A Sailor's Holiday in Dry Dock

In the unlikely chance you haven't been made aware already by the numerous media reports and status updates, the world didn't end! This doomsday prophecy was much less romantic as prophecies of recent years because instead of cruising slowly in the ocean out of lands sight with the comical thought of "at least I'm out here!" I spent doomsday disecting my main companionway hatch bad that had begun showing signs of moisture and a little rot last winter.

After some very scientific exploration with a hammer and chisel which revealed a problem that would only likely grow worse, this doctor employed the assistance of his trusty power tools to remove the affected area.

You'll note the increased depth added to the companionway for ease of access (especially for when the AC unit is in). The first concern I hear is understanding (from the folks, especially of the shorter legged variety like my mother and other regular crew members) and then one of potential vessel vulnerability in the case one is pooped (I'm always pooped but that is due to poor calculations between workload an sleep!). In weighing this issue I considered the cockpit drains (which themselves drain water very rapidly) and the cockpit coamings which allow water to easily flow out after flooding the cockpit to a certain level. The current hatch boards aboard Mischief are very stout (constructed from mahogany plank) and interlock. Under circumstances of heavy weather it is boat policy to keep the hatch boards in. That being the case it seems to be a reasonable calculation to lower the hatch step an additional 6 inches for better access.

During this process I am redesigning the hatch boards rather than having to deal with 4 separate pieces that must slide into place. The idea is to take an approach similar to a closet door that folds in two. Instead of hinges attaching one end to the bulkhead I'll make use of the existing slides for the current sliding hatch boards. The overall idea is to have a hatch board that consists of two vertical pieces that are hinged in the middle and are then essentially "pushed" into the companionway. I'll try to upload some preliminary drawings in a few days. With this removable option I can still utilize the AC unit, build a screen version an only have one thing to deal with at a time rather than 4 boards.

Below are some photos of the hatch project underway! Note: the photos didn't upload in the correct order.

Adrift No More!

No worries!! I am not becalmed, stranded nor lost amongst the many mysteries of the ocean. While the siren call of the sea did tempt me, I was not lured into the abyss. After successfully arriving to Sebastian River Marina & Boatyard, right on schedule, the process to haul and store the boat began. While the earlier draft of this posting detailed the process from unstepping the mast to trailering and blocking up Mischief at home, at this point in time these details don't seem as interesting as I had once thought them to be, which is saying something about a guy who loves logistics.

The Bridge of Lions in St Augustine, a beautiful welcome back!

Four months late (for a blog post) doesn't seem that much longer in the grand scheme of things, but for me it feels like it's been an eternity. It was just five months ago that I found myself working in the big city, making ends meet and being "all grown up" and now I'm in law school preparing for my first semester exams. How quickly things change. I've come to realize that my return aboard Mischief represented more than just a neat opportunity; it ushered in a transformation to the next chapter in my life. I was lucky to be able to share this journey with some of the people who I hold dearest in my life, friends and family members that helped me prepare, crew and conclude this voyage. If not for their help and support, who knows, I may have actually gotten lost (for the record we did nearly get lost as we were diverted up the New River towards Jacksonville, NC...)! To everyone that helped and followed the journey, thank you!

Looking back, I am constantly struck by the shear power of the ocean, and more generally, mother nature. The ocean and weather seemed to challenge us at every turn and at one point offering force strong enough to rank as one of the most fearful points in my life. But, just as the sea can push us to our limits, she offers up some of the most spiritually profound and moving moments. Whether staring into the foaming face of an angry sea or watching the sky change from black to purple, then to pink and orange as the sun rises up leaves a significant impression and makes you realize, while there are things in life you can't control, your life is your own and anything less than living every day to the fullest is a waste.

This semester of school has taken me away from Mischief and taken me off the water however, I am hopeful that during winter break and into the spring we can renew that passion that only a skipper can have with his vessel.

More posts to come on planned work ideas.

Cheers!

Two Many Beauforts

We continue our push south today inquiry a goal of getting past Isle of Hope inside of the Wasaw Sound. The heat has begun to ease slightly with mid-70s forecast for the evenings over the weekend. Our passage through Georgia will likely include a lot of white knuckle sailing as the cruising guide cautioned, "The Savannah USACOE does not have the funding to maintain the depths in the areas of southerly South Carolina and through Georgia, caution should be taken at MLW." it goes on to explain some of the other issues but todays high tide will be reached at about 11:30 with low tide 6 hours later. This means we'll have to continue to be vigilant as we approach our destination today as we'll be on an outgoing, very low, tide. Oh, an if I haven't mentioned it before, the tides run 6-8 ft.

On a sad note, we had a "hat overboard" alarm yesterday and due to the current, muddy waters, and lack of depth, we were unable to maneuver quick enough for recovery.

It's 7:30, and while not humid (yesterday morning was like waking up in a wet blanket) it is starting to warm up a little bit.

Oh, and no update or the 4th of July except that a good time was had by all, services the engine and treated myself to a Dark and Stormy and a celebratory cigar given to me by a friend.

Got Charleston On My Mind

Aside from some ripping currents an resurgence in heat, our arrival into Charleston, SC was uneventful. We are docked at the City Marina, home of the MEGA Dock where we have taken on fuel and new crew. Welcome aboard to Beth and safe travels to mom (who has become quite the able bodied sailor during her time aboard)!

This afternoon has been designated as "sit still" afternoon where aside from getting new crew settled in, no boat work will take place until tomorrow. Things on my todo list:

Service engine
Run new reefing lines
Adjust stuffing box
Calculate new route in ICW

Unless there is a significant shift in the weather in the next few days, it looks like our trek will continue south in the ICW. While this will likely minimize the amount of actual sail time, this is the fact of pushing south when everyone else has already headed north and I'm fine with that. I remember a guy stating once that, "It's not a challenge, but an opportunity for success." For a long time I had only heard horror stories of the ICW. I have come to find that while the intracoastal does have some significant challenges, the communities you find and people you meet along the way make it worth while. While I would like to be underway in the Atlantic healed and surfing the waves, taking it easy down the inside has turned out to be somewhat charming.

Happy Independence Day all and have a great time!

Swamps - Shallows - Serenity

We got another early start at first light to put us within 30 miles of Charleston. The tides in this part are huge, 4-8 ft in areas! My Florida senses aren't use to such variations yet. We caught the tide right and averaged 6-6.5 and topping out at 8.5 knots today under power and no sail because, you guessed it, wind right on the nose. The swamps south of Myrtle Beach were a larger version of the Dismal with various country marinas strewn every so often. We passed by the Great Pee Dee River (big brother no doubt to the Little Pee Dee) ad entered the Winyah Bay where there was a paper mill hard at work (shout out to my friends at AF&PA). The intracoastal turned south out of the bay and became nerve rackingly shallow very quickly, from 29' to 7 and 6.5. The worst part was creeping through the Santee River Swamp with readings as low as 5' and channel markers far and few. We made it and hammered down once the tide started rolling against us. After monitoring and keeping a sharp eye for a boat that was in trouble (the Coast Guard's twin 250 motors got there before my 28) we turned into Leland Oil Co. for the evening. What a great little fishing town an as it turns out Mr Leland apparently owns most of the water access (and probably the town). We were invited to stay for Independence Day but had to respectfully decline. Unfortunately we will miss their smorgasbord of fresh caught sea goodies!

Charleston tomorrow!

Here Comes the Heat, Wind and Rain Again

Well, day 8 began with an attempt to make an offshore passage from Cape Fear to Charleston we estimated the journey would've taken about 24-30 hours. After exiting the inlet and working a few different courses, we determined that the cards weren't in hand with winds higher than forecast an building seas on the nose. We doubled back and headed down the waterway. We were lucky today that there were no bridge delays, however the weekend warriors were still out on the waterway. We made Myrtle Beach and listened in on some thunderstorm warnings, which after confirming their threat on the radar we pulled in to Barefoot near Crescent City SC for the night. An hour after we pulled in the storms we were wane about moved through with significant force. At least we'll have A/C this evening, a spoiled time indeed.

Underway

We are now day 7 underway and have many more sea stories to tell than when we cast off.

Really, our adventure began well before tossing the dock lines when we fit 4 adults not to mention a weeks worth of food and supplies into a wee lil 2-door hatchback. Many thanks to Laura for shuttling us to Solomon's Island and for joining in our silly antics. A note about all things "Super" in the DC metro and surrounding areas: these Big Box" stores just aren't as large or well stocked as they are in other parts of the country or the southeast.

Adventure 1 began when the freshwater faucet in the boat would not function. After disassembly it was discovered that the plunger had unscrewed inside the pump. A trip to West Marine to get some cleaner hose and we were back in business.

Day 1:

We were slightly disappointed in light airs Sunday morning when we got into the Chesapeake which turned into 15-25 kts on the nose for a rough afternoon. After a day of cruising we pulled into Antipoison Creek just north of the Rappahannock and dropped the hook in 8-10' of water. The anchorage was well protected and there was little boat traffic. The main nuisance was the racket made by some sort of animals (sounded like a conglomeration of geese, hogs and monkeys running amuck) in the woods on our lee shore.

Day 2:

Conditions remained much the same and the seas had built slightly. We sailed down an across the bay before tacking back towards Norfolk and motoring into the everlasting headwinds. We were over taken by a number of freighters when we entered the harbor and kept an eye on a squall that appeared to be squeezing around us to the north.

I couldn't have been more wrong! The squall was pushing south and we battened down the hatches and had quite the rough ride. Typically, in these conditions, with plenty of sea room, you can ride the storm an be generally okay. However, when in the confines on Norfolk harbor and visibility is reduced and the rollers begin developing etc etc, care has to be taken. Mischief and crew performed well, and although we felt like soaked bilge rats by the time we tied up at Riverfront Marina, we were happy to have done as well as we did.

Day 3:

From Norfolk we steamed to Elizabeth City by way of the Dismal Swamp. This time of the year, especially with the current heat, the Dismal lives up to its name. That being said, some of the most pristine scenery is offered through this way. Elizabeth City has free public slips to tie up to, and wouldn't you know, the locals were showing a Cary Grant movie in the park next to Mischief. Dinner and a show!

Day 4:

A long day that began at 4 AM and ha us to our next stop along the intracoastal, Belhaven. This is one of those charming towns that during its day was quite the destination. When the interstates came through and the i main channel of the intracoastal was diverted, Belhaven was left behind and still has that early century charm. Belhaven Waterway Marina was a great place to pull up to, and the owners provided quite the musical show. They practice Wednesday evenings but quit when the skeeters come out or the sun goes down.

Day 5:

We were up an at'em early again. Out just before day break. Our route took us all the way to Beaufort, NC where we had originally planned to hold up and then continue on the outside. As with many things nautical, plans are well made but soon become obsolete. With the winds still holding southerly and around 20 kts, we decided to continue south in the waterway as we couldn't afford a delay. One of the crew needed to make a Saturday morning flight from Wilmington. We had planned to drop the hook but took a T head at Dudley's Marina in Swansboro. For $0.79 a foot it was definitely a good deal! Not to mention they have a deal where they'll drop you at Riverview Steak and Fish House and the restaurant will bring you back to the marina. Best steaks and most tender scallops I've had in a very long time! Note: they're only open for dinner.

Day 6:

Our goal this leg was to make Wilmington. Come hell or high water. Unfortunately high water was something we didn't have. After passing through Camp Lejune with its ominous sign, "Live Firing In Process, Waterway Closed When Flashing." no worries, Fellsmere's flagship naval vessel made it without having to coax any patrols with rum cocktails.

After passing through a few miles of military training grounds riddled relics of conflicts passed we nearly got run down by a fishing trawler. After letting him overtake me, he was kind enough to guide me through the sever showing in the area and blow out a spot for me to pass. Unfortunately, and to my sever embarrassment for such a silly mistake, I had diverted up the New River towards Jacksonville (NC) when trying to not be squashed by aforementioned fishing trawler. It cleared up the question of why the 65' bridge I was headed under didn't appear on my chart when a fisherman (in a much smaller boat) motored up and asked where I was headed. After replying "Florida" he said, "Yeah, this is New River and that way is Jacksonville." This further confused me because Jacksonville is in Florida. After clarification that I was indeed headed to Jacksonville, NC, the kind gentleman assured me that it happens all the time.

We immediately reversed course and backtracked. Unfortunately there wasn't a large fishing vessel to guide me over the shoals again so I tried tracking back the same was I came across, in a 3.5 kt outbound current. Needless to say we bumped bottom and then grounded. The current would only push us further when I'd maneuver us around to a point where normally you could work free. A couple soon came motoring by having seen this happen and offered assistance. I rigged a halyard line and gave it to the doubting motorboaters and instructed them to easily pull me over. Voila! We were free! We soon got over this shoal and just before entering back into the intracoastal heard other sailors headed through the area getting readings of 4 and 4.1 ft, yikes! Mischief draws 4.5 ft. We took our time at 2 kts and eased our way through, reading depths and bumping bottom twice. My guides indicate that this part of the intracoastal is very prone to severe and shifting shoaling. Agreed.

We made Wilmington a little later than originally anticipated but were able to get the last dock space as it is considered to be 4th of July weekend... Aka, lots of idiots on the waterway.

Visited family, had a good meal, did some laundry and had a night on terra firma.

Day 7

We left Wrightsville Beach and pushed the short trek down to Cape Fear and anchored in the pipeline canal of the intracoastal. I had to replace a faulty bilge pump today and adjust a few other things before we leave for the 30 hr offshore passage to Charleston where I will switch crew and my mom won't ever sail with me again! Just kidding, she's been having a great time and is become quite the sailor. She has definitely kept us fed quite well. Thanks mom!

Next post to come from Charleston SC. Unfortunately cell reception was nonexistent through most of North Carolina which delayed my posts. Also, kind of disappointed that I can't get this tracking feature to work correctly, sorry folks! Will fix it right for my next big adventure :-)

Sailor's Luck

Originally titled My Island 4 Ft Above Ground (6-5-12), the updates which you will see below have convinced me my current title was much better suited.

As noted in my last report, Mischief is on the hard.  It is my belief, along with that of many of my seafaring buddies, that this is the worst place for a boat. I've driven down many country roads past many dusty and overgrown marinas and boats that have similarly been overgrown with mildew and the effects of neglect over long periods of time. It's amazing how this effect is so noticeable after just a month on stands. The birds have been kind enough to try and darken her decks and the earth has thought it prudent to deposit dirt and grass in my cockpit. Maybe the extra weight will keep Mischief from blowing away (all 5 tons of her).

I've got a motley crew lined up for the voyage home. I will admit there were a couple of legs I was sincerely hoping to single hand (Solomons, MD to Norfolk, VA and then from Beaufort, NC to Charleston, SC) but now it looks like I will have crew all the way. The safety (and company) provided by having crew aboard definitely outweighs the independence factor of singlehanding overnight.

My next project is to find a set of boat stands to store Mischief on the hard while taking on law school (yes I know the joke, "what's better than a lawyer at the bottom of the sea? 1,000 of them" :-)) and taking on some of those bigger projects such as what to do about the knees and repainting the deck.

Update since beginning this post (6-18-12):

Some things just have to be given up to Sailor's Luck.  I had my eye on 4 Brownell boat stands of the right size for a great price in Florida a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, by the time I was able to get back home, they had been bought up and the listing removed.  Luckily, I had taken the gentleman's name and phone number (as I had intended to call him earlier) and gave him a ring to see if maybe the post had just expired.  He didn't answer but I got a call from a nice lady the next morning (actually 2 calls and a text as I was away from my phone) who had bought the stands and discovered that they were much too large for her 21' swing keel sailboat (which with the keel up drew 6", my boat draws 4.5'). I was ecstatic and picked them up that afternoon... the stands new cost around $186 a piece. I was able to get the set for $250 and help a fellow seafarer out of a bind. 

Yet more good news... an interested party for the engine whom I lovingly refer to as Ye 'Ole Westerbeke.  A gentleman in Eau Gallie has contacted with significant interest in the Westerbeke that used to be in Mischief.  In the brutal Florida winter of 2010 (when does Florida have brutal winters you may ask, as I am a native, I can tell you EVERY year haha) the Mischief was stripped of this 40 HP overpowering behemoth and replaced with a handsome 28 HP marinized Kubota (Beta Marine). It would have been a fun experience to go through the engine and rebuild it, but at the time I had neither the time, experience or inclination as I was searching for a job so that I could keep my fair lady! At any rate, I thought I would never get rid of the thing but rather than send it to scrap I held on to it, knowing that parts for these old motors are harder to come by. And wouldn't you know it? A fella who cruises with his family is whose current motor has ceazed cooperating (I like puns) and he wants to use the parts of his motor, combine them with my unsiezed motor to make one super motor (throw the switch Igor muahahaha!), well probably not that dramatic, but you get the idea. Unfortunately, my sail plan has me unavailable to help with delivery or showing, all those things an attentive seller must do, but all indications are that he'll wait for my return and will prep his boat in the meantime. Its exciting to see this engine get a second chance!

PS: Motley is term of endearment!

Maintenance Mayhem

This weekend began the discovery process of work to refresh Mischief for her trip back to Florida.  Initially, I had figured the most extensive job would have been cleaning and repainting the bottom.  According to the marina, and my own observations before hauling out, the Potomac had been kind enough to deposit a thick and nasty layer of slime that ushered the removal of most of the ablative paint.  The tie coat looks to still be in good shape with the only other paint problems being in the area of the port boot stripe where there is some bubbling from sitting too low in the water (probably from the added weight of a dirty bottom).  Worry not, these aren't blisters!

Freeboard: Another haul out project is supposed to be the touching up and buffing of the hull.  Luckily, since the hull is painted with AwlCraft, touching up small scratches and nicks is fairly simple.  After this will be the application of a product called NanoWax which is tough stuff and provides a good protective barrier that lasts for months.

Deck:  There have been some issues with a leaking stanchion mount. Mainly the midship stanchion, the one between the starboard aft lower and upper shrouds, showed signs of leaking. In addition to re-bedding the stanchions, there were some spider cracks requiring attention.  Some sanding out of the spider cracks, application of epoxy and touch up paint ought to do the trick.

Like many things boat, once you begin investigating the cause and effect of problems you, more often than not, find the issue to be a little more extensive than originally anticipated. This was just the case when investigating the leaking stanchion. Unfortunately, when upgrading the the various systems we overlooked raising the deck in the area of the chain plates.  This led to problems with leakage into the "knee" (the block of wood that is typically situated between the chain plates and hull and encased in fiberglass).  The knees appear to be original to the boat (or at least of significant age).  I am certain that we did not replace them after taking possession of the boat which probably wasn't wise.  To be honest, until I discovered the problem I didn't know what the knee was, I had just assumed my chain plates to be bolted directly to the hull.  So this poses a problem for me, while the support system is still rigid enough to support a cruise back to Florida, the rig will only become more compromised over the next few years or so.  After all, when I drill a few exploratory holes into the bottom potions of the knee, I must have gotten nearly half or 3/4 of a cup of water.

I have spoken to the man responsible for the structural restoration and rigging, the way he described how the chain plates were re-bedded provides some security.  While whatever wood that is comprising the knee has become saturated, the chain plates themselves are mounted and through bolted so as to the only function as a spacer to the hull. The chain plates are encased in what amounts to a fiberglass envelope extending well onto the fiberglass hull.

There are two roads I can follow.  Either "A," I can attempt to repair these in the little time I have before I have to be back in Florida; "B," I can repair these in the water one at a time once back in Florida; Or "C," I can haul out and have the boat transported to family or friends property to replace both knees. My feeling is that "C" would allow me to complete some other work that needs to be done on the boat including repainting the entire deck (which still looks good, but is 8 years old, fading and beginning to crack and chip). Of course this option would require a family member or friend to be kind enough to allow me to block the boat up for a year or two. Why so long?  I'm returning to school in the fall and the added time and expense necessary to care and berth Mischief would provide much distraction.  Additionally, with the boa out of the water, I am more motivated to actually complete the work necessary.

Hang in there!  My posts, while not always timely are becoming more frequent.

Cheers! 

Shaking Off Old Man Winter

When early March rolled around a few weeks ago (now just over a month ago, failed to post this then), many thought it was nearer May or June.  In. D.C. people pulled their shorts and flip flops out of storage.  We can all agree this has been a mild winter for us here in the mid-Atlantic region.  For me this was a time to dust off the boat and get her ready for the season.  Rigging the sails, flushing out the freshwater antifreeze and giving the boat a good scrub was most of what was needed.  At this same time I received notice that my slip was up for renewal at the marina I was berthed at in Ft. Washington, MD.  This proved timely for me; 1 as I consider moving back to Florida and 2 I want to get some good Chesapeake sailing under my belt.

So April fools weekend, myself and my crew set out at midnight Friday on the long motor down the Potomac (we were unable to beat the receding tide after work and thus had to wait for it to rise again).  The Potomac is fun if you are entertaining people in the DC area, however, if you're looking to sail, its not the place for you (or me).  Much to our delight (snicker) Father Winter decided to accompany us down to the Chesapeake with temperatures down into the lower 40's and upper 30's.

Once we reached the Bay, we made the choice to head to Smith Island... the little community responsible for those wonderful little Smith Island cakes.  By the point we approached the Bay the breeze had freshened up quite a bit and we were making good time under sail.  Unfortunately, the seas in the bay had had some time to build and we were close hauled into the wind (which now increased to a steady 20kts) with seas abeam. 

After getting tossed about for 4 hours we reached the Island... desolate as they were still out of season (predictable).  We tied up at the Smith Island Marina (6slips, very friendly people errr person) and ventured about town.

The next morning (Sunday) we awoke to another chilly day.  During breakfast the church bell rang signalling those on the island that mass was about to begin.  Interestingly enough there are 3 or 4 churches in this small community.  After stowing all the bedding and getting the Mischief ship shape, we shoved off to cross the Chesapeake to the Patuxent River (referred to locally as the Pax) and Solomons Island.

On the bumpy crossing over we had noticed a ship that appeared on the radar, and through the mist, that didn't appear to be underway.  Needless to say we gave it a wide berth.  Now that the Bay was calm and the weather sunny, we plotted a course that brought us much closer.  We had come across the USNS American Mariner, a Liberty Ship of the 40's that was re-tasked as a missile and rocket tracking ship during the 50's and 60's before being scuttled in about 20' of water for naval target practice.

(USNS American Mariner is on right, with a much larger container ship passing about another mile further away)

We were a bit disappointed that there wasn't much wind to be had so most of the trip back across the bay was done under power and autopilot, keeping a watchful eye out for crab pots lest we pick up 200 pounds of gear with the prop.  Once the mouth of the Pax river was reached were able to raise sail and join the other sailboats that had come out for the afternoon.

On arrival to Spring Cove Marina, I wished I had discovered it a year prior.  Friendly people, decent slips, wonderful amenities and very clean.  Really, it appears that all of the marinas in this area have these characteristics, but I was happy with my choice.

Stay tuned... spring maintenance haul out will commence soon! (I promise to be a little more timely with my posts here on out).

Happy sailing!