Winter on The River

Brrr it's cold, Can't wait until Spring and launch day only 50 Days, 16 Hours, 24 Minutes until the Spring of '09 as of this posting, yea.

Obama Express

Pictures of the Obama Express as it crosses the Susquehanna River (Perryville to Havre de Grace) while enroute from Philadelphia to Washington, DC.

Boom Tent (Winter Cover)

Finally got the cover on Carina this weekend. I tried doing it two (2) weeks ago, only to find out the cover I ordered from Fairclough didn't fit (10" too short mast to topping lift). I called Fairclough and they sent me the necessary paperwork to ship it back to them via UPS (no cost to me). It seems the boom length on Carina is not standard on the Catalina 36 MKII according to Fairclough. They made the necessary modifications, sent it back to me and voila, it fits.

Now she (Carina) is set to rest the winter with an occasional checkup by me. While I much would have preferred the cover fit right the first time, I must say Fairclough was very helpful in getting the situation resolved to my satisfaction with only minimal delay to me.

Winterization Complete

I finished winterizing the engine and AC/Heat system. While doing the freshwater system, I couldn't get the water pump to pick up the prime to run the antifreeze through the system. I opened all faucets and left run for for a while, but was concerned about burning the pump up.

So I now have to troubleshoot and find out what the problem is.

• Took the inlet line off manifold to determine if fluid was getting there, found it to be air locked, for lack of a better way to put it, I "sucked" on the line until I was getting a steady stream of antifreeze through it. Re-installed, but still no luck.
• Next step was to take the line loose from the pump and check to make sure the antifreeze was getting to there (it was).
• What next to check, the pump of course. Took the cover off where the screen filter is and discovered it was packed with a crystal like substance. Once I took out, hosed off and reinstalled, it worked just fine. Lesson learned, check & celan periodically.

All is well, the only thing left to do is put the cover on for her long winter rest.

That Time Of The Year

Well, the cool weather is here and soon to get colder. I started the process of getting Carina ready for her winter rest. We're leaving her in the water this year at Georgetown Yacht Basin.

I went down today (Saturday 11/1) and

• changed the oil,
• added fuel stabilizer and biocide to the fuel,
• drained and bypassed the hot water heater,
• added non toxic antifreeze (pink stuff) to the water tanks

Will be going back down on Sunday to winterize the engine and A/C.

AC/Heat Repair

Went down to the boat on Sept. 13 with plans to spend the night. It was an unseasonably warm weekend with temperatures into the mid 90's. While there we discovered the AC breaker was popped. Reset but to no avail, as soon as the unit would go on, it would lock up. After checking, discovered there was no water going through the unit.

I started with the easy stuff first, took raw water strainer apart, cleaned and replaced the strainer cartridge (it needed). Still no water moving through the system. I then took the water pump off and bench tested, it worked just fine. I then re-installed and checked power to the pump, there was none. It appeared the relay was not energizing the posts for the pump.

As the relay is part of the circuit board, it is not replaceable, had to buy a new circuit panel (contacted mfg. to see if I was on the right track). Found a new panel at Ocean Options in Annapolis, picked up on the 18th.

When down to the boat on the 20th to install the circuit panel, was able to put on without too much difficulty. Now the moment of truth, is water going to flow through the system once I turn on? YES, success the AC is once again working.

Good thing it was working, we spent the night and had to use the heat side of the system in the morning as the temperature got down int the high 40's over night.

While I wasn't happy that it broke and I had to repair, I did feel good in the fact that I was able to troubleshoot and repair myself, saved a bunch of money by not having to pay labor for someone else to fix (I'm free).

Post TS Hanna

Went down to the boat on Friday to ensure Carina was prepared to ride out Hanna with no issues. Took down all canvas, ran some extra lines and added some additional wraps to the furling head sail. Checked today and all was fine with absolutely no problems.

The storm brought less problems than anticipated, but in situations like this, better safe than sorry.

Happy Birthday Ed

Goodbye my dear friend, you will be sorely missed by me and many others.



Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. (Gandhi)

This is how Ed lived his life. Sadly tomorrow came for him. He left on the day he arrived 63 years later. The world is now a little more empty for it, as am I.

Independence Day @ Georgetwon, MD

We spent the holiday weekend on the boat and got to watch a very nice fireworks display over the Sassafras River. There was some doubt they would go off due to the weather, but they went and were worth the wait.

LD is not a fan of loud explosions (thunder, fireworks, etc.) and hid out in the cabin crouched tightly in the vee berth even though we gave him some over the counter anxiety stuff (I think it helped some, but not totally).

Earlier in the day, there was a boat parade on the river with maybe a dozen or so boats parcipating. We were positioned across from the judges station.
The Look of love! I took this picture while we were out cruising for the day. Looks like they needed to find a quiet spot to complete their amorous activity. After a short period of time, they disengaged and flew away. Ahh to be young and passionate with no worries.

While this was a holiday weekend, some had to work and not everyone had the luxury to take time off to celebrate. Here are but a couple:

Moving Day

Today was moving day. we moved Carina from Lankford Bay Marina on the Chester River to Georgetown Yacht Basin on the Sassafras River.

We went down on Friday, and finished off spring prep. (put sails and all canvas on, commissioned freshwater system, etc.). Departed Lankford @ 08:20, arrived Georgetown @ 16:30. All in all it was a great day; temperatures in the mid 70s, winds were a little on the lite side until we neared Georgetown, then they picked up to 15 - 20 kts.

Here a few pictures of some of our new neighbors.

Lastly, here's Carina resting in her new home;

Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving 2007

What a beautiful day today was. The weather was so nice, I figured it would be a good time to finish the end of season process and put the winter cockpit cover on her (Carina). Here is a before and after of her sitting in her winter resting place and one of the marina (Lankford Bay) with most of the boats out of the water.

As today is Thanksgiving, I guess it is appropriate to acknowledge that I very much appreciate and am grateful all all that I have. While this year didn't quite go as I was expecting it, none the less it was a good year and I am looking forward to many more to come and with some luck they will be cruising throughout the Caribbean.

That Time Of The Year

The time has come once again to get Carina ready to hibernate for the winter as we will not be able to make the sunny south/Caribbean this year. Went this weekend and started getting her ready to come out; changed oil, winterized fresh water systems, took the sails down, topped off fuel and added stabilizer, etc.

While doing the A/C unit, I found one of the hose connections was very much corroded and broke as I started to open it (literally in my hands). Luck was on my side toady as if it could have broken while unattended; it would have been a direct inlet for seawater to enter the boat (not good). Took a ride to the local hardware store and it was fixed for less than $11.00. Bought a lottery ticket, but didn't win, guess my luck for the day was used in detecting the potential problem before it resulted in catastrophe.

Now the only thing left is for the marina to pull her out for her resting place on the hard until next spring.

"I Would Have Liked To Have Seen Montana"

The character played by Sam Neill in the movie Hunt For Red October made this statement as he was dieing after being shot, his goal was to marry a "round" woman and raise rabbits in Montana. I too would have liked to have seen Montana (actually the Caribbean).

While my goal is not quite the same and I am certainly not dieing (at least not for quite some time I hope), my goal of cruising throughout the Caribbean will need to be postponed for the immediate future as a result of the drastic downturn in the housing market. Seems I put the house up for sale at the same time as the sale of existing homes was starting to take a nose dive. As my plan did not include owning and continuing to pay for a house during the cruise, I will need to postpone the plan until the market picks up and I can sell. At this point, I am hoping 2008 or at the latest 2009 will show a turnaround in the housing market and I can start my journey then. But for the present, I still have a nice home to live in and a loving supportive wife; life will go on.

So I guess it will be back to the reality of working and remaining a tax paying land based contributor to society.

As any sailing adventures and upgrades are made, I will post on this site for those who are interested in reading.

USCG License Finally

It's finally complete, I received my actual license back from the US Coast Guard today. I am licensed as a Master 50-Ton with Auxiliary Sail endorsement for the Great Lakes and Inland Waters.

I guess I can say I'm the captain of my own ship now!

USCG License Update

I'm in the final stretch. I made official application today to the Coast Guard for my Captain's/Master License. They told me that it would take approximately 6 - 8 weeks until it goes through the system and I get it. I guess with the Coast Guard being part of Homeland Security, they have other things more pressing that takes priority over this (understandable, but doesn't mean I have to like it).

License / Certification Progress

I successfully completed the course requirements to get my OUPV Captain's License with a 50 ton Masters Upgrade / Sailing Endorsement on Sunday April 1 (no fool's joke). Before I can make official application to the US Coast Guard, I still need to do the following:

• Physical / Drug Test (completed June 11)
• First Aid / CPR certification (completed May 12)
• Complete all required paperwork with supporting documentation
• Physically go to the USCG and present all required documents

With any luck, I hope to have all this done by the end of June and get my license sometime in July. Not sure what I'll do with it at this point, but it will be nice to finally have.

So It Begins

Wednesday (02/28) is my last day of full time work (took an early retirement option offered by the company). They have however asked if I could do some miscellaneous special projects as a contractor, I decided to accept the offer as I can use the extra money for additional upgrades to Carina.

March will be rather hectic as I plan on taking a course to prepare me to take the USCG OUPV Captain's License exam. In addition, I will need some time to get Carina ready to go back in the water; new bottom paint, install feathering prop. and clean/wax hull, the rest I can do once she is in the water.

All this is in preparation for mid fall when we head down the ICW to FL then on to the Bahamas and beyond. Stay tuned for progress updates.

Carina Definition

This large southern constellation lies in one of the most beautiful parts of the sky. Carina is a Southern Circumpolar constellation, so only a very few in the Northern Hemisphere can see it.

The constellation Carina is known as the Keel, which is the bottom part of old ships. Carina was originally a part of Argo Navis, which was a huge boat in the night sky. It has since been divided into four constellations: Carina, Puppis, Vela and Pyxis.

Many civilizations believed Carina was a ship. In classical myth, Argo Navis was the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, who sailed the seas in search of the Golden Fleece. Others say the ship belonged to Menelaus, husband of Helen of Troy. The ancient Egyptians say the ship belonged to Osiris and Isis.

The brightest star in Carina is called Canopus. It is actually the second brightest star in the sky behind Sirius. The famous Keyhole Nebula is located just below the circle in the constellation. It is one of the most watched nebulae in the sky, and scientists say it will become a supernova.

Definitions:

• CARINA is a constellation of the southern sky.
• CARINA is the Latin word for keel.
• CARINA, in architecture, was the name Ancient Romans gave for any building in the form of a ship.
• CARINA is an Italian word, the meaning is "pretty" (female).
• CARINA is a female given name with Italian origin, its meaning is "The Pretty Girl".
• CARINA was said to be the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
• The "CARINA" was a United States Navy ship.
• CARINA (The Pretty Girl) is home to us.