Back at the helm again

We've had a few sailings this summer and are on the boat this weekend to install a new GPS, clean up the water line, and fit in some relaxing time - watching Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson at the Me and Thee Coffee House and an MIT BBQ in Hanover, NH.
We are starting to get the boat ready to sail south around Oct 7th near when the launch at Marblehead Yacht Club closes up for the season.  Such a difference from Florida.
   Marblehead Harbor has 5 yacht clubs on its shores: Boston, Corinthian, Eastern,  Dolphin and Marblehead, each with their vast differences in services and amenities.  An amazing northeastern harbor with at least 1,000 boats, it is enclosed on 3 sides with Marblehead, the causeway and Marblehead Neck - very fancy.  The harbor is open to the north but has islands far off that stop any huge surge in a storm - still for the never-to-happen Hermine "Hurricane"  every club pulled up the docks and prepared for a big blow.  "Better safe than sorry," dockmasters said.  Since all boats in the northeast must be hauled in every winter there are no derelict boats in the water anywhere.  Boats are pretty well kept and with the deep water there are lots of sailors from Maine to New York.  Maine with all its islands and the Maine Island Trail, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island, and Cuttyhunk New England boasts one of the finest cruising grounds in the world. Only the lobster pots need to be avoided.  You don't need to constantly watch the depth sounder.  There are rocks, but well charted.  Storms are not to be tested because if you lose control or have sailboat damage and wash to shore, unlike Florida, it will be a rocky one.

  So today's project for me was to scrub/wash Shawnee's waterline hanging off the dinghy.  On the way I found iron filing rust stains from when Drew worked on the dinghy outboard from Shawnee's stern storage mount.

Of course why is there anything that could rust in an outboard motor, but that's another topic.










Iron filing stains on transom.



















So I tried Krud Kutter, Star Brite Bird & Spider Stain Remover and -- ta da-- the soft cleanser Bar Keepers Friend.

That got it off.  It's very runny.  Gentle rubbing then a scrub brush, and rinsing with lots of water got off the rust.
Meanwhile Drew's project of the day is to fix the anemometer.   After a day at the base of mast checking connections, much research, and reading discussion groups, he said that many people found corrosion in the anemometer itself.  Oh...that means I need Drew to winch me to the top of the mast and get it.  Fun. Actually heights really are fun for me, a former rock climber.
As I was putting on the Bosun's chair getting ready to be hoisted up, a father and his 3 kids came by in a dinghy.  He saw what we were doing and explained, giving a running commentary to his kids like a sporting event describing everything that was happening and going to happen.  It pumped me up - all I needed was the Olympic theme song.

Getting ready:
I got to the top and took a picture of the hole where I unscrewed the anemometer. Without being able to see directly in, I held the camera around the other side and snapped a picture.

 Hard to see but corrosion is on the small pin holes where the anemometer goes in.

 

And we found corrosion inside the anemometer:

Next step is to clean this up and go back up to clean the corrosion at the top of the mast.

Another day.

There is always the glorious show at the end of the day.  This one filled the whole sky.  I never tire of this.  No enhancements on any of my sunset pix.

The reflection in the harbor waters was an added feature.