THE SEASON IS TOO SHORT

Here we are hauling out once again. It's hard to believe it's that time of year already. We hauled out Sept. 27, 2011. It was a beautiful day. The day before they had 2" of rain! We pulled into the well at 8:30 A.M. We were out of the water, the engine winterized, the mast was off and stored, the boat was put in the building where we covered her for her long winter's sleep. We finished putting everything away on our dock, covered the dock box. It's left on the dock for the winter to protect it from the sea gulls and we were on our way home by 10:30 A.M. It is nearly a 3 hour drive home!

Starting Oct. 3rd they will be operating both lifts pulling 15 boats a day 6 days a week up to nearly Thanksgiving. I will post a picture after all of the boats are out of the water and stored. It's unbelievable the number of boats there are.

At home on the dock

Her's what she looks like sitting at her home dock at Sandusky harbor. It's great to be staying on her once again.

Back in the water

We are once again back in the water. We launched Tues. May 17th. The weather did not cooperate. The worst launch day ever! The wind was out of the NE at 25+ knots. It was too windy to put the mast up so the marina will bring it back to the well on a better day to put it up. It's no big deal for them as both lifts are equipped with cranes for this purpose. The photo (from last year) is the boat in the well the usual way. I had them put it in backwards, bow facing the channel so I could pull straight out. I didn't want to get slammed by the wind and end up on the rocks backing out. I took the boat to the dock while Pat was there to catch me. It went surprisingly well. We dock on the starboard side. For you landlubbers that's the right side. Entering the slip the wind was on the nose with enough north wind to push me right up to the dock. Sometimes the wind does work to our advantage. It's good to be on the water once again. We're anxious to do some serious sailing. Now, where did I put those sails?

 

Our friend Mike from, "The Missing Link", called yesterday to rub it in that they were docked at New Smyrna Beach, Fl. city marina. I suspect he and his wife Chris were laid back enjoying the sun with a cold one! They enjoyed their first winter in the Bahamas. They both retired last year. They are truly "Living the Dream". They are working their way north to Annapolis, Md. where they will dock for the summer to return once again to the Bahamas and beyond next fall. Rough life Mike & Chris!!

Ready to launch

Eagle is finally ready to launch May 17th.. This is a 1984, 31 foot Hunter. She is a deep draft, 5 1/2 feet, fixed keel. I have finished changing the traditional color blue that Hunter used on all of their boats to Hunter green. It has taken me long enough! I must say it was a chore trying to get it all done due to all of the rain we have had in north west Ohio.We are anxious to get back into the water and do some fun sailing.

Rain, Rain, Rain

Easter has started out to be another rainy day in Ohio. It has rained constantly for several days now making it almost impossible to do the outside work needed to be done on our boat before we launch May 18th. We did get a break last Thursday and I was able to finish sanding the boot (waterline) stripe in preparation for paint.

Mike Link from "The Missing Link" asked me to make a protective box for his new 2000KW Honda generator. It's made from 1/2" Starboard. Mike had it shipped to me. I took advantage of the rainy weather to build it for him. There is no bottom. It simply drops over the generator to protect it. I will give it to him when we meet this summer or I'll ship it to Chris's mom's place in Fl.

We have been thinking seriously of having our boat shipped to Oriental, N.C. this fall. This would be a stepping stone to the south for the winter. Of course with the constant increase in fuel prices may make the cost of trucking out of the question. We'll see what the fall brings.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

Getting ready to sail in Ohio

This is the construction site of the two new launch wells under construction at our marina at Sandusky harbor marina on the western end of Lake Erie. The harsh winter took it's toll which mandated a total renovation. Launch schedule is to start April 17th which is only a week later than normal.

After replacing the air conditioner seacock and the engine seacock and through hull our boat is nearly ready for launch May 17th, with the exception of changing the color of the stripes on the boat. This will complete the color change from the original Hunter blue to Hunter green. I removed the top stripes (ugh) last season. The boot stripe is in the gel coat so I have it nearly sanded and ready to paint. The boat is stored inside with the mast down (of course) and too close to the other boats to be able to finish sanding so will have to wait until they put it out in the yard to complete.

Another Snow storm

We have 5" of snow on the ground at 8:30 AM and it's still coming down. Another 4" to 6" predicted.