Busy Wrap Up Weekend!
Each year I struggle with the end of the season cover method. This is perhaps due to the versatility of the cape dory Typhoon. Some years I drop the mast other years, I leave it up. This changing back and forth between covering with the mast up or the mast down changes the process immensely. With the prediction of a harsh winter coming from the weatherman this year I have opted to go with the mast up method. This method allows me to get a steeper pitch on the cover hopefully allowing for the snow to slide off the tarp. To accomplish this, I raise the boom at the mast so it slopes to the stern then use the spinnaker pole to slope down to the bow. After I strategically place a few 2x3's to support the center of the tent structure I'm ready to tarp it. This year I picked up two tarps thinking I'd do one forward of the mast and one aft but they turned out to be too small. I had to get a larger one and cut it down the center for the mast. Then, I ended up using a small one on the back to close the tent in. It's not pretty, but I think it will be effective. I'm hoping the black tarp, while it looks like a garbage bag, will provide some solar heating early in the spring to accelerate the snow melt and heat the inside of the boat while I work on it. I'd like to get some sanding done on the teak before launch next spring while I have access to electricity to run the sander. I'll probably end up varnishing later in the season as I'm planning for an early spring launch and it will likely be too cold to varnish before we splash for the season.
Front view.
Aft entry point.
Small tarp to cover the stern entryway.
Later in the day we hit the beach at Warren Dunes with Grandma and Grampa to fly kites.
BB's teaching Myles to fly a stunt kite.
Myles rocking our new rainbow double box kite with a few other kites in the background!
Then a night out. We hit up a few wineries on the wine trail. Ended up in South Haven to walk out both piers.
Sunset from the main pier.
Main pier from green mark.
Here is a die hard still out sailing. Brr it's a chill night out on the water.
Then we ended the day a Wally's watching the Cubs get into the World Series go Cubies!
Just want to say. I really enjoy your blog. I have a typhoon as well, and adore it
ReplyDeleteJake thanks for the nice words good to hear from some people from time to time. Where do you sail out of?
DeleteGreat photos as usual Chris. That winter setup looks pretty solid to me. A shame there's not a large warehouse for small boats without masts where you could access it and work small projects during the "long winter" in Michigan.
ReplyDelete