Bristol-Blue Lake Michigan Sailing Adventures

A Dacron Tooth Fairy Pillow for the kids first loose tooth.  This way the tooth fairy can easily find the tooth in the dark.

Today we got our first real snow of the winter.  We have had a few splatters here and there but today we got slammed; schools closed businesses closing early. I got down to the marina and took a few pictures this afternoon once the roads were starting to clear up.  Truth told it was still pretty ugly out there.  The express way must be closed because a ton of truck traffic was coming through town.  Regardless the effort was worth it. Kraken is holding up well under her cover and the supports under the tarp are holding up well.   I peeked my phone in for a few quick photos.  Nice and dry! We also got out and hit the dunes for a little sledding.  Myles helped me edit a video so we added it in here at the bottom just for some fun.  Wow is it windy down by the lake. Small Light House at the Marina Frosty Boat Yard Frosty blanket Cold but Dry Inside

It has not really snowed here yet and it has not been cold enough to freeze the lakes over for ice boating. All it has really done for the last month is rain. So I decided to start a sewing project. Anticipating a colder January and February, I've decided to convert one of my old main sails into a blanket.  I tried to sell it on ebay a while back but it is still here may as well put it to good use. BB and my mother also grabbed some of the old sail fabric a few weeks ago and created a set of curtains for our guest bedroom.   I started by setting up the sewing machine in my traditional layout on the big living room floor. Laying out the sail I used basting tape to hold the Dacron to a piece of light blue polar fleece. Let the sewing begin.  I had a good run going when the first jam happened this little singer sewing machine just couldn't feed the fleece through and kept jamming.  I figured out after a few tries that if I ran the Dacron on the bottom and th

This weekend I went down to the boat, pulled off the last of the gear, and put in the rest of the mast braces for winter. This year, I figured out that my bar clamps work really nicely for rafters.  To bad I only have 3 of them so I used a few other boards and scraps I have laying around.    Rafter Clamp Brace              Plastic molding arch over the hatch Aft mast supports I have found it important to  be sure to clean out the drain holes along the toe rails.  Little leaves like these can clog them up and allow water/and ice to build up on the deck.  Finally, I cover it all up with a tarp or two Tarp off Rear view covered Final cover up note the bar clamp sticking out.

I've been watching the big boats all around the marina.  The boat yard is a bustle with activity once again as everyone pulls their boats to winterize for the season.   The Typoon remains so easy.  Last weekend I winterized my motor in under 10 minutes.  I drained the gear lube and refilled it with fresh lube for the spring.  Fogged the 1 cylinder and poured a bit of fuel stabilizer into the tank.  Fast easy simple.  I still need to get the tarp over the cockpit but I've been on and off the boat a few times getting measurements for a few winter projects to come.   I have to put the kitchen back together in this new house first.  Love the thrill that has come with moving to a new home but it is taking away from the boat time.

  Friday the Kraken was pulled for the season.  Tower Marine did a great job spraying off the bottom and acid washing the calcium deposits off the water line.  This winter season, I'll be storing with Tower again. They have placed me in a nice little spot in back this year. Between an abandoned Catalina 30 and "Lilly Pad" a floating home. Saturday I striped down the sails and BB helped me lower the mast.  I started to tarp it off but have a bit to do still before I finally close her up for the season. Sails off. Remove lower shrouds and loosen the uppers and back stay . I pull the pin move to the back of the boat and First mate BB lowers it right into my hands easy as can be.

Today I got away for a little cruise around the lake.  Around and around I went with my freshly patched up Genoa. It was a great day.  My Genoa is getting pretty old and the luff needed some taping up at a few wear spots. This was my first chance to sail with the fix.  For my oldest sail it still pulls well.  Our little marina is becoming quite the place. This season we have had a pair of helicopters flying in and out on a fairly regular basis.  Defiantly adds flare to the place.  One came in right after I got back to the dock today.