Two of the days were not at the boat. One of them was at the Club, getting the outboard off of the dink, cleaned up and transported to Al and John's Marine in New Rochelle for service and storage. I could have saved $100 (the storage part after it was winterized) by storing it in my crowded locker. But that would have required lugging it up a nasty flight of stairs, and back down in the spring. I'm getting too old for such heavy stuff. Getting the dinghy itself up there (it is lighter than the motor but very bulky and need to go through a small space) after washing, deflating. and trussing it up like a Thanksgiving turkey took the help of Sheige and Pat. Thanks guys.
The other non-boat Work day was at home with computer, phone and credit card. 1. I created the winter project work list; now lets see it I can get it all done.
2. I contacted Mars Metals in Canada and Great Island Boatyard in Maine to organize the ordering, paying for, delivery and installation of the new lead "sole" to be fastened under the flat bottom of her keel to add weight at the lowest point which should reduce heeling and let ILENE fly a bit faster when close to the wind. The upshot of all this is that I have to wait until May to get this started; the good news is that the price of lead should be lower by then.
3. Tried to fix my DeWalt cordless electric drill and failing that, found a newer and better one at Home Depot for $99. More powerful (20V vs. 14.4V), with a light that shines on the bit, lighter weight with Lion instead of Nicad batteries that do not discharge as fast in storage and recharge faster, and in a bag that will fit more easily in its space on the boat.
4. Ordered a replacement impeller, from Bridge Marine on City Island. The business is run by a man and his twin adult sons. For years I thought that they were a power-boat store and did not use them. But over the last ten tears I have come to admire their friendly and knowledgeable service and decent prices.
5. After much time reading, and subject to answers from the manufacturer and Raymarine (to which this is supposed to hook up), I tentativelyselected Standard Horizon's Matrix AIS GX2200 (less than $350 at Defender in next spring's warehouse sale). This will make it easy to identify other ships by name and give me their size, course and speed, from the display of a VHF radio unit to replace the existing one at the helm.
The other five Work days were spent at the boat.
+Tied off all the running rigging lines so they would not interfere with the installation of the winter cover nor slap against the mast all winter.
+Cleaned out the raw water strainer and attached three funnels through which to pour antifreeze to all systems needing it -- the fourth one, for air conditioner, was not needed because that device was not used this year.
+Drained the hot water tank, bypassed it and pumped out all of the water it discharged.
+Lowered the two cockpit antennae so the winter cover would fit.
+Winterized the fresh water system, with Lene controlling the electric pump switch and the 12 faucets while I poured in the pink stuff.
+Another of Lene's tasks was to help me put on the winter cover, which also involves "trussing" -- at the bow -- though I have finally learned that the zipper at the stern has to be done before the trussing at the bow.
+The engine and salt water deck wash pump could not be winterized the day Lene was there to help me because problems prevented these machines from pushing the pink fluid through themselves. I took off the cover for the engine's water pump's impeller but could not get the impeller out. The special "impeller puller tool" did not work. My great mechanic, Ed Spalina, came a few days later and charged me only one of his under-priced hours to pull it, install the new impeller that I had on hand, and replace the cover. Note to self: though the location is damned near impossible to reach, use needle nose pliers and brute strength to out the old -- and dish soap to slide the new one in -- and don't forget the O-ring. With regard to the salt water washdown, the problem was that I forgot to remind Lene to de-kink the hose; once de-kinked the pump pushed the pink stuff straight through the hose.
+Poured the two gallons of gas from the dink's tank, via a boat funnel, into the car's tank.
+Put half a gallon of distilled water into the 24 cells of the seven lead acid batteries.
+Put padding between all the chafe points on the boat and the winter cover.
And it wasn't all work either. We had two Other days, theater and dinner parties with Bennett and Harriet of "Ohana".
So only nine boat related days in the 21 days of this period. Thus boating related activity has slowed down a lot. But we are not in hibernation because there will be some work and other days throughout the winter.
The other non-boat Work day was at home with computer, phone and credit card. 1. I created the winter project work list; now lets see it I can get it all done.
2. I contacted Mars Metals in Canada and Great Island Boatyard in Maine to organize the ordering, paying for, delivery and installation of the new lead "sole" to be fastened under the flat bottom of her keel to add weight at the lowest point which should reduce heeling and let ILENE fly a bit faster when close to the wind. The upshot of all this is that I have to wait until May to get this started; the good news is that the price of lead should be lower by then.
3. Tried to fix my DeWalt cordless electric drill and failing that, found a newer and better one at Home Depot for $99. More powerful (20V vs. 14.4V), with a light that shines on the bit, lighter weight with Lion instead of Nicad batteries that do not discharge as fast in storage and recharge faster, and in a bag that will fit more easily in its space on the boat.
4. Ordered a replacement impeller, from Bridge Marine on City Island. The business is run by a man and his twin adult sons. For years I thought that they were a power-boat store and did not use them. But over the last ten tears I have come to admire their friendly and knowledgeable service and decent prices.
5. After much time reading, and subject to answers from the manufacturer and Raymarine (to which this is supposed to hook up), I tentativelyselected Standard Horizon's Matrix AIS GX2200 (less than $350 at Defender in next spring's warehouse sale). This will make it easy to identify other ships by name and give me their size, course and speed, from the display of a VHF radio unit to replace the existing one at the helm.
The other five Work days were spent at the boat.
+Tied off all the running rigging lines so they would not interfere with the installation of the winter cover nor slap against the mast all winter.
+Cleaned out the raw water strainer and attached three funnels through which to pour antifreeze to all systems needing it -- the fourth one, for air conditioner, was not needed because that device was not used this year.
+Drained the hot water tank, bypassed it and pumped out all of the water it discharged.
+Lowered the two cockpit antennae so the winter cover would fit.
+Winterized the fresh water system, with Lene controlling the electric pump switch and the 12 faucets while I poured in the pink stuff.
+Another of Lene's tasks was to help me put on the winter cover, which also involves "trussing" -- at the bow -- though I have finally learned that the zipper at the stern has to be done before the trussing at the bow.
+Poured the two gallons of gas from the dink's tank, via a boat funnel, into the car's tank.
+Put half a gallon of distilled water into the 24 cells of the seven lead acid batteries.
+Put padding between all the chafe points on the boat and the winter cover.
And it wasn't all work either. We had two Other days, theater and dinner parties with Bennett and Harriet of "Ohana".
So only nine boat related days in the 21 days of this period. Thus boating related activity has slowed down a lot. But we are not in hibernation because there will be some work and other days throughout the winter.
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