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| Lazy 1st Mate |
Well it's almost the time for us Northern Sailors to start thinking about the winterization of the boats. This past summer was great weather wise. Sailed over 700NM on a trip to Nova Scotia and had more days without fog than most summers in the recent past. Good memories. The boat performed well over the summer and I've compiled another to-do-list for this winter.
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"Whirly Gig 1" a lifting device that attaches
to the 3rd wheel & 5th wheel hitches. |
This past weekend Masts were removed on 6 boats as we prepare for the haul out on Oct. 14th. Wharfy the Cat came along to help, but proved to be quite lazy, as usual, once he is aboard the boat. The St. Anderews wharf is undergoing construction and won't be suitable for us to lift masts with our own rig after this season... this is to accommodate the "pocket' Cruise Ships that are planning to call on the Port as a regular stop next summer. Mast pulling in St. Andrews using the rig we use is dictated by the tides. Tide ranges in our area can reach 27'. Low tide puts the boats low enough we use a homemade rig to lift the mast from the boats and place them on the dock to be trailered away on a boat cradle. deck stepped masts are easiest, when unstepping keel stepped timing is everything. Only a small window exists as when the tide starts rising the ability to lift starts to diminishes.
Just down to being a power boat for now.
Cheers,
Dave & Wharfy
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| Moon Dancer II's Mast on the deck. |
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| Gryphon's Mast about to be pulled. |
If a man is to be
obsessed by something,
I suppose a boat is as good as anything, perhaps a
bit better than most.
-E. B. White
