Getting Ready To Splash!

Post by **StockHR** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:55 am

This weekend although windy and cool has seen the yard at Haven Harbour very busy for the first time this spring with do-it-your-selfers. I feel like every time I paint the bottom and start to wax the hull our boat has gotten bigger. I'll never admit to getting older! For the first time I am using Aqua-Buff with a buffer first and finishing with Carnuba Wax on the second coat by hand. Both have made the hull look terrific. A quick safety tip: if you are waxing your hull with the sun over your back you might want to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the rays reflecting off the hull. With any luck I'll finish all of the waxing today and than on to spraying the running gear. Hopefully I'll still have some arm strength left at the end of the day to raise a beer can, sit back and think about the upcoming season. Don't forget to check out the rendezvous in your area, what better way to show off all your hard work getting your boat ready to splash.

Mike

Post by **Legacy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:23 am

Very cold in Boston yesterday. Boat is still shrink wrapped but in the water and being readied for the season's first run. Besides general cleaning of the cabin, I got down on the deck, and under the deck, with a few tools and a small shop vac. I tightened every screw and bolt inside and out. It's really staggering how many there are! Not a bad activity as it also made me focus on several key systems and components. Besides getting rid of a few rattles, I also discovered a place that needed a bit of chafing gear and more than a few that needed a wire brushing and a squirt of Corrosion Block. The whole day would have been much easier if I weighed 90 pounds and had a third arm.

It occurred to me that next time I do that exercise I should bring along a handful of hang tags and label everything.

Anyway, good Spring commissioning everyone!

Rick

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:05 am

As launch date grows near I was all ready for a day of buffing. Not so. The temps were still in the 40s and low 50s. With the north wind coming off the bay it was not a good day to finish the first coat. I ended up going to our trailer and getting that ready for spring. I also wanted to try out the new inflatable. Too cool. Oh well, maybe mid-week will see us into the 60s. This morning "they" are calling for highs in the 40s. At least it's not raining or snowing.
One of our "shack" neighbors got a hot tub. HA! We don't have running water but we have a hot tub. We have a 250 gallon water tank and fill it at the local hydrant.

Post by **Veebyes2** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:30 pm

You all are thinking about getting boats ready for spring. I just completed putting mine into hibernation till at least November.

In 4 days we head to the Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore to get our truck & trailer then head off to AK sometime next week.

It will be our first year since 1982 that we will be boatless.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:02 pm

Boatless!

Hope to catch up with you guys while your in town.

Post by **Carl** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:39 pm

I was able to get two coats of bottom paint and a coat of wax (I had it waxed before the shrink wrap went on) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Friday I changed out the zincs cleaned up the stainless and wire brushed the prop. Hope to get it in the water Wed or Thur this week. Spent the weekend getting the trolling rods ready (12 of them) so all I have to do is finish the rigs to tie on the rods. Hope to do some catch and release on the weekend if the weather permits.

Post by **Mariner** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:02 pm

This was an abnormal winter for us. The boat hardly got used. I think there was only one overnight trip taken, and that was by my parents, not me. I did a fair amount of crabbing and fishing, but once crabbing closed in January, and the salmon runs pretty much ending at the same time, it wasn't much more than a few day trips. Also, it didn't help that the diesel heater wasn't working, making overnight trips on the hook undesirable.

Regardless, we spent some time yesterday pulling out the heater for repairs and fixing some broken drawer faces. I guess that counts as "spring maintenance".

Post by **Carl** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:01 pm

Droped her in the water today and got her tied up 5 minutes before the front came through with wind gusts of 30 mph. After some quick line adjustments she is snug. Sunday is looking real nice for the first outing!

Post by **Legacy** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:48 pm

We're in the water and the plastic comes off this weekend, rain or shine. A bit of a problem to address however. Just discovered the coupling between my port shaft and transmission dropped four of five bolts. Need to replace and adjust alignment. This was discovered by accident while a water pump was being replaced. Better we found it now at the slip than offshore. I assume the shaft would slip out and leave me with a lot of water coming in and an expensive repair bill? Yikes.

Rick

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:45 am

Carl wrote:Droped her in the water today and got her tied up 5 minutes before the front came through with wind gusts of 30 mph. After some quick line adjustments she is snug. Sunday is looking real nice for the first outing!

Carl,
I forgot which marina you are in?

Post by **Carl** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:44 pm

John, It used to be called Skipjacks until last Sept when the owner of 35 years sold. It is now owned by Clarks Landing. They would only re-new our slip until October because they are going to put in all new piers. (floating type) I dont think we will be welcomed back as they are into new boat sales and they will fill all the slips with Sea Rays. They sent letters to all of the slip holders with sailboats and gave them until the end of May to remove their boats from the property. We will spend the next few months looking for a new Marina. We started looking last year but I am hoping that there might be a better selection with some people selling their boats. Most of the places that we would consider were full.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:08 pm

kicking out the sailboats? And the Albins? With Sea Rays?

Post by **Carl** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:24 pm

You got it! We will see what happens but they will not commit to any of the current slip holders. I understand that in order to do the piers we have to go, but they will not tell us if we can come back in the spring or not. My guess is no. They will want to keep their slips for their boats and their clients. It is one of those progress thing I guess. We have been there 7 years so its hard to see a nice quiet place change so much.

Albin Owners Group

Albin Owners Group

Getting Ready To Splash!

Getting Ready To Splash!

Could use a third arm

coupler bolts