SHIP'S LOG:
Well, that was a fast October. I guess that it wasn't God's intention that I stay here to watch the Red Sox win another World Series. I am not sure the reason why i am still here, according to God's plan, but the "secular" excuse is that "I am awaiting the prop!" It should show up sometime this week . . . . . but then again it may not. When it gets here, it gets here and when it gets here, I am gone!!!!
I have laid in a supply of winter clothing, mostly sweats and turtle fur stuff - hats, pants, shirts, etc. - and fuel for the fireplace - pellet logs and charcoal - so I am ready for the cold as it comes. With the shortening daylight hours it means that I must be an early riser so I can do all my cruising in the bright sunshine or at least not in the dark. It basically means that the day hops will be shorter than planned or hoped for. Ah such is life!
A I have mentioned before, the "toughest" part of the journey - the actual sailing part that is - will be the first few days as I go through NYC, down the New Jersey coast and up the Delaware Bay to the head of the Chesapeake at the D & C Canal. There is lots of traffic in and around NYC, there is a lot of open water sailing along the Jersey Coast and not a lot of places to put in, and the Delaware Bay is best done in one shot of 58 miles. A week of nice, relatively warm, settled weather would be wonderful but Ill just have to take what comes. The Chesapeake is loaded, and I mean loaded, with anchorages and marinas and all sorts of services for sailors that are open year round. It is like Narragansett Bay on steroids. Once I get there, I could do 10 - 20 miles day hops all the way to Norfolk and beyond. The weather there will be more moderate than up here and the farther south I go, the warm it should be come. I look forward to the day i "have to" start wearing tee-shirts and shorts again.
O by the way, the check that I thought was from the Insurance company wasn't. Turned out to be a promotional $10 to sign up for a something from Budget Rent-A-Car. If it isn't here by Monday, I'll have to place a call.
Well, that's about it for today. Back to waiting for "the call." Hopefully I will be hearing from the Yard Boss early this week so I can get out of Dodge before the snow actually does fall.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am getting moderately tired of waiting. I have tried to keep busy, logging every anchorage, marina, bridge, lock, historical sight, point of interest and anything else I might possibly be able to use onto my electronic charts. I am working out the wrinkles in my mail forwarding service and electronic bill paying arrangements. I am trying to figure out what God wants me to learn or do or experience before i get to go. Perhaps it is none of these and it is just another opportunity to practice patience and self-surrender. Not being in control of things, even if such control is really only in your head, is hard. Trusting is hard. Not quite knowing where you are going is hard. I hope it gets just a little easier in the future.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
And The Word Is . . . . ..
SHIP'S LOG:
And the word is . . . . . well, there really is no word! The insurance company has sent the check but it hasn't gotten here yet. The letter telling me they were sending the check got here but not the one containing the check! Sigh! As for the prop . . . no word yet! Sigh! I am sure it will be here, at least by Christmas! Til then, it is Patience and Waiting!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Not much to say. When the prop gets here I'll go. I have picked up some winter clothes and so long as there are no storms, well I'll deal with the temperature. Once I can get into the Chesapeake, then the day hops can be rather short. And the weather will be different as I'll be 150 miles further west and 200 miles further south. The farther away I get from the potential of snow the better.
And the word is . . . . . well, there really is no word! The insurance company has sent the check but it hasn't gotten here yet. The letter telling me they were sending the check got here but not the one containing the check! Sigh! As for the prop . . . no word yet! Sigh! I am sure it will be here, at least by Christmas! Til then, it is Patience and Waiting!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Not much to say. When the prop gets here I'll go. I have picked up some winter clothes and so long as there are no storms, well I'll deal with the temperature. Once I can get into the Chesapeake, then the day hops can be rather short. And the weather will be different as I'll be 150 miles further west and 200 miles further south. The farther away I get from the potential of snow the better.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Still Waiting ( Sigh!) Patience! Patience! Patience!
SHIP'S LOG:
"to wait" - to stay or be inactive until someone comes or something happens.
It is amazing that no where in this entire land that there was one prop such as I had need of for ABISHAG. Not even putting the members of "BOAT-POKERS", an Internet network of professional marine surveyors, on the case could scare up one, even a used one. I am coming to the conclusion that everything regarding boating has three parts to it and that it is a rare event when all three parts line up just right. In this particular case, the three parts were the 1.) the size 22" diameter; 2.) the pitch 17.5 degrees; and 3.) shaft size and taper- 35mm with a 1-10 taper. We ( the Yard Boss, the Boat-Pokers & I) could find props with 2 out of the three but never all three. So it is that I have had to go with the option of having a prop made. It could take up to three weeks and then it needs to be installed. Once done, we wait for the Insurance to send the check, pay the yard and take off again. It will happen, I am sure of it.
I talked with Chuck the TYC Launch Drive who is also heading south. He left 10 days before I struck grief in New Haven and is currently at SHALLOTTE Inlet North Carolina ( Mile Marker 329.5 on the ICW). Chuck has been having trouble with his engine, the injectors on the engine are leaking. It's leaking about a gallon a day and he is going to lay up in North Carolina and replace the injectors. So far this has been the only difficulty he has faced and that the ICW is fine.
ABISHAG has had her bottom painted and all we await is the prop. Waiting, waiting, waiting! waiting! waiting!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Well, what can I say. There is nothing I can do to move the process along any faster than it is going to go. Eventually the prop will come and be fitted and off I will go. If I had the Marine Units, I think I would just, maybe just might, hire a delivery crew and have them take the boat to Norfolk. But not having the Marine Units and so I'll do it. I am sure that I will get over it once I get going but after sitting "in harbor for three weeks, I am going to have work to "get up for the game." The days are getting colder and shorter and getting South is going to take a bit of pushing. The toughest part is what I face immediately after leaving, getting through New York and New Jersey and up the Delaware Bay into the Chesapeake. After that, it will be a lot easier but it is getting there that I am not looking forward to at this time of the year. I could be sailing in snow! ARGH!!!! true, it will make Key West all the sweeter, it is just getting there that seems to be a pain. It is like being on your back in the March mud, under the boat, sanding the bottom. The only reason that one is able to do it is the memory of the fragrance of the steaks on the grill at anchor. Here's to the memories of Fort Stuart!!!!!
"to wait" - to stay or be inactive until someone comes or something happens.
It is amazing that no where in this entire land that there was one prop such as I had need of for ABISHAG. Not even putting the members of "BOAT-POKERS", an Internet network of professional marine surveyors, on the case could scare up one, even a used one. I am coming to the conclusion that everything regarding boating has three parts to it and that it is a rare event when all three parts line up just right. In this particular case, the three parts were the 1.) the size 22" diameter; 2.) the pitch 17.5 degrees; and 3.) shaft size and taper- 35mm with a 1-10 taper. We ( the Yard Boss, the Boat-Pokers & I) could find props with 2 out of the three but never all three. So it is that I have had to go with the option of having a prop made. It could take up to three weeks and then it needs to be installed. Once done, we wait for the Insurance to send the check, pay the yard and take off again. It will happen, I am sure of it.
I talked with Chuck the TYC Launch Drive who is also heading south. He left 10 days before I struck grief in New Haven and is currently at SHALLOTTE Inlet North Carolina ( Mile Marker 329.5 on the ICW). Chuck has been having trouble with his engine, the injectors on the engine are leaking. It's leaking about a gallon a day and he is going to lay up in North Carolina and replace the injectors. So far this has been the only difficulty he has faced and that the ICW is fine.
ABISHAG has had her bottom painted and all we await is the prop. Waiting, waiting, waiting! waiting! waiting!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Well, what can I say. There is nothing I can do to move the process along any faster than it is going to go. Eventually the prop will come and be fitted and off I will go. If I had the Marine Units, I think I would just, maybe just might, hire a delivery crew and have them take the boat to Norfolk. But not having the Marine Units and so I'll do it. I am sure that I will get over it once I get going but after sitting "in harbor for three weeks, I am going to have work to "get up for the game." The days are getting colder and shorter and getting South is going to take a bit of pushing. The toughest part is what I face immediately after leaving, getting through New York and New Jersey and up the Delaware Bay into the Chesapeake. After that, it will be a lot easier but it is getting there that I am not looking forward to at this time of the year. I could be sailing in snow! ARGH!!!! true, it will make Key West all the sweeter, it is just getting there that seems to be a pain. It is like being on your back in the March mud, under the boat, sanding the bottom. The only reason that one is able to do it is the memory of the fragrance of the steaks on the grill at anchor. Here's to the memories of Fort Stuart!!!!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Shows You What I Know ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
And the hits just keep on coming! I got a call from the Yard Boss today with a "good news/bad news" choice. Despite the best of efforts, he has been unable to find a fixed blade prop for ABISHAG. The good news is that there is a company that can make one but (bad news) it will take three (3) weeks to do it. It will cost $1,00 give or take with shipping, The second option is I can get(good news) a replacement Maxie Prop (a new version of what was on the boat) immediately but (bad news) it will cost about $3,000.
I called my Surveyor School instructor, Jerry Schmitt, and got him the specifics and he is going to try to find one through all his contacts. If he doesn't find one, I am going to have to choose between a three week delay and a $1,000 bill or an immediate delivery and a $3,000 bill. Some choice!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought sailing and cruising was supposed to be fun . . . at least some of the time. This journey certainly has been not what I expected. There isn't much I can do about it except to go with the flow. I am sure that God has reasons for all this but what they might be I am still not clear about. I know that it is all about me growing and I can appreciate that, but couldn't I do this say in Key west? I guess not or else I would be there and not here. I hate to say it but I am going to have to start looking around for winter quarters as I just may be wintering up here again this year. The thought of that doesn't make me happy, not at all.
And the hits just keep on coming! I got a call from the Yard Boss today with a "good news/bad news" choice. Despite the best of efforts, he has been unable to find a fixed blade prop for ABISHAG. The good news is that there is a company that can make one but (bad news) it will take three (3) weeks to do it. It will cost $1,00 give or take with shipping, The second option is I can get(good news) a replacement Maxie Prop (a new version of what was on the boat) immediately but (bad news) it will cost about $3,000.
I called my Surveyor School instructor, Jerry Schmitt, and got him the specifics and he is going to try to find one through all his contacts. If he doesn't find one, I am going to have to choose between a three week delay and a $1,000 bill or an immediate delivery and a $3,000 bill. Some choice!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought sailing and cruising was supposed to be fun . . . at least some of the time. This journey certainly has been not what I expected. There isn't much I can do about it except to go with the flow. I am sure that God has reasons for all this but what they might be I am still not clear about. I know that it is all about me growing and I can appreciate that, but couldn't I do this say in Key west? I guess not or else I would be there and not here. I hate to say it but I am going to have to start looking around for winter quarters as I just may be wintering up here again this year. The thought of that doesn't make me happy, not at all.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Yes, I Am Still Waiting! ! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
The leaves are changing and the temperature is getting colder. The seagulls have been taking serious bombing practice on my immobile boat and still I am awaiting the arrival of a new prop. Truth be told, I am waiting to be told that they have, in fact, found one. Once they get it, it will be on in a flash and then we settle the bill - the insurance company less my deductible - and then I am gone. It can't happen too quickly for me . . .then again, God's time line might be completely different.
For those of you who might not yet quite grasp the expense of "yachting," SEA-TOW sent me a copy of the report of the grounding/salvage they are sending to my insurance company. It is five pages long, some nice pictures and demands a salvage award of $9,500! OUCH! ! ! !
I know that I will be underway soon . . . I just wish I hadn't given away all my winter clothing! ! ! !
The leaves are changing and the temperature is getting colder. The seagulls have been taking serious bombing practice on my immobile boat and still I am awaiting the arrival of a new prop. Truth be told, I am waiting to be told that they have, in fact, found one. Once they get it, it will be on in a flash and then we settle the bill - the insurance company less my deductible - and then I am gone. It can't happen too quickly for me . . .then again, God's time line might be completely different.
For those of you who might not yet quite grasp the expense of "yachting," SEA-TOW sent me a copy of the report of the grounding/salvage they are sending to my insurance company. It is five pages long, some nice pictures and demands a salvage award of $9,500! OUCH! ! ! !
I know that I will be underway soon . . . I just wish I hadn't given away all my winter clothing! ! ! !
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Still Waiting! ! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
I headed on down to Branford today to see ABISHAG and to do a few minor tasks. All the fiberglass work is done and the bottom awaits only painting. I ran into John the Yard Boss. He says that he has been unable to find a fixed two-blade prop that would fit the shaft. He has expanded his search to include three-bladed fix props and has still come up empty. O well, I am sure that something will turn up . . .hopefully soon.
The weather was wonderful down along the coast, warm, almost hot, and humid. It was something like summer and it was a real tease. Working inside the boat was a steamy event and I had to open a couple of ports to get a breeze going. Unfortunately, on the way home I realized that I left the ports open. Hope it don't rain!
One project was to extend the cables for the GPS/Chartplotter so that I can set-up the GPS/Chartplotter to work at the helm. Such units usually come with a large amount of excess cable so that the units can be placed anywhere. I had plenty of cable to work with, except for the power cable. I had to wire an extention into the power cable and the ground wire. Not a daunting task and it was easily done. It was the setting it up and finishing it off that took the time. It got done and now the GPS/CHARTPLOTTER can be used at the helm as well as inside at the Nav station. The GPS/Chartplotter provides an image of a map of the area you are sailing in and indicates where on the map the boat is located. I shan't be "missing New Haven again" anytime soon.
I re-rigged the anchor that failed me in New Haven, replacing the danforth anchor with a plow. So now there are two plow anchors, one with an all chain rode and one with the a rode with 6 feet of chain and 200feet of 5/8" line.
I have also discovered that oranges don't last as long as one might want. The ones hanging in the netting from the overhead in the salon were all moldy and got trashed. the fruit flies that were feasting on them however remain. Hopefully the lack of a food source will cause them to try their luck elsewhere.
I'll be going down again tomorrow and take care of a few more projects. I am sure that the prop will be in soon and I want to be able to "hit the road" as soon as they put on the new "wheel."
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It is a drag waiting. There really is nothing I can do to hurry the process along and I just have to go with the flow.
I headed on down to Branford today to see ABISHAG and to do a few minor tasks. All the fiberglass work is done and the bottom awaits only painting. I ran into John the Yard Boss. He says that he has been unable to find a fixed two-blade prop that would fit the shaft. He has expanded his search to include three-bladed fix props and has still come up empty. O well, I am sure that something will turn up . . .hopefully soon.
The weather was wonderful down along the coast, warm, almost hot, and humid. It was something like summer and it was a real tease. Working inside the boat was a steamy event and I had to open a couple of ports to get a breeze going. Unfortunately, on the way home I realized that I left the ports open. Hope it don't rain!
One project was to extend the cables for the GPS/Chartplotter so that I can set-up the GPS/Chartplotter to work at the helm. Such units usually come with a large amount of excess cable so that the units can be placed anywhere. I had plenty of cable to work with, except for the power cable. I had to wire an extention into the power cable and the ground wire. Not a daunting task and it was easily done. It was the setting it up and finishing it off that took the time. It got done and now the GPS/CHARTPLOTTER can be used at the helm as well as inside at the Nav station. The GPS/Chartplotter provides an image of a map of the area you are sailing in and indicates where on the map the boat is located. I shan't be "missing New Haven again" anytime soon.
I re-rigged the anchor that failed me in New Haven, replacing the danforth anchor with a plow. So now there are two plow anchors, one with an all chain rode and one with the a rode with 6 feet of chain and 200feet of 5/8" line.
I have also discovered that oranges don't last as long as one might want. The ones hanging in the netting from the overhead in the salon were all moldy and got trashed. the fruit flies that were feasting on them however remain. Hopefully the lack of a food source will cause them to try their luck elsewhere.
I'll be going down again tomorrow and take care of a few more projects. I am sure that the prop will be in soon and I want to be able to "hit the road" as soon as they put on the new "wheel."
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It is a drag waiting. There really is nothing I can do to hurry the process along and I just have to go with the flow.
Monday, October 13, 2008
WAITING!WAITINg!WAITIng!WAITing!WAIting!WAiting!Waiting!waiting . . . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
As far as I know, everything in the repair department is proceeding as it should. I will check it out for sure today, but I suspect that all of the fiberglass work is done and the Yard is awaiting to new prop. Selecting a new prop is not the same as say buying a new tire for your car. It depends on the horsepower of the engine, the rotation of the shaft, the type of transmission, the degree of pitch on the prop for best and most efficient propulsion, and goodness only knows what else. They will try to get a fix prop that best approaches the criteria of the old feathering prop and it is not exactly an off-the-shelf item. It is now a question of when they get it and put it on and "drop" ABISHAG into the water. Then, it is top off the fuel, straighten out the interior (everything is on the port side of the boat after we hit on the starboard side) and then "ADIOS!"
The waiting on other people who are waiting on other people ( and who knows how many other levels that goes to) is frustrating but there really isn't much that can be done. I have been refining the routes and downloading the routes and alternates into the computer. I am getting to know the routes very well but the waiting is still frustrating. I do get to watch the RED SOX but the waiting is still frustrating. The weather is beautiful but not spending it journeying south is really frustrating. The frost is coming and I really have no desire to be stuck here when it hits full time. So I am hopeful that someday this week will see the the second departure day and that this time it will will take place without any "excitement!" Dull, boring, humdrum, day-after-day hops down the coast is what I am hoping for. Let's hear it for DULL!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am happy that I have handled this setback so well. I have even been able to see the good points of it - like getting a new prop and finding out how strong ABISHAG really is and having a "disaster" and surviving it relatively unscathed. Now that that is over and down with, I don't have to worry when it is going to happen. Anticipating when it would happen was rather burdensome and now that it has come and gone, there is far less anxiety. If something should happen again, hey, I can deal with it.
I am glad to say that any feelings and/or thoughts about bailing out of the journey disappeared rather quickly and I am eager to get started again. Actually the last two weeks (has it been that long already?) has also been an exciting part of the adventure. The growth that has taken place has been easier to see in myself and it is rather exciting to see it taking place right before my eyes. I don't quite understand it all but I know that it is happening and I am looking forward to see where it will take me in becoming me.
As far as I know, everything in the repair department is proceeding as it should. I will check it out for sure today, but I suspect that all of the fiberglass work is done and the Yard is awaiting to new prop. Selecting a new prop is not the same as say buying a new tire for your car. It depends on the horsepower of the engine, the rotation of the shaft, the type of transmission, the degree of pitch on the prop for best and most efficient propulsion, and goodness only knows what else. They will try to get a fix prop that best approaches the criteria of the old feathering prop and it is not exactly an off-the-shelf item. It is now a question of when they get it and put it on and "drop" ABISHAG into the water. Then, it is top off the fuel, straighten out the interior (everything is on the port side of the boat after we hit on the starboard side) and then "ADIOS!"
The waiting on other people who are waiting on other people ( and who knows how many other levels that goes to) is frustrating but there really isn't much that can be done. I have been refining the routes and downloading the routes and alternates into the computer. I am getting to know the routes very well but the waiting is still frustrating. I do get to watch the RED SOX but the waiting is still frustrating. The weather is beautiful but not spending it journeying south is really frustrating. The frost is coming and I really have no desire to be stuck here when it hits full time. So I am hopeful that someday this week will see the the second departure day and that this time it will will take place without any "excitement!" Dull, boring, humdrum, day-after-day hops down the coast is what I am hoping for. Let's hear it for DULL!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am happy that I have handled this setback so well. I have even been able to see the good points of it - like getting a new prop and finding out how strong ABISHAG really is and having a "disaster" and surviving it relatively unscathed. Now that that is over and down with, I don't have to worry when it is going to happen. Anticipating when it would happen was rather burdensome and now that it has come and gone, there is far less anxiety. If something should happen again, hey, I can deal with it.
I am glad to say that any feelings and/or thoughts about bailing out of the journey disappeared rather quickly and I am eager to get started again. Actually the last two weeks (has it been that long already?) has also been an exciting part of the adventure. The growth that has taken place has been easier to see in myself and it is rather exciting to see it taking place right before my eyes. I don't quite understand it all but I know that it is happening and I am looking forward to see where it will take me in becoming me.
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