Israel Hands 1,241 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 It'll reach 80 here in Eastern NC today. The birds were chirping loudly at dawn this morning. The Bradford pears are just starting to blossom, and the red oaks have been causing people sinus distress for a couple of weeks. Our neighborhood is on the lookout for ospreys to return any day now from their South American odyssey. Spring is about to roar in. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slap 975 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 About two weeks to when I start working on the boat. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Spring is coming. Word of the day: rasputitsa” (Russian: распу́тица). “Rasputitsa” is a Russian term for two seasons of the year, spring and autumn, when travel on unpaved roads or across country becomes difficult, owing to muddy conditions from rain or melting snow. "Rasputitsa" also refers to road conditions during both periods. (Napoleon’s and Hitler’s invasions of Russia were heavily influenced by weather conditions - the Nazi advance especially got bogged down by “rasputitsa”.) A fascinating Twitter thread today on why the huge Russian military convoy currently approaching Kyiv has been halted. A former US Army truck maintenance and tire specialist (it’s a thing, seriously) briefly explains the tire-related maintenance/breakdown issues the massive Russian Army appears to be facing. Actually, a quite interesting read. Incredible - I love the Internet! https://mobile.twitter.com/TrentTelenko/status/1499164245250002944 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santanasailor 639 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Nice temps this week, going to be cooler next week but the lowest high is predicted to be 58 and that’s a rain day. Getting work done on Anna Eleise. Have all the old paint ground off of the keel and the hurricane damage to the keel is as mitigated as I could possibly do without creating a mold and pouring a new keel edge. Getting the supports for the cockpit ready to bond. Its been good. Also getting some wood work done. Been a good week. Finally training for the two Senior Olympic Time Trials I am entered in later this spring. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Israel Hands 1,241 Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 Eighty-two here today. Pear tree has blossoms and a half-dozen ospreys are doing kamikaze swoops over the water. Spring has come roaring in. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 March: In like a lion, out like a lamb. Mrs. Bull has yard work planned for me tomorrow. Moving dirt from where it is perfectly content to where she wants it. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bmiller 1,140 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 March is usually our snowiest month, right its coming down pretty good with temps in the teens. Yep, its spring! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kris Cringle 2,161 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 More than anything, it's a few specific birds that hale spring here on this coast. Not the usual suspects - waterfowl - that seem to always be in transit or resting along the way. From a window I noticed a flock of Robins this week. They came out of the blue (literally) and descended on a few dormant fruit trees that clung to freeze dried berries. Over-fluffed for the cold and underfed, those trees are life savers right now. And always a pair, maybe two, of large hawks. Those two species are my sirens of spring. They get my attention. Now the usual suspects will fly in one by one. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
accnick 1,736 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 This is about the time of year when big flocks of robins stop at our house for a few hours to water up, rest, and grab a bite on their way back north. Haven't seen them yet, but we are getting large flocks of other migratory birds right now. Don't know how they know we have a big birdbath full of water, but they do. We have to refill it several times an hour when the robins arrive. They are a noisy bunch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
130lights 336 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 The past few days have been above freezing enough to de-ice the channel, then today we get this. No Robins coming this week, just more snow. Lake Michigan channel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santanasailor 639 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 No Robins here, not many birds except the water birds. Had a couple of wood ducks on the lawn this morning and of course great blue heron fishing off of the seawall. The Herons and Egrets stay here year round (as well as the Bald Eagles) However, the temps are much cooler today and rain and some cold predicted for this week. Boat work stops in the rain and everything else moves indoors. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diarmuid 1,331 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 In like a polar bear; out like a steaming pile of digested seal meat. It's up to 8°F now. We might get above freezing next Saturday. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toddster 921 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Remember all those projects that were supposed to get done “over the winter”…? And taxes… Quote Link to post Share on other sites
accnick 1,736 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 1 hour ago, Santanasailor said: No Robins here, not many birds except the water birds. Had a couple of wood ducks on the lawn this morning and of course great blue heron fishing off of the seawall. The Herons and Egrets stay here year round (as well as the Bald Eagles) However, the temps are much cooler today and rain and some cold predicted for this week. Boat work stops in the rain and everything else moves indoors. The male wood duck is as handsome a bird as you can find anywhere. We used to live in a place called Wood Duck Island. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 2 hours ago, toddster said: Remember all those projects that were supposed to get done “over the winter”…? And taxes… I got mines done. The boat is ready NOW. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slick470 241 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 It's warmed up enough here that the trees have started dropping pollen and I have a sinus headache today. Haven't started boat projects yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cyclone 559 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 5 hours ago, Santanasailor said: No Robins here, not many birds except the water birds. Had a couple of wood ducks on the lawn this morning and of course great blue heron fishing off of the seawall. The Herons and Egrets stay here year round (as well as the Bald Eagles) However, the temps are much cooler today and rain and some cold predicted for this week. Boat work stops in the rain and everything else moves indoors. I so miss seeing wood ducks up here along with the Kestrels. I’m told they’re around but not for my eyes. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 8 hours ago, toddster said: Remember all those projects that were supposed to get done “over the winter”…? Yes - I suffered over the winter, working at the top of the mast many days and nights in a row after work, and many weekends, so that I don’t have to do it when the weather is good! (Sounds backwards, I know...). I’m not the type to wear a hair shirt, but I have the last two winters (electric windlass upgrade last winter; sails and rigging this one). Next winter I think I’ll do something fun and build a small boat for R2AK :-). I’m thinking an Angus Row Cruiser...how hard could it be :-) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 8 hours ago, toddster said: Remember all those projects that were supposed to get done “over the winter”…? Yes - I suffered over the winter, many days and nights in a row, and many weekends, working at the top of the mast so that I don’t have to do it when the weather is good! (Sounds backward, I know...). I’m not the type to wear a hair shirt, but I have the last two winters (electric windlass upgrade last winter; sails and rigging this one). Next winter I think I’ll do something fun and build a small boat for R2AK :-). I’m thinking an Angus Row Cruiser...how hard could it be :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santanasailor 639 Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 4 hours ago, cyclone said: I so miss seeing wood ducks up here along with the Kestrels. I’m told they’re around but not for my eyes. I you look very carefully between the folds of the curtain, you can see a female wood duck on the railing of our lakeside porch. Its a bad picture but the best I could get, she flew off immediately after I took this picture Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kinardly 318 Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 We get parrots every Spring and they've been flocking around for about a month now. Come up from Mexico and stay the summer. Lots of backyard fruit trees for them. They make very distinctive calls to one another as they fly around in flocks of 20-30 and they look funny as hell in the air, flapping at a terrific rate but not going very fast. Almost like overweight hummingbirds. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diarmuid 1,331 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 2 hours ago, kinardly said: We get parrots every Spring and they've been flocking around for about a month now. Come up from Mexico and stay the summer. Lots of backyard fruit trees for them. They make very distinctive calls to one another as they fly around in flocks of 20-30 and they look funny as hell in the air, flapping at a terrific rate but not going very fast. Almost like overweight hummingbirds. Are we body-shaming parrots now? You brute. Hummingbirds are not a realistic body ideal for most birds, and social media just reinforces a false sense of healthy weight and activity levels. Hummingbirds, like fashion models, live on a diet of cigarettes and cocaine. Let us say to our parrot friends, "You are healthy birds with sweet, normal-sized bodies. Love yourself!" Except for kākāpōs. Them's some lard-assed parrots, ought to be ashamed, letting themselves go like that. Too fat to fly. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 It's a race to the finish line. Not so many days left until launch, everything is on backorder, and an amazing amount of stuff to organize. Health insurance, insurance, storage, mail forwarding...etc... My brain however seems to have already left on sabbatical... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
accnick 1,736 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 3 minutes ago, Elegua said: It's a race to the finish line. Not so many days left until launch, everything is on backorder, and an amazing amount of stuff to organize. Health insurance, insurance, storage, mail forwarding...etc... My brain however seems to have already left on sabbatical... It will all happen. Keep your eye on the prize. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 11 hours ago, Elegua said: It's a race to the finish line. Not so many days left until launch, everything is on backorder, and an amazing amount of stuff to organize. Health insurance, insurance, storage, mail forwarding...etc... My brain however seems to have already left on sabbatical... Your boat's going to look funny sitting there unused while you're in jail. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 6 minutes ago, Ajax said: Your boat's going to look funny sitting there unused while you're in jail. No funny. I have another week IF I don't go into the wrong COVID zone. IF no ones thinks they can pull a fast one while everyone is focussed on Europe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 13 minutes ago, Elegua said: No funny. I have another week IF I don't go into the wrong COVID zone. IF no ones thinks they can pull a fast one while everyone is focussed on Europe. Frankly, I can't believe you accepted this assignment. You should have given them the middle finger and retired. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 1 minute ago, Ajax said: Frankly, I can't believe you accepted this assignment. You should have given them the middle finger and retired. My timing is impeccable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cyclone 559 Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 Can’t get over how well the Sound ID feature of the Merlin Bird ID app works. It will ID multiple species calling, singing simultaneously. Free download from the Cornell Lab. Now’s a good time to try it when the mornings are getting more active. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 March is always wacky in the Chesapeake area- a few days ago it was almost 80. Forecast lows this weekend of 17. Always a trick trying to figure out when to get the cover off. Bottom job done during a warm spell a week or so ago- gotta get topsides buffed up and toerail sanded before launch on the 24th. Got a cockpit seat locker lid in my basement- split open and recoring, hopefully done before this weekend. Lotta work left to do in 2 weeks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santanasailor 639 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Only in Louisiana. Cycling yesterday afternoon in a summer kit Snow storm at 9:00 in the evening. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marty Gingras 313 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 What's this 'winter' thing that many of you write about? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sail4beer 3,408 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 The local Marina is launching the wooden boats. That means spring has arrived early! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
accnick 1,736 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 11 minutes ago, Marty Gingras said: What's this 'winter' thing of which many of you write about? Nice boat. Nothing like a sunny light-air day on a Shields. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Iain A 108 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Yes! Full-on cherry-popping moments; boat, de-winterizing, de-funking, bottom paint, et al and first splash,,, Extra hour of light and a string of pleasant days coming, life starting @ 60 & blessed... Peace ho 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 On 3/9/2022 at 8:40 AM, Elegua said: My timing is impeccable. What did I miss here? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slick470 241 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 yesterday it was in the 70s, today it is snowing and windy. It doesn't usually snow sideways here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 7 hours ago, Bull City said: What did I miss here? I'm in lockdown in Shanghai. When I am released after 21 days, the city itself will probably be in lockdown, or at least it seems headed that way. Six of 20 staff in my company are under various forms of lockdown for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or living in the wrong building. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 @Elegua That brings a new meaning to "Shanghaied." I had no idea. Wish you the best. Keep us posted. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Iain A 108 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 8 hours ago, Bull City said: @Elegua That brings a new meaning to "Shanghaied." I had no idea. Wish you the best. Keep us posted. Best X 2,, only imagine environment, stay safe! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diarmuid 1,331 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 On 3/12/2022 at 7:34 PM, Elegua said: I'm in lockdown in Shanghai. When I am released after 21 days, the city itself will probably be in lockdown, or at least it seems headed that way. Six of 20 staff in my company are under various forms of lockdown for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or living in the wrong building. There's a Tom Waits song in there someplace.... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 51 minutes ago, Diarmuid said: There's a Tom Waits song in there someplace.... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 On 3/12/2022 at 6:34 PM, Elegua said: I'm in lockdown in Shanghai. When I am released after 21 days, the city itself will probably be in lockdown, or at least it seems headed that way. Six of 20 staff in my company are under various forms of lockdown for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or living in the wrong building. Wrong country... :-). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 On 3/8/2022 at 5:27 PM, accnick said: It will all happen. Keep your eye on the prize. Yes, yes, and yes. There are many, many bumps, hurdles, apparent insolvencies, discouragements, unforeseen circumstances and sometimes just plain bullshit along the way! :-). I’m dealing with a few of those now in the hard work stage, after the the figuring out stage - but I did just order a new sail, a drifter, a fun way to spend several thousand dollars. Someone else is doing all the work this time :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 30 minutes ago, Jud - s/v Sputnik said: Wrong country... :-). I’ve lived here three times in two different cities. I first came here in 1994. That China is long gone. It was good. I even had a Weta tri on a lake one time. We did some fun things before they got popular or restricted like visit the grottos in Dun Huang and attended the opening of the Olympics in ‘08. I’m a history buff, so it’s fun, and sometimes a disappointment, to see the things you read about in class. I’m not a fan of big city living and COVID is making a mess. Three times is enough for me. I can’t imagine I’ll ever be back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 9 minutes ago, Elegua said: I’ve lived here three times in two different cities. I first came here in 1994. That China is long gone. It was good. I even had a Weta tri on a lake one time. We did some fun things before they got popular or restricted like visit the grottos in Dun Huang and attended the opening of the Olympics in ‘08. I’m a history buff, so it’s fun, and sometimes a disappointment, to see the things you read about in class. I’m not a fan of big city living and COVID is making a mess. Three times is enough for me. I can’t imagine I’ll ever be back. I lived in Japan almost four years, traveled to Korea, but never made it to China...no time. But a friend and I had a plan to take the “ferry” from Osaka to Shanghai with our mtn bikes and cycle to Singapore. Probably good we didn’t attempt it :-) Yeah, I’m with you on big city living. I feel blessed to live on an island, with easy access to a city, but also easy retreat well away from it, which makes it quickly vanish from my consciousness... First I’m hearing of covid lockdowns in China - holy shit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 1 hour ago, Jud - s/v Sputnik said: I lived in Japan almost four years, traveled to Korea, but never made it to China...no time. But a friend and I had a plan to take the “ferry” from Osaka to Shanghai with our mtn bikes and cycle to Singapore. Probably good we didn’t attempt it :-) Yeah, I’m with you on big city living. I feel blessed to live on an island, with easy access to a city, but also easy retreat well away from it, which makes it quickly vanish from my consciousness... First I’m hearing of covid lockdowns in China - holy shit. I really enjoyed my time living in Korea, though I have to say that it improved greatly in the 2010's. It used to be a really gritty city. I enjoyed living in Hong Kong and especially Taiwan and Singapore for almost opposite reasons. Taiwan is great living, and in Singapore we enjoyed good sailing. I bought a sport boat and raced it with my family and my kids participated in the national sailing program. Anyway, on holiday back in the states in 2009 I picked up a copy of Beth Leonard's book, I thought to myself I really want to this, and if I do really want to do this, I'd best get my finger out now. So after some looking, I bought a boat surveyed, (reputable surveyor and CCA member), but sight unseen, in 2011. I watched the survey on the harbor cam at the yard from Singapore. I still have a screen shot of the boat in the slings. Not the smartest start. I most certainly over paid. When I showed up, I found she stank of diesel, the bilge was full of oil, there were lots of leaks, almost flat batteries. ...etc... Plus, she was loaded to the gills with a metric shitte tonne kit from the PO's PO. Everything was top of the line stuff from 1997, but used hard and then left to rot from 2002. I even found a half melted chart of the N Atlantic in the bilge. I think I raised the waterline at least 3-4" once I got all the stuff off. Then we delivered her to Maine to refit. Possibly mistake No. 2, but at that time I had no idea. Maine yards were still transitioning from building to service and the rates at a top of the line Maine yard were cheaper than a guy who never answered his phone in RI and for whom ABYC was a vague regulatory hassle. Might still be true. The yards were still suffering from the aftermath of 2008 and were willing to take on small vessels like mine. Today that's probably no longer true. Of course, on the delivery to Maine we ran into a big windline on Buzzard's Bay as soon as we turned north and spent the day bashing against the tide. and wind. There was a moment of panic when the stuffing box leaked, but look at those grins. A moment later after I took this picture, I noticed we were sailing past the last buoy at the Hen and Chickens, and I want to say that I saw the wreck there, streaming in the seas looking like it was charging up the bay, but that is likely an unreliable memory. We did make it to Sippican for the evening without sinking or hitting anything. The next morning we topped up the fuel at Burr Brothers. Some older guy really know how to make us feel good by making some comment like, "looks like you're headed to Bermuda". I then almost stalled then engine while backing up into a dock full of some very nice looking boats, but pulled off a 270 to get out of there without hitting anything. We went through the canal at first light and headed up to Maine in a light breeze northwest breeze. I'll never forget the next morning off of Jeffries ledge. I had the morning watch. Everyone was asleep. The boat was quietly going to windward with the monitor driving as the sun came up. Sure, the boat was kind of a mess, but it really felt good. This is where we were supposed to be all along. Finally. I had no idea of what was to come over the next ten years. Good thing, too. After I took the gudgeon off and cleaned the fuel tank, I realized how lucky we had been to get such benign conditions. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Spring is almost here, and Daylight Time has already arrived. I started a thread in General Anarchy about it. I was going to start it in CA, but I was concerned that some might say it was political. I don't think it is yet, but it's probably only a matter of time. Any how, have a look: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jud - s/v Sputnik 1,426 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 6 hours ago, Bull City said: Spring is almost here, and Daylight Time has already arrived. I started a thread in General Anarchy about it. I was going to start it in CA, but I was concerned that some might say it was political. Political? This (below) is political. The freakin’ time on the clock isn’t political. :-) https://www.newsweek.com/not-just-christmas-swiss-urged-stop-eating-cats-and-dogs-287378?fbclid=IwAR2AgaRWOaRsn7WCxFtTtSxYEl5h2zKH-RsDUoFSzQwwGfgzXRipEI_tBTw Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Willin' 1,691 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 On 3/15/2022 at 12:56 AM, Elegua said: I really enjoyed my time living in Korea, though I have to say that it improved greatly in the 2010's. It used to be a really gritty city. I enjoyed living in Hong Kong and especially Taiwan and Singapore for almost opposite reasons. Taiwan is great living, and in Singapore we enjoyed good sailing. I bought a sport boat and raced it with my family and my kids participated in the national sailing program. Anyway, on holiday back in the states in 2009 I picked up a copy of Beth Leonard's book, I thought to myself I really want to this, and if I do really want to do this, I'd best get my finger out now. So after some looking, I bought a boat surveyed, (reputable surveyor and CCA member), but sight unseen, in 2011. I watched the survey on the harbor cam at the yard from Singapore. I still have a screen shot of the boat in the slings. Not the smartest start. I most certainly over paid. When I showed up, I found she stank of diesel, the bilge was full of oil, there were lots of leaks, almost flat batteries. ...etc... Plus, she was loaded to the gills with a metric shitte tonne kit from the PO's PO. Everything was top of the line stuff from 1997, but used hard and then left to rot from 2002. I even found a half melted chart of the N Atlantic in the bilge. I think I raised the waterline at least 3-4" once I got all the stuff off. Then we delivered her to Maine to refit. Possibly mistake No. 2, but at that time I had no idea. Maine yards were still transitioning from building to service and the rates at a top of the line Maine yard were cheaper than a guy who never answered his phone in RI and for whom ABYC was a vague regulatory hassle. Might still be true. The yards were still suffering from the aftermath of 2008 and were willing to take on small vessels like mine. Today that's probably no longer true. Of course, on the delivery to Maine we ran into a big windline on Buzzard's Bay as soon as we turned north and spent the day bashing against the tide. and wind. There was a moment of panic when the stuffing box leaked, but look at those grins. A moment later after I took this picture, I noticed we were sailing past the last buoy at the Hen and Chickens, and I want to say that I saw the wreck there, streaming in the seas looking like it was charging up the bay, but that is likely an unreliable memory. We did make it to Sippican for the evening without sinking or hitting anything. The next morning we topped up the fuel at Burr Brothers. Some older guy really know how to make us feel good by making some comment like, "looks like you're headed to Bermuda". I then almost stalled then engine while backing up into a dock full of some very nice looking boats, but pulled off a 270 to get out of there without hitting anything. We went through the canal at first light and headed up to Maine in a light breeze northwest breeze. I'll never forget the next morning off of Jeffries ledge. I had the morning watch. Everyone was asleep. The boat was quietly going to windward with the monitor driving as the sun came up. Sure, the boat was kind of a mess, but it really felt good. This is where we were supposed to be all along. Finally. I had no idea of what was to come over the next ten years. Good thing, too. After I took the gudgeon off and cleaned the fuel tank, I realized how lucky we had been to get such benign conditions. Great story! My one trip north from Cape Cod Bay left us in Ptown harbor for 2 days ducking a noreaster, then a 10 hour motor on glassy calm water to Isles of Shoals for perhaps one of the finest evenings dining in the cockpit ever. It didn't hurt that neighbors kept rowing by complimenting our boat though. I just did an inventory of frozen picked lobster meat left over from last summer. I couldn't decide whether to get a lobster license this summer or not since we had so much left over from last year. Down to about 16 lbs left, guess I better get that license after all. Looks like I'll have some fresh if you seek shelter in the Basin this year! The oyster farm is gone but I planted several thousand on the bottom in a secret spot, so there's that too. Best of luck getting up here! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 1 hour ago, Willin' said: Great story! My one trip north from Cape Cod Bay left us in Ptown harbor for 2 days ducking a noreaster, then a 10 hour motor on glassy calm water to Isles of Shoals for perhaps one of the finest evenings dining in the cockpit ever. It didn't hurt that neighbors kept rowing by complimenting our boat though. I just did an inventory of frozen picked lobster meat left over from last summer. I couldn't decide whether to get a lobster license this summer or not since we had so much left over from last year. Down to about 16 lbs left, guess I better get that license after all. Looks like I'll have some fresh if you seek shelter in the Basin this year! The oyster farm is gone but I planted several thousand on the bottom in a secret spot, so there's that too. Best of luck getting up here! Dude, picked lobster is priced like gold these days. You are sitting on a treasure. Sorry to hear about the oyster farm, but glad you have a stash. I figure we're due for at least one trip into Casco before we shove off. We'll be sure to give you a bell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cyclone 559 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 8 hours ago, Willin' said: I better get that license after all You betcha 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kris Cringle 2,161 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Fishermen have it to themselves now. No frikkin yachts in the harbor, they can run full throttle right to the bait landing. Record landing last season they’re champing at the bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Willin' 1,691 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 45 minutes ago, Kris Cringle said: Fishermen have it to themselves now. No frikkin yachts in the harbor, they can run full throttle right to the bait landing. Record landing last season they’re champing at the bit. Is that the building that used to house Shepherds Pie? Man, they had awesome shrimp tacos there for not too much $. Everything good and cheap goes away! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kris Cringle 2,161 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 3 minutes ago, Willin' said: Is that the building that used to house Shepherds Pie? Man, they had awesome shrimp tacos there for not too much $. Everything good and cheap goes away! Close. Two lots up was Shepards Pie, now 18 Central, a raw bar restaurant. The building in the photo has Nina June, Tuscan fare (which she has background, exceptional food), and a coffee/breakfast place. In between and under construction (and local litigation) is the Rockport Harbor Hotel, a boutique hotel that will also have an 80 seat restaurant and a bar, also with harbor views. Now you can come into Rockport and get fed and hammered, in three adjoining places. There used to a restaurant in the red building called the Sail Loft. The food business is tricky, especially in the new world, post covid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santanasailor 639 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Springtime in Louisiana, rain so heavy you cannot see across the cove. Flood warnings, tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings. Won’t be any boatwork or outdoor cycling training today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OSPREY 218 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Here in Boot Key Harbor Florida. It’s windy 20+ Yesterday and today but the locals still come around Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mckenzie.keith 130 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 On 3/12/2022 at 6:34 PM, Elegua said: I'm in lockdown in Shanghai. When I am released after 21 days, the city itself will probably be in lockdown, or at least it seems headed that way. Six of 20 staff in my company are under various forms of lockdown for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or living in the wrong building. Yikes. Being locked down in a foreign country is one of my nightmares. I used to go back and forth between HK and Shenzhen. I always wondered what would happen if I got stuck in no-man's land on the bridge at that one crossing (I don't think it is used much anymore). You check out of China then walk for quite a while across an enclosed pedestrian bridge then you enter HK. What would happen if neither country would let you in? Would you just have to stay on the bridge forever? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 19 minutes ago, mckenzie.keith said: Yikes. Being locked down in a foreign country is one of my nightmares. I used to go back and forth between HK and Shenzhen. I always wondered what would happen if I got stuck in no-man's land on the bridge at that one crossing (I don't think it is used much anymore). You check out of China then walk for quite a while across an enclosed pedestrian bridge then you enter HK. What would happen if neither country would let you in? Would you just have to stay on the bridge forever? You're already in the shit with that bolded statement. Being in lockdown just takes away any pretenses. You get tested every 48hrs if you want to go anywhere in the city. You also need a green health code and travel code. I can't get the travel code because I don't have a local phone. Testing positive means a trip to COVID camp if you don't have a Shanghai residence. Not many here on a business visa. Actually 20 of 29 staff are on lock down. My entire facility in SZ is on lockdown and I can't get any of the candidates I need to interview into the city nor can I visit most of the facilities I need to see as the district they are in is locked down. In all, this was a silly trip as I predicted before I left. The city is a ghost town. Still, can't lockdown the ice cream. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Launch day tomorrow morning.. Toerail sanded, hull buffed, bottom done, fresh gold on the cove stripe. Lotta work in the last week, my body feels like I've been through boot camp! More work on other teak when she's in the water- boat work never ends... 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim in Halifax 593 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 What boat is that? Very pretty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 25 minutes ago, Jim in Halifax said: What boat is that? Very pretty. Thanks. Hood custom Gulfstar 40. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 1 hour ago, bgytr said: Launch day tomorrow morning.. Toerail sanded, hull buffed, bottom done, fresh gold on the cove stripe. Lotta work in the last week, my body feels like I've been through boot camp! More work on other teak when she's in the water- boat work never ends... Sigh...what I wouldn't give to paint my topsides. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim in Halifax 593 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 4 minutes ago, Ajax said: Sigh...what I wouldn't give to paint my topsides. I hear an owner-applied Alexseal job is pretty satisfying... I'm in the same (but different) boat as you, but, being white, my topsides still look good from afar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 18 minutes ago, Jim in Halifax said: I hear an owner-applied Alexseal job is pretty satisfying... I'm in the same (but different) boat as you, but, being white, my topsides still look good from afar. I'm debating between my standing rigging and painting the topsides as the next big project. There is nothing obviously wrong with my rigging, it's just old. You've heard all the arguments for replacing SS rigging so no need to elaborate further. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 3 minutes ago, Ajax said: I'm debating between my standing rigging and painting the topsides as the next big project. There is nothing obviously wrong with my rigging, it's just old. You've heard all the arguments for replacing SS rigging so no need to elaborate further I'm almost finished with my standing rigging replacement, just left is the backstay. We'll probably have that replaced in the next month or two. My Rod rigging was original to the boat over 40 years old. My paint job is barely passable. It's an old awlgrip job with lots of scratches. Looks ok from 2 or more boatlenghts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I'm in the middle of replacing my standing rigging and gooseneck. I don't know the age. Might be 1996. Might be 2006. I'd love to fix my old awlgrip, but not in the budget this year. It's passable at 10'. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 On 3/17/2022 at 11:32 AM, Kris Cringle said: they’re champing at the bit. <pedantic>I was gratified to see this expression used correctly. So often I read or hear "chomping at the bit."</pedantic> 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Doing an experiment thought you guys might be interested... I melted surfboard wax and painted it on the prop blades as a poor man's propspeed coating. Will see how it works out. I might be going for a swim with the scraper soon! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 52 minutes ago, bgytr said: I'm almost finished with my standing rigging replacement, just left is the backstay. We'll probably have that replaced in the next month or two. My Rod rigging was original to the boat over 40 years old. My paint job is barely passable. It's an old awlgrip job with lots of scratches. Looks ok from 2 or more boatlenghts. I'm gratified to hear that I'm not the only person who replaces the rigging piecemeal instead of all at once. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elegua 1,840 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 13 minutes ago, bgytr said: Doing an experiment thought you guys might be interested... I melted surfboard wax and painted it on the prop blades as a poor man's propspeed coating. Will see how it works out. I might be going for a swim with the scraper soon! Count me curious to see if that works. I tried the rattle-can version of prop-coat one year. Worked well in cold water. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I've had surprisingly good results with Petit zinc prop spray even in the Chesapeake's warm water. It lasts a solid year if properly applied. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 58 minutes ago, Elegua said: Count me curious to see if that works. I tried the rattle-can version of prop-coat one year. Worked well in cold water. Me too. My new pod drive has a plastic prop. It's in a fresh water lake where algae is the main growth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,578 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 18 minutes ago, Ajax said: I've had surprisingly good results with Petit zinc prop spray even in the Chesapeake's warm water. It lasts a solid year if properly applied. Is there much prep work? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 23 minutes ago, Bull City said: Is there much prep work? Just getting the surface clean and free of all prior marine growth. I've never primed the surface but I think there is a primer that you can buy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 54 minutes ago, Bull City said: Me too. My new pod drive has a plastic prop. It's in a fresh water lake where algae is the main growth. I'd worry about putting melted wax on a plastic prop tho.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 High as she'll go in the slings getting centerboard re-surfaced. Will have to do the last bit of the centerboard over the water so it can be fully lowered 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toddster 921 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I don't recall (if I ever knew) what's in it, but perhaps the small, exorbitantly expensive can of "transducer paint" would also serve for plastic props? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 @bgytr I forget, where are you and where are you sailing? A White Rocks Marina popped up locally in my Google-fu. Are you in Maryland? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 2 hours ago, Ajax said: I'm gratified to hear that I'm not the only person who replaces the rigging piecemeal instead of all at once. Ya my rigger suggested doing the lowers first as those are most likely to fail first. So I did the lowers, headstay, babystay, and jib furler winter before last, then the intermidiates and uppers this past winter. Backstay upcoming. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 1 minute ago, Ajax said: @bgytr I forget, where are you and where are you sailing? A White Rocks Marina popped up locally in my Google-fu. Are you in Maryland? Yep Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ajax 2,963 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Just now, bgytr said: Yep Ah, ok. Your boat is well suited to the nooks and crannies around here. An 11' foot draft with the board down...wow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgytr 503 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 8 minutes ago, Ajax said: Ah, ok. Your boat is well suited to the nooks and crannies around here. An 11' foot draft with the board down...wow! Ya it's a good Chesapeake boat. Can be tricky upwind with the board down in spots tho. You on the Bay too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prairie Boater 14 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I have used straight beeswax on our prop, however we drywall our boat so it has never been in the water long enough at one time to grow anything. It is easy to do and doesn't cost much. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Iain A 108 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 10 hours ago, Elegua said: You're already in the shit with that bolded statement. Being in lockdown just takes away any pretenses. You get tested every 48hrs if you want to go anywhere in the city. You also need a green health code and travel code. I can't get the travel code because I don't have a local phone. Testing positive means a trip to COVID camp if you don't have a Shanghai residence. Not many here on a business visa. Actually 20 of 29 staff are on lock down. My entire facility in SZ is on lockdown and I can't get any of the candidates I need to interview into the city nor can I visit most of the facilities I need to see as the district they are in is locked down. In all, this was a silly trip as I predicted before I left. The city is a ghost town. Still, can't lockdown the ice cream. brandon pop Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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