Mini Vacation

I finally took a little vacation. Didn't really do much but that's what they are for right? Of course , the first day I thought my throat was a little scratchy and sure enough it turned out that I was sick the whole time. I didn't notice it much during the time off but really did right before I had to go back to work. I got to have a bunch of great meals, see some bands, do a little sailing in the gulf and fishing from the beach. Played with my new gps a garmin 400c with the coastal charts pre loaded. That's the handheld one for the boat. It was pretty cool driving on roads near the shore and also being able to see the marinas and obstructions and depths. Can't wait to get it out on my boat.

Doing stuff and Not

Yesterday was a beautiful day but only mildly productive. I managed to get my hairs cut but little else. Had a nice dinner with my friend Dave though. I still have about half of a delicious ruby red tuna steak that I plan on consuming for dinner. Tonite I will have to get some chores done as it is trash night. Or as someone once said people will never amount to much as long they have two choices or something like that. I am motivated though. I will get some extra pins for the stays today and I did order a gps. I was going to go for a permanently mounted one that can be hooked up to sonar and radar but opted for a new model handheld one that comes with the bluewater coastal chart data already preloaded; rationalizing that it would be more useful to be able to take it in the car and other terrestrial trips. Hopefully some of the other stuff I ordered will come next week.

Current reading

I have lots of reading material currently. An Attitudes and Latitudes and a new Harpers came this weekend. I'm still reading Ann Karenina. Never really read much Tolstoy and I'm really enjoying it. I'm guessing someone probably made a movie of this that I'd like to see. I read old man and the sea this morning in the wee hours. I still have movable feast by the bedside that I'll start reading again sometime. I also read a fair amount of on the road this morning. Not really sleeping through the night. I think there is a hole in a screen or something as I'm regularly destroyed by mosquitoes during the night.

Another day in Paradise

The other day when trying to put up the mast I noticed I'm missing a pin for the backstay. I tried to get a hasty replacement but it was the wrong size so I moved the boat back into the side yard.
Otherwise, it seemed to trailer ok and It SEEMS like I should be able to step the mast without any trouble. I see my trailer parts are being shipped, I hope I got the right stuff. I need to drill out the fiberglass block and install my towing hook. Big excitement for me. With winch and a few more items I think I'll be ready for a shakedown lake cruise soon.

Weekend

Ok, I did the fiberglassing. That was a first but it worked out alright. I'm glad to have the experience. I still need to to a little sanding and then drill the holes for the tow hook. I hooked up the boat to the truck and pulled it out front where I can put up the mast. I didn't put it up because my friend came over and we did other stuff. Plus, I saw that I'm missing a fastener for back stay. I wanted to see how hard it is to deal with the mast but I think I'll be able to handle it. I'll try find a pin for the back stay today. Also, I need to order the winch post and winch for the trailer. I did order a bunch of stuff this weekend. New Scuba gear!, a sexy new bilge pump and some fenders. Looked at a bunch of gps/chartplotter sounders. Can't decide. Got a new Harpers and Latitudes and Attitudes plus a whole box of books this weekend so I have plenty of reading material. Had a good time this weekend. Went to a eating fest in town to sample different restaurants and then went to a bikini bike wash. I didn't have my bike so I shucked trou and got myself washed. Fun. This week will see more sailing items crossed off my list.

Conservation

Ok, So I didn't get any chores/projects/tasks done yesterday. I was invited to a nice auction to raise $ for a conservation association. It was great. Rode the bike there after work and enjoyed all kinds of things boating and fishing wise, as well as a nice steak and free drinks plus some nice free shirts.

Today, I'll take some marine caulk and smooth or fillet the edges around my hardwood block that I epoxied on the inside of the bow in order to provide a backstop for the towing hook. Then tomorrow I'll practice some fiberglassing, then glass in the wooden block. I've never done any fiberglassing so that should be sort of fun. I intend to do a good job. Also, this evening, I'll be ordering a bunch of stuff that I need for boat. See earlier list, likely to expand.

Sailing Camping

Ok, So I have my sailboat. Here's a list of things I need to do to get ready to go sail camping in the gulf.

Secure towing eye. Need to Fiberglass in hardwood block and drill holes.

Boat US Liability and Towing insurance.

Order winch stand and winch. Needs to be about 35" high, should support a ton or more, should fit on a 2" steel channel, nice to have bow stop.

Order Bilge pump.

Fresh water hookup.

Portable Stove.

Giant Cooler

Spare tire for trailer. Double check all. Grease Bearings, bearing buddies, zirc fitting.

Order fenders for docking, ~ 4 should be good plus quick connects to attach to side rails.

Fire extinguisher/first aid, required equipment checklist. Whistle lights flares lifejackets etc.

Order scuba gear.

GPS Garmin 420? Depth sounder?

Good Compass,

Paper Charts.

Secure Anchor inside.

Break in Motor

Bimini Support

Stereo?

Took kit for boat.

Secure gas cans. - Gas Line.

Blog for my father

Well in a general kind of way. It's a great Coltrane tune so why not.
I agree with my friend JMFC that blogs are kind of and so feel a little uneasy about publishing anything. There is not enough time to get things done in the day.
This blog is called Bein for two reasons , 1 cuz that's what I'm doing, and 2 because that's what my mom calls me.