Summer - Winter 2011/2012

It has been a long time since I updated this blog and quite a lot has happened since we pulled into Rockport, Ontario last June.  But before I talk about specifics, overall we have had a wonderful summer having folks down to visit and making some new friends in Huck's marina.  Compared to our last boat it is wonderful having the space and amenities to enjoy weekends her on the river.  Having travelled over 2000 miles to get here we have not felt the need to journey except to take visitors on afternoon cruises to show them the area.  Next year may be different.

The first thing I decided to do was have the boat buffed and polished above the gunwales.  A local company did the work and did a great job.  They also replaced all the lettering since their buffers took the old stuff off!

I polished all the stainless rails as well.  After sitting in Florida salt air for years they needed it badly.  I cleaned the hull to the water-line with some pretty powerful stuff to remove the brown Hudson River stains.

When I hauled the boat to get the props tuned to fix a vibration we have had since Florida we had a bit of a surprise.  It turns out we had hit a submerged dead head on the Hudson River which neatly bent the port propeller shaft and a few prop blades.  We remember feeling a few objects but none felt like damage had occurred.  To cut a long story short, I had the spare props tuned to Class S before hauling then, after hauling, installed the spares and had the other props tuned to the same standard as well as had a new shaft made.  This all, together with a new strut, lost us a couple of weekends but gave us a superbly efficient and smooth boat again.  I was blown away by the difference in performance with the Class S props. It was a very worthwhile expense.

One of our visitors was Jon.  I was looking forward to him seeing all the work Jo had done to clean up the inside.  It was a very different boat from the one Jon had helped me take to the Georgia border in April.  He believes he is a hex on the boat but when he arrived the battery charger, newly installed in Charleston in May, had failed and our 12 volt system was very low.  We could not overnight on the boat.  With no 12 volt systems we had no water, light or toilet flush.  The next day we found an identical new charger in Kingston and I installed it the same day.  As always on this boat, to remove and replace the charger required some contortions on my part. The old one has been replaced under warranty and I now have spare.  It taught me how important the 12 volt system was and I am happy to have a back-up now.

The summer here was quite hot this year.  We have enjoyed our air-conditioning and the swimming off our lovely dock. Our slip backs on to the open St Lawrence water and is a perfect location for lazy weekends.

Spooky has taken to the boat well.  If only she took to the journey getting there and back as well!!

So, that's it for now.  When Spring comes I will update again.  I have a couple of through-hull transducers to install before launch and then we can get on with more restoration!

That's it then!

Well, this is bitter-sweet.  It is certainly great to be home and to be picking up Spooky tomorrow but this journey has been the most enjoyable experience we have had.  We have met some wonderful people, stayed in some great places and seen such diversity, kindness and friendliness.  Sure, there have been some trying times like having the boat sitting up on a sand bar with Jon walking around it and watching sea spray coming over the top of the boat and navigating a channel, that we had never seen before, in thick fog  (and still haven't seen come to think of it) but we wouldn't trade it for the world and part of us wanted to keep on going.  I don't have the book with me to quote the author but a sailor wrote about his round the world trip and when he came to cross his wake he kept on going.  I think I can understand the drive that made him do it.

The other thing that we really enjoyed were the comments on this blog from friends and family.  Thanks for sharing it with us.

So, Phase 2 is complete.  We have bought the boat and now legally imported it to Canada.  Now we restore and repair it to what we need it to be to cruise full time.  Huck's Marine here in Rockport will be the perfect base to do that.  You can see our boat on their webcam.  

Martin will complete the journey for us by picking us up in my car tomorrow.  My car that I forgot needed a new plate sticker last month!

Home!!!

We made it safely to our marina:

Waiting for Canada Border Services.

Rounding Carleton Island, NY

We left Oswego at 0715 to cross Lake Ontario.  The lake was rather calm and we are now going north of Carleton Isalnd in the main channel.  We will refuel in Clayton and land in Rockport this afternoon.  Then we pay Canada Customs!

In Oswego, NY

Major progress today.  Left at daybreak to cross Lake Oneida and, rather than stop in Brewerton as planned, we continued to Oswego.  We will cross Lake Ontario tomorrow morning and be at Huck's in Rockport in the afternoon.

Not Quite Brewerton

Last night's stop was tranquil.  Really neat folks.  Everyone has a story, they will tell you theirs if you ask:

Today was a bit of a mix.  We had a plan to make Brewerton on the West end of Lake Oneida but, for various resaons, we ended up on the East end of the Lake.  First we got slowed down through the locks with tree removal by the lock keepers. Second we underestimated our pace through the system.  It was very (VERY) windy today and steerage was awkward.  Some of the locks were somewhat treacherous to transit.  The wind and current inside the locks made it impossible to hold on to the boat.  

Then we realised that Lake Oneida was shallow and susceptible to the wind.  When we arrived it was white-caps and spray so we stayed this side.  Tomorrow we will head out at 0600 and take advantage of overnight wind lull.  We have company.  A 60 foot Viking tried to cross the Lake today and turned back.  We will try tromorrow together.

St Johnsville, NY

We met some cool folks at last night's stop.  The pool there was very welcome and we all shared experiences.  One couple were bringing their newly acquired Sea Ray from Boston to Niagara on theLake.  Dream Weaver is needing a cleaning but it will have to wait until we get to Huck's.

The canal is getting busier as we head west.  But we are part of a gaggle of five boats locking together.

Tomorrow will be a bit of a haul because there really isn't a marina between here and the other side of Lake Oneida that has the 50 amp power that we need.  We will head to Brewerton and wait there for Martin and Jo to switch.  Jo really doesn't want to leave but she needs her job.  I have been getting a few hours of work in each day and the Brewerton stop will help as well.

Getting close!