SHIP'S LOG:
Friend Fred and I spent Saturday putting ABISHAG to bed for the winter. A good thing too as yesterday it rained and rained hard. And overnight, it snowed as well. I am not sure how much actually fell in Portland but we got about half an inch in New London so I am sure that they got more. The snow here is already melting and should be gone by this afternoon, but the snow in Portland may stick around for awhile. I just hope that this isn't a sign of the kind of winter we can expect. Oh well, we have to deal with what we get and, in the end, it will all melt away come spring!
Monday, November 21, 2016
Saturday, November 19, 2016
HIBERNATION
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, at last, at last, ABISHAG is all snuggled down and wrapped up for the winter. The tarps are on, the batteries are out, the oil is changed, all the water systems are drained and/or filled with anti-freeze, everything that needed doing has been done. Now the long wait begins, the wait until the great unwrapping in the spring when we undo all that has been done for the winter. And now the project list begin to grow. I still have the list from the "Year of the Falling Tree" as well as last years, and it will grow even further for the coming spring. There is nothing like putting the boat to bed for the winter to fire you mind projects that absolutely "need" to be done before launching.
Truth be told, the only things that absolutely, positively must be done before the boat is launched is to 1.) uncover it; 2.) replace the sacrificial zincs; 3.) paint the bottom. Ah but there are so many more things that I want to do, so many things that have been put off for far too long, and so many other things that are absolutely not needed but would be so nice. I will be perusing the Defender catalog and the one from West Marine. I will log in daily to their web sites and plan, my dreams limited only by money such a paltry thing, but oh so necessary. So may important decisions will be worried over and debated and planned for and, for the most part, scrapped do to the infamous "lack of funds." But it is fun to dream.
Well, at last, at last, ABISHAG is all snuggled down and wrapped up for the winter. The tarps are on, the batteries are out, the oil is changed, all the water systems are drained and/or filled with anti-freeze, everything that needed doing has been done. Now the long wait begins, the wait until the great unwrapping in the spring when we undo all that has been done for the winter. And now the project list begin to grow. I still have the list from the "Year of the Falling Tree" as well as last years, and it will grow even further for the coming spring. There is nothing like putting the boat to bed for the winter to fire you mind projects that absolutely "need" to be done before launching.
Truth be told, the only things that absolutely, positively must be done before the boat is launched is to 1.) uncover it; 2.) replace the sacrificial zincs; 3.) paint the bottom. Ah but there are so many more things that I want to do, so many things that have been put off for far too long, and so many other things that are absolutely not needed but would be so nice. I will be perusing the Defender catalog and the one from West Marine. I will log in daily to their web sites and plan, my dreams limited only by money such a paltry thing, but oh so necessary. So may important decisions will be worried over and debated and planned for and, for the most part, scrapped do to the infamous "lack of funds." But it is fun to dream.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
I Have The Plague!
SHIP'S LOG:
This past Saturday, friend Fred and I decided that we would get ABISHAG all snuggled in for the winter. I should have suspected that it wasn't going to happen as I had come down with a cough earlier in the week and Fred was an hour late showing up at the boatyard. Not good omens!
When she finally got hauled, ABISHAG was set right at the entrance of the boatyard. A very convenient place for working on her except if you needed water and/or electricity. Both of those two useful times were each at least 150 feet away, 100 feet or more further than any hose and/or electrical cord I have can reach. These things happen and it is best not to dwell on them less you get depressed.
Truth be told,neither electricity and/or water was really necessary for the tasks at hand though both would have made them easier. While Fred winterized the engine and the water systems, I started the project of wrapping the boat with tarps. This is and easy and fun project so long as the air is absolutely still. One first has to spread the tarp and affix lines to the grommets on each side. Then one has to get off the boat and grab the lines and tighten them up sealing the boat in a blue cocoon. The air wasn't still but still it was not blowing hard. There was just the occasional gentle puff that was more annoying that a full breeze. Had there been a real breeze, the task would simply have been delayed until the atmospherics were better, but faced with "just an occasional breeze" one was lulled into the foolish idea that it could be done by one person no problem. Three small traps were laid and secured over the deck hatches. Not a bad problem as all the work was done aboard the boat. The real difficult came when the large trap, covering 1/3 of the boat was set in place. If you have ever battled with a blue-poly tarp you know of what I speak. This one was 15' X 19' with a mind of its own, encouraged by the wind to complete rebelliousness.
I was able to get it in place and secured by the time Fred had completed his tasks aboard and we had a couple of beers left over from the trip up river. Following that, we removed the electronics and the sails and called it a day. I have never been a supporter of the idea that cold gives you colds, in other words that being out in cold weather renders you more susceptible to coming sown with a cold. Whatever is true, my cough became worse over night and by Monday, the days we were to go up and finish up the internalization, have advance to a gastro - intestinal malaise of the "two exits no waiting" variety. Currently I am battling it and appear to be winning but it is a hard fought battle. I should be healthy enough to resume and finish the winterization process by Saturday next. Ah, the fun of boat ownership!
This past Saturday, friend Fred and I decided that we would get ABISHAG all snuggled in for the winter. I should have suspected that it wasn't going to happen as I had come down with a cough earlier in the week and Fred was an hour late showing up at the boatyard. Not good omens!
When she finally got hauled, ABISHAG was set right at the entrance of the boatyard. A very convenient place for working on her except if you needed water and/or electricity. Both of those two useful times were each at least 150 feet away, 100 feet or more further than any hose and/or electrical cord I have can reach. These things happen and it is best not to dwell on them less you get depressed.
Truth be told,neither electricity and/or water was really necessary for the tasks at hand though both would have made them easier. While Fred winterized the engine and the water systems, I started the project of wrapping the boat with tarps. This is and easy and fun project so long as the air is absolutely still. One first has to spread the tarp and affix lines to the grommets on each side. Then one has to get off the boat and grab the lines and tighten them up sealing the boat in a blue cocoon. The air wasn't still but still it was not blowing hard. There was just the occasional gentle puff that was more annoying that a full breeze. Had there been a real breeze, the task would simply have been delayed until the atmospherics were better, but faced with "just an occasional breeze" one was lulled into the foolish idea that it could be done by one person no problem. Three small traps were laid and secured over the deck hatches. Not a bad problem as all the work was done aboard the boat. The real difficult came when the large trap, covering 1/3 of the boat was set in place. If you have ever battled with a blue-poly tarp you know of what I speak. This one was 15' X 19' with a mind of its own, encouraged by the wind to complete rebelliousness.
I was able to get it in place and secured by the time Fred had completed his tasks aboard and we had a couple of beers left over from the trip up river. Following that, we removed the electronics and the sails and called it a day. I have never been a supporter of the idea that cold gives you colds, in other words that being out in cold weather renders you more susceptible to coming sown with a cold. Whatever is true, my cough became worse over night and by Monday, the days we were to go up and finish up the internalization, have advance to a gastro - intestinal malaise of the "two exits no waiting" variety. Currently I am battling it and appear to be winning but it is a hard fought battle. I should be healthy enough to resume and finish the winterization process by Saturday next. Ah, the fun of boat ownership!
Monday, November 7, 2016
Finally Out!
SHIP'S LOG:
ABISHAG is finally out of the water. She'll be set up on stands tomorrow and then the winterizing can be done. YEAH!
ABISHAG is finally out of the water. She'll be set up on stands tomorrow and then the winterizing can be done. YEAH!
Friday, October 28, 2016
Would You Believe It ? ? ? ? ?
SHIP'S LOG:
Yes indeed boys & girls, we got snow yesterday! Bloody, flippin' SNOW!And ABISHAG is still in the water! SNOW!
I never realized how long the line was to get haul or how slow this yard was. True, the got rid of 25 boats that had been abandoned for years in the yard so they could accommodate more winter hauling, and true they are filled to the point that they won't take anymore boats, but I have been sitting in the water since Columbus Day for crying out loud. Nothing I can do about it except wait. I have a sneaking feeling that they have not much experience with a twin stick rig and are trying to figure out how to haul it. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence! Hey but what did I expect for a mere $25/foot! Ah, the fun of boat ownership!
Yes indeed boys & girls, we got snow yesterday! Bloody, flippin' SNOW!And ABISHAG is still in the water! SNOW!
I never realized how long the line was to get haul or how slow this yard was. True, the got rid of 25 boats that had been abandoned for years in the yard so they could accommodate more winter hauling, and true they are filled to the point that they won't take anymore boats, but I have been sitting in the water since Columbus Day for crying out loud. Nothing I can do about it except wait. I have a sneaking feeling that they have not much experience with a twin stick rig and are trying to figure out how to haul it. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence! Hey but what did I expect for a mere $25/foot! Ah, the fun of boat ownership!
Friday, October 21, 2016
Not Yet
SHIP'S LOG:
ABISHAG is still wet. Evidently her place in line was farther along than I thought. The yard is also still trying to figure out how to haul a ketch. SO we wait.
ABISHAG is still wet. Evidently her place in line was farther along than I thought. The yard is also still trying to figure out how to haul a ketch. SO we wait.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
A Very Good Day
SHIP'S LOG:
God gave me a beautiful day to take the sails off ABISHAG. This little task has to be done while ABISHAG was still in the water as unfurling the sails while the boat is on land, on stands, would be dangerous. A bit of wind and the boat could literally tip over off the stands. Even when the boat is in the water the evolution can be a bit of a difficult task. Once the sails are unfurled, they will flutter all over. The greater the wind, the greater the flutter, and getting whacked in the head with the metal ring in the clew of a sail can ruin your whole day.. In addition, once each sail is down,it has to be folded up and stuffed in a sail bag. The wind will cause them to fight being folded and it becomes especially difficult when you are doing trying to do it on the boat.
There wasn't a breath of wind in Portland this morning! Thank you God! All the sails came down without a problem and got folded up and stuff in the bags as easy as pie. I could not have asked for more. Now the boat will be hauled in a day or so and after that, the winterizing will be done and ABISHAG will be ready for a long winter's nap. AH! The joys of boat ownership!
God gave me a beautiful day to take the sails off ABISHAG. This little task has to be done while ABISHAG was still in the water as unfurling the sails while the boat is on land, on stands, would be dangerous. A bit of wind and the boat could literally tip over off the stands. Even when the boat is in the water the evolution can be a bit of a difficult task. Once the sails are unfurled, they will flutter all over. The greater the wind, the greater the flutter, and getting whacked in the head with the metal ring in the clew of a sail can ruin your whole day.. In addition, once each sail is down,it has to be folded up and stuffed in a sail bag. The wind will cause them to fight being folded and it becomes especially difficult when you are doing trying to do it on the boat.
There wasn't a breath of wind in Portland this morning! Thank you God! All the sails came down without a problem and got folded up and stuff in the bags as easy as pie. I could not have asked for more. Now the boat will be hauled in a day or so and after that, the winterizing will be done and ABISHAG will be ready for a long winter's nap. AH! The joys of boat ownership!
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