SHIP'S LOG:
Yesterday was a day of little projects that needed to be done simply because they haven't been done in a while. Things as simple as uncoiling and inspecting and re-coiling all the lines on the boat. Halyards and sheets can get chaffed even in they are not used simply by blowing and rattling against stuff and it is a good thing to periodically check'em. Nothing worse than hauling on a line in a moment of need and ending up with a piece in your hand. It was also pump up the dinghy day which is an every other day affair these days, that is if I want to use it. I still haven't quite gotten around to finding that "goop" that you squirt into the valves that seals the little leaks from the inside. And there were various other items that need lubing and resetting and stuff like that. General ship maintenance.
Jerry called and and I went out to diner with him and Lucille, his son, Scot, Scot's wife , Wendy and their son, Greg. It was great to meet Lucille at last and it was wonderful to see her and Jerry together. We went to a place called, "COWBOYS" as Lucille and Jerry are into country music and line dancing. I can't recall if there was actually any country music or not (there was no band) and I cam glad to report that there was no lone dancing. My dancing days, if I ever had any, are long gone, the new hip not withstanding. All of the waitresses in the place sported tee-shirts with "nifty cowboy sayings" on the back. Our waitress, who evidently bore a striking resemblance to Lucille's daughter Jen, wore a Tee shirt which advise, "Don't squat on your spurs." I think everyone should ponder that and follow this sage advice.
After dinner and the imbibing that was a part of it, it seemed a rather longer than usual row back to the boat. I am not sure that it was or that it just seemed like it was, but in any event, by the time I got there I was in no real shape to blog and went to bed.
Today, the weather was to be a little nasty. And indeed, after a rather calm morning, things got a little exciting around noon. We had a couple of storms blow through with some significant rain and wind, all of which - surprise, surprise - NOAA accurately forecast. They blew that afternoon forecast and it became sunny and bright and warm and calm and that they didn't get quite right. Unfortunately, I think that they will be wrong again this evening as the wind is picking up and howling a bit in the rigging and the sky is significantly overcast. The calm and warm and clear night predicted might just be another W.A.G. ( Wild Ass Guess) by NOAA gone astray.
Yesterday, the Harbor Dolphin Project was in Faber cove doing a little research. Evidently, "Flipper" and his buddies are quite smart. They herd the local fish population into the cove, it is sort of like a cul-du-sac, and then enjoy lunch. After which the pelicans and terns come in for their turn and I suppose that some other life form also has a go at the herd fishies. The seem to do it twice a day and the Harbor Dolphin Project came by to check it out I suppose.
I young couple with a sailboat anchored nearby last night. They must have listened to and trusted the weather report for they didn't move. Late this afternoon he, after some on deck projects, burned off excess energy by doing push-ups on the deck. She decided to go swiming and jumped over the side. True the water temp was 69 degrees today, but I do not believe she realized that is still pretty chilly, though the scream she let out made it very clear that she had discovered that fact!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Just Another Day in Fort Pierce . . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
There was another cruise by last night probably by the same fellas who cruised by a few days ago. I think that they are aware that the Nauticat is "unattended" and there is sufficient items above deck to make it worth the while of someone with a criminal nature to pay a visit with the idea of appropriating such items as can be had. Quite by chance, a floating state cop was going by and I hailed him and explained the situation. He checked out the boat and found that it wasn't "hot" and put in motion whatever was necessary to get in contact with the owners. I feel almost a little "sad" as the finder's fee for the boat if "hot" would have been substantial.
Made my trip accross the Indian River and pumped and dumped and iced up. The wind was nasty and I had some trouble getting out. The one dock hand didn't handle the dock lines well upon departure and insisted I back out. ABISHAG like most sailboats handles poorly in reverse and in a high wind it can be a "really exciting time." Traded paint with another sailboat but no real damage done.
A terribly frustrating afternoon with Brad. There just doesn't seem to be anyway to get the cable run in the mast. It won't go all the way down from the top and we can haul it up all the way from the bottom. We have chevied suggestions from everywhere but none of them work, or at leats we couldn't get them to work. I am not sure that we will ever get the cable run in the mast and Brad might have to considered a conduit running outside the mast. He is not happy at the prospect but it may end up being the only way to get the job done, especially since he wants to head south on Feb.1st. One should never try to keep a schedule on a sailboat, it just never works out.
Sorry this is short but I'm beat!
There was another cruise by last night probably by the same fellas who cruised by a few days ago. I think that they are aware that the Nauticat is "unattended" and there is sufficient items above deck to make it worth the while of someone with a criminal nature to pay a visit with the idea of appropriating such items as can be had. Quite by chance, a floating state cop was going by and I hailed him and explained the situation. He checked out the boat and found that it wasn't "hot" and put in motion whatever was necessary to get in contact with the owners. I feel almost a little "sad" as the finder's fee for the boat if "hot" would have been substantial.
Made my trip accross the Indian River and pumped and dumped and iced up. The wind was nasty and I had some trouble getting out. The one dock hand didn't handle the dock lines well upon departure and insisted I back out. ABISHAG like most sailboats handles poorly in reverse and in a high wind it can be a "really exciting time." Traded paint with another sailboat but no real damage done.
A terribly frustrating afternoon with Brad. There just doesn't seem to be anyway to get the cable run in the mast. It won't go all the way down from the top and we can haul it up all the way from the bottom. We have chevied suggestions from everywhere but none of them work, or at leats we couldn't get them to work. I am not sure that we will ever get the cable run in the mast and Brad might have to considered a conduit running outside the mast. He is not happy at the prospect but it may end up being the only way to get the job done, especially since he wants to head south on Feb.1st. One should never try to keep a schedule on a sailboat, it just never works out.
Sorry this is short but I'm beat!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
And The There Was FOG!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
A day without fog is like a day without sunshine . . . . or at least until the sun burns it off. It took to noontime but the fog finally went away. It got replaced with some wind and lots of sun. Another crappy day in Florida.
I had to go and hit the market as my stores of provender had hit rock bottom. I avoid the Edna clones in the market and made it back to ABISHAG with enough stuff to last for a couple of weeks. An outing to the market is not as easy as it sounds. First, you have to find a market. Next you have to find a way to get to the market. Then you have to do your shopping. Next you have to haul all the stuff back to the water's edge. And lastly, you have to get it out to the boat.
Luckily, I knew where the market was from an earlier foray. I had to row about 1/2 mile into shore and walk a couple of blocks to Jerry's condo. I borrowed one of Jerry's cars(thge only one there as he took the other to work) and drove to the market. I did my shopping and drove back to where I left my dinghy. I loaded all the stuff into the dinghy and drove the car back to Jerry's condo. Then I walked the couple of blocks back to the dinghy, relieved that the pelicans had not attacked the food stuffs. Got in the dinghy and rowed back the 1/2 mile to the boat. Then I had to hoist all the stuff aboard and store it. It blew the whole morning. And I will have to do something similar in a couple of weeks. It is new and different every time. It is so much easier cruising down to the corner market for a quart of milk.
I got to spend an hours or so this evening watch a cloud over the ocean that had lightning going off in it. It wasn't the bolts that you might be used to, but lightning in the cloud that lit it up in all sorts of colors. It was rather interesting to watch. It is not the sort of thing I would normally take the time to do if I was at home. Too busy with other things. Right! Slowing down and enjoying the moment is really quite wonderful. Hopefully it is something that I can keep up when I do make it back.
Tomorrow I will make a small journey . . . across the Indian River to the Fort Pierce Municipal Marina for a pump out and a garbage dump. An exciting trip to say the least. I hope I make it!
A day without fog is like a day without sunshine . . . . or at least until the sun burns it off. It took to noontime but the fog finally went away. It got replaced with some wind and lots of sun. Another crappy day in Florida.
I had to go and hit the market as my stores of provender had hit rock bottom. I avoid the Edna clones in the market and made it back to ABISHAG with enough stuff to last for a couple of weeks. An outing to the market is not as easy as it sounds. First, you have to find a market. Next you have to find a way to get to the market. Then you have to do your shopping. Next you have to haul all the stuff back to the water's edge. And lastly, you have to get it out to the boat.
Luckily, I knew where the market was from an earlier foray. I had to row about 1/2 mile into shore and walk a couple of blocks to Jerry's condo. I borrowed one of Jerry's cars(thge only one there as he took the other to work) and drove to the market. I did my shopping and drove back to where I left my dinghy. I loaded all the stuff into the dinghy and drove the car back to Jerry's condo. Then I walked the couple of blocks back to the dinghy, relieved that the pelicans had not attacked the food stuffs. Got in the dinghy and rowed back the 1/2 mile to the boat. Then I had to hoist all the stuff aboard and store it. It blew the whole morning. And I will have to do something similar in a couple of weeks. It is new and different every time. It is so much easier cruising down to the corner market for a quart of milk.
I got to spend an hours or so this evening watch a cloud over the ocean that had lightning going off in it. It wasn't the bolts that you might be used to, but lightning in the cloud that lit it up in all sorts of colors. It was rather interesting to watch. It is not the sort of thing I would normally take the time to do if I was at home. Too busy with other things. Right! Slowing down and enjoying the moment is really quite wonderful. Hopefully it is something that I can keep up when I do make it back.
Tomorrow I will make a small journey . . . across the Indian River to the Fort Pierce Municipal Marina for a pump out and a garbage dump. An exciting trip to say the least. I hope I make it!
Monday, January 17, 2011
It Be Rainin'
SHIP'S LOG:
I passed the night fully expecting to have a more intimate contact with Capt. Ahab and the crew of the Pequod but the night passed without incident. Truth be told, I am not sure how as the wind was out of the east last night and was dead out of the west this morning and since the two boats swing differently, I am surprised that we didn't "trade paint!" Thankfully we did not and when I arose at 6:30 for morning coffee, "Capt'n Slappy" and the crew of the "Festering Boil" were already making an effort to get underway. Actually, I was a bit surprised as the weather for today was not especially nice or, I should say, it was not forecast to be especially nice by those Gypsy Fortunetellers in the employ of the federal government known as NOAA! The morning wasn't to be too bad . . . . a slight chance of rain, wind 5-10, but the afternoon was to be down right nasty . . . . wind out of the South West, 15 - 20, rain, heavy at times, possible thunderstorms, tornadoes, waterspouts????? down to 5mph in the evening.
Well, no rain this morning. Wind out of the south and out of the west and out of the southeast, perhaps gusting to 12, rain late in the afternoon, brief and relatively light showers, possible wind gust(occasionally) to 15, basically out of the west. Well, they did call for rain and we got some so they weren't completely wrong. The rest of the week is supposed to be nice.
There really was not much to do today aside from read. I was hoping to get ashore and do some shopping but the Publix is about three miles away and I didn't cotton to a walk in the rain. I got a hold of Jerry too late to borrow his second car. He was already on his way to work. You would think he would have the day off on a national holiday, n'cest pas? It will probbaly have to be tomorrow monring, along with laundry and a shower. It would be nice to have clean clothes and not smell like a goat, whatever goats smell like, when I meet Lucille.
Brad is still down with "La Gripe" so there was no work done on his boat today. Certainly tomorrow afternoon will see us finish string the cable for the radar and getting that up and running. It would be better if he had put the boat on the hard when he brought it from Key West. A little bit more expensive, but you get a lot more work done that way and BRIGADOON is in need of a lot of work, lots of it just delayed maintenance and cosmetic but some of it serious and necessary foir a safe journey, even from here to across the river.
Speaking of that, I was having a little trouble with the forward head. For some reason, the pump in the system was not pumping the bowl dry. Indeed, there was a little back-up from the holding tank into the bowl . . .not a pleasant development. I dismantled the hoses, pump and valves and found nothing wrong, at least nothing I could see. When I re-assembled it all, it worked. There must have been some leak somewhere that got fixed. Evidently something just needed tightening but damned if I know what or where it was. At this point, I am just glad it is "all better!"
I was just checking the "Trip Odometer" on the GPS and on this trip, I have come 1,291 miles, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,091 alone(actually just me and Jesus). It is quite a little journey And in two months, I get to do it all over again!
No one has yet been out to check on the Nauticat 44. They either have tremendous confidence in the set of their anchor and in their anchor rode or they have abandoned their "dream." I don't think they have put it up for sale yet as a broker would certainly have been out to scope the the craft out. I certainly hope someone comes and checks it out before the inevitable "bad thing" happens. Boats will take incredible punishment, but routine maintenance is necessary for them to have a chance. This is getting way too long for someone not to have even come out to check on anchor rode chaffing.
I passed the night fully expecting to have a more intimate contact with Capt. Ahab and the crew of the Pequod but the night passed without incident. Truth be told, I am not sure how as the wind was out of the east last night and was dead out of the west this morning and since the two boats swing differently, I am surprised that we didn't "trade paint!" Thankfully we did not and when I arose at 6:30 for morning coffee, "Capt'n Slappy" and the crew of the "Festering Boil" were already making an effort to get underway. Actually, I was a bit surprised as the weather for today was not especially nice or, I should say, it was not forecast to be especially nice by those Gypsy Fortunetellers in the employ of the federal government known as NOAA! The morning wasn't to be too bad . . . . a slight chance of rain, wind 5-10, but the afternoon was to be down right nasty . . . . wind out of the South West, 15 - 20, rain, heavy at times, possible thunderstorms, tornadoes, waterspouts????? down to 5mph in the evening.
Well, no rain this morning. Wind out of the south and out of the west and out of the southeast, perhaps gusting to 12, rain late in the afternoon, brief and relatively light showers, possible wind gust(occasionally) to 15, basically out of the west. Well, they did call for rain and we got some so they weren't completely wrong. The rest of the week is supposed to be nice.
There really was not much to do today aside from read. I was hoping to get ashore and do some shopping but the Publix is about three miles away and I didn't cotton to a walk in the rain. I got a hold of Jerry too late to borrow his second car. He was already on his way to work. You would think he would have the day off on a national holiday, n'cest pas? It will probbaly have to be tomorrow monring, along with laundry and a shower. It would be nice to have clean clothes and not smell like a goat, whatever goats smell like, when I meet Lucille.
Brad is still down with "La Gripe" so there was no work done on his boat today. Certainly tomorrow afternoon will see us finish string the cable for the radar and getting that up and running. It would be better if he had put the boat on the hard when he brought it from Key West. A little bit more expensive, but you get a lot more work done that way and BRIGADOON is in need of a lot of work, lots of it just delayed maintenance and cosmetic but some of it serious and necessary foir a safe journey, even from here to across the river.
Speaking of that, I was having a little trouble with the forward head. For some reason, the pump in the system was not pumping the bowl dry. Indeed, there was a little back-up from the holding tank into the bowl . . .not a pleasant development. I dismantled the hoses, pump and valves and found nothing wrong, at least nothing I could see. When I re-assembled it all, it worked. There must have been some leak somewhere that got fixed. Evidently something just needed tightening but damned if I know what or where it was. At this point, I am just glad it is "all better!"
I was just checking the "Trip Odometer" on the GPS and on this trip, I have come 1,291 miles, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,091 alone(actually just me and Jesus). It is quite a little journey And in two months, I get to do it all over again!
No one has yet been out to check on the Nauticat 44. They either have tremendous confidence in the set of their anchor and in their anchor rode or they have abandoned their "dream." I don't think they have put it up for sale yet as a broker would certainly have been out to scope the the craft out. I certainly hope someone comes and checks it out before the inevitable "bad thing" happens. Boats will take incredible punishment, but routine maintenance is necessary for them to have a chance. This is getting way too long for someone not to have even come out to check on anchor rode chaffing.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Edna Goes Off!
SHIP'S LOG:
I decided to do a little walking in Fort Pierce on the Lord's Day. I figured, since it was a nice day, it would be a peaceful one as well. I didn't count on "Edna" nor did the guy in the pickup truck.
I was standing on a corner in downtown Fort Pierce waiting to cross. Across the street at the light was a young man, mid to late 20's, in a Big Dodge Ram pickup truck that looked new or at least very well cared for. He was waiting at the red light when up from behind comes Edna in what was probably a Ford Focus. Edna looked, from across the street, to be in her 80's and as with all of us when we reach such an advanced age, her depth perception made have gotten a tad iffy. She cruised into the back bumper of the pickup at about 3 miles an hour, doing no damage to the pickup but staving in her grill and most of her front end. The drive of the pickup was out of the truck like a shot, went stomping back to the rear if the truck and examined the damages. Like I said, there wasn't any to the pickup. The this guy goes stomping back to the driver's side window of Edna's car and lets her have it. He is swearing a blue-streak at poor Edna. He went on for what seemed like 20 seconds when all of a sudden he jumps back and clasps his hands to his face and starts scream. He falls down on the pavement as Edna exits the car. She has a can of Mace or Pepper Spray in her hand and had evidently let the guy have right in the face as he leaned in the driver's side window. She "walks" over to him and as he is rolling around on the ground, she empties the entire can at his face. When it's empty, she lets him have it with her purse which is big and obviously heavy, with a lot of "hardware" on it. And she is whacking him, and he's rolling and screaming. He husband, who had been "riding shotgun", came "racing" as fast as he could - which wasn't all that fast - around the front of the car and all but tackled Edna. He was trying to hold her back and she was trying to get at the pickup driver on the ground with her purse when the cops arrived from just down the street. You don't mess with Edna!
I have to say that is the case with the "elderly" down here in Florida. It is like they have taken enough crap from "younger people" and they ain't going to take any more. You go into a Wind Dixie or a Publix markets, you really have to keep your head up. Old, ah . . . "Youthful challenged" individuals in their "scooters" and motorized wheelchairs are the terror of the store. They come whipping around corners and race up aisles. And God help you if you are in their way.
It could be an interesting night tonight. I have " a boater" right off my stern, I mean right off my stern . . . . .maybe 20-25 feet. The wind is supposed to be 5-10 from the east. We might bet a rain storm some time during the night and we are definitely in for a blow tomorrow in the afternoon. Hopefully "Capt. Edward Smith" back there ( Capt. Edward Smith, Captain of the TITANIC) will be gone before the blow. I wouldn't really want to drag down on him which could happen. I am not sure just why he picked this spot. There is only three of us here and there is plenty of room. Perhaps the whine from my wind generator will drive him away! Or maybe I should just hail him and say, " Hey Captain Nemo, you want to anchor that garbage scow you call a boat some place else!" Naw, I think I'll just nature take its course. Maybe I should sic "Edna" on him. And the secret word is "WHIPLASH!"
I decided to do a little walking in Fort Pierce on the Lord's Day. I figured, since it was a nice day, it would be a peaceful one as well. I didn't count on "Edna" nor did the guy in the pickup truck.
I was standing on a corner in downtown Fort Pierce waiting to cross. Across the street at the light was a young man, mid to late 20's, in a Big Dodge Ram pickup truck that looked new or at least very well cared for. He was waiting at the red light when up from behind comes Edna in what was probably a Ford Focus. Edna looked, from across the street, to be in her 80's and as with all of us when we reach such an advanced age, her depth perception made have gotten a tad iffy. She cruised into the back bumper of the pickup at about 3 miles an hour, doing no damage to the pickup but staving in her grill and most of her front end. The drive of the pickup was out of the truck like a shot, went stomping back to the rear if the truck and examined the damages. Like I said, there wasn't any to the pickup. The this guy goes stomping back to the driver's side window of Edna's car and lets her have it. He is swearing a blue-streak at poor Edna. He went on for what seemed like 20 seconds when all of a sudden he jumps back and clasps his hands to his face and starts scream. He falls down on the pavement as Edna exits the car. She has a can of Mace or Pepper Spray in her hand and had evidently let the guy have right in the face as he leaned in the driver's side window. She "walks" over to him and as he is rolling around on the ground, she empties the entire can at his face. When it's empty, she lets him have it with her purse which is big and obviously heavy, with a lot of "hardware" on it. And she is whacking him, and he's rolling and screaming. He husband, who had been "riding shotgun", came "racing" as fast as he could - which wasn't all that fast - around the front of the car and all but tackled Edna. He was trying to hold her back and she was trying to get at the pickup driver on the ground with her purse when the cops arrived from just down the street. You don't mess with Edna!
I have to say that is the case with the "elderly" down here in Florida. It is like they have taken enough crap from "younger people" and they ain't going to take any more. You go into a Wind Dixie or a Publix markets, you really have to keep your head up. Old, ah . . . "Youthful challenged" individuals in their "scooters" and motorized wheelchairs are the terror of the store. They come whipping around corners and race up aisles. And God help you if you are in their way.
It could be an interesting night tonight. I have " a boater" right off my stern, I mean right off my stern . . . . .maybe 20-25 feet. The wind is supposed to be 5-10 from the east. We might bet a rain storm some time during the night and we are definitely in for a blow tomorrow in the afternoon. Hopefully "Capt. Edward Smith" back there ( Capt. Edward Smith, Captain of the TITANIC) will be gone before the blow. I wouldn't really want to drag down on him which could happen. I am not sure just why he picked this spot. There is only three of us here and there is plenty of room. Perhaps the whine from my wind generator will drive him away! Or maybe I should just hail him and say, " Hey Captain Nemo, you want to anchor that garbage scow you call a boat some place else!" Naw, I think I'll just nature take its course. Maybe I should sic "Edna" on him. And the secret word is "WHIPLASH!"
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The First Sunburn Of Winter!
SHIP'S LOG:
Ah yes, that familiar sting as you put your shirt back on after having spent the day in the sun. The redness. The itch. The Sunburn!
I was working out on the deck for a couple of hours and in was in the 70's and today, probably just for today, there was no wind. And when I had finished with my appointed tasks, I slipped my shirt back on and feel the "welcome" sensation of a sunburn sting. AHHHHHH! Sure the last of the cold weather has gone for good . . .. . . . . .. . Then again, who knows. The weather patterns have been sufficiently weird enough to qualify for some heading in Ripley's Believe it or Not!
Brad never made it to his boat. He had a case of "la Gripe" or stomach flu, you know the kind..."Two Exits, No Waiting!" Hopefully he will be recovered by Monday when I can once again help him with is boat projects. Sunday is football watching time and I will find a spot somewhere to watch.
I did take some time to plot out a few courses for points further south. I'll check with Jerry with regards to what is available for anchoring in Stuart and Port St. Lucie. Jupiter looks pretty good further south and then I'll be in the the Palm Beaches. Then there is Fort Lauderdale and on to Miami. South of Fort Pierce, you really start running up against bridges. I am not talking about the kind you can sail under but the kind you have to ask nicely to open. Some open on request, some open at set times, and some will not open at sometimes and will open at others. i gather it can play hell with your schedule if you are dumb enough to try and keep one. Some cruisers really get stressed out down here. The goal is almost insight and the bridges and their peculiar opening schedules strive to keep them from their goal.
Strangely, here in the Fort Pierce anchorage, the Nauticat 44 still sits and no one has been out to it since I got here low these many days. It is a bad thing to leave a boat unattended on an anchor for as along as this was has been as there is too much that could go wrong. I am beginning to become concerned. I hate to say it, but having been scoped out by some locals, it would be an easy target for a burglary(yes, they do happen on boats!). I am not sure if it would qualify as piracy but who cares what you call it if you return to your boat and find stuff missing. It could ruin your whole day, not to mention your trip and the hassles with the insurance company and the police etc, etc, etc! I hope the owners show up soon, because if they don't somebody else surely will.
Ah yes, that familiar sting as you put your shirt back on after having spent the day in the sun. The redness. The itch. The Sunburn!
I was working out on the deck for a couple of hours and in was in the 70's and today, probably just for today, there was no wind. And when I had finished with my appointed tasks, I slipped my shirt back on and feel the "welcome" sensation of a sunburn sting. AHHHHHH! Sure the last of the cold weather has gone for good . . .. . . . . .. . Then again, who knows. The weather patterns have been sufficiently weird enough to qualify for some heading in Ripley's Believe it or Not!
Brad never made it to his boat. He had a case of "la Gripe" or stomach flu, you know the kind..."Two Exits, No Waiting!" Hopefully he will be recovered by Monday when I can once again help him with is boat projects. Sunday is football watching time and I will find a spot somewhere to watch.
I did take some time to plot out a few courses for points further south. I'll check with Jerry with regards to what is available for anchoring in Stuart and Port St. Lucie. Jupiter looks pretty good further south and then I'll be in the the Palm Beaches. Then there is Fort Lauderdale and on to Miami. South of Fort Pierce, you really start running up against bridges. I am not talking about the kind you can sail under but the kind you have to ask nicely to open. Some open on request, some open at set times, and some will not open at sometimes and will open at others. i gather it can play hell with your schedule if you are dumb enough to try and keep one. Some cruisers really get stressed out down here. The goal is almost insight and the bridges and their peculiar opening schedules strive to keep them from their goal.
Strangely, here in the Fort Pierce anchorage, the Nauticat 44 still sits and no one has been out to it since I got here low these many days. It is a bad thing to leave a boat unattended on an anchor for as along as this was has been as there is too much that could go wrong. I am beginning to become concerned. I hate to say it, but having been scoped out by some locals, it would be an easy target for a burglary(yes, they do happen on boats!). I am not sure if it would qualify as piracy but who cares what you call it if you return to your boat and find stuff missing. It could ruin your whole day, not to mention your trip and the hassles with the insurance company and the police etc, etc, etc! I hope the owners show up soon, because if they don't somebody else surely will.
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Fun Of Boat Ownership!
SHIP'S LOG:
I spent most of the day helping Brad ( he's anchored near by) trying to get the old radar cable out of his mast and putting the new one in. It hasn't been a success. We tried using the old cable as a messenger to carry the new cable from the mid point of the mast down to the bottom of the mast where it should exit. It didn't work. The cables got hung up just a couple of feet from success and then became detached. We lost the messenger and didn't have the new cable all the way down. Tomorrow we will try again. There is still an old FM/TV cable in the mast that used the same hole as the radar cable so it is possible that it will suffice as a new messenger. If not, it will be string and a weight. AS I mentioned to Brad, this is why they usually pull the mast when they are doing something like in this is a boat yard.
I actually took the time to do a little maintenance myself on ABISAHG, lubing up all the seacocks and blocks. Nothing major, just trying to get everything in working order. I even did a little bilge cleaning to make it nice and fresh smelling. There is no major stuff that currently needs doing but a whole host of little things that do, but which will probably be put off until they become sufficiently annoying to warrant the effort necessary to correct them.
The weather is beginning to warm, though Northern Florida is still freezing. Orlando has taken a big hit and I am sure that Mouseland is paying for it. It is still rather strange to hear NOAA giving detailed instructions about how to recognize frostbite and announcing that the biggest danger during cold snaps is house fires caused by improper use of space heaters.
Discovered today that Lucille is coming in NEXT WEDNESDAY. Well there are worse place to be than Fort Pierce.
I spent most of the day helping Brad ( he's anchored near by) trying to get the old radar cable out of his mast and putting the new one in. It hasn't been a success. We tried using the old cable as a messenger to carry the new cable from the mid point of the mast down to the bottom of the mast where it should exit. It didn't work. The cables got hung up just a couple of feet from success and then became detached. We lost the messenger and didn't have the new cable all the way down. Tomorrow we will try again. There is still an old FM/TV cable in the mast that used the same hole as the radar cable so it is possible that it will suffice as a new messenger. If not, it will be string and a weight. AS I mentioned to Brad, this is why they usually pull the mast when they are doing something like in this is a boat yard.
I actually took the time to do a little maintenance myself on ABISAHG, lubing up all the seacocks and blocks. Nothing major, just trying to get everything in working order. I even did a little bilge cleaning to make it nice and fresh smelling. There is no major stuff that currently needs doing but a whole host of little things that do, but which will probably be put off until they become sufficiently annoying to warrant the effort necessary to correct them.
The weather is beginning to warm, though Northern Florida is still freezing. Orlando has taken a big hit and I am sure that Mouseland is paying for it. It is still rather strange to hear NOAA giving detailed instructions about how to recognize frostbite and announcing that the biggest danger during cold snaps is house fires caused by improper use of space heaters.
Discovered today that Lucille is coming in NEXT WEDNESDAY. Well there are worse place to be than Fort Pierce.
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