The Boat Show and New England

Upon arriving back In MO on the mainland of the US our first adventure took us east to the Annapolis Boat Show.  Staying with Debbie in Delaware makes this an easy and affordable trip.   This is a sailor’s boat show as many of the people working the equipment booths are sailors and many are live a boards using the product. 

The boats at the Boat Show

Booths at the Boat Show

 

 We needed some high ticket items and boat show prices have proved to be considerable savings plus you can compare the actual products.  We went expecting to spend $8,000-$10,000 for a water maker and found exactly what we needed for $3500.  More to spend in other areas!!  I guess it is not how much you save but how much you can pack into the car at the end.  We can now get a generator when we get back to the islands, much more multi-purpose and now affordable with the water maker taken care of.    We found a Fortress Anchor that will be very useful next hurricane season as we play duck and hide. 

More boats

 

 It seems that the little things do add up and one small grocery bag easily has $1000 worth of parts in it.  Unfortunately Leslie still has not found her affordable electric winch but she did find a manual for the dingy davits.  Seems the dingy gets water in the between hulls and with a 70lb. motor attached she has trouble pulling it up on the davits so the winch will make her life easier??   Of course there is the fun stuff too.  The Lagoon Owners tent with wine and water makes a comfortable stop for resting feet and finding out all the new Lagoon models and innovations.  Of course Hendricks Gin is the ever present party barge with their unlimited samples of tasty concoctions made of gin and ????. 

Hendricks Gin Booth

The Gin was bottomless

 

 

 

 

 

Carl at the Sunsail Party

Music at the Sunsail Party

 

Saturday night is not to be missed at the Sunsail Pusser’s street party where the Pain Killers flowed and there is no pain in the wallet!   A great mixture of good deals and good fun makes the Annapolis Boat Show a must. 

The Sunsail Party was a Blast!

From here we drove to RI through NY and a visit to Carl’s father and then to check on what is left of our worldly goods in storage and see our old neighbors.  As usual it was a gathering on the street to catch up.  The house and neighborhood look the same, even picked pears off my old tree.  Staying with cousin Alice made a nice family visit and we were able to do them a favor and give them a lift to the airport. 

Overlook at Castle in the Clouds

 

On to New Hampshire and visit with friends in Center Harbor.  We spent the day hiking at Castle in the Clouds, an old mansion that the state has made into a park.  The lands meander along rivers, streams and rolling hills at the foot of the White Mountains.

Bridal Viel Falls in NH

 

 The water falls were magnificent since there had been some significant rain.  The weather was perfect for a day of hiking.  After a great week it was back to St. Louis to repack and head west to Wyoming.

Covette Club at Castle in the Clouds

Great Falls on the hike at Castle in the Clouds

 

 

 

 

Putting Frolic Away for the Season

The hurricane season is well in swing and we have kept a careful eye on the weather as we sail between the various Virgin Islands. Also the Annapolis Boat Show is getting close as well as the holiday seson, so we are looking forward to leaving and spending the holidays with family and friends. We ducked into Brewer’s Bay to avoid Isaac and she kept her distance. Tropical Storm Leslie hung north of the Virgins Islands for a long time and we watched her carefully as the time for hauling Frolic approached.

We are hauling in Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda, but spent three days in Leverick Bay Marina preparing for the haul out. We washed the boat with fresh water and man, what a different feel it gave to the deck! We pulled off the jib, tied down the main, and changed the engine oil while we were in Leverick Bay, but still have a long list of things to do before we leave her in the yard. One of the last things we did before leaving the dock was a fresh water wash out of the holding tanks. Hopefully this will keep the heads smelling fresh and clean.

Waiting to be hauled out

It was a tight fit as we came out

We pulled into the haul out channel and it was a very tight fit! We had about 3” on each side.

 

 

The lifeline caught on the lift strap!!

 

When the slings were fastened under the boat they accidently caught the life lines.  We anxiously watched as the boat was lifted and moved out of the water so we could climb up a ladder and undo the life lines before they could possibly be pulled out of the railings.  Nerve wracking but no damage done. They blocked us up and then drilled holes to put in sand screws which would then be attached to straps that would be attached to the boat.

We are settled in on the blocks

We are blocked and dinghy down

 

With the boat secured I removed the salt water pump impellers and salt water inlet valves. The sail drives had their oil changed and we found water in the port drive. We washed down the inside of the boat with anti-mildew solution, closed all the thru hulls and put corks in them all to keep out any critters. The outboard engine got a fresh water flush and new lower unit oil before being fastened to the deck railing. The bimini came down last and the boat was ready for the season. While we are gone the yard will change the sail drive seals, replace the port engine bolts, and fabricate a new cabinet to replace the after seat at the saloon table.

The dinghy engine gets serviced

Holes are drilled for sand screws

Frolic is all strapped down

 

 

 

 

 

The yard has a great way to store large boats. They put a concrete hole in the ground and lower the keel of the boat in the hole so instead of being 6-8' in the air they are only 2 or 3' over the ground. We found a number of Newport RI registered boats in the yard.

Big boat lowered into the ground

Another Newport boat