Thursday, August 18, 2011

August weather

We that is  have been spared the horrible heat and humidity that usually effects the Chesapeake Bay in August.  July was very hot and humid. 

We need to get the final parts for the water maker.  We are just clamps and wiring away from completion.

Today is laundry.  We go to a great laundry that has double and triple washers and dryers.  Two weeks worth of laundry can be completed in an hour and a half. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Death in the water

This summer at the marina has been less boring than in other years.  In May, Tom Allen, died of a heart attack.  Tom was a fixture in the marina.  He owned many slips and lived on his boat.  He had captained boats around the world and helped start the Annapolis Sailing Academy.  In June a boat burned from an electrical fire.  The owner was away from the boat at the time, but his dog was lost in the fire.  July 4th weekend someone committed suicide on a boat at the marina next door, Pirates Cove.  Kylie and Tom were here for dinner.  I tried to turn on the stove, but we had run out of propane.  As we were walking down the dock, we saw the haz mat team.  In August a man was visiting the engine shop.  He got into his van and had a heart attack as he was leaving the parking lot.  His van ran into three boats and a building.  One of the boats was totalled.  Two had a hole punched into their hull.  The building lost a few boards.  The man is still in the hospital.  Yesterday, helicopters were circling tent house creek.  A man from Harwood was crabbing and hadn't been heard from since 11:30 am  His boat was found without him aboard.  The search continues.

We have had a slip at this marina for over 10 years.  We always enjoyed the same old, same old of Galesville.  Hopefully we will have no new events. 

They found the  man's body.  Prayers go out to his family.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Toilet/Head maintenance

Today is the day we fix the head.  We were putting in the watermaker and broke a piece off of the head.  We emailed Raritan and the next day they called us back!  Such good service.  We ordered the part and received it on Monday.  We have used the head for 5 years and never serviced it or rebuilt it.  Time to rebuild the pump.  Instead of taking the pump apart and replacing all the gaskets, we bought a complete new pump assembly.  Much less mess to replace. 

Taking care of a marine head is a delicate process.  We have always used an enzyme based treatment system.  The use of harsh chemicals can wear out the gaskets and working parts of the head.  Chlorine treatments are harmful to the water creatures and grasses.  We tried KO and CP sold by Raritan, but they are soooo expensive.  We found Biogreen Clean on the Ed Shultz show.  It is all organic plant enzymes.  Cleans the head.  Can be used on the outside of the boat because it will not pollute the water.  I put it in a spray bottle and use it to pretreat clothing stains when I put the clothes into the laundry bag.  The stuff cleans the drains and we used it to clean the bilge.  It doesn't have a fragrance, but everything smells clean when you finish what ever chore you are doing.

The weather today has stopped raining and is sunny and warm with out being too hot.  Humidity hasn't rolled in yet.  Nice to have the boat open. 

Monday, August 15, 2011

rain and rain

We need to get a few parts to finish the installations we are currently working on.  We seem to leave the few 'last minute' things undone be cause we have to buy a part.  Rainy days seem to be good for shopping.

One thing about shopping and living on a boat, if you buy anything, you have to know where it will be stored.  If you don't know where to store it, DON'T buy it.  I wish I would have started this questioning of stuff before we moved onto the boat.  I probably wouldn't had to give so much stuff away. 

Since we have some stall time here, I'll start telling you what it is like to live on a boat.  I have also learned some time saving, space saving, money saving tips.  If you want to know anything about boat living, ask. 

Sunday, August 14, 2011

August 2011- Preparing to leave the Chesapeake Bay

So far we have installed the water-maker, cleaned out the boat of extra crap and started reviewing charts and cruising guides, installed the SSB radio and pactor modem.  The hardest part is waiting to leave until the hurricane season is over to start moving south.  We have our slip in the West River and have enjoyed sailing the middle bay for over 30+ years.  We love going to the Wye River and gunk-holing throughout the eastern shore.  But now that we live on the boat, we go out sailing for technique and drill practice. We want our skills to be ready for whatever situation we encounter. 

We have called ourselves 'chickens of the sea' because we try not to sail in bad weather.  Re-learning weather techniques and reading the weather signs has been a full time job lately.  We have app tools available, but have been using weather-fax and NOAA weather broadcasts as our primary weather tools.  We are learning how to use the cruiser and weather nets on the SSB(HAM) and Marine radio bands.  Been a long time since we've had to study and learn, but the skills are coming back. 

We were overwhelmed by all the stuff we had to to on the list.  We are doing one item a day.  A good stragey so far.  Things are getting done, but we still have time to enjoy our boat.  We didn't want the boat to feel like a 'work place'.  We want it to be comfortable and fun.


It is the middle of August and the hurricane names are up to 'F'.  Tropical Depression Franklin is well off shore and poses no threat to the east coast.  Will keep watching the sky for new developing systems.