While it has nothing to do with ABISHAG technically, both my printer and my computer are dying or dead.
The printer is definitely dead as while it copies and scans, it doesn't print what it copies or scans anymore. It is an EPSON and to get one of their techs to look at it, I would have to take it to one of their official tech-places, the nearest of which is north of Boston! I have no idea what it might cost, but since the printer is two years old and cost all of $65, it simply isn't worth the effort, time and money. So I got a new one. I got it on AMAZON and it cost $74.34, which means it was free as I got a $75 AMAZON gift card for Christmas.
The computer on the other hand is still alive and kicking as this new POST indicates. However, it is physically falling apart. The ROM Drive works only when it wants to work. Sometimes, it won't open. Sometimes it won't read the disk. Sometimes it just run without being asked to. And for some reason the top of the laptop is slowly shifting its position and won't close completely. In fact, I actually had to trim part of the cover to get it to close. SO I guess it was just time. It is, after all about 8 years old and I have no idea how old that actually is for a computer. All I know that whenever I call the Dell Extended Warranty/Maintenance Concierge Service, they giggle whenever I give them the service tag number and tell me how "old" the computer is, as they repair the software problems I have created yet again. I have been using DELL Computers for so long, that get one hell of a deal purchasing a new one.
Thank goodness, I covered the boat as the ice, snow and rain that have hit here would have been a real pain to deal with. More snow/sleet/ice/rain coming tomorrow but then temps in the 50's. Ihas been a very weird winter so far.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
It Be Winter!
Finally, it is "officially" Winter! I spent yesterday wrapping ABISHAG. A good thing too as we are supposed to get hit with 3 - 6 inches of snow/sleet/hail from Friday through Saturday and the wrapping will keep at least most of the "falling, frozen moisture" from building up on the deck and causing mischief.
Of course, it is only about two months before I start the spring maintenance/ cleanup/ preparation. It will be tons of fun as there is about a 6' space to starboard from the boat on that side and I actually overlap the boat to port and even the boat astern by a little bit. The engine and water systems are winterized and ABISHAG is set for the winter. Well, sort of. There is still a rather chaotic situation aboard as stuff I was hoping to get off for the winter is still aboard and at this point, it is there that it will stay. It will mean a lot of cleaning come the spring but it will be less work that getting it out, taking it to storage and then bring it all back and putting it back aboard.
As for spring work, there is very little in the way of parking in the marina as they really oversold winter storage. In speaking with Eric the Engine Shaman, getting electricity and water to the boat will be a little chaotic, requiring long hose lengths and long extension cord. The electricity might not be too much of a problem as I have a portable generator which should handle that aspect no matter how many people are plugged into the marina electrical grid though water will be more of a problem. It will work out though as I won't work on weekends! I probably couldn't find parking in the yard on weekends anyway. I have a small car and trying to maneuver in the yard yesterday was a thrilling experience. I won't be surprise if someone nails a poppet and dislodges it, perhaps dropping a boat to the ground. It should be exciting.
Sound Rigging took the halyards of ABISHAG last week and I haven't heard from them. I hoping that that means that aside from building the new halyards there is no real problem (read expensive) with the main's furling system.
I haven't been called by the Sail Lofty to work. I am not sure why as they should have plenty of work. I will probably stop by again and "show the flag" to see if I can get some work. It would be nice to have a little money to live on. Things are getting just a bit tight. After all, I am still going to have to pay Eric once he gets the engine up and running as well as paying Sound Rigging, two expenses I was not expecting. A little extra cash from the sail loft would be nice, then again, perhaps this is the year that Publishers Clearing House finally finds me.
Of course, it is only about two months before I start the spring maintenance/ cleanup/ preparation. It will be tons of fun as there is about a 6' space to starboard from the boat on that side and I actually overlap the boat to port and even the boat astern by a little bit. The engine and water systems are winterized and ABISHAG is set for the winter. Well, sort of. There is still a rather chaotic situation aboard as stuff I was hoping to get off for the winter is still aboard and at this point, it is there that it will stay. It will mean a lot of cleaning come the spring but it will be less work that getting it out, taking it to storage and then bring it all back and putting it back aboard.
As for spring work, there is very little in the way of parking in the marina as they really oversold winter storage. In speaking with Eric the Engine Shaman, getting electricity and water to the boat will be a little chaotic, requiring long hose lengths and long extension cord. The electricity might not be too much of a problem as I have a portable generator which should handle that aspect no matter how many people are plugged into the marina electrical grid though water will be more of a problem. It will work out though as I won't work on weekends! I probably couldn't find parking in the yard on weekends anyway. I have a small car and trying to maneuver in the yard yesterday was a thrilling experience. I won't be surprise if someone nails a poppet and dislodges it, perhaps dropping a boat to the ground. It should be exciting.
Sound Rigging took the halyards of ABISHAG last week and I haven't heard from them. I hoping that that means that aside from building the new halyards there is no real problem (read expensive) with the main's furling system.
I haven't been called by the Sail Lofty to work. I am not sure why as they should have plenty of work. I will probably stop by again and "show the flag" to see if I can get some work. It would be nice to have a little money to live on. Things are getting just a bit tight. After all, I am still going to have to pay Eric once he gets the engine up and running as well as paying Sound Rigging, two expenses I was not expecting. A little extra cash from the sail loft would be nice, then again, perhaps this is the year that Publishers Clearing House finally finds me.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
AH! The Fun Of Boat Ownership!!!!!
At this time, ABISHAG is still uncovered as the winterization of the engine has not yet been done. As I noted before, I did cover the deck hatches with blue-poly tarps but the foredeck the stern and the cockpit have not. If they get covered, it make entrance and egress rather difficult and much easier to take a header off the boat and 10 feet to the ground. The weather hasn't lent itself to much in the way of projects either.
I had to go for a orthopedic check up yesterday as I have been having pain in my right hip and my right knee, both of which have been replaced. The x-rays showed that the joints were find which means we are talking sciatica irrriatation which could be from spurs, disc-compression, spinal stenosis or several other things that sadly you can't do much about. So it some physical therapy and Tylenol. If it gets really, REALLY painful, it is MRI time (which I really can't afford) and a cortisone injection . . . which is only a part but not permanent fix.
Since I was down near Essex, I went over to Sound Rigging and made arrangements for new halyards for ABISHAG as they are approaching 40 years of age. There is also a problem with the "behind-the-mast-furler." This system furls the main into a tube similar to the furling of the head sail. The problem is feeding the luff (Front edge) of the mainsail into track that runs it up the mast. It gets about half way up and then becomes very hard to get it the rest of the way up. It is not something I am willing to tackle as the problem could be at the top of the mast . . . 53 feet in the air. I just hope that whatever the problem is that it will not require dropping the mast. All of the electronic wires would have to be disconnected along with all of the shrouds and it is an expensive thing to do. Hopefully, the main halyard is just getting caught on something and that it will be a simple fix. Everyone who believes that will be the case please stand on your head. Replacing the halyards might be as much as $500, not including the cost that will be charge to take them off, build the new ones and re-install the new halyards. Like I said, AH, THE FUN OF BOAT OWNERSHIP! ! ! !
I had to go for a orthopedic check up yesterday as I have been having pain in my right hip and my right knee, both of which have been replaced. The x-rays showed that the joints were find which means we are talking sciatica irrriatation which could be from spurs, disc-compression, spinal stenosis or several other things that sadly you can't do much about. So it some physical therapy and Tylenol. If it gets really, REALLY painful, it is MRI time (which I really can't afford) and a cortisone injection . . . which is only a part but not permanent fix.
Since I was down near Essex, I went over to Sound Rigging and made arrangements for new halyards for ABISHAG as they are approaching 40 years of age. There is also a problem with the "behind-the-mast-furler." This system furls the main into a tube similar to the furling of the head sail. The problem is feeding the luff (Front edge) of the mainsail into track that runs it up the mast. It gets about half way up and then becomes very hard to get it the rest of the way up. It is not something I am willing to tackle as the problem could be at the top of the mast . . . 53 feet in the air. I just hope that whatever the problem is that it will not require dropping the mast. All of the electronic wires would have to be disconnected along with all of the shrouds and it is an expensive thing to do. Hopefully, the main halyard is just getting caught on something and that it will be a simple fix. Everyone who believes that will be the case please stand on your head. Replacing the halyards might be as much as $500, not including the cost that will be charge to take them off, build the new ones and re-install the new halyards. Like I said, AH, THE FUN OF BOAT OWNERSHIP! ! ! !
Friday, January 4, 2019
HAPPY NEW YEAR . . FOUR DYS LATE!
Well it is a new year at last. Have you noticed that the days are getting longer. Funny thing though, it seems that though the sun is going down later, it really doesn't seem to be rising any earlier yet.
The engine will be winterized this Sunday so the final wrap will take place on Monday . . . so long as there is not much in thew way of a breeze. It probably means that there will be a gale. It is just the way things seem to go.
ABISHAG was haul and set in the yard about as tight to the boats on either side as I have ever experienced. I doubt that there is a foot separation from the boats on either side. It shouldn't make any real difference doing the bottom or anything on deck, but any work on the topside will be a little on the difficult side. Of course, this was going to be the spring that it was finally going to fill-in, paint and buff-out all of the scratches and dings. Right now it looks like a non-starter but perhaps the other boats will leave early and I'll be able to get to it. It will make sanding an interesting experience as where the wind blows the results is hard to say and I am rather certain that at least "a little"will travel to the other boats. Hope they are not planning to varnish or paint come the spring.
Eric the Shaman did make one task easier. According to his professional expertise the batteries can stay on the boat so long as they get charged. With the wind generator that should not be a problem and it will save the effort that would have been necessary getting them out of ABISHAG and hauled off to a winter location and then bringing them back in the spring to install them once again. Huzzah!
The engine will be winterized this Sunday so the final wrap will take place on Monday . . . so long as there is not much in thew way of a breeze. It probably means that there will be a gale. It is just the way things seem to go.
ABISHAG was haul and set in the yard about as tight to the boats on either side as I have ever experienced. I doubt that there is a foot separation from the boats on either side. It shouldn't make any real difference doing the bottom or anything on deck, but any work on the topside will be a little on the difficult side. Of course, this was going to be the spring that it was finally going to fill-in, paint and buff-out all of the scratches and dings. Right now it looks like a non-starter but perhaps the other boats will leave early and I'll be able to get to it. It will make sanding an interesting experience as where the wind blows the results is hard to say and I am rather certain that at least "a little"will travel to the other boats. Hope they are not planning to varnish or paint come the spring.
Eric the Shaman did make one task easier. According to his professional expertise the batteries can stay on the boat so long as they get charged. With the wind generator that should not be a problem and it will save the effort that would have been necessary getting them out of ABISHAG and hauled off to a winter location and then bringing them back in the spring to install them once again. Huzzah!
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Well, Ths Has Been Fun!
Since Thanksgiving, I have been suffering from the "plague." Someone(s) at Thanksgiving Dinner shared it with everyone and it really hung on with me. It put me to bed twice over 10 days, first for 7 days and then for 3. It is almost all gone now though the cough is struggling to take up a permanent residency.
As a result, all of my best intentions to get ABISHAG ready for the winter have pretty much been delayed. I actually got to the yard yesterday and packed and removed all my tools and all the electronics from the boat. I had hoped to wrap the boat as well, but unfortunately the winds were blowing at a steady 20 or so which would have made wrestling with the tarps an exercise in futility, especially doing it by myself. I was limited to putting up the rope frame. This is a web of clotheslines from the rails to the masts. These would offer some support to the tarps, allowing the snow and rain and sleet and other forms of precipitation to run off. It keeps the water in its various forms from collecting on the deck and other spots and then freezing and doing damage. It also keeps the water out of the boat where it would freeze and do damage inside. I also filled the bilge and the holding tank with antifreeze for no matter what I do water will get in somehow somewhere.
Now granted it was blowing 20+ mph and ABISHAG was swaying a bit in the gusts, but I found that moving around the deck a little perilous. It happens every year when the boat is on the hard and I am moving about working on it. Strangely, I never have this problem when she is afloat. I guess sea-legs don't translate well to being aboard on the hard.
As a result, all of my best intentions to get ABISHAG ready for the winter have pretty much been delayed. I actually got to the yard yesterday and packed and removed all my tools and all the electronics from the boat. I had hoped to wrap the boat as well, but unfortunately the winds were blowing at a steady 20 or so which would have made wrestling with the tarps an exercise in futility, especially doing it by myself. I was limited to putting up the rope frame. This is a web of clotheslines from the rails to the masts. These would offer some support to the tarps, allowing the snow and rain and sleet and other forms of precipitation to run off. It keeps the water in its various forms from collecting on the deck and other spots and then freezing and doing damage. It also keeps the water out of the boat where it would freeze and do damage inside. I also filled the bilge and the holding tank with antifreeze for no matter what I do water will get in somehow somewhere.
Now granted it was blowing 20+ mph and ABISHAG was swaying a bit in the gusts, but I found that moving around the deck a little perilous. It happens every year when the boat is on the hard and I am moving about working on it. Strangely, I never have this problem when she is afloat. I guess sea-legs don't translate well to being aboard on the hard.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
AFLOAT
Yes, we are still afloat! It seems as though ABISHAG is really right out side the door of his office, Eric the Mechanical Shaman has not quite got around to giving her engine his full attention yet.
Nor have I for that matter. I really haven't been able too. I got an early Christmas gift from one those pint-size germ factories . . . my grandnieces & nephew during our Thanksgiving family gathering. I get the impression that they were equally generous with others at the gathering as well. It laid me abed for a good 10 days. It had all the biggies: sore throat, fever, congestion, muscle ache and my get up and go really got up and went. In addition, the weather was either rainy and cold or rainy and freezing or rainy and warm but turning cold, not the type of weather for working outdoors even when healthy.
I have pretty much shaken it off now and I hope that tomorrow, after a trip to the dentist, that Friend Fred and I will actually be able to make at least a start of stripping her out for the winter. It should have been done a month or moer ago but you know that tune. AH! THE JOYS OF BOAT OWNERSHIP!!!!!!!
Nor have I for that matter. I really haven't been able too. I got an early Christmas gift from one those pint-size germ factories . . . my grandnieces & nephew during our Thanksgiving family gathering. I get the impression that they were equally generous with others at the gathering as well. It laid me abed for a good 10 days. It had all the biggies: sore throat, fever, congestion, muscle ache and my get up and go really got up and went. In addition, the weather was either rainy and cold or rainy and freezing or rainy and warm but turning cold, not the type of weather for working outdoors even when healthy.
I have pretty much shaken it off now and I hope that tomorrow, after a trip to the dentist, that Friend Fred and I will actually be able to make at least a start of stripping her out for the winter. It should have been done a month or moer ago but you know that tune. AH! THE JOYS OF BOAT OWNERSHIP!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 25, 2018
UPDATE!
It has gotten colder, freezing actually, and ABISHAG is still water bound. Not only are there a dozen boats ahead of her to get hauled, Eric the Shaman Mechanic still has t work on her engine which really has to be done in the water.
I will be heading over tomorrow(Monday)to get started on emptying everything out that needs to got into storage. I am always amazed at how much stuff get aboard despite my best efforts to keep stuff out, I know, for instance, that there are two boxes of wine aboard that Fred and I never even got to tap on the "cruise" to Newport. There are also the sails that have to be rolled and folded and stored. Unfortunately, in the rush before th Nor'Ester we had, they just got stuck down below with no rhyme or reason. And as it is supposed to rain again tomorrow, trying to get them rolled up and stuffed in their bags should be a hoot! I am sure that I will discover things I didn't even know were aboard and will wonder how they got there in the first place.
AH! THE JOY OF BOAT OWNERSHIP!
I will be heading over tomorrow(Monday)to get started on emptying everything out that needs to got into storage. I am always amazed at how much stuff get aboard despite my best efforts to keep stuff out, I know, for instance, that there are two boxes of wine aboard that Fred and I never even got to tap on the "cruise" to Newport. There are also the sails that have to be rolled and folded and stored. Unfortunately, in the rush before th Nor'Ester we had, they just got stuck down below with no rhyme or reason. And as it is supposed to rain again tomorrow, trying to get them rolled up and stuffed in their bags should be a hoot! I am sure that I will discover things I didn't even know were aboard and will wonder how they got there in the first place.
AH! THE JOY OF BOAT OWNERSHIP!
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