FATHER + SAILOR + TECHNOLOGIST + MUSICIAN + CYCLIST
Well, not happening within the next week anyway. So what’s an Ocracoke Bus? I first heard it from Jim Gay. Basically, favorable winds to go from Oriental to Ocracoke then favorable winds to take you back home with a day or two in between to spend on the island. Or even an overnighter which in turn becomes the $100 Sailor’s Burger (SmackNally’s burger and one nights slip at Anchorage Inn Marina).
Today is a remarkable day. It’s the summer solstice meaning it’s the longest day of the year, or actually, longest daylight of the year in the northern hemisphere. Also this evening is a strawberry moon, when the moon is the closest to the earth and the sun’s light hits it just right. Having the summer solstice and strawberry moon on the same day is rare and in fact, will not happen again for several more decades. Making it even more special is being out on the water, anchored out in Bath Creek off of….Bath, NC. Tranquility, thought provoking, peaceful, content.
This photo doesn’t do it any justice so hope you’re all outside viewing this evening.
#OnceInALifetime
When we last left off, the fridge compressor died. Got a recommendation for a local guy named Darrell Foster. I highly, highly, highly recommend him. Got him on short notice as he was inthe area. Checked out the system, discussed it, spent some time online with me looking at various systems and discussed them. Ordered a new system, basically the same one, direct shipped it to him and he got it installed right away. Great guy, professional and easy to work with.
Have to say, this unit just sips power unlike the previous one. The freezer got down to zero and the fridge at 35 degrees, awesome. Also, had it set to full and left the battery charger off for two days. Still had about ~70% battery house bank capacity. So I figure when I get the solar panels on, I can stay out on the hook at Cape Lookout for a week 😉
In an effort to reduce the amount of dinghys I have in the armada, I’m listing the big dinghy. It’s a Mercury Airdeck 340. Hypalon, 10’6″ in length, air floor and inflatable keel. Comes with a cover and a pump. it’s like new, not used much. Great for a family as it can easily support six adults. Was for a different time and configuration. Spread the word or if you’re interested, give me a shout. It’s big.
Here’s the link to a new one on Defender.com. List price is $3,500, currently selling at Defender for $2,569. I’m looking for about $1,400. Remember, Hypalon, not PVC.
Well, this was a weekend of ups and downs.
First, the start battery on bank one has gone to that big electroplate heaven in the sky. Turn off the battery charger and bank two, flip on a load and it drops to nine volts. Damn. Well, battery replacement was simple enough, just awkward putting it in. Anything over twenty pounds that needs to be placed somewhere in a boat crevice ends up being awkward. So out with the old Interstate Group27 start battery, in with the new Duracell…Duracell? Yeah, had a 10% off coupon from Batteries Plus, got it at the Oriental Boat show.
Then there’s “She’s Dead Jim…Part Deux”
We’re not done because it’s a boat. Did you think I was getting off that easy? That cheap? Not! What else could possibly happen? Well, how about the fridge going kaput. You know, the thing that holds the beer and unused salsa and bean dip. Yup, the compressor failed and while I have my suspicions, stupid is as stupid does. I’ll leave it htere. Hint, DC electric motors do like low voltage. So this failure falls within the proper range of boat failures. Cost? A boat buck. Of course you can’t just order a compressor motor, Nope, gotta get the unit. Cool thing is I won’t be needed a new evaporator will just have it evacuated and there’s an adapter fitting for the new connection. So with Amex in hand (or on file), quickly went to Defender to offer my tithe to the patron saint of boat repairs with another boat buck.
But there’s a lighter side. As I’m planing on doing more anchoring out and discovering this year, along with being a temporary resident of Ocracoke by accumulating a month on the island this year, I felt I needed a better dingly. So….(drumroll), kind of fell into a new AB 9.5AL. This thing is sweet. Aluminum floor, hypalon, high bow. Will keep me dry in the chop. Much nicer than my other two inflatable floor dinghys (which are for sale btw). This thing can take up to a 15hp outboard and it’s just begging for more than my current 6hp Tohatsu. Besides, I need something to zip me back and forth from Ocracoke to Portsmith Island. Tohatsu 9.8 with the optional external battery start is in my eye. I’m also interested in teh Lehr 9.9hp propane outboard, just still a bit concerned about getting the talk filled wherever I’m at, also concerned about having that big cylinder tank in the dinghy.
And did still get on water though we didn’t go too far 😉
Sailed (motored) to Ocracoke early last week for a stress-free week of telecommuting. Single-handed (getting used to it) while Steve single-handed his sailboat. It’s good to travel in pairs. I had a lot to do for work and needed a change of scenery. The water was flat the whole way out so we motored, but a pleasant motor overall, temperature was just right while we made our own breeze.
But going was interesting, for the first time, I took Nine Foot Shoal instead of the main ferry channel. I have to say that after my anxiety attack, I actually prefer Nine Foot. No ferries to dodge and Nine Foot is a natural channel. We went in on a rising tide and didn’t see anything less than seven feet. It’s now my preferred route and I think it cuts off at least twentyfive minutes over using the main channel.
We had a decent sail returning to Oriental. As we left Oracoke around 10am, the winds were aready at 20 kts from the notth. Had three or four foot seas as we went up Nine Foot which was a bit nerve racking at times. But out of the channel then west on home. As we crossed the Pamlico getting closer to the Neuse, the wind died down a bit so we then motorsailed.
I have to say, telecommuting from Ocracoke does NOT suck. I think I’ve knocked out more internal posts, writings, analysis and other run of the mill day job stuff in a few straight days that I have like that in a while. Guess it was the atmosphere of an expanded and quiet Ocracoke Coffee shop in teh mornings then sitting in the cockpit with a stiff afternoon breeze. As the thrift shop has moved, the coffee shop has done a really nice expansion. As far as internet connectivity, the free Wi-fi at the local places are ok but I mostly used my Verizon MIfi and AT&T wireless data. Over 60Mb down and 7Mb up, more than adequate for telecommuting.
And oh boy, lets talk about the food at Ocracoke. From Howard’s Pub to Dajios to The Flying Mellon to The Backporch. Great food. So much for cooking on the boat. Some places weren’t opened yet or at full hours but that was OK, there was enough to enjoy.
Though I did head up some Crab and Sweet Corn Chowder on the sail back…the one meal for the entire week that I did “cook”.
Even had time to grab a long lunch and ride out to one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches on the east coast, truly a national treasure. There was a fishing tournament going on that week, hence all the vehicles on the beach.
And the official “It’s 5PM so stop working!” notification 😉
So let’s talk about something really important. Let’s talk about the Ocracoke sunsets. Actually, let’s not talk about it as no words are needed, the photos describe it all and it’ll translate to your own words….
So how do you end a day at Ocracoke? Well, Yannkee baseball mind you, with a nice scotch…neat with just a splash of water. So blessed and thankful, no complaints. Will be seeing you again here shortly, Memorial Day through the Ocrafolk Festival.
What a fun time on the water Saturday for the Neuse Sailing Association’s anniversary race. Pretty decent winds for the 3pm start from Oriental marker #1 to Garbacon Shoal marker to the Adams Creek marker then back to O-Town. About an hour and fourty minutes later we had a winner. Had an excellent crew menber and fantastic helmsman, Bill Lovelace. Don’t let his proper and mild-manner terperment fool you, he’s like Wolverine on the water. “SHEET IT IN, SHEET IT IN!!!”.
Mike always says that racing makes you a better overall sailer and that is definitely true. I learned much this past Saturday like “how in the heck did you guys point so high?” Pointing definitely helped us as we didn’t have to tack to the Garbacon marker. But on the downwind, it convinced me that I now need a whisker pole to keep that headsail out. Though after rounding Adams Creek marker, we dug in for the stretch to Oriental #1. Inteesting about racing makes you a better sailer as we had to ease out the main because we were heeled over way too much, too much wetted surface. As soon as we eased it out we picked up speed. Next challenge was trying to spot the marker that’s coverd birds nests in grey.
Oh, thouse sounds, those worrying aweful sounds of things creeking and popping as you’re tightening up on everything, trying to eek out a 1/4 knot more. Everything is spring tight, nothing left to winch. It’s amazing the stresses that the standing and running rigging takes. Just a thought as I reflect on those popping sounds.
We won’t talk about the protests or start times for a pursuit race though as I have a bottle of rum ready to share at Ocracoke for me penalty 😉
Hemispheres is back in the water. Almost ready, just a few more things and taking her back to Pecan Grove via South River on Wednesday. Then a whole lot of interior cleaning as you know it needs to be detailed inside.
Some engine work tomorrow, river test hopefully, then the head hoses replacement. I won’t be there for that one, whew. Some misc stuff then back to Pecan Grove via South River 😉
Well, Hemispheres is hauled out, needing some work done. So of course, I had to throughly clean the interior before dropping her off. You know how your mom used to say, always have clean underwear on in case you have to go to the hospital. Guess that stuck with me in an odd way.
Going to have the bottom done as she’s having a problem keeping the paint on in certain spots, seems to be the same areas too. That big chunk of paint missing on the keel looks like she sustained a plasma blast from a disrupter beam. Oh, and then there’s the propellor. Electrolysis is hitting it bad and here’s the mystery, the zinc is still there so everyone is scratching their heads. I need to get with the diver, maybe he just put a new one on through the shaft zinc much have gone. Well, it’s an excuse to get a new MaxProp feathering prop, the current one is old and seems to need rebuilding anyway. So what to do for the next couple of weeks while she’s on the hard? I guess it’s now kayak season 😉
L u k e n . o r g 