SHIP'S LOG:
A glorious fourth! Hot,humid & lots of wind. A great day for a sail. There was a race at TYC but I have no crew. Then again, I don't race anymore. But I did get out on the course and did most of it and was doing quite well, considering that ABISHAG's sails have all been recut more for cruising than for racing. The wind was out of the west at somewhere between 12 - 15 knots, honking quite nicely.She was moving at about 5.5 knots and topped out at 6.5! Went out toward Vixen Ledge, then to Silver Eel then across to Sarah Ledge and back to the Queen Merry. About 12 miles and a little over 2hours to run. It was a wonderful sail. The stuffing box and the packing gland stay and it appears that that problem is now solved! Thank goodness. Now, what will be the next little problem to show up?
I wet down the port aft deck several times with buckets of water and have narrowed down the leaking the aft cabin to that spot. Now all I have to discover whether the Mizzen chainplate, the thru-deck connection for the SSB, or the deck itself is leaking. Once that is discovered, then all I have to do is plug it. Simple! RIGHT!
Yesterday, I pulled all of the chain out of the chain locker and marked it every 25feet so that I can tell how much chain is played out when I anchor. I used colored wire ties to mark the appropriate links. I am going to have to come up with a way to move the chain farther into the center of the boat. Right now, as it is being retrieved, it tends to "pyramid" under hawser pipe and gets stuck there, keeping the rest of the chain from going into the chain locker. It will be a pain retrieving the anchor by myself if I don't come up with some solution.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Things are very relaxing right now. I am still learning the idiosyncrasies of ABISHAG, such as turning the wheel very little to get her to tack, rather than really turning the wheel and putting her in irons. Every day will be a sailing day, at least for a couple of hours to try things out, developing routines and strategies. I'll head over to Little Narraganset Bay an practice anchoring this week.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
SUMMER IS DEFINITELY HERE! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
There is a lot to be said for living aboard. For one thing there is almost always a cool breeze and you can funnel it and direct it as you wish . . .as long as there is one. When there isn't, it can be hell! Though salvation can be as simple stepping one step over the rail into the cool briny! Of course, it is difficult when it rains as most hatches open straight up and the rain is coming straight down. The choice is hot or wet. Or take a shower!
The sailing has been great! Aside from almost running down a SEAWOLF sub and incurring the wrath of the Navy by getting too close,the sailing has been as uneventful as it has been enjoyable. I have gotten up to 6.5knots which almost puts the rail in the water. That, according to the manual, is an indicator that it is time to short sail and get her back up on her feet. The furling allows that to be done by one. It is great to go speeding along without a care in the world. Though there can be scares at times. Yesterday, some sea creature, or a piece of nautical flora or fauna, affixed itself to the transducer or the depth sounder and for a few moments it was reading 2 feet or so. With my history, I almost panicked until I realized that I have sailed that a particular stretch of water many times and it is 40ft deep at it shallowest!
Have found more deck leaks, old and new. The packing gland on the stufifng box keeps loosening itself. Haven't quite gotten to the reefer yet, though it should function beautifully. And so to the stove. Have some painting, staining and varnishing to do. As well as cleaning of bilges, making an access hatch for some through hulls, etc,etc, etc!!!!!! Anyone who thinks this is just a vacation is out of their minds!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It took almost no time to settle into a routine and get accustomed to living aboard. I am doing a lot more reading now which is a good thing but I am going through books in a day. It is very relaxing and peaceful. God and I spend a lot of time talking, well I talk and God listens. The I try to be quiet and get a sense of some answer. Right now the answer seems to be that line from the movie "O God", "TRUST ME, LIKE IT SAYS ON THE MONEY!"
There is a lot to be said for living aboard. For one thing there is almost always a cool breeze and you can funnel it and direct it as you wish . . .as long as there is one. When there isn't, it can be hell! Though salvation can be as simple stepping one step over the rail into the cool briny! Of course, it is difficult when it rains as most hatches open straight up and the rain is coming straight down. The choice is hot or wet. Or take a shower!
The sailing has been great! Aside from almost running down a SEAWOLF sub and incurring the wrath of the Navy by getting too close,the sailing has been as uneventful as it has been enjoyable. I have gotten up to 6.5knots which almost puts the rail in the water. That, according to the manual, is an indicator that it is time to short sail and get her back up on her feet. The furling allows that to be done by one. It is great to go speeding along without a care in the world. Though there can be scares at times. Yesterday, some sea creature, or a piece of nautical flora or fauna, affixed itself to the transducer or the depth sounder and for a few moments it was reading 2 feet or so. With my history, I almost panicked until I realized that I have sailed that a particular stretch of water many times and it is 40ft deep at it shallowest!
Have found more deck leaks, old and new. The packing gland on the stufifng box keeps loosening itself. Haven't quite gotten to the reefer yet, though it should function beautifully. And so to the stove. Have some painting, staining and varnishing to do. As well as cleaning of bilges, making an access hatch for some through hulls, etc,etc, etc!!!!!! Anyone who thinks this is just a vacation is out of their minds!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It took almost no time to settle into a routine and get accustomed to living aboard. I am doing a lot more reading now which is a good thing but I am going through books in a day. It is very relaxing and peaceful. God and I spend a lot of time talking, well I talk and God listens. The I try to be quiet and get a sense of some answer. Right now the answer seems to be that line from the movie "O God", "TRUST ME, LIKE IT SAYS ON THE MONEY!"
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
On We Go!
SHIP'S LOG:
Haul the main down this morning(Tuesday) and hauled it off to the sailmakers. They are, well John Lucey is, going to have to removed the double-tick tape on the foot and replace it with the original cloth weight so that it can furl into the holder.
Picked up the the piece made by Skip off which will hand the outboard motor off the stern rail. It was a simple attachment and now I must go get the outboard before they start charging storage.
Put a couple of "hook & eye" latches on the reefer.The actually latch pops open sometimes and these will help secure it and keep the door from banging around.
Hung the chart plotter on the port bulkhead over the book rack. It looks good, hangs easily, and it frees up space on the nav table for the computer.
It rain all night and there are leaks that need to be tracked down. Unfortunately, this means dismantling the overhead . . . again . . . but That will need to be done . . .once I can find the marine units to pay for it.
The "bilge smell " seems to be back again. I guess I didn't quite do as good a job as I thought I did. What the heck, doing it again is the perfect way to spend the day.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Slowly, step by step, inch by inch, project by project . . .I am slowly driving myself insane. Truth be told, no boat is ever completely done or perfect. It is just like a house. Just when you think you've got everything down, something new shows up. I think that I am actually winning the contest. Still there are times when I could just scream! ! ! ! !
Haul the main down this morning(Tuesday) and hauled it off to the sailmakers. They are, well John Lucey is, going to have to removed the double-tick tape on the foot and replace it with the original cloth weight so that it can furl into the holder.
Picked up the the piece made by Skip off which will hand the outboard motor off the stern rail. It was a simple attachment and now I must go get the outboard before they start charging storage.
Put a couple of "hook & eye" latches on the reefer.The actually latch pops open sometimes and these will help secure it and keep the door from banging around.
Hung the chart plotter on the port bulkhead over the book rack. It looks good, hangs easily, and it frees up space on the nav table for the computer.
It rain all night and there are leaks that need to be tracked down. Unfortunately, this means dismantling the overhead . . . again . . . but That will need to be done . . .once I can find the marine units to pay for it.
The "bilge smell " seems to be back again. I guess I didn't quite do as good a job as I thought I did. What the heck, doing it again is the perfect way to spend the day.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Slowly, step by step, inch by inch, project by project . . .I am slowly driving myself insane. Truth be told, no boat is ever completely done or perfect. It is just like a house. Just when you think you've got everything down, something new shows up. I think that I am actually winning the contest. Still there are times when I could just scream! ! ! ! !
Monday, June 21, 2010
A Day Of Sails !!!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, today, after a lot of running around, I got my sails at last! As I was manning them out to the launch, I noticed a friend on the Beach at TYC. I asked for some help, cause the Main is always a pain, and Roger volunteered, and volunteered his son and his son's friend. The Genoa, the biggest sail, went up lickity-split. And then there was the main . . . . .
John Lucey at the sail loft did me a favor. He put a double layer of UV Protection tape on the foot ( bottom) of the main. It was a generous favor but it created a problem. It made the bottom of the sail too thick when it was furled and it wouldn't completely enter the housing for the sail behind the mast. The sail is a bitch to raise in the first place because of the furling system . . . it French! . . and so it was really, really irritating when we couldn't get it to work properly. I called John, told him not to cash the check and he said bring it back and he'll make it right. It consumed the afternoon and it left me exhausted. I guess that I am not as recovered as I thought.
MASTER PERSONAL LOG:
I called Tim Porter, the yard manager over at Mystic Shipyard and let him know how his people had screwed up. He was really upset and he said that he would take care of it. I am hoping there will b e a slight reduction is the charges. One can Hope, can't one?
Well, today, after a lot of running around, I got my sails at last! As I was manning them out to the launch, I noticed a friend on the Beach at TYC. I asked for some help, cause the Main is always a pain, and Roger volunteered, and volunteered his son and his son's friend. The Genoa, the biggest sail, went up lickity-split. And then there was the main . . . . .
John Lucey at the sail loft did me a favor. He put a double layer of UV Protection tape on the foot ( bottom) of the main. It was a generous favor but it created a problem. It made the bottom of the sail too thick when it was furled and it wouldn't completely enter the housing for the sail behind the mast. The sail is a bitch to raise in the first place because of the furling system . . . it French! . . and so it was really, really irritating when we couldn't get it to work properly. I called John, told him not to cash the check and he said bring it back and he'll make it right. It consumed the afternoon and it left me exhausted. I guess that I am not as recovered as I thought.
MASTER PERSONAL LOG:
I called Tim Porter, the yard manager over at Mystic Shipyard and let him know how his people had screwed up. He was really upset and he said that he would take care of it. I am hoping there will b e a slight reduction is the charges. One can Hope, can't one?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
What A Summer Day! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
It was a damn bad day not to have sails! But it was still a great day to be on the boat. I fixed the boarding ladder so that I can access it from both the boat and THE WATER! There are always those times, few hopefully, when one goes ass-over-teakettle into the water and it is nice to have a water to get back on, especially if you are alone!
I unloaded the stuff I brought down to the boat yesterday and tried to find a place for each item. I was somewhat successful. Of course, now I don't know where half of the stuff is so thank goodness mostly of it was clothes and sundries and the like. There is little chance of having a desperate need of toothpaste in an emergency!
I re-did the fuse arrangement for the windlass. I didn't like the way I did it the first time. It was Mickey Mouse looking and while it might have worked, it lacked "panache!" So I re-did it and it looks much better. Writing this I realize that I forgot to test it. But there is no reason it should not work wonderfully well.
Last year, I tried to develop a system for storing tools and used tubes of PVC to hold screw drivers, wenches, etc. and stored them on a rack system on the wall of the engine room. It was a wonderful idea that was terribly impractical. It just simply didn't work as I envisioned it would. So I made it go away until I can come up with something more practical. I also to took the time to attach for sliding barrel bolts on the wall where the rack system was. It was held in place by a whole bunch of screws and it was a chore to removed them all to access the top of the engine. Now I slide four bolts and the whole wall panel lifts out. I found that the yard had neglected to put the breather back when they changed the engine oil. Already it has proven a wise move!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I got my first sunburn of the season!!!!! I am sure that I will regret it tonight. I realize that I don't have any sunscreen. It is amazing how dumb I can be. I will have to check out things more carefully, open more draws and lockers and get a sense of what I have and what I need but don't have! It is a chance to settle in and set a routine and get comfortable. I did sleep like a the dead last night, once I got used to the sounds the boat makes.
It was a damn bad day not to have sails! But it was still a great day to be on the boat. I fixed the boarding ladder so that I can access it from both the boat and THE WATER! There are always those times, few hopefully, when one goes ass-over-teakettle into the water and it is nice to have a water to get back on, especially if you are alone!
I unloaded the stuff I brought down to the boat yesterday and tried to find a place for each item. I was somewhat successful. Of course, now I don't know where half of the stuff is so thank goodness mostly of it was clothes and sundries and the like. There is little chance of having a desperate need of toothpaste in an emergency!
I re-did the fuse arrangement for the windlass. I didn't like the way I did it the first time. It was Mickey Mouse looking and while it might have worked, it lacked "panache!" So I re-did it and it looks much better. Writing this I realize that I forgot to test it. But there is no reason it should not work wonderfully well.
Last year, I tried to develop a system for storing tools and used tubes of PVC to hold screw drivers, wenches, etc. and stored them on a rack system on the wall of the engine room. It was a wonderful idea that was terribly impractical. It just simply didn't work as I envisioned it would. So I made it go away until I can come up with something more practical. I also to took the time to attach for sliding barrel bolts on the wall where the rack system was. It was held in place by a whole bunch of screws and it was a chore to removed them all to access the top of the engine. Now I slide four bolts and the whole wall panel lifts out. I found that the yard had neglected to put the breather back when they changed the engine oil. Already it has proven a wise move!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I got my first sunburn of the season!!!!! I am sure that I will regret it tonight. I realize that I don't have any sunscreen. It is amazing how dumb I can be. I will have to check out things more carefully, open more draws and lockers and get a sense of what I have and what I need but don't have! It is a chance to settle in and set a routine and get comfortable. I did sleep like a the dead last night, once I got used to the sounds the boat makes.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Where To Begin?!?!?!?
SHIP'S LOG:
Truth be told, and it is a sad truth, but ABISHAG has had nare a mile pass under her keel since she got to TYC. It seems that the reason for this was/is the fact that she is "sail-less." They've been in the loft which has been overwhelmed and is behind in work and everyone is after them to get their sails and more work is coming in Yadada, Yadada, Yadada!!!!!!! But fear not, the sail will be bent on come this Monday, or so I am assured!
I am now living on ABISHAG as my onshore arrangements have come "a cropper!" An arrangement that has worked so well has been done in the vagueries of the employment market. One new job and a carefully crafted arrangement goes in the crapper! Such is life. I had to eventually make the move anyway and now I have to make the move and have made it. Perhaps the toughest thing will be to develop a new routine and implement it. It is not as easy as it sounds. There is particularly getting used to the approximate 39' X 11' of living space. Thank goodness that I got rid of so much stuff, but it is amazing how much I still have. What I don't take I store or have one hell of a yard sale!
I now have the time and the inclination (necessitated by the fact that Iam living aboard) to finally get all the systems checked out. If they are working, what a relief. If a system is not, then it is either do without or jury-rig, because finances will not allowed for much in the way of replacement and/or repair by outside agencies. Tonight it is "Check Out The Lights" Night! And you just know that some light way,way, way up the mast will be non-functioning. You just know it!
Truth be told, and it is a sad truth, but ABISHAG has had nare a mile pass under her keel since she got to TYC. It seems that the reason for this was/is the fact that she is "sail-less." They've been in the loft which has been overwhelmed and is behind in work and everyone is after them to get their sails and more work is coming in Yadada, Yadada, Yadada!!!!!!! But fear not, the sail will be bent on come this Monday, or so I am assured!
I am now living on ABISHAG as my onshore arrangements have come "a cropper!" An arrangement that has worked so well has been done in the vagueries of the employment market. One new job and a carefully crafted arrangement goes in the crapper! Such is life. I had to eventually make the move anyway and now I have to make the move and have made it. Perhaps the toughest thing will be to develop a new routine and implement it. It is not as easy as it sounds. There is particularly getting used to the approximate 39' X 11' of living space. Thank goodness that I got rid of so much stuff, but it is amazing how much I still have. What I don't take I store or have one hell of a yard sale!
I now have the time and the inclination (necessitated by the fact that Iam living aboard) to finally get all the systems checked out. If they are working, what a relief. If a system is not, then it is either do without or jury-rig, because finances will not allowed for much in the way of replacement and/or repair by outside agencies. Tonight it is "Check Out The Lights" Night! And you just know that some light way,way, way up the mast will be non-functioning. You just know it!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
'Tis Summer, Alright! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
ABISHAG is no longer in Slip #7 of Dock "B" of the Mystic Shipyard at Willow Point. No, she is safe and sound on her mooring off the Thames Yacht Club in New London! Huzzah! Huzzah!! Huzzah!!!
Yesterday, (Friday, May 28th), round about 14:30 hours, Russ and I "sailed" her from Mystic to New London on a truly glorious afternoon. I say "sailed" for we actually motored the whole distance owning to the fact that she had no sails onboard. They are still in the loft and I am not sure exactly when they shall make their appearance in the appropriate location on ship. Ah, but we are in New London and are "at home!"
This short jaunt took place without incident, the most difficult part being getting away from the dock! Not being used to being in a slip, the welter of lines holder her fast were confusing at first but with a push, a shove, and some nimble footwork, she was set free and we were off. It was, all in all, a disappointingly short trip, a little over an hour, but blessedly uneventful. And it was surprisingly chilly as well for it being the start of the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Few boats were out and about and clearing down the Mystic River, you could see many people hard at work getting theirs ready for the the season. I guess the "summer" sort of snuck up on'em!
Everything seemed to be working properly though the amount of turn of the helm to compensate for the set of the prop-wsh seemed more than last year. It is quite possible that the rudder to the windvane steering system is out of alignment and needs to be correct. It will be a simple fix and I really mean that. There were a number of serious scrapes on the starboard side of the hull that I will have to hit with paint. I am not sure of their origin but it is quite possible that they came during a storm this winter when she possibly rubbed against a piling. They are on the side of the boat that was away from the dock so I didn't noticed them until I was getting off at TYC. Hey, if it is not one thing it is another. Such is the fun of boat ownership!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
What a wonderful DAY! Too bad we had no sailing for we would have moved just as fast as we did with the engine. The wind was perfect for a trip to New London from Mystic. I can't wait for the first trip under sail!!!!!!!!
ABISHAG is no longer in Slip #7 of Dock "B" of the Mystic Shipyard at Willow Point. No, she is safe and sound on her mooring off the Thames Yacht Club in New London! Huzzah! Huzzah!! Huzzah!!!
Yesterday, (Friday, May 28th), round about 14:30 hours, Russ and I "sailed" her from Mystic to New London on a truly glorious afternoon. I say "sailed" for we actually motored the whole distance owning to the fact that she had no sails onboard. They are still in the loft and I am not sure exactly when they shall make their appearance in the appropriate location on ship. Ah, but we are in New London and are "at home!"
This short jaunt took place without incident, the most difficult part being getting away from the dock! Not being used to being in a slip, the welter of lines holder her fast were confusing at first but with a push, a shove, and some nimble footwork, she was set free and we were off. It was, all in all, a disappointingly short trip, a little over an hour, but blessedly uneventful. And it was surprisingly chilly as well for it being the start of the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Few boats were out and about and clearing down the Mystic River, you could see many people hard at work getting theirs ready for the the season. I guess the "summer" sort of snuck up on'em!
Everything seemed to be working properly though the amount of turn of the helm to compensate for the set of the prop-wsh seemed more than last year. It is quite possible that the rudder to the windvane steering system is out of alignment and needs to be correct. It will be a simple fix and I really mean that. There were a number of serious scrapes on the starboard side of the hull that I will have to hit with paint. I am not sure of their origin but it is quite possible that they came during a storm this winter when she possibly rubbed against a piling. They are on the side of the boat that was away from the dock so I didn't noticed them until I was getting off at TYC. Hey, if it is not one thing it is another. Such is the fun of boat ownership!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
What a wonderful DAY! Too bad we had no sailing for we would have moved just as fast as we did with the engine. The wind was perfect for a trip to New London from Mystic. I can't wait for the first trip under sail!!!!!!!!
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