learning things

Posted by Monty

Over the past three days, we have learned many things.

In my previous life, I had some renown as being the "Master of the Grill".  I had a decent size gas grill that I used to fire up at a moments notice.  These days, my grill kingdom has been greatly diminished.

Saturday night chicken on the grill, Sea Bird style.

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And a better picture.  Not a lot of grill area, but not a lot of mouths to feed either.  This is two meals for us.

Saturday lesson learned: Turn on the flash when your subject is backlit.  (Audrey is saying "I know, right?")

This brings us into Sunday.  Carol had spent most of Saturday washing the boat on the outside, and it looked great.  We decided to take it out.  All of the (most of the) projects are not finished, but so what?  We cast off the lines and backed her out of the slip.  Throttle forward and into the wind.  Suddenly, the dinghy started vibrating and I heard a thumping from the area of the propeller and rudder.  What the...?  Into neutral maybe 100 ft from the dock.  a little investigation showed a cut line from the dinghy trailing in the water.

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Back to the dock.  No loss of control, but I feel a vibration that seems troubling.  My theory is that part of the line is still wrapped around the prop or shaft.  Not good.  Worse, is that I have yet to buy a swim mask, so I can't dive on the prop to check it out.  So we pile into the car for a 40 minute (one way) trip to New Bern.  Mask procured, we return to the boat.

Off the boarding ladder on the stern and into the briny not-so-deep approx. 7 ft. water.

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That's some cold water.  I'm sure there is something about a farmer's tan that makes water colder.  Farmers were never meant to dive on a prop.

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Nonetheless, after a bit of fumbling about...

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To the victor go the spoils.

We spent the rest of the day licking our wounds.  Too late to really get out and enjoy it.

Sunday's lesson learned: When washing the boat, make SURE you tidy up and secure all lines you moved because they were in the way.

This brings us to today.  (It's Monday.  I'm not at work!)  After a quick trip into town to pick up some parts we had shipped in, we went at it again.  First we checked ALL the lines.  Then we headed out of the creek we are in. 

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This is coming out of the mouth of the creek into the Neuse River.

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Not sure if I'm looking for navigation aids or dodging crab pots.  Note the drink holder in the bottom of the picture.  There will be a quiz later.

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Finally, one day short of a month since we took possession of her, Sea Bird is under full sail.  Feels good.

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Somewhere, 'round thataway, is Europe.  Still some land in the way, but doable.  Just not today.

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Then back up the creek to the dock.  All in all, a great little shakedown cruise.  Found some things that we need to work on and some things that worked flawlessly. 

So we're feeling pretty good about life right now.  This was a good day.

Oh, remember your pop quiz?

Monday's lesson learned: A drink holder does not a handhold make in a choppy sea.  Replacement needed.

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