NO NEW POSTS

I will not be making any posts to my Blog until I find a solution to my lack of internet access at the Marina.  

I have to come up with a new cell phone to create a hot spot for myself or a Roger's stick or something.  I'm still looking into what will be the best permanent solution for me.  I will do a blog as soon as I solve this.  

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.  

LAUNCH DAY 2016

We went out to the hangar on Thursday evening to be sure we were ready to launch when the launch crew came to get us.  

Then suddenly, the hangar doors opened up.  

They lined up the trailer.  

Backed it on under "The Bird"  

And just as suddenly away it went on the way to the harbour.  

 

We got to the harbour first and awaited the boats arrival.   And there she is.  

 

And just as suddenly she was launched.  Dan started her up to let the engine run, as we awaited Kam's launch.  

Once Kam got a chance to get his engines warmed up, we ventured out of the harbour and waited for him there.  

Kam shared this shot of us, that he took while we were on escort duty.  

Kam had no problems and it was a very uneventful cruise and before we knew it, we were entering our home sweet home port.    

WE ARE HOME FOR THE SUMMER

OUR LAUNCH IS PLANNED FOR FRIDAY MORNING

We are launching early Friday morning along with Kam Lo.  Because it has to be really early, we will go out to Gimli Thursday evening and stay on board in the hangar one more night.  

Apparently it has to be early, due to traffic concerns in the harbour area. Wind Finder says there is going to be a little squall go through the South Basin between 4:00am and 7:00am.  So, that should be subsiding by the time we get down to the harbour.  

Hopefully, Kam is going to launch "Lo Tide" first so that he can fuss with his new engine and make sure it is running to his satisfaction, while the  launch crew take the trailer back to the hangar and get "Thunderbird" and bring her down to the harbour. 

 Once we splash, Kam should have "Lo Tide" ready to cast off and it will be Bon Vouyage and goodbye to Gimli Harbour and a pleasant cruise south to  BCYC.  (Boundary Creek Yacht Club) 

THE START OF OUR SUMMER LIVING ABOARD

WE ARE READY TO LAUNCH

Well, I finally cooked my last crock pot meal for my work crew.  They had Stew this Saturday and now it is time to put the crock pot away for a while.  I'm looking forward to Bar-B-Q. 

The crew have finished painting the boat, plus they installed the new drive shaft packing and prepped her for launch. Ropes, Fenders batteries, etc. etc. etc are all set. 

The hangar was busier than usual this weekend.  Balu was getting new bottom paint.  

And Cam Lo was putting the final touches on Lo Tide and asked us to let him know when we are launching as he would like to travel with us from Gimli to Boundary Creek Marina.  

He installed a new engine over this past winter and will not be confident in it until he has put some hours on it.  Best to be safe than sorry. 

Dan even found time to take our Bumpers and steps down to our dock and install them, so that is even done.

All I have to do now is check the weather forecast, pick the launch date and book it with Barb, let Cam know and ............

WINNIPEG BEACH HERE WE COME!. 

DIY: MAKING ANOTHER WINDSHEILD COVER

A couple of years ago I made a windshield cover out of "SunShade".  It is a fine screening that blocks out a good percentage of the suns rays, but it still allows you to see out.  It has worked out very well, keeps the boat from getting over heated, on most summer days.  But on a real scorcher of a day, the pilot house can still get too hot.  

The other problem is privacy.   When we have guests staying over and sleeping in the pilot house you can see right in,  when the lights are on at night.  So they have to get dressed and undressed in the dark. 

So this spring I am going to make one of these covers out of the blue "Sunbrella", which is what all my other canvas covers are made of.  It should be a matter of simply copying the existing one.  

I THINK THAT WILL HELP TO KEEP IT COOL AND PRIVATE

THE PREP IS FINISHED, THE PAINT IS GOING ON

The hull and bottom painting were finished a couple of weeks ago.  And today, Dan and Ken finally finished the last of the sanding. It seemed to go on forever.  

 

 Today they started putting paint onto the superstructure of the boat.  They got two full coats of paint on, but some of the repairs are still showing through so I guess it's going to need some more.  So the plans of this being the last work weekend are not to be.  

We will be working one more weekend.  The Boat still needs at least one more coat of paint.  Plus, Dan still has to replace the drive shaft packing.  We also have to re-rig our lines and bumpers.  

I GUESS WE CAN GET THROUGH ONE MORE WEEKEND.  

OUR FINAL WEEKEND IN THE HANGAR???

This may be our final weekend stuck in the hangar.  If all goes well and we get all the white paint onto the boat on Saturday and Sunday, then I will book our launch.  

I have certainly seen enough of the hangar, and all the painting and am anxious to join our friends and relax in the harbour as soon as possible. 

We were surprised on the weekend to find out that our dock mate Bob Inkster has had a mild heart attack and spent a few nights in the hospital to be stabilized.  But, he is out of the hospital now and he says we will see him at the marina on the weekend.  

You will see US at the marina sometime on the weekend as well.  We will be bringing our boarding stairs and our bumpers down and install them on our dock in preparation for our arrival. 

 We may still have some odds and ends to complete on the boat, but nothing that can't be puttered with throughout the summer.  

I'M SURE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT