and warning the locals not to put their space heaters too close to the drapes or the bed covers and the water temperature drop sufficiently to cause a massive fish kill in the ICW. It seems that four of the last five years, the deep south has gotten smacked with a short, say month long, cold snap that has been quite severe. Is it climate change or just an aberration of weather phenomenon. Whatever it is, it is COLD!
The cold doesn't bother me as much as the wind worries me. With the blizzard a week ago, we had winds that gusted to 60mph. This weekend, with the cold we had winds that gusted to 45mph. And I haven't had the chance to get up to ABISHAG to see how she is fairing. As I mentioned, a bimini support leg has come askew and the worn spot in the bimini itself has begun to "part" in a serious manner. With finances the way they are, I have to plan the expenditure of gas carefully. I now have a couple of reasons to head up toward the Portland area tomorrow and so I will stop by and check things out. hopefully, the yard did some plow because my P.O.S. is really, really, REALLY terrible in snow over 1/8 of an inch deep. If the hard ain't plowed, it means a trudge through the snow.
It's approximately 77 days until launching. In spite of the weather presently, it is creeping up rather fast. Hopeful, "Punxsutawney Phil" got it right and it will be an early spring and work on ABISHAG can begin soon . . . . though the last 10 days or so don't seem to offer much in the way of support for that hope!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Nothing Like A Little Snow! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
I have been basically house-bound since the height of the storm. True, we only got a little over 2 feet here in New London, but the blowing and drifting snow piled up in many place to a considerable height, making travel difficult. Add to that the fact that while the plows were able to cut paths for two very thin lanes on major streets, the side streets got one lane, if that, and a very thin one a best. The plows also did not get down to the road surface in most places, or did and it was later covered by more falling snow, and as a result, most roads, major or minor, were alleys of ice. It made for interesting and hazardous motor travel, even for plows. The TV showed a surprising number of plows, state. municipal and private, stuck in snow banks that they tried to clear. The big question, once they get them out, is what to do with snow that gets plowed. After all, it can no longer simply be dumped into the river or the Sound, and you can only pile it so high before you can't get it up any higher, plus there are on so many open spaces where you can put and wait for it to melt away. All the monies towns and cities saved the last two years on snow removal is likely to be spent, and then some, before we see the last flake this year.
i have a disturbing feeling that the Bimini on ABISHAG has torn. It is rather old, made of vinyl and had several wear-points where it contacted the frame supports. The heavy, wet snow would surly stress it. The only thing that might save it is the face that the frame is "a kilter!" On of the screws hold one of the supports had backed out once I got her on the hard and the screw was hidden under the "first snow." As a result, I did not put everything back in place and perhaps, just perhaps, the canted angle of the Bimini has caused the snow to slide off rather than gather and , like "mayhem" in the ALLSTATE commercials, fall through. I am not sure how to find out as I am certain that the yard hasn't cleaned out the boat storage areas yet and just might be waiting for the melt. Normally, they would do plowing and snow removal but there is just no place to put the stuff. I'll try to cruise by in a day or so and check things out.
I have been basically house-bound since the height of the storm. True, we only got a little over 2 feet here in New London, but the blowing and drifting snow piled up in many place to a considerable height, making travel difficult. Add to that the fact that while the plows were able to cut paths for two very thin lanes on major streets, the side streets got one lane, if that, and a very thin one a best. The plows also did not get down to the road surface in most places, or did and it was later covered by more falling snow, and as a result, most roads, major or minor, were alleys of ice. It made for interesting and hazardous motor travel, even for plows. The TV showed a surprising number of plows, state. municipal and private, stuck in snow banks that they tried to clear. The big question, once they get them out, is what to do with snow that gets plowed. After all, it can no longer simply be dumped into the river or the Sound, and you can only pile it so high before you can't get it up any higher, plus there are on so many open spaces where you can put and wait for it to melt away. All the monies towns and cities saved the last two years on snow removal is likely to be spent, and then some, before we see the last flake this year.
i have a disturbing feeling that the Bimini on ABISHAG has torn. It is rather old, made of vinyl and had several wear-points where it contacted the frame supports. The heavy, wet snow would surly stress it. The only thing that might save it is the face that the frame is "a kilter!" On of the screws hold one of the supports had backed out once I got her on the hard and the screw was hidden under the "first snow." As a result, I did not put everything back in place and perhaps, just perhaps, the canted angle of the Bimini has caused the snow to slide off rather than gather and , like "mayhem" in the ALLSTATE commercials, fall through. I am not sure how to find out as I am certain that the yard hasn't cleaned out the boat storage areas yet and just might be waiting for the melt. Normally, they would do plowing and snow removal but there is just no place to put the stuff. I'll try to cruise by in a day or so and check things out.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Snow Indeed - Part Two! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
I don't know about where you are, but down here on the coast our 2+ feet is like a layer cake. The top couple of inches is ice, followed by succeeding alternate layers of fluffy snow, then ice, then fluffy snow, then ice, then fluffy snow . . . you get the idea.
Freeing my car was a trip, buried as it had been by the snow plow as well as by the drifting snow. It took a good hour to clear enough so that the P.O.S. - awful in anything by the warmest and driest of weather - could wriggle itself out of its grave. It is also brutally cold and will remain so over night, getting even colder.
To get past the cold and the snow and the howling wind, I went on all sorts of Caribbean sailboat charter sites just to get warm. Would that I had had the money, say Wednesday last, I would have been gone in a shot!!
I don't know about where you are, but down here on the coast our 2+ feet is like a layer cake. The top couple of inches is ice, followed by succeeding alternate layers of fluffy snow, then ice, then fluffy snow, then ice, then fluffy snow . . . you get the idea.
Freeing my car was a trip, buried as it had been by the snow plow as well as by the drifting snow. It took a good hour to clear enough so that the P.O.S. - awful in anything by the warmest and driest of weather - could wriggle itself out of its grave. It is also brutally cold and will remain so over night, getting even colder.
To get past the cold and the snow and the howling wind, I went on all sorts of Caribbean sailboat charter sites just to get warm. Would that I had had the money, say Wednesday last, I would have been gone in a shot!!
Blizzard INDEED! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, it appears that the boys and girls at NOAA got one right. Down here in New London, though the 60 mph wind gusts make it hard to be too accurate, we got a good 2 feet. From what is being reported, poor ABISHAG got hit with even more. And another 2 - 4 inches are due on Wednesday. Winter has shown up with a vengeance!
It is a good day to go boat shopping . . . . on the Internet and see what deals may be had. And deals to be had, there are plenty, and a lot more if you have money. Lots of "toys" are being dumped on the market, newer than ABISHAG and filled with all sorts of doodads that "everybody "wants these days, so I would think that she is unlikely to be sold any time soon . . . if ever. So if she survives the winter, and she should with ease being basically bullet-proof in construction, updating and spring maintenance will begin in a couple of weeks. . . . winter be damned!
Well, it appears that the boys and girls at NOAA got one right. Down here in New London, though the 60 mph wind gusts make it hard to be too accurate, we got a good 2 feet. From what is being reported, poor ABISHAG got hit with even more. And another 2 - 4 inches are due on Wednesday. Winter has shown up with a vengeance!
It is a good day to go boat shopping . . . . on the Internet and see what deals may be had. And deals to be had, there are plenty, and a lot more if you have money. Lots of "toys" are being dumped on the market, newer than ABISHAG and filled with all sorts of doodads that "everybody "wants these days, so I would think that she is unlikely to be sold any time soon . . . if ever. So if she survives the winter, and she should with ease being basically bullet-proof in construction, updating and spring maintenance will begin in a couple of weeks. . . . winter be damned!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Everybody Sing: "O the Weather Outside is Frightful,...."
SHIP'S LOG:
There is a strong possibility that we will be the recipients of an honest-to-goodness blizzard beginning within the next 24 hours and, while everyone else is panicking, the weather people are in 7th Heaven. But since it is my friends at NOAA who are making the forecasts, I'll wait and see. After all, based on past experiences, it could be that we in line for sunny weather and temperatures in the 80's for NOAA tends to get things " just a bit wrong" from time to time.
They have also been known to be spot on and, if they are this time, we are going to get smacked big time. It will be " the blizzard of the century" until the next time and all of the-weather people on TV are just loving it. One of the local channels is opening up their " storm center" and each is trying to out do the other is scaring the crap out of the local populace. They broadcast their dire warnings and ever increasing "prophecies of doom" - weather-wise -with looks of total ecstasy on their faces. They live for this and they are enjoying it totally. And if they are right, they will so happy that they will explode.
There will only crushing disappointment for them if the "storm center turns south" or in any direction that takes it away from here and with it, the snow and blizzard conditions. Truth be told though, I am kind of looking forward to their being right. I missed all the snow in the winter of 2010/ 2011, so it will be "nice" to have the experience again. If it is as bad as the "Blizzard of '78" as some are forecasting, that will be something else again. Then again, since there isn't anything one can do about the weather, I'll just enjoy it.
There is a strong possibility that we will be the recipients of an honest-to-goodness blizzard beginning within the next 24 hours and, while everyone else is panicking, the weather people are in 7th Heaven. But since it is my friends at NOAA who are making the forecasts, I'll wait and see. After all, based on past experiences, it could be that we in line for sunny weather and temperatures in the 80's for NOAA tends to get things " just a bit wrong" from time to time.
They have also been known to be spot on and, if they are this time, we are going to get smacked big time. It will be " the blizzard of the century" until the next time and all of the-weather people on TV are just loving it. One of the local channels is opening up their " storm center" and each is trying to out do the other is scaring the crap out of the local populace. They broadcast their dire warnings and ever increasing "prophecies of doom" - weather-wise -with looks of total ecstasy on their faces. They live for this and they are enjoying it totally. And if they are right, they will so happy that they will explode.
There will only crushing disappointment for them if the "storm center turns south" or in any direction that takes it away from here and with it, the snow and blizzard conditions. Truth be told though, I am kind of looking forward to their being right. I missed all the snow in the winter of 2010/ 2011, so it will be "nice" to have the experience again. If it is as bad as the "Blizzard of '78" as some are forecasting, that will be something else again. Then again, since there isn't anything one can do about the weather, I'll just enjoy it.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
It Is Good To Have Talented Friends!
SHIP'S LOG:
It was a day for mechanical work, though it wasn't on ABISHAG. Originally, Friend Fred (one of the Bucket Brothers) were going to head on down to see Bob (the other Bucket Brother) in Milford. The intention was to have Bob fabricate two stainless steel rods that are a part of the furling system for the mainsail on ABISHAG. These two rods guy the foot of the mainsail into the furling tube and prevent it from snagging and/or tearing as it furl and unfurls. These rods are not what you would call particularly hi-tech, but simple and practical and they work. Unfortunately, one disappeared in the great storm of October 2010 off the coast of New Jersey along with the previous night's gourmet dinner. It would have meant that furling/unfurling would be a task filled with caution had I not luckily had a stainless steel rod from some item that I had pack-ratted away in the "what-not" locker. It wasn't a perfect fit but it sufficed as a temporary fix. However, the temporary fix was now two-plus years old and since Bob was will to do the fabrication, who was I to say "nay" to the offer.
However, at the last minute, Bob's busy social schedule intruded and he had to cancel, so Fred and I still got together but this time the focus was on getting my door handle fixed and my belts adjusted on my P.O.S. Some weeks ago, I broke the outside, driver's side door handle. Actually, with the P.O.S. being over 10 years old now and taking into consideration that i am not the most gentle of door closers/door openers, and considering the thing is made out of plastic, I am surprised that it lasted this long. Fred supplied the grunt work, I held the light, the tools and offered suggestions that showed that I was no mechanical tinkering savant! Truth be told, the hardest part of the process was locating a replace meant part. Advanced Auto Parts, where Fred works, wanted $86 & a day. The local Hyundai dealership want $66 and a day. I found it interesting that dealership price was so much less! A couple of used auto parts stores offered the part from there down to $35 but they also want at least a day. A place in Hartford, Carona's, had one in stock for $40 and we went there. We ended up paying $20 because the part was "scuffed." If it hadn't been scuffed it would have stood out like a sore thumb on my P.O.S.!
Doing this little project made me more eager than ever to get started on the Spring maintenance though the snow storm I ran into from Fred's back to New London was a serious reminder that it is "still" winter. There were several skidding accidents that had to be negotiated a clear indication that others also didn't realize that it was still winter. Driving the P.O.S. in snow or rain or dampness is always an exhilarating experience as control is always an "iffy" thing for some reason. Fred suspects that it is the suspension, that it could be upgraded, but since it has been this way from day one, and since I ain't got the coins to spend on such a project, I'll just choose to drive with care.
It was a day for mechanical work, though it wasn't on ABISHAG. Originally, Friend Fred (one of the Bucket Brothers) were going to head on down to see Bob (the other Bucket Brother) in Milford. The intention was to have Bob fabricate two stainless steel rods that are a part of the furling system for the mainsail on ABISHAG. These two rods guy the foot of the mainsail into the furling tube and prevent it from snagging and/or tearing as it furl and unfurls. These rods are not what you would call particularly hi-tech, but simple and practical and they work. Unfortunately, one disappeared in the great storm of October 2010 off the coast of New Jersey along with the previous night's gourmet dinner. It would have meant that furling/unfurling would be a task filled with caution had I not luckily had a stainless steel rod from some item that I had pack-ratted away in the "what-not" locker. It wasn't a perfect fit but it sufficed as a temporary fix. However, the temporary fix was now two-plus years old and since Bob was will to do the fabrication, who was I to say "nay" to the offer.
However, at the last minute, Bob's busy social schedule intruded and he had to cancel, so Fred and I still got together but this time the focus was on getting my door handle fixed and my belts adjusted on my P.O.S. Some weeks ago, I broke the outside, driver's side door handle. Actually, with the P.O.S. being over 10 years old now and taking into consideration that i am not the most gentle of door closers/door openers, and considering the thing is made out of plastic, I am surprised that it lasted this long. Fred supplied the grunt work, I held the light, the tools and offered suggestions that showed that I was no mechanical tinkering savant! Truth be told, the hardest part of the process was locating a replace meant part. Advanced Auto Parts, where Fred works, wanted $86 & a day. The local Hyundai dealership want $66 and a day. I found it interesting that dealership price was so much less! A couple of used auto parts stores offered the part from there down to $35 but they also want at least a day. A place in Hartford, Carona's, had one in stock for $40 and we went there. We ended up paying $20 because the part was "scuffed." If it hadn't been scuffed it would have stood out like a sore thumb on my P.O.S.!
Doing this little project made me more eager than ever to get started on the Spring maintenance though the snow storm I ran into from Fred's back to New London was a serious reminder that it is "still" winter. There were several skidding accidents that had to be negotiated a clear indication that others also didn't realize that it was still winter. Driving the P.O.S. in snow or rain or dampness is always an exhilarating experience as control is always an "iffy" thing for some reason. Fred suspects that it is the suspension, that it could be upgraded, but since it has been this way from day one, and since I ain't got the coins to spend on such a project, I'll just choose to drive with care.
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