Back On The Trail Again

By Thursday evening, the strong winds had blown themselves out, so we kept our Friday splash schedule. The previous Friday, the 50 ton travel lift blew a hydraulic line while hauling out a 30 ton Tayana 55. The lift has an emergency brake system so the vessel was not dropped, but since it was a Friday afternoon the Tayana along with her Aussie owners spent the weekend in the sling.


The trees trying to change into their fall colors.


The flying dink back where it belongs.


Our new 60lb Manson Supreme gracing the bow. Gracing?? How can an ugly anchor... oh well.


Back to the water. It was a special day, so Lisa let me wear my "big boy" jacket. 

A few days earlier, I had repositioned the jack stands so that I could paint under their original position. Those spots are often painted while the vessel is in the sling headed back to the water. This doesn't give the paint much time to dry, but the method supposedly works. The only spots I had to paint while in the sling were where the bottom of the keel was resting on blocks.

Fortunately, our Friday splash was uneventful. After a short motor around the small bay to make sure all systems were working properly, we dropped anchor right in front of the boatyard for the night.

Early the following morning we headed for ICW mile Zero in the city of Portsmouth. It was a good feeling to be back on the water. We left Portsmouth in the dark the next morning with the hope of arriving at the lock before it got too crowded.

But...the previous afternoon a barge damaged the lock, so it was closed until divers could make repairs. Even though you can't see through the water there, the divers had to wait for the sun to come up before they went to work. So much for beating the crowd. Fortunately they had it fixed within an hour of getting wet, but then we had to wait another 1/2 hour for the northbound traffic (1 boat) to be locked through.

Our lock through was very crowded with both sides full of boats including a raft up, and a few had to wait for the next go around. There is a bridge just south of the lock that is supposed to be synchronized with the lock, but the tender wouldn't open it for another 22 minutes after our exit from the lock--was he trained in New Orleans? There is very little room there for that many boats to hold position with the current and wind, but we survived. When an upscale 40 foot sailboat nudged between us and the trawler next to us (with one foot to spare on either side and with the anchor on his bow roller one foot from the trawler in front of him), Lisa did her teacher act--went forward with boat hook in hand. After a short conversation with the man on the foredeck of the sailboat, she learned he was upset because the trawler had passed him exiting the lock. I won't say the teacher shook the boat hook at him, but she did have a very firm grip on it, and informed him he better not hit our boat. I was more worried about him forcing us onto the rocks, but he finally backed off.

Eight or so miles down the way a large go-fast boat got too far to one side and went aground (presumably on a tree stump) at high speed. Another large go-fast boat pulled him off. I'm not sure why he didn't sink.
Our anchorage for the night was at the dreaded mile 61 on the ICW. That's where the midges basically ruined our lives this spring. We took all our enclosure down this time with the hope that the wind would keep them out of the cockpit and thus not mess up our canvas. All was good the following morning. I think the cool weather helped.
After raising anchor we had a fantastic broad reach sail to the Albermarle Sound where we turned more to starboard putting the wind on our stern. We sailed a bit off course with the main and genoa about half way across the Albermarle, then dropped the main so we could go directly downwind with just the genoa. It was a wonderful sail. We kept sailing about half way up the Alligator river before we had to turn the engine on. We made it to Belhaven late in the afternoon. Another long day, but it was beautiful.

We were disappointed to find the Laundromat closed. Irene sent 3+ feet of water into the building which seems to have ruined their machines.

This is our third day in Belhaven. The strong southerlies have subsided and it will turn cold tonight. We plan on leaving in the morning for either Broad Creek or South River. Then we hope to head to Cape Lookout Bight, before leaving for Wrightsville Beach.

Pop The Clutch and Go Already

Assuming that we have not forgotten anything, our work on the boat is basically done, but we're reluctant to drop her in the water because we know that the first swell will mess up her shine. 

There is a storm headed our way in the next few days, so we have decided to push our "splash" day back until Thursday or Friday when we hope the weather will have tired itself out. We should have been well on our way south, running from the onset of the cold season, but oh well...we've been plenty cold in Florida too.

For nearly 3 years our 55lb Delta anchor has kept us safe through many storms as well as the normal everyday/night weather that was thrown our way. I like the Delta a lot, but we had 3 instances (no harm done) in a one month period that has caused some uneasiness to creep in. We decided to buy a 60lb Manson Supreme to replace the Delta. The Manson Supreme has had rave reviews, so we hope it performs well. Most problems arise when the wind or tide shifts directions--often after many cycles--and the anchor has trouble resetting. Over all, our Delta has held and reset well, but I feel like George Steinbrenner---when your ace closer blows a few saves, can him and get a younger overpaid stud to get the job done. That is basically what we have done. But I do feel like I've thrown my best friend under the bus.

We have met several interesting people while here in the boatyard. There are a couple of boats from New Zealand, one from Tasmania, Australia, Sweden, Germany and France. I still don't speak Australian, but I have begun to think in Australian.


Peter, the Tasmanian Devil, with his sweet wife Kay.

After touring America and a bit of Canada in a van, they bought this Irwin 38 center cockpit, and are quickly whipping her into shape for their journey back to Oz. They have already made one trip from the US to Australia in a Hunter 34. Peter has many very long passages under his belt, has been around Cape Horn, and well, let's just say he's not uptight. Now I'm going to the mall to buy Rosetta Stone so I can learn to speak Australian.

Hard Aground...in a good sort of way.

We are still in shock over what was brought up attached to the underside of our boat at haul out. While the memory still gives us the shivers, Nicki May is beginning to look prom ready. As someone once said, "she sure cleans up well."

We have had varying amounts of rain nearly everyday, so the trick is to be ready when the rain stops or nothing will get done.

The topsides (waterline to deck) have been acid washed to get the tannin stains off, then a normal wash, then buffed/polished with Presta Ultra Creme Light, and finally followed by 2 coats of Collinite Fleetwax (the hard paste stuff), with a third coat from the waterline plus 18 inches.


Applying the wax.

The smooth sections of the deck and cabin top got the same treatment, but only one coat of wax. I never saw the Karate Kid, but I did see the ads. I'll take the kid on any day. I can go clockwise, counterclockwise and left or right handed--all day and then some.

I also spent several hours sanding the bottom of the boat by hand. Mostly a waste of time. Plenty of red came off but I couldn't get it smooth. We use a hard paint and I really need to invest in an orbital sander to make any headway.


The dinghy got a good cleaning as well. 

The fiberglass bottom got an acid wash, buff, and a couple coats of wax. The hypalon was a bear to clean, but it finally looks acceptable. We took advantage of a rare low humidity day, and applied 2 large hypalon reinforcement patches on the tubes where they come into contact with the davits. The 2 part epoxy we used does not tolerate humidity--really should be done in a garage or a shop where conditions can be controlled, but we don't have a garage. Sigh.

I also added 4 new lifting ubolts which are in a slightly different location than the originals. They were installed after this picture was taken.

We installed a new pressure water pump and a new accumulator tank. It was a luxury to have an unlimited water supply while trouble shooting the pressure water system.

Lisa scrubbed the side panels of our enclosure--the sections that hang down from the bimini and dodger. She did the dodger and bimini while at the marina for the hurricane.


I got 1 gallon of Trinidad SR bottom paint on before we sort of shut things down for a mini road trip. I will finish the bottom when the rain takes a break. The bottom paint contains 70% copper (which repels barnacles) and some other smelly stuff in it that repels slime. It really stinks for the first couple of days.

This side of the rudder has not been painted with the new paint yet.

Earlier this summer, Lisa got her Technician's license to be a hammy while in Southold, NY. We thought we were set, but should have read the directions. The Technician's license is only good for a hundred miles or so. Could have bought 2 cans and a string. So, Lisa got the study guide for the General test. While I was working outside the boat she was studying for test number 2.

Test day was October 8th in Davidson, Maryland--about 150 miles northeast of the boatyard. We took advantage of a weekend rate from Enterprise, went to the test site, took the scenic route home through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and of course made the obligatory stops at Walmart and Home Depot.


The testing site was kind of out in the sticks--pretty sticks though. We were glad we left early enough to find an alternate route, as part of the road was washed away not far from our destination.


Lisa exiting the Anne Arundel Amateur Radio Club where she aced her test. 

We spent that night in a hotel, then had a beautiful drive through the mountains the following day. Though not in full fall dress, the trees are changing and are quite stunning.