Boat goes in...boat comes out!

This is the spot where the leak is. No, it's not leaking now because I am not in the water.:-D

That steady drip...drip...drip!

Launch day was a long and busy one for me.  Spent a great deal of time loading gear on the boat.  I didn't even take time to eat.  OK, fast forward to tired me finally sitting down for a bite in the evening.  Plink...plink..plink! Something was leaking!  Sure enough, I found a leak in the hull near the rudder post.  Just a small one but enough so I had to come back out of the water yesterday.  

Back on the blacktop for the weekend while the yard does some grinding and filling.  Hopefully we'lll get wet again before the middle of next week. 

In the meantime, a cold front has swept down from the north.  It is a liitle amusing to see everyone all bundled up while I walk around in a tee shirt like it is springtime in Pulaski! 

In the water tomorrow!

Tomorrow they are putting CrossRoads in the water.  Sorry I haven't posted of late but I have been just too busy since my arrival on Sunday.  The boat is "on the hard" in the work area and they finished painting the bottom today. 

I have been living on the boat as the ladder will attest.  Up and down all day long makes me sleep like a child each night.

the boat is unbelievably dirty but I couldn't start cleaning until today as i didn't want to interfere with bottom painting.

I guess if I didn't bathe for 10 months I would look like this too!

This is a shot of the rudder which was cracked and needed major repair.  I took this shot right before it was painted. 

I will try to get a few pictures tomorrow as they launch but i cant guarantee anything.  

Also, I rented a slip over in Stuart for a while so I am heading there on Saturday.  It is time to leave Indiantown behind. 

Finally, I have a tremendous yard bill to pay so the drinks will not be on me when next we meet! 

I may need counseling....

I am in Florida at last!!!

It is nice to be in the sunshine state and tomorrow I will shoot over to Indiantown from my hotel here in Ft.Pierce. Had to get to me hotel early so I could watch SU play NC on tv.  Pretty sick, huh?

Well, at least Syracuse won!!!  I am enjoying SU's maiden voyage in the ACC. 

I will be turning in early tonight as tomorrow is going to be a long day!!  Lots to do when I arrive at the boat so I will need to be rested. For now I am going to kick back and watch some football. 

Brrr!

1/4/14
The east coast is in the grip of a mean cold wave. "Go south, young man" will be my mantra next week. At least I am out of the snow belt!  I will be driving from New Bern to Indiantown and should arrive on the 12th. Hoping to launch on the 13th. In the meantime, I am enjoying my visit with Joanna and her dad. She has been staying with Norm the past 2 months, as he is going through a rough patch right now.  It is hard to be apart but we want to support Norm in every way.

Here is a shot of my ragged transportation system. A neat little pull trailer and an old Chevy pickup. Hopefully we will arrive in one piece! By "we" I mean me and the cats. Joanna will remain with her dad until his situation improves. 

The Adventure Continues

It is the new year and I am on the move.  Creaky Cruisers Part 2 is about to begin!!!!
Right now I am in North Carolina.  Next weekend I will be in Florida getting Crossroads ready to launch at Indiantown.  After all of the cold weather up north, Florida is sounding pretty good!!!
Kudos to the mighty team at Indiantown Marina who are working on getting the boat ready.  This includes new bottom paint and reinstalling the recently repaired rudder which cracked over the hot summer.
It will take a while and some elbow grease to get things back in shape after a year on the hard, but I WILL BE IN FLORIDA!!! YAHOO!!!

Time to get ready for Part 2!

Time marches on, doesn't it? Here it is November already and time to think about more cruising! Currently, Cross Roads is on the hard at Indiantown, Fl where she is undergoing a refit which includes rudder work, keel repair, and new cutlass bearing and bottom paint. The capable crew at Indiantown is doing a great job. Unfortunately, I have to write checks :-(
Looking forward to heading south in December to inspect and load equipment for the journey ahead. Stay tuned!

I've been doing lots of fishing!