HALLOWEEN 2009 ! boo

Happy Halloween! don't be scared - it's just my boat.

Welcome to: This old boat... I inherited a very long 'to-do' list from Craig, after he and Angela visited Oct. 21st. Maybe i should have started with the easiest thing on the list? (i am so sore, all over, my knees feel arthritic and fractured. my back is tight and sore. feels like it could lock up at any second.) I started with "fix windlass." [the windlass is the motor on deck that lifts the chain and anchor.] the original problem was; the foot switch needed to be replaced. it was intermittent. $35 and done. except then the motor slipped. something else is wrong. (Ideal Windlass built in Rhode Island, circa 1980, replacement cost $4,500. designed to lift 500 lbs)

My Windlass needs a new brake pad. ($45) in addition i read that you need to rotate the ends of your chain yearly. so i am thinking i'll switch the chain. i've also read, "you need to galvanize the chain" to keep it from rusting.

[Galvanizing: In this step, the material is completely immersed in a bath consisting of a minimum 98% pure molten zinc. The bath chemistry is specified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) in Specification B 6. The bath temperature is maintained at about 850 F.]

so i get in there and take out my chain. i discover some rust on the motor in the chain locker below deck. so i take wire brushes to the motor and then prime it, now i've painted it. all this takes place in a tiny closet in the 'front point of the boat.' it's below head level so you have to stoop down. i've spent two days scrunched down, bent over, reaching up into the chain locker on my knees reaching way-way out.

a question on the BLOG.

""Inquiring minds want to know: Exactly how did you get all that chain from the boat, up the dock and to your car??? -The Admiral ""

[REPLY: well Angela i had to slowly, carefully, load every inch of that chain and anchor into a dock cart. then slowly drag it up the dock and make multiple attempts to get it up the ramp. this resulted in some minor lower back pain.]
(shown here with coat 1 of primer)

Then this afternoon, after applying 4 coats of anti-rust primer to the motor, and 2 coats of candy apple red paint, i decided to do another project. the Liquid Propane Gas lady told me last year that i "need to paint my gas cans yearly" to inhibit rust. i think, well i have everything already out - why not paint my 2 gas cans? So i work on those for a few hours... wire brush the rust spots and then hit it with primer. finally turn them upside down and paint the bottoms candy apple red. it looks like two Jack-o-lanterns sitting on the dock!

This Old Boat. it never ends...

happy pirate skip - boo!

Angela and Craig visit - we sail

Craig and Angela came to visit. We sailed down to Galveston Island and anchored out overnight at Moody Gardens, returning the next day. It was a great visit and i cant thank Craig and Angela enough for all their help. Now they are flying back to Grenada to their boat and continue on their cruise of the Caribbean. (regular pirates us three)

Dentist visit 10/13

I hate going to the dentist. i dont hate 'my dentist.' i just hate the dental experience. unfortunately i have some work that has to be done. have you had a crown before? it's unpleasant, but i need the teeth...

even a pirate needs teeth to eat. -Skip

Harvest Moon Regatta - Fun Time 10.4.9

Harvest Moon Regatta / smackdown tour 2009.

From Kemah (where my boat is docked) we motored down the ship channel to Galveston. Just keep an eye out for large ships. THEY have the right of way. Stay way over to the side. One tiny sailboat ran across in front and got honked at by a big tanker. (no sailboats were injured in the making of these photos)

The race was very exciting. At the start was a sea full of ships going everywhere at once. There are several different classes, categories and style boats all starting at 5 minute staggers. So everyone is out there going back and forth waiting their turn and trying to stay close to the line without going over it or hitting another boat. (we had a close call when one didnt observe the right of way and almost ran into us) FIVE minute warning... you sail close to the line. ONE minute whistle... you sail toward the line. BOOM the gun sounds and you fly across the starting line at a mind numbing 5 miles an hour. Now just 150 miles to go!

#1. We made it about 15 miles offshore from Freeport when we were hit by a Squal. From light wind conditions we were hit by 60 mph winds which knocked over our boat and tore up our sails. We were forced to motor back to Freeport and drop out of the race. Crew Rod & Linda Dave Vini Skip. (a jib sheet hit me in the face during the storm. i'm OK.)

The ripped up Mizzen Sail - cut into a covered Awning. Attach grommets and tie it up.

Motoring down the Intracoastal Waterway. #2. As luck would have it we ran aground in a shallow spot of the ditch and damaged our tiller. (think mud trough about 12' deep and varying widths. some spots are only slightly wider than two barges side by side.)

So after we run aground and bend the rudder in the ICW, we need to get out of the way of the tug boats. Tow Boats U.S. comes and tows us home. (takes about six hours) Rod is a member with Tow Boats, so he's covered for the tow. a non-member would have to pay about $2,000.

I am already planning now to work hard so that i finish the entire race in 2010. It's a big adventure.

-Pirate Skip