Friday, May 23, 2008
Annapolis
I was expecting a lot going to Annapolis, it is the sailing capitol of the USA. As I started getting closer and closer to Annapolis I could just start making out a giant see of boats. When I neared the mouth of the Severn river, where Annapolis is, it really was a sea of boats, well river of boats. There were more boats then I had ever seen before. I wasn't sure how i was going to even get through. Just then I pack of fighter jets flew overhead in formation. It was the Blue Angels and I was just in time to sea the air show. Turns out it was the Navy Academy graduation week and they have this air show every year. After the show there was a madness like I've never seen. Pleasure boaters taking off in every direction fueled by air show adrenaline and beer. It was pretty exciting trying to sail through the ever confusing waves.
I was also concerned that there wasn't going to be any place in the harbor to anchor...and there wasn't. I got the last mooring buoy left. As luck would have it that buoy is right next to the finish line of the Wednesday night sailboat races. Around 7 O'clock all the boats started to cross the line. It was one of the most exciting things Ive seen. Those racing boats are fast Real real fast. And they were maneuvering the boats through the tightly packed mooring field.
Annapolis was fun while it lasted. Its really cool and old town that has undeniable energy to it. I had a chance to do all the tourist things like eat at this place called Chick and Ruth's Delly, and take a stroll down the infamous "Ego Alley." My only complaint was all the seamen from the Naval Academy.
Oh yeah, the Zodiac has developed a problem. It seems as though the bottom is coming unglued from the flotation tubes. This is very bad. I called a place that was right in Annapolis that does rubber dingy repair. They quoted me for like $800 to fix it...that's more than it costs new. So I used some Gorilla glue tape to fix it up. I hope it holds. This boat is the only way I can get to shore.
I was also concerned that there wasn't going to be any place in the harbor to anchor...and there wasn't. I got the last mooring buoy left. As luck would have it that buoy is right next to the finish line of the Wednesday night sailboat races. Around 7 O'clock all the boats started to cross the line. It was one of the most exciting things Ive seen. Those racing boats are fast Real real fast. And they were maneuvering the boats through the tightly packed mooring field.
Annapolis was fun while it lasted. Its really cool and old town that has undeniable energy to it. I had a chance to do all the tourist things like eat at this place called Chick and Ruth's Delly, and take a stroll down the infamous "Ego Alley." My only complaint was all the seamen from the Naval Academy.
Oh yeah, the Zodiac has developed a problem. It seems as though the bottom is coming unglued from the flotation tubes. This is very bad. I called a place that was right in Annapolis that does rubber dingy repair. They quoted me for like $800 to fix it...that's more than it costs new. So I used some Gorilla glue tape to fix it up. I hope it holds. This boat is the only way I can get to shore.
Update!!
Howdy Folks,
Sorry its been so long since a post. Its been hard finding a place that has free Wi-Fi. Since the last post a lot has happened. Actually I've considered quiting the blog, because of the time it takes to find Internet, but today was the best day of sailing I've had yet and I am feeling inspired. I also have a few other things to write about besides the trip, like which kind of packaged milk is the best, and the tribulations of having a dingy with no motor, but more on that later. For now I will up date you all.
From Rock Hall I crossed the bay and head to Baltimore. This was the first time I ventured far enough from land that I couldn't see any. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I wasn't really scary at all. Getting into Baltimore was tough because of the strong head wind. I had to tack the whole way into inner harbor.
It was pretty sweet being in inner harbor. I remember sometime last year walking around there with John and Don. I saw this one sailboat docked up against the harbor wall. I thought to myself, "One day that will be me docked up there." I didn't realize it would be so soon. It was a personal goal accomplished and it felt great.
The inner harbor is such a vibrant place filled with energy. There is always something going on. And there are all kinds of little shops. The place does look completely contrived, but because of the people it draws I think it alright.
I met up with John and Vanessa and we did all kinds of stuff throughout the 4 days I spent there. We went to a baseball game, went grabbing, and I went to the Aquarium and toured some old boats. Right now I just got into Galesville from Annapolis. Ill post more on those later...maybe tonight.
I also had a chance to talk to some people from the UK who just sailed across the Atlantic aboard a boa that the built themselves out of ferrocement. They have been sailing around for the past 35 years. They have pretty much been anywhere you can think of. They were a real inspiration. The only thing I didn't get a chance to ask them was how they make money...the one thing I really would like to know.
until next time,
Don't step in anything soft.
Sorry its been so long since a post. Its been hard finding a place that has free Wi-Fi. Since the last post a lot has happened. Actually I've considered quiting the blog, because of the time it takes to find Internet, but today was the best day of sailing I've had yet and I am feeling inspired. I also have a few other things to write about besides the trip, like which kind of packaged milk is the best, and the tribulations of having a dingy with no motor, but more on that later. For now I will up date you all.
From Rock Hall I crossed the bay and head to Baltimore. This was the first time I ventured far enough from land that I couldn't see any. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I wasn't really scary at all. Getting into Baltimore was tough because of the strong head wind. I had to tack the whole way into inner harbor.
It was pretty sweet being in inner harbor. I remember sometime last year walking around there with John and Don. I saw this one sailboat docked up against the harbor wall. I thought to myself, "One day that will be me docked up there." I didn't realize it would be so soon. It was a personal goal accomplished and it felt great.
The inner harbor is such a vibrant place filled with energy. There is always something going on. And there are all kinds of little shops. The place does look completely contrived, but because of the people it draws I think it alright.
I met up with John and Vanessa and we did all kinds of stuff throughout the 4 days I spent there. We went to a baseball game, went grabbing, and I went to the Aquarium and toured some old boats. Right now I just got into Galesville from Annapolis. Ill post more on those later...maybe tonight.
I also had a chance to talk to some people from the UK who just sailed across the Atlantic aboard a boa that the built themselves out of ferrocement. They have been sailing around for the past 35 years. They have pretty much been anywhere you can think of. They were a real inspiration. The only thing I didn't get a chance to ask them was how they make money...the one thing I really would like to know.
until next time,
Don't step in anything soft.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Worton's Creek and Rock Hall
Finallly the weather let up so that I could finally leave Havre De Grace. I was wondering when I was ever going to get out of that that place. The voyage from Havre De Grace to Worton's Creek went well at first but then the wind stopped and I was forced to motor the last 3 miles or so. Once Inside Worton's Creek I found out what all these Easr Coast sailors have all been talking about. The creek was a perfectly dead calm and no a single other boat was anchored there. I didnt even see anyone else the time whil I was there, even though there were tons of boats at the near by marinas. There is nothing around the Marina so I just stayed on the boat and ate dinner and played some tunes.
I woke up really early after spending the night at Worton's Creek to get a head start towards Rock Hall. The trip to Rock Hall was around 26 Nautical Miles. I was making good time and then the wind died. I was forced to motor. I started to get worried though because I only had a little bit of gas left. It might have gotten me all the way there but I really had no idea how many miles I could get out of a tank of gas. I prayed for wind cause I didnt want to be straded and there was no where safe to anchor. Luckily the wind came back, although there was only enough to push me at about 2 kts. The wind kept up to push me all the way into where I was going to anchor at swan creek near Gratitude and Rock Hall.
The Internet is slow here so ill add the pictures later..........Here is a few:
I woke up really early after spending the night at Worton's Creek to get a head start towards Rock Hall. The trip to Rock Hall was around 26 Nautical Miles. I was making good time and then the wind died. I was forced to motor. I started to get worried though because I only had a little bit of gas left. It might have gotten me all the way there but I really had no idea how many miles I could get out of a tank of gas. I prayed for wind cause I didnt want to be straded and there was no where safe to anchor. Luckily the wind came back, although there was only enough to push me at about 2 kts. The wind kept up to push me all the way into where I was going to anchor at swan creek near Gratitude and Rock Hall.
The Internet is slow here so ill add the pictures later..........Here is a few:
Monday, May 12, 2008
Havre De Grace, MD
The weather finally took a bit of a break so that I could walk to the local library. Yesterday I sailed from Hance Point Creek to where I'm at now in Havre De Grace. The total trip was 16.5 nautical miles which is about 19 regular miles. The total trip only took about 4 hours. It was really windy the boat was heeling to almost 30 degrees. Later I found out that the wind was blowing at about 30 knots. As I neared Havre De Grace the waves started building to between 3 and 4 feet, which was actually pretty fun. I have a lot of confidence in the little cape dory. After docking at my slip I took a walk around the town to see what it was all about.
That night was rough sleeping the wind was blowing so hard that even with no sails up the boat heeled was over making it hard to sleep. For some reason the cockpit drains were not working and the cockpit was filling up from the rain. At around 4 in the morning I had to drain the cockpit water into the bilge and let the pumps pump it back out. Finally at around 6 O'clock the wind and waves died and I was able to get some sleep.
Today I found some time to visit a couple of museums. Ill post pics of those later.
Here are some pictures to update you all on the trip so far:
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Virgin Voyage
Today was the virgin voyage of the the newly named Cincinnati Rover. The weather today was terribly wet with an estimated 3 to 4 inches of rainfall. With that being said the transit went great and was uneventful for the most part. I was the only boat on the water due to the shitty weather, but let me tell you, it was so great to finally be out on the water. The feeling of taking the tiller and heading into the waves is indescribable.
This was also my first time of piloting a boat into a slip. It would seem like an easy task but with the wind blowing it was hard to line up the boat and park into such a small space. For now I am at a slip at Jackson Marina in Hance Point Creek, MD. I will be staying there tonight and tomorrow night. Tomorrow I have to make a few repairs to the boat and mount the solar panel. One of the port windows leaks pretty bad and make the boat all wet on the inside. So if it is dry tomorrow I will be taking out the window and sealing up real good.
Sorry there as no pictures, it was too windy and rainy to get the camera out.
This was also my first time of piloting a boat into a slip. It would seem like an easy task but with the wind blowing it was hard to line up the boat and park into such a small space. For now I am at a slip at Jackson Marina in Hance Point Creek, MD. I will be staying there tonight and tomorrow night. Tomorrow I have to make a few repairs to the boat and mount the solar panel. One of the port windows leaks pretty bad and make the boat all wet on the inside. So if it is dry tomorrow I will be taking out the window and sealing up real good.
Sorry there as no pictures, it was too windy and rainy to get the camera out.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Update!
Buying a cheap boat makes a lot of work. But the work is finally starting to pay off. And the boat is just about ready to put into the water. Only a few more little things need to be done along with a good wash and wax.
Ive been trying to document the stuff I have done to the boat, but sometimes I just get into the work so much that I forget to take pictures and stuff. So here is just a small rough log of whats been going since the quarter ended. There are so many little things that had to be done on the boat its not funny. This is just the short list.
Ive been trying to document the stuff I have done to the boat, but sometimes I just get into the work so much that I forget to take pictures and stuff. So here is just a small rough log of whats been going since the quarter ended. There are so many little things that had to be done on the boat its not funny. This is just the short list.
Picking up the boat in Michigan
The ship: A 1975 Cape Dory 25. I had to rent this beast to haul her home. She doesn't look that big but she weighs a lot thanks an 1800 pound lead keel. It took a long time and a lot of hours driving and searching the Internet to find a decent boat that was in good enough condition as well as being the right price.
Huge crack at the rudder skeg
After taking a closer look it turns out there is a lot of work that needs to be done one the boat. This here crack at the bottom of the rudder skeg is first priority.
After taking a closer look it turns out there is a lot of work that needs to be done one the boat. This here crack at the bottom of the rudder skeg is first priority. The repair
This is my repair job of the crack. The area that is grey is where the hull suffered from some pin hole weeping. To stop the weeping I sanded the paint bottom paint off down to the gel coat and then applied this Interlux brand epoxy paint sealer. This should stop any moisture from making its way in...from this spot anyway.
This is my repair job of the crack. The area that is grey is where the hull suffered from some pin hole weeping. To stop the weeping I sanded the paint bottom paint off down to the gel coat and then applied this Interlux brand epoxy paint sealer. This should stop any moisture from making its way in...from this spot anyway.Cockpit seat/hatch
The port side cockpit seat/hatch cover was completely rotted out from the inside. The seat or made be taking a piece of balsa and laminating it with fiberglass. Well over the years water has seeped in through the screw holes where the hinges are mounted causing the balsa wood to rot. I repaired this by drilling tons of holes into the bottom side of the seat and the drying out the seat. After the seat dries I filled all the holes with epoxy. Now the seat is really strong and sealed properly at the hinges.
The port side cockpit seat/hatch cover was completely rotted out from the inside. The seat or made be taking a piece of balsa and laminating it with fiberglass. Well over the years water has seeped in through the screw holes where the hinges are mounted causing the balsa wood to rot. I repaired this by drilling tons of holes into the bottom side of the seat and the drying out the seat. After the seat dries I filled all the holes with epoxy. Now the seat is really strong and sealed properly at the hinges.Going solar 
I have to get my power somewhere. This is an 80 Watt Sharp solar panel. I went from thinking about wind power to getting a gas generator and then finally choose to get a big solar panel. This guy makes more than enough power for me and my power hungry lap top. Check out the custom aluminum mounting. It turned out pretty nice and sturdy.
I have to get my power somewhere. This is an 80 Watt Sharp solar panel. I went from thinking about wind power to getting a gas generator and then finally choose to get a big solar panel. This guy makes more than enough power for me and my power hungry lap top. Check out the custom aluminum mounting. It turned out pretty nice and sturdy.
Fresh bottom anti-fouling paint
Before and after new bottom paint. This antifouling paint slowly wears away like a bar of soap, so that no sea slim or barnacles make there homes on the bottom of my boat.
Here is a more detailed list of whats been done:
Fix rudder skeg
Check all lines and rigging
Sand and paint bottom
Install solar panel
Install charge controller
Install new cockpit seat hinges
fix port cockpit seat
Re-wire mast
Install new LED anchor light
Install new masthead running light
Replace port nav light
Design and build mast raising system
Install new LED cabin lights
Install new VHF radio antenna
Install new VHF radio
Rig flag raising system
Install new chafe guards
Reset life line poles
Reinforce mask base
Fill all unfilled holes drilled into cabin top
Re-attach aft teak work
Paint lower unit of outboard
Tune up outboard
What still needs to be done:
Install new circuit breaker control panel
Install 12 volt plug outlets
Finish painting bottom aft
Sand and oil all teak
Clean the boat
That's all for now. This brings everything up to date.
Until next time...don't step on anything soft.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
My First Post
Hey everybody,
This is my first post, and my first blog. I never thought I would ever make a blog, but then again I never thought I would get to go sailing for a couple months before either.
Well this blog, we'll call it a log cause even typing "blog" feels a little gay. So I'm keeping this log just to have a place to share my travels, and pictures with anyone who is interested and so that I have a record of the trip, both for myself and for Tom O. Ill be posting more on my progress soon. So stay tuned. Till then....
....Don't step in anything soft.
Thanks for the awesome closing dear old dad!
This is my first post, and my first blog. I never thought I would ever make a blog, but then again I never thought I would get to go sailing for a couple months before either.
Well this blog, we'll call it a log cause even typing "blog" feels a little gay. So I'm keeping this log just to have a place to share my travels, and pictures with anyone who is interested and so that I have a record of the trip, both for myself and for Tom O. Ill be posting more on my progress soon. So stay tuned. Till then....
....Don't step in anything soft.
Thanks for the awesome closing dear old dad!
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