Oxford part deux

Having already spent over a month at Oxford with our boat on the hard for two weeks of that time we returned back to Oxford after our week of medical visits. But, this time we have some very limited and clearly defined goals. Some of the work I'm doing and some the yard will be doing.

Our home for work.

There are really only 2 tasks for the yard this time around. The first is to replace the vinyl coated lifelines with stainless steel lifelines to avoid potential failure in the covered areas. The second task is very simple to cover up the hole in the cockpit where the sonar was that we removed. In preparation for this work when we got back into the marina on Sunday I removed the old lifelines and emptied the lazarette under the hole to be patched. To empty the port lazarette required removing our spare dinghy engine so we got that on the dink to use over the summer to keep it exercised.

So along with the work the yard is doing I'm taking the opportunity to work in those areas. With the lifeline down and everything off the rails it is time to really clean the tarnish off all the stainless since I had to do it with the lifeline hardware in prep for the new lines. Although I usually keep after the stainless this is the first chance I've had to get at it all without anything in the way. The chainplates, turnbuckles and shrouds came out beautifully. To clean it I did several coatings with Spotless Stainless and then polished them with Brasso.

Stainless so shiny you can see a reflection.

With the lazarettes empty I was able to paint them with Bilgekote to help protect the from water and help make them lighter inside. As part of that task I'm also removing the wiring from the sonar we removed.

A 2-pronged task completed was to remove the canvas from the cockpit and clean it. While the canvas is off the cockpit stainless can be done. There are several other tasks to be completed in around the larger tasks. On Friday we got our sails back and were able to join in a cruise with some other friends. While the wind didn't really afford much of an opportunity to sail it was good to have a completed boat and we did sail for a little while.

Sailing again.

Boby Owl Cove where we anchored out Saturday night.

Happy HHSA Cruisers on Saturday night.

On our return Sunday I took advantage of the lack of wind to go up the mast with my Top Climber and replace the starboard flag halyard and the rigging tape on the spreaders that was peeling off. So everything is now back in the boat and we're ready to head out to do some follow-up medical appointments this week and then on to our final round of scheduled improvements.

Up the mast do so some maintenance.

Slowly getting up on all maintenance so we can focus on our getaway prep for this Fall.

  

 

A different kind of busy week

When we started cruising 2 years ago one of the challenges we needed to meet was how to continue our medical concerns. Having lived in Northern Virginia for 13 years we had established relationships with a number of medical practices and without having another place where we would be for any length of time we decided to keep our established relationships until some time in the future when we settle elsewhere. So to simplify the requirements we schedule all of our annual appointments in one week. If we have follow-ups we schedule them as we can. This was the week.

Ready to roll.

Anticipation.

Splashdown.

After having the boat on the hard for 2 weeks we got the hull damage from the mooring ball fixed, the hole from the sonar filled and the bottom painted. So to our pleasure we got launched Monday morning (13th June) and after checking out the bow thruster repairs we headed west across the Bay.

On our trip over there was a J-120, Logos sailing from Oxford and we exchanged pictures. Of course motoring without sails is barely worthy of note.

The morning was beautiful with some nice wind that we could have sailed but our sails were still being serviced and not due back for another week. So we motored nicely to our temporary slip on Rockhold Creek at Shipwright Harbor in Deale, Md. We had a car reserved for our week's transportation so after washing the boat we got our car and the rush began.

Rockhold Creek.

Each day we had our multiple appointments for physicals, dental exams, eye exams and other reviews.  But we scheduled lunches and dinners with friends each day so we began with a commute in rush hour traffic and got home after dark. Friday afternoon ended with grocery shopping at the Commissary and Wegman's as we begin to rebuild our long-term stores. Friday night ended with an HHSA Dock Hop where we got to visit with many of our old friends and made new ones.

We left Shipwright Saturday and went back across the Bay to Oxford but before going back in the Boatyard we anchored out in Plain Dealing Creek on a beautiful night. Next day back in the Boatyard for more work.

Plain Dealing Creek.

Getting to work

While we were doing our traveling we left several tasks for the yard to accomplish. Much of it I could have done myself but wanted to get the work done as soon as possible because there was still much to do when we returned.

While we were gone the yard found the problem with the charging and there was a broken wire on the alternator so charging the battery and fixing the wire solved the whole electrical issue that we developed on the way north. With that solved they went on to do a 1000 hour engine service. We last had one done when we bought the boat. However, the bow thruster wasn't serviced so that would be the focus when we got to it.

Cleaning off the bottom on haul out.

Our home for 1 or maybe 2 weeks. Notice the ICW mustache.

It rained on Memorial Day, the Monday of the long weekend so when we got back to Oxford the boat and sails were wet. But, we took them down anyway and put them in the shed to dry so we could fold them and take them into Annapolis for service. Tuesday we got hauled out but not before checking out the bow thuster and found the brushes were sparking indicating they were worn. So that would be another task to complete.

The tasks to be completed during the haulout included: cleaning and waxing the hull; servicing the lower unit of the bow thruster; apply bottom paint; replace the zincs; and evaluate and repair damage to the hull caused by mooring balls. When we were in St Augustine last Fall, the mooring  ball pounded the hull whenever the wind opposed the current. With the boat out of the water we were able to fully evaluate the damage and their were significant gouges in and around the boot stripe. Going forward we will need to develop a way to secure the mooring while keeping it away from the boat.

Our home with the mustache cleaned off and before the hull work began.

One other task we wanted to accomplish was replacement of the sonar system that was on the boat but didn't work correctly. After investigation we determined there was no good replacement so we removed it from the boat. One the major components was the huge transponder mounted on the hull that required a fiberglass patch. So instead of getting back in the water in about a week we were out about 2 weeks.

Living in the boat on the hard is challenging as many of our systems don't work because they require water. Our refrigerator is cooled in the water so we keep ice in it to keep things cold. Our HVAC requires water for operation and we can't pump out our holding tank so we only use our head sparingly.

Today I went through my "to do" list. When we got here  had a list of 52 items that has been knocked down to 17 in just a few weeks. Some of the items haven't been completed yet but are underway. With luck we will get everything done over the summer and be ready to head south. Our biggest challenge is to be sure we have what we need to fix what we need to survive. After 2 years on this boat I think we're close to being ready.

Next week we get back in the water and our focus turns to our annual medical appointments and visiting other friends. Once back in the water there is more work to be done but we will be able to get out and sail But now back to work.

In our running around for errands we stopped at the Boatyard for lunch one day and then a few days later we met some friends, Dave and Cindy of the boat TomTom who we met in New England last year and as it turned out live a mile from where we used to live. Here is Linda at the bar at the Boatyard in Annapolis.

Finally a little quiet time before the running begins again

Our road trip continued and in the end lasted 1 day short of 2 weeks. After spending time in the Chicagoland area we headed south to Champaign, IL to spend a long weekend with Linda's son Seth.

We spent a very nice Sunday afternoon walking through the Allerton Gardens enjoying the many sculptures, blooming flowers and native woodland. It was the first day since we left the Bahamas it didn't rain and the temperature actually felt comfortable. What a great afternoon!

Views of Allerton Gardens.

Linda and her son Seth at Allerton.

But on Monday we hit the road again and drove back to Harrisburg, PA on the way to Lancaster where we spent a day visiting my sister, two of my sons and oldest grandson.After another busy day we finally made it back home to Amekaya.

We spent Wednesday at the boat getting caught up and went out to dinner with our good friend Dave Sikes who was here in Oxford but heading out over the coming weekend while we were heading out to spend the weekend anchored out. But before the weekend we needed to scope out some additional work we are getting done. So we took our boat over to Galesville, MD to a rigger and metal fabricator that we've used for lots of other work. We discussed the support structure for the additional solar panels to be added and cabin security framework that we want to add to provide passive security for when we head off into the Caribbean.

This summer we're trying to do more cruising among our project works so we spent the long Memorial Day weekend at anchor. We left Galesville early and sailed to St Michaels for dinner at Ava's Pizzeria and Wine Bar, one of our favorite places. After a quiet night we moved on to Hunting Creek that is further up the Miles River to meet up with the Herrington Harbour Sailing Association Memorial Day Weekend Cruise.

During the weekend cruise we had the chance to visit with many of our old friends. We always enjoy seeing our old friends whether it's here or elsewhere as we talked about years past and our recent travels.

Beach scenes Saturday night with HHSA.




Lots of people wanted to hear about our travels and we enjoy talking about the great times and the challenges. Lots of people asked common questions but one question usually not asked is what is it like to be back. I realize we haven't been gone that long but each time we get back into our old lives after visiting elsewhere for so long it all feels familiar but were not a part of it anymore. Seeing all the familiar sights and sounds but in reality they are as temporal as all the other places we've been because we will be leaving again soon. When we describe our lives to others it may be had for them to understand because their lives are focused on geography and ours is focused more on the community of friends we have developed.

Due to weather the Sunday night happy hour was on board Amekaya.

So after a great weekend we headed back to Oxford to get busy and beginning running
again.