Exposed Core

At Reuwer Boat Works, Winsome's damaged fiberglass deck and balsa core are in the process of being removed.  As we expected, the damage is pretty severe.  The photo at left shows that much of the rear deck above the lazarette had rotten core which had to be removed.  At this point, Reuwer has removed damaged areas of the side decks just aft of midship.  Now that Winsome is completely under cover for the winter, we've removed the lazarette hatch, the forward hatch, and the main sliding hatch.  The main hatch was brought home so the old teak plywood inlay can be replaced with new.
















Our machinist friend is busy working on fabricating a new aluminum instrument panel that will accommodate a new VDO tachometer, oil pressure, and water temperature gauges based on my layout at right.  The proposed layout includes a vertical cluster of navigation light switches and autopilot harness.  The lower horizontal cluster consists of blower motor, choke, and ignition moving from left to right. 


Once all the fiberglass repairs have been completed (hopefully in February or March), arrangements have been made for Winsome to be hauled to Sailing Associates in Fredericktown, MD where she'll be refit and recommissioned.  Sailing Associates was chosen because that location is quite a bit closer to home and there's a marine hardware store within walking distance.  Once Winsome is back in the water and re-rigged the plan is to sail her to Raritan Bay via the C&D canal, Delaware Bay, Cape May, and then up the coast of New Jersey.  We chose this location because it's very close to our home and puts us within easy sailing distance of Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod.   




 

   





 

Fiberglass Repairs

"Maintaining Winsome" should now read "Restoring Winsome".  After last year's frenetic repair schedule which allowed us to get some great projects accomplished, Deb and I (read Deb) decided to dig a little deeper and take care of the deck fiberglass. This will be the first time Winsome has moved from her jackstands in the Green Point Landing boneyard since 2012 when she was hauled out after Hurricane Sandy!  A year after our last blog post she's on the slings and heading back to Reuwer Boat Works.  Leading up to this post, Debbie and I have been busy removing the mast and deck hardware so she's ready to go in the shop.  Deck hardware removal is definitely a two-person job; one person is on deck with a slotted screwdriver and another needs to be down below with an assortment of wrenches.  A contortionist is required below decks to get at the various nuts and washers, and someone with the patience of a saint should be posted on deck since they'll be sitting for an eternity holding a screwdriver waiting for Harry Houdini to finish up!  I told Debbie that removal is the easy part...

All hardware was bagged and tagged, and open holes were covered with aluminum tape for the short time that Winsome would be exposed to the weather.  Not surprisingly, the aluminum tape covering the bolt holes has been keeping rain out better than the actual hardware.

We decided to keep the forward hatch, the lazarette hatch, and the main hatch on the boat until Winsome is rolled into the shop, but we did begin removing the portlights.  These openings were also covered with aluminum tape.  Our intention is to refurbish the portlights serving the head, locker, and forward cabin and to replace the existing deadlights in the main cabin with a tinted, resilient material, possibly acrylic or polycarbonate.

Here's Debbie working to remove debris from around the grab rail holes.  As you can see from the photo, it was a beautiful cool, sunny, and breezy day in Rock Hall.  It made the work much easier going, as we dreamed of launching Winsome in spring with a new lease on life.

Teak Cockpit Seats, New Tiller, and Seacock

About five years ago, and while Winsome was still being actively sailed, I had milled up some gorgeous Burmese teak to be used in the cockpit seats which Mark Reuwer  of Reuwer Boat Works in Rock Hall had so beautifully repaired.  The teak panels sat in storage while we moved to our new house, and have been waiting patiently in the garage.  Five years later, the teak has finally been put to use.  Mark Reuwer had provided me with a 1/2" recess in the seat top into which I could glue the new teak.  After milling the pieces to fit, they were glued down in this recess with 3M 5200 and secured from below using 1" SS pan head crews.  I'd finished the first of the two seats using a satin varnish, but afterward had a change of heart.  I liked the gloss look far better, so on the second seat I switched to McCloskey's Man-O-War gloss spar varnish.  The second seat turned out much nicer.  The repaired ash and mahogany tiller was also varnished with McCloskey's and installed.  

Although not shown in the photograph, the lazarette hatch has been removed for restoration as well, and since it requires fiberglass repairs, it will serve as a template for future deck work.  Deck work will begin this winter starting with the most troublesome areas, and after Winsome is moved to a marina within reasonable travel distance from home.     

As can be seen in the photo at right, a much needed zinc anode was installed during this last visit.  The assembly includes a bronze castellated nut secured to the propeller shaft with bronze wire.  The sacrificial zinc is secured to the shaft end with a locking allen-key type bolt.  This particular zinc was chosen from some suggestions found on the Alberg 30 website, which take into account the limited space between the propeller and rudder. 

A system to maintain our two battery bank over winter has been established in the garage.  Both 75 Ah deep cycle batteries have been wired in parallel and connected to a Schumacher Ship-n-Shore charger/maintainer unit which automatically senses battery need and provides current to keep them at 100% charge.  This cozy winter charging nursery will give our batteries something to look forward to after a brutalizing season of deep discharges and poor charging by the engine's alternator!  

New Plan...

Okay, we're not going sailing yet.  This Alberg photo illustrates what we WANT to be doing, but Deb and I have decided that since Winsome has been on the hard for this long, and because we're planning on cruising in larger water, now is the best time to take care of some much neglected boat business.  Much to our disappointment, we are NOT launching this year.  That said, we are very excited that some of these neglected projects will be completed before launch in Spring 2018.  Winsome will be getting some topside deck repairs, a new marine head, a refurbished fresh water tank and new hosing, and some updated engine accessories.

Today, the old Atomic 4 turned over for the first time in five years.  Despite needing a little tune-up, she's raring to go.  We hope that with a little TLC, we can get another 5-10 years out of her.  We have committed to upgrading some electrical components, including the engine instruments and alternator.  The Alberg 30 has a fairly simple 12 volt DC system, so maintenance isn't a highly technical affair.  Since we'll be adding new components, we'll likely need to expand the bus bar and fuse panel.  More on that project on future posts...           







The photo on the right shows the new 1" bronze seacock that was installed aft of the engine on the port side.  New hosing drains one of the cockpit drains, as well as the port side scupper.  We're fairly thrilled about this being completed, as the old valve had been broken since the day we bought Winsome.




Unfortunately, "Sailing Winsome" will be "Maintaining Winsome" for the next few months.  We are looking forward to posting sailing photos next year, but everyone will have to be patient (including me) until then.







  

Independence Work Weekend

All the jobs left undone while we were short on time and greenbacks are being completed during our many work weekend visits to Green Point Landing. This weekend was hot, so the awning was rigged to make it more comfortable for Deb to scrub the cockpit.  With very little breeze and temperatures just above 90, the awning was a necessity.  Winsome's colors are flying in honor of our nation's independence, and we were treated with a fireworks show in the evening and a parade of boats returning from the festivities.  Debbie and I sat on the dock and watched boats return like we were watching a movie at home.

Three through-hulls have been targeted for replacement, along with all associated seacocks/valves and hosing.  The process to replace the through-hull serving the marine head raw water intake was described in our June 25 blog post, and the photo at right is the completed installation.  Debbie was amazed that the new valve is so easy to turn, probably because we had become accustomed to the poor access and the age of the old gate valves.   

We began to get the old Atomic 4 back up to snuff.  The fuel tank was drained, the water separator and sediment trap were emptied and cleaned, and new fuel was added to the system.  On our last visit, the oil was changed and some Mystery oil was used to lubricate the engine head.  We also replaced the water pump impeller, which hadn't been changed since before we bought Winsome in 2011.  I had always meant to do it, but I'm not fond of working on engines.  I'm glad I did, because the old impeller was just beginning to show signs of cracking on one of the vanes.     

Now that the boat is federally documented with the United States Coast Guard, Winsome only needs a Maryland boat decal which we'll mount on a placard hanging from the bow pulpit.  Debbie spent hours removing the old registration numbers using a heat gun, acetone and good old-fashioned elbow grease.  Next visit...more cleaning and engine maintenance.

Through-hulls Continued

Before Winsome goes back in the water after a long spell on the hard, it made sense for us to really investigate the integrity of all her equipment below the waterline.  When we first bought Winsome in 2011, we really didn't have the time or money to dig into these projects and we were still really learning the boat.  Sailing was the biggest priority.  Personally, I'd rather be sailing than maintaining, but if we plan to head out on longer cruises these projects make all the sense in the world.  Also, Wise Debbie told me to do them. 

My biggest concerns were the valves and hosing, which were in many cases original to the boat.  All the original seacocks on Winsome are the gate-valve type, and as many boat owners know, the gates on these valves have a tendency to seize up when not maintained.  The seacock that drains our port side deck scupper and cockpit drain was broken when we bought the boat.  Eventually, this valve collected enough debris to completely obstruct flow. 

After removing these old valves, it made sense to also replace the through-hulls.   Through-hulls, valves and hosing were replaced on both the engine raw water intake and head raw water intake using the equipment noted in a previous blog post, and as shown in the following photos. 




3M 5200 flows well in warm weather, so blue tape was applied to the hull to protect it from excess dripping  material.  The circumference of the new Apollo 1/2" through-hull was traced on the blue tape with a razor knife.  The circular piece of tape was removed to expose the area where the 3M material will adhere to the hull. 

With a liberal amount of adhesive applied, the through-hull was pushed home and temporarily held in place with a piece of tape while the bronze nut was threaded from the inside of the boat.  Using a trick taken from Don Casey, the through-hull was not over-tightened, but tightened just shy of snug to allow the sealant to create a gasket between the hull and the fitting.  Once cured, the nut can be tightened to create a watertight connection on the outside of the boat.     

This through-hull and in-line ball valve serves the raw water intake for our marine head, and so it only needs a 90 degree barbed fitting for a new 3/4" hose.  The engine raw water intake assembly was installed similarly, with the only exception being a straight 5/8" barbed hose fitting.

The only other through-hull and seacock assembly that remains to be replaced this year is the one shown in the first photo which serves the port side scupper and cockpit drains. 

A Tale of Two Blocks

We've been using 1/2" genoa sheets since we bought Winsome in March of 2011, and have used that line in what we understood to be original equipment genoa lead blocks.  Note the obliterated sheave and the vastly larger size of the block on the left.  The new block (left) is the replacement, and is advertised to accommodate a maximum line diameter of 1/2".  Hmm...     

Through-Hulls and Seacocks Replaced

These seacocks are looking like they're ready to sink our ship!  Note the corroded gate valve handles, probably purchased from a hardware store, and the copper plumbing fixtures used to connect hosing for the engine raw water intake.  Without an in-depth probe of existing systems, these rotten, corroded and dangerous fittings will fail at the worst possible time.  



Now this bronze through-hull and in-line ball valve is something you can really be proud of!  The in-line ball valve is connected to an elbow with 1/2" NPT and 3/4" barbed hose ends, which will supply our raw water uptake to the marine head.  Isabel is proud of it, and so are we!





Here's a new through-hull installed using 3M's 5200 sealant/adhesive.  Once fully cured, we can be certain of the watertight integrity of this new fitting.     

Stuffing Boxes is No Holiday

Working on our rudder stuffing box is challenging, to say the least.  In order to complete this incredibly gratifying task, one must lay upside down in the lazarette with their head up against the hull, all the while manipulating two large pipe wrenches inside a space the size of a shoebox.  Which way is clockwise when you're upside down? 

Bottom Job

Now, I've used a paint scraper before, having scraped countless layers of paint and debris off old windows and trim, but this was before I got an office job.  In Don Casey's book, 'This Old Boat', he says to get a good scraper when doing a bottom job.  I bought two new scrapers, and a new file to sharpen them.  With my flaccid arms and out of shape back muscles, the new scrapers made the job of removing five layers of old bottom paint at least manageable.  Two weekends later, Winsome looks better than ever.  Too bad it's all below the waterline...

She's Alive!

Winsome has been sitting neglected for too long in the marina bone yard.  The poor old girl has been waiting patiently for her owners to find the time to pay attention, but work and school and the scarcity of greenbacks has kept them away.  This spring, work has begun in earnest to relaunch.    

Patty Finally Relaunched

Our dinghy, Patty, had been sitting in the garage since our last sail in the fall of 2012, so she was anxiously awaiting some much needed repairs.  Her winter overhaul included fiberglass repairs to the gunwale and reinforcement of the seat tabbing, fresh varnish on the mahogany seat, new drain plugs, painted oars, new bronze oarlocks, new gunwale guard all around, and a fresh paint job.  

Header Change

January 7, 2013 - Yes, I know!  The header changed!  I'm sure that many of our dear readers will be disappointed with the woodpile being gone, but we thought that you would be delighted to see that the rolling hills of Pennsylvania still retain their alluring charm.  This photo was taken about a quarter mile up the road and surprisingly, we've only stood on this vantage point a few times in our more than twenty years here.  As you can see, Debbie has still retained her alluring charm... 

Kent Narrows, St. Michaels...

October, 2012 - Some of Winsome's crew got up before light to take advantage of the fair tide and west wind.  Nosing our way out of Worton Creek, the stars gave way to the early morning light and the smell of coffee from down below.  By the time we began the turn south off Poole's Island we had a full main and genoa drawing nicely on a beam reach making about 6 knots.  Carter is a late sleeper in any case and it is unlikely that anything will pry him out of his sleeping bag very easily.  I remember listening to the water slosh by the hull when I was young and so I'm very indulgent of this, his cruising habit. 

 

We reached Kent Narrows around lunch and the bridge tender opened for us after we all enjoyed a bite to eat at the dockside restaurant.  We enjoyed a relatively quiet time here as the really busy season had come and gone.  After bidding the bridge tender farewell, Winsome motored down Kirwan Creek just south of the narrows to a snug anchorage in very calm and protected water between Hog Island and Kent Island.  Debbie had her most restful night sleep here...

 

 

Our anchorage was as flat and calm as the pond at home and with virtually no wind we decided on a late start.  After a wonderful breakfast prepared by Debbie, she spent quality time in her deck chair on the bow tending to her toenails while I rowed around inspecting the area.  Carter's sleeping bag had a firm grip on him... 

Winsome finally made her way out into Prospect Bay and the short sail south to Tilghman Creek.  As you can see, it was a very nice sail with a wonderful, warm wind despite the time of year.  We motored into the channel leading to Tilghman Creek with enough light left to have a swim and dinner on the grill.  Delightful!  A stiff northwest wind picked up quite a bit that night and left us feeling very glad we anchored where we did.  That breeze slowly diminished in the early morning and after retrieving the anchor which had set quite deep, we set out rounding the Tilghman Creek marker and sailed a broad reach towards the Miles   River and St. Michaels to meet with Mom.  St. Michael's was wonderful to us and Higgins Yacht Yard kept us tied up fairly close to the showers and with downtown only two blocks away, we were in clover.  I made use of the Public Library and we explored the local scene.  Our ship's cook put together a dinner of champions on the galley stove with a roast pork and sauerkraut. 

Reluctantly, in the early morning we left St. Michaels in our wake and after a long day on the water, tied up to our mooring at Worton Creek having spent a wonderful week out exploring the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.

Winter has arrived...

It's been a while since snow fell on this part of Pennsylvania and the waiting has made it lose its charm. Nevertheless, a walk in the snow is a hearty good time and sitting by the woodstove afterwards lends itself nicely to a good thick book and warm socks. Carter has been plowing through the Harry Potter series and the little homestead has been resonating with the glorious sounds of his viola practices. Snow on the trees makes it hard not to think of the places we'll go and the swimming we'll do when things start moving again...

Sunday afternoon is a great time to take a walk in the crisp air. The cat comes along as he usually does and this is no small feat for him as he's only a few inches off the ground and the snow is a few inches deep. He keeps up pretty well and only has to rest every now and then, which suits Carter just fine...

...but when the boots come off and the hot chocolate is poured out its hard to stop the mind from wandering...

Our Nation's Capitol...

Our family loves to go to D.C. With so many special places to visit we always leave thinking that if only we had more time...



Ivy was a dear and treated us all to very inexpensive rooms at the Marriot between Washington and Dupont Circle's so we all could celebrate Carter's 11th birthday. This location is fantastic because it is so close to the Metro Station at Foggy Bottom and I love to say, "Foggy Bottom". As we walk from the Metro to the hotel and back, I imagine that all the people eating or enjoying drinks in the many restaurants we pass are laughing and saying, "Foggy Bottom...ha, ha..."



Of course, there were many highlights during Carter's birthday in D.C. including a visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center which houses the expanded Air and Space museum, Capitol Hill, the Newseum, the Botanical Gardens, the National Portrait Gallery, the cafeteria in the basement of our Congress, the Library of Congress, a wonderful dinner at a Chinese place and a South African restaurant a few blocks from the hotel and much, much more...



One of us walked to the Lincoln Memorial late at night to commune with the "Great Emancipator" surrounded by the lights of the nation's capitol and the words that he spoke...a real treat to be sure.



Don't fret, our nation's capitol, we shall return and soon...

On the Road...

Carter and I pulled into Green Point Landing around 7 a.m. on what turned out to be a very busy day. Winsome was scheduled to get pulled out of the water, have her mast removed and then put on a truck that would take her to Reuwer Boat Works, her home for the winter. Next season she'll be sailing with refinished woodwork and a new cockpit!

Pulling up to the dock on a gorgeous December morning.

Carter was a big help with taking sails down, removing rigging, getting the mast ready for transport as well as documenting the entire day with the camera. Great job, Carter!

Winsome getting lifted onto the trailer...

And away she goes...

Carter has been up since 3 a.m.

Fairlee Creek welcomes Winsome and Crew

After an awesome breakfast with Uncle Rusty and Aunt Alison, Winsome's crew headed out the creek for yet another great weekend on the Chesapeake Bay! Reports on baby Diana's recent ramblings and Josh's studies at medical school were accompanied by first-hand accounts of Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and Fairlee Creek? "Mind the markers!", says Alison. And so we did...
Dad took the helm all afternoon, tacking across the Bay while Carter sequestered himself down below reading and doing galley duty. Refreshing tea and crackers were sent up to the cockpit as well as some really fine ham sandwiches. A northwest breeze made for good time into the Fairlee Creek channel.
There was plenty of water inside the sand spit and we anchored next to a 38' yawl tucked in for the evening. Warmed by the woodstove, the crew fell asleep in the cabin reading...

Anniversary Sail!

Deb takes the helm with gusto! Here we are close-hauled heading south for Rock Hall on our 12th Wedding Anniversary. The weather was awesome with winds from the southwest gusting to 20 mph, clear and sunny skies and the sailing was fantastic. Winsome behaves very nicely when reefed early and here we have two reefs in the main and a working jib set. The boat is very balanced with virtually no weather or lee helm. We sailed from Worton in the morning and arrived in Rock Hall (for the first time ever) in time to walk to the local dockside joint for a wonderful dinner together...



















We had a lovely time...

The girls spent Tuesday walking the lovely and very seasonal grounds of Longwood Gardens. Yes, that is a real pumpkin that Debbie is leaning against! The staff were busy getting holiday trimmings in place as well as planting tulip bulbs in anticipation of the Spring season. The ladies had breakfast with Melissa and then dinner "out" after the tour. They all came home smiling...