Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 5:02 am
good morning folks. sorry for the delay. yesterday after i got to the boat yard, well, let's just say, the best plans can take a nose dive. here is how the morning started........ i walked maccabee at 0300 (it's easier on his breathing to walk early, and it get's me up and moving) and experienced light drizzle on our way back home. after i got settled, i continued to monitor the weather as the sky looked a tad threatening. phil came down stairs and said the the doppler looks clear, just cloud cover. i waited until first light and made the decision, ''GO FOR IT''. i got to the marina around 0645 to prep for departure. i ran into a friend of mine that owns a 33' chris and i mentioned that i was taking the boat over to sue island to get hauled. he asked who is my crew. i said i wanted to take her by myself. ''NO, NO YOU'RE NOT AARON. not with what you are going through, besides, what makes you think john can run you back here?'' he insisted on going along because he was concerned that i might have a seizure or other medical issue. in the long run, he was indeed right. so, he followed me over to sue island and we left one car there and came back to parkside. after prepping the boat, undoing the power and water, it was time to fire her up. both engines started right away and as jerry handled the bow lines, i undid the stern. then he handled the springs and she was clear of all moorings and umbilicals and free in her slip. as jerry was getting the lines, i adjusted the transmissions to 'station keeping' (where i picked that up, i will never know---somehow it was instinctive)
free of lines etc, i headed out of the slip as jerry walked the starboard side. turning on her center point ( i love how the tri cabin does that), we headed out. surprisingly maneuvering, even with a bent prop was pretty good. jerry dove under her last week to clean the props of growth. she maneuvered much better than last fall, and i'm convinced it was fouled wheels. making our way down the channel a sense of calm came over me. i was at the helm of my boat, one of my best friends along for the adventure, calm winds, sun breaking out of the clouds, and the gentle thrum of my twin pleasure craft marine engines. i was exhilarated. i decided to get some fresh fuel so we made our way to long beach marina for some fresh ''liquid dinosaur''. we departed the fuel dock then headed out to sue island marina. because of the bent prop, i needed to keep her under 1000 rpm. according to the gps, i was cruising at just under 6kts. she handled like a dream. arriving at sue island, on schedule, i was informed that the travel lift operator was taken to the hospital sunday evening. with no plan b from the marina owner, i was informed that the boat needed to be tied up near the lift and would be hauled----well, i have yet to pin any time frame. maybe sometime this morning. oaky, heck, she waited a year, so a day or two is no big deal. i just want to be there for the haul out and sling positioning. even with that snafu, it was a good morning. i was at the helm of my boat, and i had a chance to go for a little leisurely cruise. hopefully i will get a call this morning informing me that she will be hauled. i told them to give me a 35 minute heads up since it takes that long to get from my house to the boat yard.
aaron
free of lines etc, i headed out of the slip as jerry walked the starboard side. turning on her center point ( i love how the tri cabin does that), we headed out. surprisingly maneuvering, even with a bent prop was pretty good. jerry dove under her last week to clean the props of growth. she maneuvered much better than last fall, and i'm convinced it was fouled wheels. making our way down the channel a sense of calm came over me. i was at the helm of my boat, one of my best friends along for the adventure, calm winds, sun breaking out of the clouds, and the gentle thrum of my twin pleasure craft marine engines. i was exhilarated. i decided to get some fresh fuel so we made our way to long beach marina for some fresh ''liquid dinosaur''. we departed the fuel dock then headed out to sue island marina. because of the bent prop, i needed to keep her under 1000 rpm. according to the gps, i was cruising at just under 6kts. she handled like a dream. arriving at sue island, on schedule, i was informed that the travel lift operator was taken to the hospital sunday evening. with no plan b from the marina owner, i was informed that the boat needed to be tied up near the lift and would be hauled----well, i have yet to pin any time frame. maybe sometime this morning. oaky, heck, she waited a year, so a day or two is no big deal. i just want to be there for the haul out and sling positioning. even with that snafu, it was a good morning. i was at the helm of my boat, and i had a chance to go for a little leisurely cruise. hopefully i will get a call this morning informing me that she will be hauled. i told them to give me a 35 minute heads up since it takes that long to get from my house to the boat yard.
aaron
