The fenders of 'Silverheels III' had not brushed against a dock for mooring in about 2 and 1/2 years before this past January. Our fenders actually have another use on the boat as cushions to make the back of the boat by the stern rails more comfy for reading and when underway. This past January we bit the bullet and went to the marina at Rodney Bay to equalize our batteries and do a few other dock-friendly jobs. Well, that is a whole other blog entry http://www.sailblogs.com/member//silverheelsiii/?xjMsgID=257761 about that time around.

This time we came to the dock to a) buy and install new batteries and b) get a replacement prop for the dinghy outboard. Twice on a dock in 5 months!

Now here is the confession. I like it on the dock. Damn. I will admit that we would look down our noses at the people hanging on the dock in Grenada during hurricane season. Some cruisers have different terms for marinas "Assisted Living" or "The Suburbs" come to mind, possibly because I might have uttered those same phrases myself at some point or another. So, I now apologize and admit that I was wrong. It is pretty darned nice on the dock!

We don't need to fire up the dinghy to go somewhere, or get organized to do multiple things at the same time on land. We can step off the boat whenever we feel like it and do the errand. No wet dinghy rides, unlimited power (only important as we charge our new batteries, as our solar panels can still do the job). The pool is a lovely way to relax at the end of the day, and there is a great deal to be said for showers that have a good water supply.

However, we will be happy to get back onto the hook, where we can swim off the boat whenever we wish, and we can wear less clothing. On the dock, anyone can show up at any time (no, I don't want my woodwork or my hull taken care of or cleaned), so the state of dress is more important. Plus it is a lot less expensive swinging on the anchor than paying for dockage.

Visiting the marina is kind of like a mini-vacation, if we weren't trying to get so many jobs done at the same time. Right now it is changing the batteries; putting on the new prop; cleaning the dinghy and finding and fixing the blasted leak in the hull; turning the anchor chain end for end; changing the shackles on the main anchor (we have removed the stainless steel swivel as it is causing galvanic corrosion on the chain and anchor, and they can also be a point of failure), and other general jobs. Plus we will take advantage of the "Mega-J" store and the dock carts to get a big shop in.

Back to work, the hottest part of the day has passed...