DIY: WORKING ON THE BOAT

OK,  here we go with our todo list for the Thunderbird for the spring of 2014.

We didn't think we had that much to do this year, but on closer inspection, this winter was pretty hard on the old girl.  The Hull definitely needs the usual work. 

Of course Dan has to undo everything he did to winterize the engine and the plumbing systems on board.  Batteries to be charged etc.  Then, I have to return everything that would have frozen, that I removed from the boat in the fall.  I'm bound to forget something. 
 

 

 The hull needs to be scrapped and painted.  Thankfully our son Ken is doing that.  This of course has to be completed before the boat goes in the water. 

Then there are some repairs needed to the bow pulpit, from our disastrous trip back from Gull Harbour last August. 

There is also some damage to the rub rail on the starboard walk around. 

These two repairs could wait until we are at the beach, but we will just see how the time goes.   

Hopefully we will be underway north, to Boundary Creek Marina in no time at all. 

I WANT TO GET GOING, I HAVE TO BE THERE BY CANADA DAY. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS SPRING PROJECT IS COMING ALONG

The spring project at our daughters is coming along.  The demolition has been completed and the rebuild has started.

 

This project consists of 3 main areas.  Opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen, creating a pony wall for a new pass through counter, new granite counter tops and widening the doorway.  This also required repairs to the new laminate floors where the door was widened. 

 

Then there is the bathroom, that needs a major plumbing repair then replace the old tub surround with new subway tiles around the tub. 
 

And finally, the back entry is getting a whole new ceiling now that the new roof has eliminated the leaking.  Plus of course there are always the "Might as wells" that get added to the list, when you have an old house, like new plumbing fixtures while you have the shower all pulled apart and finally getting rid of the last of the old post and spool wiring while you're at it. 

 

 

Now that the supplies are here and unloaded we are done for now.   

 

 

 

 

All of this certainly won't be finished this spring, but it's time for us to get on with our boat projects.  So, carry on, and let us know if you run into any snags.  And we will come back and lend a hand in the fall. 

 

 

 

ON TO BOATING

 

 

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET THE BOAT READY FOR LAUNCH

Today we went out to RMYC and took the tarp off of the boat, Finally.   

 

 

 

This is the first time we have ever stored the boat outside for the winter, and I hear this winter was a doozey, so it's time to see how well we did and how she fared.  Everything we did to winterize it now has to be undone. 

 

 

 

 The boatyard is a pretty busy place right now,

 

 

 

with everyone anxious to get their boats in the water and get the season started. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's time to start making my todo lists.   Other than engine stuff, that I have nothing to do with, there is a lot of cleaning to do.  Then the hull needs to be scraped and painted and there is a damaged area on the starboard rub rail that needs to be replaced.  Hopefully we will be able to get this all done in a short time because I am anxious to get the boat in the water and get my summer started. 

 

 

Right now my boat is a disaster, but most of this can not be put in order until all of the work is finished. 

 

 

 

SO NOW IT'S TIME TO GET AT IT

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIFE ABOARD A TRAWLER

Living aboard a trawler is similar in many ways to living in a small cabin or trailer for the summer.  You get to enjoy summer at the lake, plus you have the benefit of being able to take your cabin to a different beach if you choose. 

 

A Trawler is traditionally a very slow, but powerful boat.  And that very much describes what "Thunderbird" is.  She is big and roomy and makes a good live aboard.  But, she is also very slow.  Her top speed is only 10 mph and our normal cruising speed is about 7 1/2 mph, therefore if we are going anywhere it needs to be well planned out. 

 

Not that we haven't seen some of the best laid plans go awry. 

 

 

 

For the most part we spend our summers close to our home port of "Boundary Creek Marina".    This harbour allows for easy access to everything we could possibly need.  Groceries, Hardware, Liquor Store and a variety of Restaurants within a short drive.  Even a Walmart 27 miles away in Selkirk and of course our lake access. 

 

 

We can venture out for cruises, to go out on the lake to swim, or to get away from a hot still day at dock, to cruise with friends for a raft-up or we cruise just to break the monotony that can occur in a long hot summer.

 

But a "Destination Cruise", is a whole different thing.  That takes planning.  You have to plan for fuel, where are we going to have access to Diesel?  Food, what to take and for how long?  Will there be stores?  Do we have all the tools we need if we have a breakdown?  Always a fear on a long haul.  And what about the weather?  But the "Destination Cruise" is the high-lite of living on board.  To take your home and move it to a new port or a few new ports for a real change. 

 

 

Navigating??  I think we are pretty good at navigating, we haven't gotten lost yet.  But when you are going into strange waters it is always best to check all your charts for updates. 

 

We rely on our GPS and personal notes for the most part, but I would never cruise away from our home port without my charts.  We have had incidents when the GPS has gone "out" when on a cruise.  So I don't rely on it alone. 

 

 

Weather??  Now this is the one thing that you have absolutely no control over.  Especially on Lake Winnipeg.  This lake is relatively shallow for a lake of this size, especially in the South Basin.  A squall can come through on land with high wind and rain and leave nothing behind but a few puddles and a little excitement. 

 

 

But out on the lake that same squall, can whip up substantial waves.  And if the wind keeps up for any length of time those waves can build to be quite huge.   We know from experience that you don't want to be caught out there in that and you most CERTAINLY would not venture out into it. 

 

 

 

 

I LOVE LIVING ON BOARD OUR TRAWLER

MORE OF OUR FLORIDA TRIP

Dan's brother Dwight welcomed us to Florida.     

 

My readers should remember Debra and her husband Kevin, whom you met along with Dan's brother Dwight in my earlier blog of St.Patrick's Day in Texas.  

 

Later we were joined by another niece  Bonnie and her Brad.

 

 

That night we had a few toasts to Barb.  Then the next morning we took off to the other side of Florida, to West Palm Beach ,where Barb's favourite beach was.  That was where Barb and Dwight's third daughter Deanna was catching up with us. 

 

 

That night, we, including Dan's sister Brenda and her husband Gary, all gathered for dinner at the Blue Anchor restaurant and bar.

 

 

Our  three Thacker Nieces.  Bonnie, Deanna and Debra.

 

 

The next day was the Memorial service, which I covered in an earlier blog.  Before the little ceremony some had a refreshing swim in the ocean.  Then after the memorial the wind picked up a bit and we headed back to the hotel. 

 

 

Dwight put us all up at the beautiful Marriot Courtyard in West Palm beach.  We all spent a lot of time gathered pool side, well into the evenings. That was really, lovely. 

 

 

That night we all gathered again for dinner.  This time at The Old Key Lime House on the ocean. 

 

 

Another lovely dinner with family and friends reminiscing and sharing stories of Barb. 

 

 

 

Then it was back again to the west side of Florida and our flight from Tampa back to Winnipeg. 

 

 

 

 

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET TO OUR SPRING TODO LISTS

 

I LOVE THE FLORIDA WILD LIFE

The Geckos are so cute.  They are so common in Florida they are called house lizards.  

 

 

The Herons are just like at home except they are almost tame.  They hang around when they see someone fishing in the hopes of getting the unwanted catch.  This one hovered around even trying to swoop down onto the boat dock where Brad was fishing, but got spooked away. 

 

 

So when Brad did make a small catch he tossed it up onto the grass to him and we watched him flip it up and eat it.  You can see the big lump in his throat from the fish.  I guess that's how they got so tame.  

 

 

These little Egrets are so lovely darting around the yard.  I think they are after the Geckos. 

 

 

None of this wildlife seems timid or threatened in anyway. 

 

 

 

I ENJOYED IT

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT A LOVELY PLACE TO LIVE IF YOU HAVE A BOAT

Dan's brother Dwight lives in a house on a canal that runs out to the gulf. 

 He has a boat which he can park right behind the house and leave in the water all year round. 

The house is on a pie shaped lot at the end of a Cul du sac, which makes for a huge long water front area on this lot. 

 

The sea wall runs in two directions around the property where two canals come together. 

 

 

It makes for a lovely waterfront seating area with views in two directions.

 

 

 

 And being on the West coast of Florida it has beautiful sunsets. 

 

 

 

VERY NICE