End of Season Has Come

[rickalan35]

Hello all,

Well, the extended drought here in my area of Canada has finally reached the point whereby water levels are too low for safe boating. We simply must have enough water to float these things, right? I sounded my covered slip yesterday and found a water level of four feet two inches of water at the transom and at the bow. Since that is exactly what I draw, I'm arranging to have my boat pulled this week, literally a month early. Three other boaters in my marina have already done so.

Although the water further out in Rideau Lake is over three hundred feet deep in places, the marinas are located near the small town of Portland in a shallow bay near a major highway. Thus the drought conditions have effected boating.

Unfortunately, the low water levels mean we won't be able to view the autumn colors from the water. We usually have a couple of traditional fall colors/hot chocolate cruises that we do with friends.... but I guess not this time around.

Looking back on this short season, I did indeed manage to get the boat to a point that I'm relatively satisfied with. This was our second season as new owners of Heather Ann 111 and since I had shingles for three months last summer, it could be said that last year was a write off (by the way, my advice is for all of you to go pay the money and get the shingles vaccine shot)

This summer we managed to complete a full tuning of the engines (including rebuilding the carbs). This boat was previously a fifteen year dock queen and although the hours are low, it required the usual work that non-usage incurs. Both engines are now running at full rpm's. Electronics are all working, sticking push buttons replaced and we also installed a new vacuflush toilet to replace the former cracked one. We spent some money on a brand new enclosure and are happy with the results and I also had the marina install a rudder indicator.

As some of you may have noted in my earlier post "Battery Wars", I'm not happy with my current battery arrangement. It may indeed be how it came from the factory but it simply doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I plan a complete makeover of that system, but I suppose it'll have to wait till the spring.

That's the story from here on the Rideau Lakes.

[zedtwentyate]

The season has just about ended for us too. I have to haul out early so I can start working on her before the snow flies!

[K4282]

Thanksgiving is when I haul, and you draw over 4ft? what kind of boat is that? my F32 draws 2 feet 6 inches

[rickalan35]

K4

Trojan 370 express

[The Dog House]

Haul out for me is this Saturday. It was a good season. Hopefully we'll have many more together.

[larryeddington]

Not here in Texas, plenty of water and is 96 degree, still summer here.

Last year we had the lake 6 feet over a 2000 long emergency spillway and had to use water taxi to get to docs. What changes.