So the laundry list of non routine maintenance for this year is the topsides. These were well past time for some TLC. It also gave me a chance to grind out the ugly patch on the bow the previous owner had applied after Gotcha got a nasty dock bite. After properly layering up the fiberglass repair and fairing it our with water tight epoxy filler. The bow line was looking a whole lot better. A lot of elbow grease, couple layers of epoxy primekote, and 3 layers of 2 part Polyurethane and voila!! She has her shine back just like she was new again.

What a difference now that the topsides are done. She looks more like a whole boat and not 2 separate boats slapped together. I had done the same thing to the top a couple years ago, but had only now got to the top sides to bring the whole viable area to a common clean new look. Still need to do a little touch up work to the non-skid (repainted that last year) but she's good for enjoying whats left of summer.

As with all boats, the laundry list of things I should still do to her is long and almost never ending ... however, there is noting on there that would cause her not to be able to get wet and have some fun. After all boats really are an on going and never ending project. ;)

Fair Winds and Warm Waters.
Chad

Loaded everyone onto the boat and headed out into the bay to do some sailing and swimming. Started out with a nice swim in the warm waters of the Flathead. Then, once the wind kicked up a bit we did some sailing in the bay. A series of medium tacks heading out toward the main lake and we ran out of wind so it was back into the water for a swim again.

Got some wind again though it was light. Seems the wind picks up once we have everything secured and we are in the water. Once we get out and get things set for sailing again the wind would drop off, but we played in it anyway as we worked out way out to the main lake.

Once we were clear of the point we found some great wind to play in. Ryan had a lot of fun healing the boat and splashing water over the bow on anyone who decided to stretch out there.

On the way back in we spotted a bunch of sails coming out of the North Yatch club in Somers. Tuesday nights is race night and we got to enjoy the race from a distance while we beat our way back into the bay for the marina. We had a lot of fun and made the marina just before it got too dark and we would have had to use navigation lighting.

Tomorrow I install the battery for the lighting so we are ready should we stay out to late. We might even go for a night sail before the week is out, it's hard to resist the full moon out there.

Well at long last we have her in the water. Launched at the Somers public boat launch. Boat stayed nice and dry with the new keel gaskets. Thanks Shahn!!

Sailed from Somers bay up to Lakeside marina where we have a slip rented for the week. Had some very nice winds to play in on the way up and got some good speed. Had another sail launch right after us. Looked like a 18 foot, possibly a Sanjuan but I'm not sure. They followed for little while but fell away quickly and stayed on line for Bigfork once they were clear of Somers bay.

On arrival at Lakeside Marina we tied up so we can get the rest f the crew and load the boat with supplies.

Had to get out on the water again so we headed out to Ghost Lake for a little fun in the sun. Had a great time sailing as there was a nice breeze running across the lake from SW to NE. Allowed for some long runs up and down the lake.

Unfortunately the lack of common courtesy on lake and especially in the marina was astounding. I firmly believe after this last outing that they are giving anyone who can not pass a drivers test a boaters license. Even back when I was 10 or 11 I understood the term No Wake and could follow the directions related to that when entering, traveling through, and leaving a marina. There was far to many people there that did not understand this concept and made life rather difficult for many others.

Very glad I do not have Gotcha on a ball in that marina this year. If it wasn't the jet ski's that wanted to use them as a slalom course then it was the constant wave wash of wake boats cruising through the marina.

Other then the challenged boat operators out there the sailing conditions where very enjoyable and there were several of us out there taking advantage of that enjoyable sail conditions.

The itch is hear!! the weathers been nice (relatively), the ice is off the water, and I still haven't had time to get Gotcha wet.

So most of the craziness that is life (work not included, that never stops) is starting to change gears which means there might actually be some time to sail again. I certainly hope so.

Saturday I have to get the kitchen back in shape and finish off most of the reno's we are doing in there. That said I really think I am going to try and convince the family to take a short drive Saturday morning and head out to McGregor lake and do some measurements. I know it deep enough to sail Gotcha on, I just don't know if they have enough depth at the launch to get her off the trailer.

Here's hoping that we make the trip out tomorrow morning and we have favorable results. If the launch is deep enough to get her off the trailer the perhaps we can start sailing there this summer. It looks like it's a nice sized body of water and the shore contour lends to good movement of the wind across the lake with out the traditional shore eddies we have around a lot of the higher banked lakes.

Fair winds and Calm waters.

Well its time I get my butt moving and get this blog up and operational. I registered with the intent of keeping a running excerpt from Gotcha's log book and any additional info and thoughts at the time.

Well that was 2 sailing seasons ago and I still have nothing up about her passages. But fear not, that will change. In the coming month or so I will begin putting in back log information on the travels for the last 2 years. I will also get the past information on her condition and the continuing restores that I have planed for her over the next year. I'll also keep the blog apprised of the future and on going projects for her. I mean lets face it, a boat is a never ending lifetime project of customizing and tweaking. :)

So stay tunes as I get us up to date and ready for sail season three.

Fair winds and Calm waters.