Cosmo and Zin here – We have come to realize that owners of
sailboats nowadays seem to have a lot of work to do before they have their
boats ready to sail. As Pirates, some of
these chores are familiar to us, but others seem to mystify us. We watched Janice and David and some of their
friends at the marina performing these “–ING and –IN’” tasks starting in April
right through the beginning of June.
Here’s our list: (IN’ – Cosmo,
-ING – Zin)
Cleanin’ – Both Janice and David spend a good deal of time
cleanin’ the boat. They have their favorite cleaning supplies, and surprisingly
enough they take great pride when something comes exceptionally clean. The boat is mostly white, so it’s easy to see the
dirt, whereas the Pirate Ships I’ve been aboard are usually dark, and we don’t
really notice the dirt – on the boat or on us!
Polishin’ – I watched David especially spend considerable
time polishing the sides of Obsession.
It looked like very hard work, and if I do the math correctly he
polished a total of 42 feet * 2 sides = 84 feet of wax on, wax off. He complained later that evening of sore
muscles. I wonder why.
Scrubbing – Kind of fits in the same category as cleanin’
but some things, like the inside of the ice-box and refrigerator and certain areas
of the heads needed a little extra elbow grease. Hard work.
Scrapin’– David is the master scraper in the family. He scraped off all loose pieces of bottom
paint and scraped off all the barnacles from the propeller during his April
school vacation. He explained to me that
the barnacles would slow the boat down if left on the propeller, and any loose
paint needed to be scraped off so he could re-paint those areas.
Sanding – I was sitting close by while Janice sanded the
varnish of the doors and flagpole. She
explained that it was the first time she had ever done anything like this, and
that she was happy they don’t have much varnishing to do on the boat. The finished product was nice, shiny,
varnished doors and flagpole that we are happy to show off on the boat.
Varnishing – Janice had to be careful to only put a very
light coat of varnish on the doors and flagpole or it would drip. What seemed redundant is that once she sanded
it and varnished it, she’d let it dry and then do it over again. She did this 3 times. I know what repetition is. “Polly want a
cracker, Polly want a cracker, Polly want a cracker.”
Paintin’ – David really worked his “you know what” off April
School vacation week. Not only did he
polish the sides of the boat, scrape off loose paint from the bottom, but then
he painted the bottom and the keel with this black paint that went on very
thick. He used 3 gallons – and at over
$100.00 a gallon, that’s not a drop in the bucket! Janice is very glad that he wears these very
old and paint spotted jeans and a long sleeve shirt when he paints. But he still manages to get some in his hair,
on his hands and even on his face. When
he finished though, the bottom of the boat was completely black, and Obsession
was ready to be launched the very next day.
Emptying – Janice explained to me that last fall she and
David emptied out all the water from the water tanks, the hot water heater and
the heads, then poured in anti-freeze so any water left in the hoses or the
tanks would not freeze and cause problems.
The anti-freeze is pink, and smells funny, so in the spring it has to be
emptied out by filling and refilling the water tanks and the heads with fresh
water a few times. Looks like the
anti-freeze worked – no leaky hoses, no leaky tanks, and the heads are working
fine.
Swearin’ – Of course I would be the one to notice that
occasionally both Janice and David use mild profanity – it goes with the
territory. I recognize the words, and
also understand why they use them occasionally.
Installing – I wasn’t aware of this happening, but I’ve
overheard that all the electronics on Obsession were replaced over the
winter. I gather that Janice and David
sailed through a few lightning storms, and last summer had a few problems with
the gauges. All new electronics are
installed except a new wind-vane, and they are looking for someone to go up the
mast to do this for them. Janice refuses
to hoist David up the mast, and their friend, Mike, a fireman, has also advised
David not to go up. Any takers? I’m sure David and Janice would provide some sort of liquid compensation for the good deed.
Buying – Sometimes I get to go along on the buying trips to
West Marine and Defenders. I noticed that they bought New
Cruising Guides, an Eldredge, replacement parts for the grill, new bumpers, a
new windscoop (the one that Peggy and Ralph gave them when they sold Seanile
finally bit the dust), an air-conditioner, and a new foam mattress.
Loadin’ – They are still bringin' stuff aboard. I have noticed that the waterline is starting
to go down. Clothes, dishes, food, booze,
ice, foul weather gear, books, DVDs, bedding, rugs, food, booze, clothes,
ice. Yes I did repeat myself. It seems as if there is never enough clothes,
food, booze and ICE.
Finding – No matter how careful David and Janice seem to be
in the fall, it seems that something didn’t get put away in the right place and
they spend time looking for and eventually finding those things. Right now they are looking for the Eldredge
they bought at Defenders in March. They
say they need it to travel through Woods Hole and to the Vineyard, to Block
Island and down the Long Island Sound and through the Cape Cod Canal to
Maine. I hope they find it – I can’t
wait to visit those places. (She did - with the new Cruising Guides in the bag under the chart table!)
Plannin’ – From my “bed” on Obsession I am privy to Janice
and David’s conversations and plans for the summer. I’ve heard mention of Block Island, Vineyard
Haven, Woods Hole, Hadley’s Harbor, Newport, Stonington, Watch Hill, Greenport,
Shelter Island, Port Jefferson, and Cuttyhunk.
The latter is a place I finally got to visit last weekend. I understand now why it’s one of
their favorite places, and can't wait to return.
Launchin’ – I helped launch Obsession! I got to sit with George in the drivers’ seat
of the travel lift. It was exciting to
see the boat actually hit the water.
David jumped on board and as soon as the boat was floating\' he started
the engine, released the slings and drove away to our slip on G-Dock. From what I understand boat launching day is
one of the happiest days around here.
Enjoying, Meeting, Laughing – Cosmo and I have come to
understand that Janice and David enjoy their boat very much. They spend much time on their boat from the
day it is launched until the day it is hauled.
We have had many visitors, and gone visiting with their friends from G
and F Dock, and other sailing friends.
We can hardly wait to meet more of their friends this summer.
Hoistin’ – I was there the day Janice and David hoisted the
jib and the mainsail for the first time.
They are pretty big sails. David
and Janice work well as a team – especially when hoistin' the main – David
stands at the mast and pulls down on the halyard while Janice is in the cockpit
tailing at the winch. Then David comes
back to the cockpit, and finishes hoistin' the main the last foot or so with the winch. It works like a charm.
Remembering – Cosmo and I have heard so many stories of
Janice and David’s past sailing adventures.
We enjoy hearing about their trips to the Vineyard and Cuttyhunk with
Christen and Robert in their C&C 29.
As the summer progresses I’m sure we’ll hear more stories, and I’ll be
sure to share them with you.
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