11/15/2009
Zephyr is, sadly, almost tucked into bed for the winter. We have all the water systems filled with RV antifreeze, the lockers are emptied, fuel is topped off and the oil is changed. We have the dodger and bimini to take down as well as two sails left to remove and take to Annapolis for their annual check-up and storage. Finally we'll put on the winter cover and she'll be set. We are hoping for a nice weather window next week to attend to these chores then hurry home to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family.
In anticipation of fine sailing next year, we've ordered a new dodger for her that will be ready in the spring. The one we have is starting to show irrepairable wear and doesn't have an opening windshield which lets it get pretty warm in the summer. So, something more to look forward to.
We've had her out several times since the last blog and we haven't had any more trouble with the alternator brace. However, we're still not happy with the new instrument panel we had installed last spring. One gauge, the oil pressure, isn't working and the blower switch was cut off and left to dangle behind the panel. Seems like you should get a little more for 5 boat units! We won't be returning to that particular boat yard even though it is where we purchased the boat and the marina which had serviced her since she was new. Terry has lined up someone to look at the problem over the winter. Hopefully, we'll get it resolved without shelling out another tiller and a mast.
I have found yet another reason to go sailing. Coming home after dark a few days ago a 6 point buck and I crossed paths. I suppose he got the worst of the meeting, he didn't survive, but my car didn't didn't do too well either: almost 10 boat units of damage and three weeks in the shop. I thank God I wasn't injured, but was certainly frightend half to death. He hit the front left headlight and left side of my medium sized SUV setting off the side airbags. The noise and cold were so shocking, I thought the deer had come through the window! Just think, I could have been snugly anchored in a peaceful cove! Hopefully we can miss rutting season next year and be headed south by this time.
CC
| Sailing Away on Zephyr |
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09/12/2009, Chesapeake Bay
I should ask where did the blog I just sent go? I mostly love computers, but when things disappear into cyberspace, it can be a bit frustrating. So if this pops up as a reapeat, it's just one of the many mysteries in this world I don't understand!
But, yes, summer has fizzled out here at home...drizzly in the 60's today. But, good news to report: Terry had back surgery last week and it's looking good. Hopefull we'll get more sailing in next summer. (Didn't I say that about this time last year?) But we are very encouraged, he says it's the first time his legs have felt normal in over a year. Now, to keep him form overdoing before he's healed.
Since the last blog, we were able to get out on the boat several times for short one and two day sails. Even had guests Sandy and Leo down for a trip to Annapolis. Otherwise, have been staying pretty close to home. Daughter # 2 got married on the 4th of July and daughter #1 and I celebrated her release from cigarette addiction (you ROCK, honey!) by bicycling the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from Cumberland, MD to Wahington DC, 184 1/2 miles in 5 1/2 days!! It was absolutely beautiful and so full of history sometimes it felt like we'd stepped back in time. We highly recommend the adventure. (We did take the more gentile accomodations as Terry met us with our RV every evening - hot showers, good food , soft beds and G&T's! But that's okay for a gal in her 6th decade!)
Maybe we'll get out on the water again before winter sets in.
CC
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Anchored in 6 feet of water at mean tide when we draw 4'8" is a little scary, but all was well this morning and the boys sailed across the bay back to Rock Creek entrance on one tack. Sound like they're having a great time. Terry reports that they were able to put Zephyr in the slip without any problems using the technique Wayne helped us with last week. (Coming in in such a way that the wind blows the bow away from the slip, aligning the stern to back in.)
The rest of the afternoon is for going over some of the rigging tweeking that needs done. When we were in Annapolis for the haul-out we had the rigging inspected by Madden Rigging and there's a few things that need minor attention that we can do ourselves. When we decide to sell this boat, someone is going to get one perfect boat!
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We're making great progress on Zephyr. Had her hauled in Annapolis three weeks ago for her annual check-up. She got new bottom paint, waxed hull, repitched prop and...(ta-da!) a new instrument panel. Her old one consisted of a tach that read 1000 rpm even when the key was off, a temp guage that had a nervous twitch and idiot lights that never slept. I fear it may have gotten zapped when we had the problem with the alternator. But now we have a beauty with guages for all functions. I think it will give us a bit more peace of mind. Repitching the prop has worked wonders and we can now get the ole girl up to hull speed without spewing black smoke.
Terry and Brad have her out this weekend for a shake-down/orientation cruise. They called a while ago and said they had a great sail across the bay and were anchored in Fairlee Creek. It should be a fun night. Fairlee Creek is one of the most popular destinations for power boaters and they said the cove was packed. Brad and his wife are going to use the boat some this summer while we continue to get Terry's legs healed. He's doing better, but still is not strong enough to do foredeck work.
Sleep well boys!
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It's spring and time to get the ole girl hauled and freshened up a bit. Brad joined us for the trip down to Annapolis to Port Annapolis. It was nice to be on the water again and we're looking forward to doing it more this year than last!
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02/27/2009, Elton, PA
They say the best laid plans of mice and men so often go astray, and we can testify to that addage! After our last sail in July, Terry noticed a funny feeling in his legs. It became so debillitating he needed two canes to walk. For nine months we're been to trouping around to doctors looking for the cause and a cure. Yesterday we went to see a doctor at Hershey Clinic and after nearly 8 hours of tests and consults, he was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder that attacked the thigh nerves and muscles. The good news is that with medication this can be reversed with little residual weakness or nerve damage. You can imagine how jubilent we are!
So now, we can seriously start thinking about Zephyr and sailing again. The poor thing has been sitting in her slip since we left her in July. With the help of friends we were able to winterize her and get her cover on. Hopefully, the third time is the charm!
Just so you don't feel sorry for us, we did manage to fly to Maui for three weeks in January.
Hopefully the next blog I'll have some happy sailing adventures to share.
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07/21/2008, Chesapeake Bay
We were able to put together a few days to go sailing and headed out last Sunday. We had no sooner gotten out into the Patapsco than we noticed that the batteries weren't charging while we had the engine running! We were ready to sink the ship and sail ashore. Terry went below to check the engine and found that the alternator had worked loose. Bouncing around in 2-4 foot waves he managed to get it returned to the correct position and firmly fastened. Hooray! The batteries began to charge again! So off we went for some badly needed R & R.
The wind began to fill in and soon we had a pretty steady 23 knots on the beam and we flew! We reached a max of 8.6 knots made good and reached Still Pond from Rock Creek in just 4 hours. We anchored and had a wonderful dinner while watching the sun burn a hole in the water. The red skies were a warning. Eventhough the forcast was for no showeres north of the Patapsco, by midnight we had a good steady rain and gusty winds. Our 35# CQR held well and we awoke to a beautiful peaceful morning. We decided to stay put and rest Monday. It was good for the soul.
Tuesday we headed out to Fairlee Creek where we met Captain Michael who was out with a class and our buddy Bruce who was just back from Miami. Nice visit with old sailing pals.
Wednesday we left and almost made it out without running aground. To quote our daughter, we didn't run aground, we just kissed the bottom! Fortunately it was just a friendly kiss and Terry soon had us backed off and on our way. In an effort to not run aground near the markers, we hugged the shore at the point a little too close. Oops.
We put up the cruising spinacker in 5 knots and watched the wind peter out to 2 knots within the hour. We motored back to Bar Harbor without incident.
Thursday was a work day. Terry replaced three fans in the cabins with ones that draw fewer amps and added one in the salon while I freshened up the Cetol on the teak. We also rearranged and cleaned out the stores in the lazerette lockers.
It was 4 o'clock by the time we headed for home in the car where the outside temperature was 99 degrees F. No wonder we were feeling wilted!
On days this hot it is real nice to get back to our Laurel Highlands home where it's always cooler (especially in the winter!).
We're tied up for a couple of weeks, but will be back the second week of August when we hope to start having guests visit.
Wishing you all cool zephyrs.
Charlotte
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07/03/2008, Rock Creek, MD
We've been busy all spring with the wiring problem that plagued us last fall, and...we have identified the problem and repaired it!
We took it out two weeks ago in gusts to 25 kn and 2-3 feet waves to see if anything might jiggle loose and all went well.
The problem was at the alternator. I lost count of how many times the alternator was removed to get to the starter by the mechanics, but it was enough to damage the wire that lead from the alternator to the battery. We didn't notice it right away because it was wrapped in electrician's tape and appeared okay. Also the detent plug would not fit properly and we replaced it with a new one. The brace that holds the alternator had been modified by the previous owner and the weld had broken which let the alternator vibrate something fierce. We had a new one made from stainless steal and it's working dandy.
So, now the question is, will we try our trip south this fall? Terry and I agree that we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now we're going to sail the bay, continue to maintain and upgrade Zephyr as needed .
I think we need to regain our confidence in the boat and sailing around the bay should do just that. See you out there!
| Sailing Away on Zephyr |
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11/21/2007, Bar Harbor Marina, MD
Monday we had the wiring problen repaired and all seemed well. We left the Solomons before dawn on Tuesday and headed out. Before long, the alternator started acting up again. We headed north. It's just too frustrating and dangerous to try to continue until we solve this problem.
We reached Bar Harbor at 6:30 PM, disappointed but safe. We will spend the next year tracing down the wiring problem and playing on the bay.
A highlight of the trip was meeting the schooner Mistress on Saturday. We took each other's picture as we passed and they have ours posted on their blog site:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-QXxspIw0erV8pGIjL9mF3bPLAu0LitHobA--?cq=1&p=383
I'll get theirs up as soon as I get hardwired and able to download pictures.
Thanks to all for your support and prayers.
We'll be back!
Terry and Charlotte
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11/18/2007, Solomons, MD
Here it is Sunday all ready, time flies! We had hoped to be futher south by now, but if there's one thing we've learned about boats and sailing, it's that time doesn't matter to them.
We left Annapolis before sunrise Yesterday after having two technicians go over our alternator problem. The wind was perfect coming down the bay, SW @10-15 kn. We were able to head in the direction we needed to go under sail alone. After noon the wind shifted to S so we fired up the ole iron genny and were able to make 5-7 kn with the sails and engine. All went well until about 2:30, with about 20 miles to go, the tachometer quit...which meant that the alternator wasn't working, again. Terry checked out the possibilities that the technicians had looked at and all seemed well. A call to one suggested a blown fuse behind the control panel. As long as the engine was running we weren't worried and just kept trucking. The wind started to build and we were not able to make much headway, so tacked off, the longer route, but a better and faster ride. About 4:30 we noticed the engine temperature guage started going haywire, jumping all over the place, a check of the engine showed it to be fine. But the nagging worry continued as did the building wind and seas. Finally at 6PM we were still 3-4 miles from the Solomons, it was dark (eventhough we had a beautiful moon reflecting off the waves), and we concluded that we didn't want to be near shore with big wind and waves and have the motor give out...so we called Boat US and got a tow into Zanheisers Marina. (Thank goodness we have unlimited towing!) We've made arrangements to have it worked on tomorrow. Terry took off the control panel and to our disdain, there were no fuses at all, but he continues to check it our and maybe we'll get lucky.
So, how are our spirits? We're not really in our happy place, but we aren't ready to throw in the towel quite yet. A couple of G&Ts last night, church this morning, and a beautiful warm, sunny day today keep hope alive.
Keep those prayers coming!
Charlotte
PS I have some great pictures, but can't seem to attach them on the wireless.
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