Tag Archives: Spring

Commissioning, Maintenance, Marinas, Sailing

From Cradle to Open Water at Last!

It’s been a soggy spring/summer so far, and that — combined with five days away for a college reunion — slowed pre-launch preparations a bit.

But Errant is finally launched, spotless and shinier than she’ll be all season, and sailing better than ever. Eureka! This little mashup chronicles the final journey from shipyard to travel lift to bay to lake to mooring.

Mini-montage of Errant’s 2019 launch and shakedown sail…

I mentioned in the video that “there’s something incredibly ungainly about seeing a keel boat trundled around a shipyard”, and I’m left (after sailing much of the day away) with the curious contrast between the way a sailboat looks in the water, under sail and the way she looks in a clunky cradle being hauled behind a tractor.

I’m always a little anxious watching 12k pounds of boat making it’s way toward water after a season on the hard. So awkward and ungainly. But once wet, she is once again graceful and confident.

I’d like to offer an enthusiastic shoutout to Paul Mero and his attentive team at the Willsboro Bay Marina who always take such good care of Errant (and her zealous skipper!) and to Michael Reusser, the marina’s thoughtful problem solver when it comes to challenges mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc. Also to Andre and Tami who keep the shipstore, scheduling, and billing running smoothly. I’ve always considered a stroke of good fortune to inherit this marina and this team when I purchased Errant, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Commissioning, Dry Dock, Maintenance

Rain Delays & Bluebird Eggs

Rainy days and rain delays…

A serious case of the soggies have slowed pre-launch preparations enough that I made a difficult decision this afternoon. Instead of launching tomorrow morning, I’ve rescheduled Errant’s splash date for Sunday. But mere minutes after making the change I discovered this nest.

Bluebird skies ahead? I hope so!

For now, a few more days on the hard at Willsboro Bay Marina dodging raindrops, de-winterizing, and daydreaming about the sailing season ahead.

Commissioning, Maintenance

Spring Shakedown 2018

With May winding down and weather shifting from soggy to sunny, I finally began readying Errant for another summer on Lake Champlain. Winter cover off, pressure washing and compounding, bottom painting, canvas back on including the brand new genoa,…

There’s so much to do each spring, but I’m fueled with anticipation and enthusiasm during the pre-season commissioning so the chores are actually [almost] 100% enjoyable. Of course, there’s always that one rainy day when planning to bottom paint or an electrical mystery (like connecting to shore power and discover that the onboard battery charger is not working, not working, not working, until, “Oh, the power tower has a tripped breaker! It’s not the boat at all…”)

But the spring checklist is finite, and soon enough it is launch day followed but the much-anticipated shakedown sail south from the Willsboro Bay Marina to our home in Essex.

Spring Shakedown 2018 (Source: Geo Davis)
Spring Shakedown 2018 (Source: Geo Davis)

That first sail of the season always a joy, but this year was perfect. Winds out of the north variable from the high single digits to the mid teens and calm seas. We were wing-and-wing much of the morning, and I even managed to squeeze in a brief snooze at the helm while autopilot was employed on the broad lake. Even my occasionally-nonplussed-about-sailing-bride enjoyed herself. All told, it was the perfect start to a new season.

Commissioning, Rigging

Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016

Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016
Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016

The final mission critical item on my to do list before Saturday’s launch was to rig the sails. I had hoped to order and receive three new halyards for running up the sails, but my timing was off. The new halyards will arrive midweek.

So today I headed down to Willsboro Bay Marina and   Installed the canvas. Now I’m ready for a to launch Errant on Saturday morning for the summer 2016 shakedown sail to Essex Shipyard.

Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016
Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016
Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016
Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016
Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016
Sails On: Spring Rigging 2016

Commissioning, Maintenance

Bimini Blues + Pressure Washer Bliss

Once the winter cover was removed and stowed I turned my attention to the bimini. I remove all the exterior canvas in the autumn before installing the winter cover, so in the springtime I need to reverse the process.

The first step is to remove the two foremost stainless steel bimini supports, reposition then ahead of the backstays, and then reconnect them. This permits them to fan forward and support the canvas.

Securing the canvas to the stainless ribs is as simple as fastening eight snaps and zipping a half dozen zippers. And yet for the second year in a row I false started, half-attaching the cover backward before realizing my mistake. In the photo above Errant’s bimini is secured, taught, and ready for sailing.

Next up? Time for a scrub-down.

Pressure Washer

I loaded up the pressure washer before heading down to the marina, planning primarily to simplify hull cleaning (in anticipation of bottom painting). The chore was moderately successful, but the worst soiling turned out to be a dock-rub that remained unchanged no matter how much I abused it with my jet of high pressure water. Looks like some heavy duty compounding will be necessary.

But there’s a silver lining.

Errant’s topsides were overdue for a eep cleaning, and the pressure washer proved its mettle removing stains and last season’s grime from the nonskid. I cranked the pressure and made pass after pass, waving the wand back and forth and watching the gelcoat emerge [almost] like new.

Not bad, right? No soap. No significant elbow grease. Just water, pressure, clean…

About the Bimini…

I noticed while installing the bimini that it’s beginning to fail. Too much weather. Pinholes are beginning to appear. The vinyl window is foggy, scratched, yellowing. It’s time to consider a replacement (and possibly a couple of modifications). Here’s the outfit that fabricated the bimini. I’m curious if they’re still around. Time to find out…

Dry Dock, Weather

On the Hard 2014-2015

On the Hard: Errant winter storage at Willsboro Bay Marina, March 8, 2015
On the Hard: Errant winter storage at Willsboro Bay Marina, March 8, 2015

Stopped by Willsboro Bay Marina today to check on Da Capo/Errant. So many whistling, flapping halyards!

The date is March 8, sort of spring, at least it seems like it should be spring. But the cold, humid wind and a lingering blanket of snow suggest that spring launch is still a good way off…

I was relieved to see that the winter storage cover has held up well, not a single tear or loose line. Frankly, I was a little surprised. I guess all of the hours trying to decipher the cryptic instructions paid off.

I didn’t climb aboard, but I will return in a couple of weeks if the temperature rises to inspect the interior and start a few projects like refitting the v-berth door and deep-cleaning the bowels so that I start the sailing season with a super clean vessel.