Lil Provo sitting in boat yard

Lil Provo sits on her trailer in Keyport NJ awaiting some special attention for the damage incurred late this season.  Last weekend I took a drive down and unloaded some things from the cabin and worked on getting the motor off.   We soaked the Master lock last week with WD40 before leaving the boat yard and after sitting for a week I inserted the key only to find that the WD40 had not worked at all and the lock would not unlock.  I then walked to the back of my truck and pulled out my 100 foot extension cord and die grinder.  In a couple minutes the lock was lying on the ground, well the bottom half anyway.  I was alone, with my bad back and shoulder, and had to remove the engine which was over my shoulder height.  After unscrewing the motor clamps I got my arms around the lower portion of the engine and picked it up to get it off the bracket.  I wish I had thought this out before picking it up.  I should have set a big block by me so I sit the bottom of the engine on it while I got a better grip.  Not having a block, I had to bend my knees and gingerly lower the engine skeg to the pavement.  I then changed my grip and picked it up and carried it to the back of the truck where I slide her in.  There was case of water I wanted to get out before temperatures went below freezing.  There was also the charts, depth finder, VHF, GPS, and a couple other items.  This coming weekend I will have to go down and get the rest of the things that should not be left in the boat over the winter.  The portapotti is a must to come home.   I already miss sailing and maybe hanging out down there on the weekends will help that pass.

The boat needs a lot of attention this winter.  She needs the damage repaired from the accident, needs new bottom paint, I need to address a soft spot on the cabin sole where a table had been mounted, A super cleaning to get her back in shape for a new season.

I will be leaving for China and Korea in another week and will not be down to the boat in weeks after this weekend.  I'll keep you posted.

End of the sailing season 2010

This past weekend was the last sailing for Lil Provo until next year.  After two fantastic days of sailing, she has to come out for the marine surveyor this week.  Since the storm when she was damaged, I have been trying to get the surveyor there to take a look and our most recent conversation was that he wants the boat out of the water.  Do I spend the money to have it hauled out and later put back in, or do I call it a year.  I elected to call it a year as I will be leaving for China a few weeks. 

Saturday was a fantastic day in all respects.  The sun was shining, the air was warm, and, most important, the wind was blowing.  I went out and fished for a while and caught a bunch of sea robins.  They were a lot of fun and I had one that had to be 6 or 7 pounds.  Huge in my book!  After fishing I raised the sails and took a cruise around the bay before heading back to the mooring.

Sunday it was myself and Blue, our first mate, who ventured out early to get as much sailing in as possible.  We sailed to New York and back at least 3 times, sailed to Keansburg Pier, and then west out toward Perth Amboy.  We were out 4 or 5 hours and it was great.  The wind was strong and from the southwest, giving us good speed and a great heal.  At times we passed the 20 degree mark for healing over.  We were both up on the highside leaning back off the boat just trying to keep her down.  There weren't many days like this during the summer.  The fall always has the best sailing days. We finally had to head to the mooring as we both had plans for the late afternoon.

I will be adding to this blog as things happen with Lil Provo.  I am also looking at a couple larger boats and may upgrade for next year. We'll keep you posted.

No sailing this past weekend - Hospital stay

This past weekend I did expect to get some sailing in.  However, someone had other ideas.  I woke Friday morning at 12:30am and was buckled over in pain. Soon I began to be sick with nothing substantial coming up besides that nasty stuff that comes from down deep.  It was terrible!  I finally woke the wife at 2:30am and told her that she needed to take me to the hospital.  In about 10 minutes, off we were and another 15minutes were pulling into the hospital. I rode in the passenger seat with it slightly reclined and my feet on the dashboard.  It was comfort I was looking for, but could not find.  After about 10 minutes in the emergency room I was told I had a kidney stone.  I had thought this all along as I had one about 14 years ago.  I finally received a room at 10:30pm on friday night.  They just kept me on pain meds with IVs flowing, and drinking lots of water.

I did not pass it by Saturday morning and could not take the hospital any longer.  I called my wife to come get me out of this place. She arrived with the nurse right behind her, the nurse that I hadn't seen for at least three hours.  We told her I was going home and she gave me one more shot of pain medication, a prescription for oral pain meds and home I went.   It was lunch time on Saturday, and there was no thought of eating yet.  I had to double up on the pain meds to get any relief and Saturday night I gave birth to a nice 4mm black rock.  My body still ached from all the pushing and ripping that went on inside.  It was over...... Ahhhhhhhh....

I am still regaining my strength and still having some minor pains. This coming weekend will be a must for sailing.  It is the last weekend before Lil Provo comes out for the winter. it is really depressing, but those of you who have sailed in the colder weather know how the hands stop working so fast.  Just trying to tie or untie a knot can be a major job when the hands don't want to work due to the cold.

We'll post here next week our last fling for the season.