tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134957012024-03-13T12:23:43.993-04:00Central Air: Sailing erratically and kissing more frogs than princes, since 2002.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-78469048824341113182011-09-13T00:20:00.000-04:002014-02-19T15:00:27.395-05:00my quirky Merc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36YDKTebkXNUBYEwITOVX0KRj2lYSjdeUpdSYmnskbxLxsZIAWMjeMltVDWVB85FzzFzeEi7JPhW7-G5vzYy_NQZaeyOb0X9lp2V2pD6Wa4NfJL8fa_7vT_7IABa65MWC8u2G/s1600/EvinrudeGirl1955Baja.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36YDKTebkXNUBYEwITOVX0KRj2lYSjdeUpdSYmnskbxLxsZIAWMjeMltVDWVB85FzzFzeEi7JPhW7-G5vzYy_NQZaeyOb0X9lp2V2pD6Wa4NfJL8fa_7vT_7IABa65MWC8u2G/s320/EvinrudeGirl1955Baja.JPG" width="320"></a></div>My Mercury outboard (5 HP, single-stroke, long-shaft, insert other impolite outboard terms here, etc.) has always had her idiosyncrasies, but this season has been the worst. This past weekend, though, she and I had a breakthrough. I now know how to most predictably get her to start, but her behavior is very strange and I will not be satisfied until I can get her to start "normally."<br>
<br>
Here is what I do: I open the fuel line, pull out the choke (fully engaged, and then partially after a few pulls), and then pull-pull-<i>pull</i> on the starter. I pull many times, somewhat compulsively, because <i>I just know she will start up if I pull just one more time.</i> At this point, she is clearly flooded, and there has been nary a spark nor a sputter -- absolutely no encouraging signs of life at all. Sadly, she is <i>so</i> flooded by this time that there are a droplets of fuel falling into the lake. (Sorry, environment.) After about 30 seconds of some combination of silent reflection, beverage-freshening, and the use of somewhat coarse language, I close the fuel line, close down the choke, open up the throttle all the way, and start to pull some more with results as follows:<br>
<br>
First pull: nuttin'.<br>
Second pull: spark, sputter.<br>
Third pull: she starts up and begins to purr like a happy little kitten.<br>
<br>
After about 10 seconds or so, I open the fuel line once again and shortly thereafter, <i>away we go</i>. What is just as remarkable is that she starts on the very first pull later on when it's time to motor back into the slip.<br>
<br>
So, my primary question is <i>What da?</i> My secondary question is 'Should I not open up the choke when I first attempt to start her in order to effectively bypass the whole ridiculous 'flood, then starve' routine?' I am so clueless about outboards. My general strategy is simply <i>'treat her like a lady, and she will return the favor,'</i> but I think she is becoming a little too highmay at this point.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-58915697122159905172011-09-01T22:27:00.000-04:002011-09-01T22:27:16.620-04:00a blog post from The Admiral<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzMTQ5MzAwODQyNTUmcHQ9MTMxNDkzMDM5MDYzOSZwPTk3NTA3MiZkPTYwMCUyMC*lMjBsaXZlJTIwLSUyMFRlbXBs/YXRlJTIwRjklMjAyRCZnPTImbz*zNjgwMmNlNjc3ZDI*ZWYxOTk*ZjFmODAxM2MwN2I3NCZvZj*w.gif" /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0" width="320" height="320" id="widget_name"><param name="movie" value="http://content.oddcast.com/host/dentaStix/swf/player_embed.swf?mId=40700970.4&stem=http://host-d.oddcast.com/php/api/getWorkshopInfo/doorId=600" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://content.oddcast.com/host/dentaStix/swf/player_embed.swf?mId=40700970.4&stem=http://host-d.oddcast.com/php/api/getWorkshopInfo/doorId=600" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" wmode="opaque" allowFullScreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="320" name="widget_name" FlashVars="gig_lt=1314930084255&gig_pt=1314930390639&gig_g=2"></embed> <param name="FlashVars" value="gig_lt=1314930084255&gig_pt=1314930390639&gig_g=2" /></object>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-49286468471501272282011-09-01T00:06:00.002-04:002011-09-09T22:48:39.163-04:00heaving-toI am seriously enjoying this sailing season and am going to try posting to my blog a little more frequently than just once or twice per year. Let me start by posting a follow-up to <a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2008/04/2008-sailing-goal.html">my infamous 2008 sailing goal</a>. This past Saturday night, I met my goal. (blush.) It was three years later than planned, but it was soooooo worth the wait. <i><a href="http://www.lyricsmania.com/lone_palm_lyrics_jimmy_buffett.html">Magical</a>.</i>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-33626929813031038972010-11-04T22:07:00.001-04:002010-11-04T22:11:08.137-04:00book report: I heart Jerry Dennis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg487BEMWg-UXP8mAYROO1J1oqXhxBNBHJjbTt3Pf8W_6GaMmOXq70r4k_Axy3UF3H7vonlSIUvoDJgaAXvrRXMm1FYE0T1zEJkptm4_SNmr52d17FMQAUYU5dGxVIzz9kEVr3w/s1600/51QCmdh4CNL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=christyclean&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312331037&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></a></div>You know how when you see a great movie and then leave the theater feeling like you <i><b>just MUST tell someone about it?! </b></i>I just finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Great-Lakes-Searching-Inland/dp/0312331037/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288921143&sr=8-1"><u>The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas</u></a> by Jerry Dennis, and I have that same 'must tell someone' feeling. This book is 5-star all the way -- a must-read for sailors, Midwesterners, folks who drink water, Canadians, and anyone who doesn't fall into any of these categories. <br />
<br />
I casually added this book to my library reserve list while surfing for books on cruising Lake Michigan or Lake Erie (something I aspire to do on my Catalina 22 next summer.) When packing for a recent business trip to Brookfield WI, I tossed it into my bag, thinking it would be cool to read a book about the Great Lakes after flying over a couple of them (which is really breathtaking, I must say. Looking down on Chicago's Willis Tower from the sky is <i>killer</i>, too!)<br />
<br />
This book tells the story of the author serving as crew on the Tall Ship <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/photobysg/4320142463/"><i>Malabar</i></a> for her delivery from Traverse City MI to <a href="http://genforum.genealogy.com/pagel/messages/290.html">her new owner, a guy who sounds like a total jerk, in Maine</a>. As the <i>Malabar </i>makes her way across lakes and down canals and that story is played out, the author also shares thoroughly-engaging lessons on Great Lakes lore and environmental education. <br />
<br />
I learned about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a story with which I've always had an uneasy fascination, partly because Gordon Lightfoot albums formed a good part of the soundtrack of my childhood. The scientific/educational information, something that usually annoys me because reading it feels like <i>work</i>, was easily understandable by someone so easily annoyed by it, and it was all pretty <i>fascinating.</i> Some examples of what I learned: (1) Zebra mussels poop! (2) The eight Great Lakes states are home to one-third of all recreational boats registered in the U.S. (3) The Great Lakes contain one-fifth of the world's fresh water. (I think I mostly already knew that, but still! One-fifth, people!!) I had a lot to learn about the Lakes. I learned quite a bit from this book, and I am anxious to learn more and to visit all five of them (remember "HOMES" from your school days? Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.)<br />
<br />
I can't resist quoting my favorite passage in the book here. After surviving a violent, potentially-deadly storm, Jerry Dennis defines sailing as this:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"... the oldest written mention of sailing was a fragment of ancient Arabic text that read, "Sailing is victory." In the wind, with the </i>Malabar<i> surging through the sea beneath us, I understood. Victory over the wind, which can kill you. Victory over the sea, which can kill you a lot quicker. Over the boat, over the sails, over your own limitations. Sailing joins elemental forces in opposition, and lets you ride them. The illusion is created that you've harnessed the elements. You've thrown reins on a lion and leaped on its back. Of course the lion is ultimately untameable, and if you're careless it will turn around in a flash and eat you. Which is also the appeal."</i></span> <br />
<br />
I am now smitten with Jerry Dennis' writing. Can you tell? The final two pages of this book are every bit the beautiful work of art as any painting in any museum or gallery in this world. You must read this book.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-79586663271070726452010-10-13T22:52:00.000-04:002010-10-13T22:52:02.444-04:00West Marine is (not?) my friendLast week, I received a Friend Request on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">the Facebook</a> from West Marine. Awww... West Marine? FBFs with me? Yay!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, my new "friend" went behind my back and this past Saturday told the staff at our local West Marine store, at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=1782910962125641325&q=west+marine+dublin&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=-V62TPb0O5y2MrTIrbsI">2827 Festival Lane, Dublin OH</a>, that effective immediately their store hours would be cut back to Tues-Sun, 10 AM - 5 PM. <br />
<br />
Let's pause a moment to reflect on the likelihood that the majority of boat owners -- many of whom, like me, <em>work for a living</em> -- will ever be able to shop at the West Marine between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM.<br />
<br />
Okay, shall we continue? Yeah.... NO. It's just not possible, at least for me, and I can't imagine how such a decision could be conducive to the short-term or long-term success of West Marine's Dublin store. My complaints have nothing to do with losing the ability to buy marine goodies at excellent prices, because I can often find a lower price on what I need at some of the other <a href="http://www.c-mesales.com/">internet</a> <a href="http://www.defender.com/">marine</a> <a href="http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/">retailers</a>. My complaint is about no longer having a place to fondle marine goodies, stroll the aisles of eye-candy and fun toys, get helpful advice from the friendly staff members, and engage in 'community' with fellow Central Ohio boaters.<br />
<br />
I try not to be 'that guy' -- the one who whines and complains and lives in a state of helplessness. If you feel as I do about the loss of realistic shopping hours at your local <a href="http://www.westmarine.com/">West Marine</a>, please consider joining me in taking the following actions:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Call West Marine's corporate office at 831-728-2700 to let them know that you will no longer be able to shop at their store with their new hours of operation and propose an alternative that would resolve the issue. (For me, having the store open from 11 AM - 6 PM would do the trick.)</li>
<li>Instead of using the 'Ship to Store' feature when ordering from the West Marine web site, identify the item number(s) you wish to buy and call your local store to place the order. <em>You</em> still benefit by not paying for shipping, and the store benefits by getting credit for the sale. A more profitable store is more likely to receive favorable attention from the corporate office!</li>
<li>In this age of social networking and its place as a critical part of corporate marketing strategy, turn a Facebook Friend into a Facebook Frenemy by posting your concerns on West Marine's Wall. <em>You can even un-Friend them if it makes you feel better.</em></li>
</ol>Local West Marine store, I love you. The sailing off-season will be difficult enough, but having to endure it without you seems unbearable. I miss you already.<br />
<br />
<em>Kaye, thank you for staying a few minutes late this evening so that I could pick up some marine-grade duplex wire and a buss bar for my re-wiring project. I hated to impose upon you, and I appreciate how gracious and helpful you were (and always are.) I hope to see you and your staff many more times this Winter as I dream and scheme and shop in preparation for sailing season 2011.</em><br />
<em></em>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-28267267228171273902010-10-08T22:06:00.006-04:002010-10-08T22:19:42.439-04:00my roadside windex<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.gbcasa.org/cms/images/stories/windturbine.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="228" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a random wind turbine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As I rounded a curve on the I-270 loop that circles Columbus during my Monday morning commute this week, I did a double-take that nearly rivaled the double-take <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PJUKN9E8YqhbXc3ns4RlQW53Pf20NmfBjhK-rFWd8lFYY7fwHhsulZ51j2d7vczCrZIKn-7KoK7OBdfzICdIQoxljZ8nQkkG2x8LKhHW2CxUREijnV14rerQofxuOX-HhZyr/s320/IMGP0910.JPG">Judy Jetson</a> did the first time we drove past the llama farm (probably alpacas, but "llama" is more fun to say) on the way to the lake one day last summer. <br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p><a href="http://www.delawareohrealestate.com/2010/09/04/delaware-dealership-goes-off-grid/">An auto dealership has put up a wind turbine</a> and it's really kind of neat! </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>This kind of thing really appeals to my frugal side (free energy!), although I wonder how long it will take for the business to recoup their investment ($400k, net of the $200k grant they received.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>I also wonder if non-sailors -- "normal people" -- are just as jazzed over the sight of this wind turbine as I am. Seeing what the Byers Mazda Subaru wind turbine is doing is like Christmas morning, twice each day! And yes, <i>of course</i> I think about what the point of sail is for my <i>car </i>and the proper rig tuning and sail trim for the conditions. I can't wait to see what it looks like with lots of wind!... and when there is a wind shift!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>I have an idea. I think businesses that own wind turbines should put up courtesy "wind speed and direction" signs, just like banks have "time and temperature" signs. Wouldn't that be <i>so cool</i>?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-32793749692928020542010-10-06T21:31:00.000-04:002010-10-06T21:31:43.586-04:00not green... purple, maybe, but definitely not green<a href="http://www.boatus.com/pressroom/release.asp?id=567">BoatUS recently put the call out for entries in their annual Environmental Leadership Award.</a> I like our sailing association, sail-only marina facility, and reservoir; I like to write; and I like to win things; and therefore the first thought that crossed my mind was finding a worthy reason to write a nomination/proposal for our association or one of our members. Fortunately, I paused the think on this a bit before sending a message via our YahooGroup to ask for ideas. I think we Alum Creek sailors are commendably good stewards of our natural resources, but I can't really think of anything we (definitely including ME in that "we") are doing that falls into any of the following categories (from the BoatUS site):<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"Nominees must meet at least one of the following criteria: </i></span><br />
<ul class="style2"><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Made a significant positive impact on the environment.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Contributed towards solving an environmentally challenging aspect of boating or boat maintenance, either for boaters or marinas.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Helped others understand the importance of clean boating.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Enthusiastically promoted clean boating and engaged others in their efforts."</i></span></li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJmaGwN6lMoPIeC675opJ0tZAnNRorRTdFcwdFiic11GZQHEnYiLfFida5nvTE1zvuJ-8hwvjnp00oj9s48XpR6v1abqDvyl7xtf2-LrUdBRJ6pj6OT0T9FUZyiMnZ55UGtfA/s320/4536510440_7b89c53a62.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyevans/">Tony Evans</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>As part of the ongoing development of our facilities, we <i>have</i> cleaned up the area... primarily with <b>a chain saw</b>, though!!! Humor me a little here, but <i>I'm pretty sure that is not quite what the fine folks at BoatUS were thinking about when they created this Award program. </i>I am not saying that I don't appreciate -- or even don't fully <i>support</i>, for that matter -- all that has been done to create the area our club members and the general public (since it is on public land) all enjoy so much. It's a wonderful place where I've had many fun times and from which I've embarked on many memorable sails.<br />
<br />
I guess I'm just disappointed with myself that I cannot think of a single idea of something I could do, personally, that would make a meaningful positive impact and would be (a) reasonable and feasible, and (b) noteworthy enough to submit as a possibly award-winning activity. (The award part is the lowest priority part of the formula here, but as I said before <i>I like to write and I like to win.)</i> I'm not so much a militant environmentalist <a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-it-just-me.html">or whatnot</a>, but I am a big fan of God's creation and like to treat it with respect and keep it clean.<br />
<br />
I'm going to give this some more thought. I'm sure some ideas will come to mind and I'll be sure to post them here. Any suggestions, internet? (Oh? Stop killing so many bugs, perhaps? Yeah, that idea is <i>not under consideration </i>because it fails to meet the "meaningful positive impact" criteria. According to <a href="http://wzus1.ask.com/r?t=p&d=us&s=a&c=a&l=dir&o=10181&ld=5537&sv=0a5c4253&ip=413cd543&id=A1194762175713B588CE0E4AF3105B1A&q=how+many+spider+species&p=1&qs=2990&ac=135&g=677eki%hmUv7KI&en=af&io=0&ep=&eo=&b=a001&bc=&br=&tp=d&ec=1&pt=How%20many%20species%20of%20spiders%20are%20there%3F&ex=&url=&u=http://answers.ask.com/Science/Other/how_many_species_of_spiders_are_there">Jeeves</a>, there are 37,500+ <i>species</i> of spiders in the world, and even if there were only two of each, Noah's Ark-style, I am only <a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2008/08/must-have-sailing-and-life-accessory.html">killing</a> a small fraction of 1% of those every sailing season. Nice try, though!)<br />
<br />
And okay, I should probably just go ahead and 'fess up here. I received this BoatUS announcement at roughly the same time as I heard that the club is planning to clear another portion of land, "so that we can see all the way across the peninsula to the lake," and I guess I'm feeling a little sensitive and yes, a little annoyed, about all the tree-killing. There, I said it.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-62339324307696077792010-09-20T17:08:00.001-04:002010-10-04T19:51:17.536-04:00Dockside Slumber Party with Judy Jetson<span style="font-family: inherit;">With our club’s Founders’ Day weekend activities scheduled into the wee hours Friday night and then resuming first thing Saturday morning with a </span><a href="http://www.chriscakesohio.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">unique pancake breakfast</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, I decided to combine adventure with practicality and plan my first sleepover on <i>Central Air</i>. As with all else, a lot of planning (aka ‘over-thinking’ and ‘agonizing’) went into the weekend preparations. On my annual girly hiking and tent-camping trips, my responsibilities are usually limited to just showing up with a sleeping bag and some DEET. For this sleep-aboard adventure, on the other hand, I would be <i>solely </i>responsible for the planning and production of it, and there was a lot to consider:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul><li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What sleeping attire and gear would I need in order to be sufficiently warm?</span></i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What would it be like to have only a flashlight and some stick-on tap-lights for illumination?!</i> </span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heaven forbid, would the discovery of a spider inside the cabin give me no choice but to abort the entire mission at 2 AM? </span></i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">And, nearly as important as the bug question, <i>what would I do about making/finding/drinking GOOD COFFEE on Saturday morning?</i></span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be perfectly candid, it has been my fear of bugs -- or, more specifically -- <b><i>my fear of being alone in the dark with bugs</i></b> that has kept me from staying overnight on my boat. To mitigate risk, a key part of my plan was to make sure I arrived at the boat Friday evening before dusk in order to perform what I like to call “a sweep of the area.” With my can of garden-fresh-scent-RAID in one hand and my <a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2008/08/must-have-sailing-and-life-accessory.html">bug-zapper-tennis-racket </a>in the other, I took care of business (gratuitous entomological violence omitted) outside the boat, and I set up the v-berth with my sleeping bag, pillows, and blanket. I closed the boat up tightly before I left to attend the campfire social event so that nothing could get <i>in</i> while I was <i>out</i>. When my dog Judy Jetson and I returned at 10ish/11ish to go beddy-bye, I made one more sweep (oh! what carnage!) and buttoned the boat up tightly again, this time with Judy Jetson and I tucked inside. </span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The quiet! The darkness! It was SO strange to me! First, I found designated locations within arm’s reach of the v-berth to keep the essentials handy in the dark: glasses, flashlight, iPod, garden-fresh-scent-RAID, and bug-zapper-tennis-racket. Judy Jetson seemed comfy in the v-berth with me, but I could tell that she too was a little disoriented by the accommodations… the lack of a television flickering and murmuring nearby, for example. <i>(I consider the TV to be my <b>roommate</b>, for pity’s sake.)</i> With the lack of television, I instinctively reached for my iPod and my Kindle (I had brought both with me, of course), but then I realized how ridiculous a notion that was, since, after all, the whole point of ‘getting away’ is to actually ‘get away.’ I can’t say that I slept soundly all night long (nor did Judy, which made me nervous like she was Lassie signaling danger to me or something), but I think that additional <i>practice</i> will make for a perfect night’s sleep for both of us. It was plenty cozy in the v-berth, and I didn’t even need the wool blanket I brought just in case. The air was fresh and cool, and I wish the boat had bobbed even a little more than it did, to provide a more authentic ‘sleeping on a boat’ experience. I awoke Saturday morning with the thought, “I did it!” followed immediately by “Why have I not done this every weekend this summer?!” It was a delightful experience – relaxing and with just enough adventure to keep me from feeling too lonely. (Note: I am not wishing for more bugs. Bugs do NOT count as ‘company!’)</span><br />
<br />
<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As for the ‘good coffee’ part, it was unfortunate that the pancake-slinging caterer’s coffee was </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE.WORST.COFFEE.EVER. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He even had that hork-inducing non-dairy creamer crap to go with it. Gag me with a little plastic stir stick! My coffee requirement was satisfied later in the morning with an emergency visit to a nearby Speedway, where a fresh pot was being brewed just as I arrived. Crisis -- and lingering <i>crankyness </i>-- averted.</span><br />
<br />
<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am making plans for one more weekend aboard Central Air before we call it a season. I’ll bring the wool blanket again, just in case, and I picked up a <a href="http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/Compact-Galley-Stoves.html">Kenyon Express II butane stove</a> at West Marine to boil water for some not-yet-determined version of camping coffee (with Speedway coffee as a comforting backup plan again.) <i>Any suggestions on the best way to brew tasty boat coffee?</i></span><br />
<br />
In the endless inner struggle to define myself as either a Racer or a Cruiser, score one more on the side of Cruiser.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-4937560010642468372010-07-14T20:39:00.001-04:002010-07-14T20:40:31.576-04:00harken block for sale -- cheap!I'm cleaning out my spare parts bin and have one thing left for sale on eBay. I thought I'd post it here, just for the heck of it.<br />
<br />
It's a NEW <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280533717402&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT">Harken 054 Fiddle Block with Becket</a>, and the starting bid is only $16.99 with $4.95 shipping. I paid $50 for this block at West Marine a couple years ago, and while I hate to take such a loss on it, but 'sokay. <strong><em>Hurry! The auction ends in four days!</em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV0cD9INnyRHNCgqBA5mT1JQAvjX4BofZnohIw00UFe79PbaSvqTSOWxt2ArXvU_ArOEvHEdU55XKuvV6FQIHrVX13-XpZQCg1nw2_FwBnBV0eQ1jrkcOmuCE2wQ9ezKE0VKO/s1600/harken054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZV0cD9INnyRHNCgqBA5mT1JQAvjX4BofZnohIw00UFe79PbaSvqTSOWxt2ArXvU_ArOEvHEdU55XKuvV6FQIHrVX13-XpZQCg1nw2_FwBnBV0eQ1jrkcOmuCE2wQ9ezKE0VKO/s320/harken054.jpg" /></a></div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-12863815781710641602010-07-12T18:02:00.020-04:002010-07-14T20:26:18.842-04:00required sailing equipment: tiller tamer, putty knife, bug zapperI launched Central Air, my Catalina 22, in mid-June, and I've been having a blast with her ever since. My first sail was singlehanded (yup, and I didn't hit a thing,) and I enjoyed it that evening sail so much that I stayed out until way after dark. <br />
<br />
Being an ardent multi-tasker, I spent a good part of the evening with the Tiller Tamer locked down while I worked on prying off the existing coaming box trim. I'm going to replace the busted wood trim with the <a href="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=240&ParentCat=42">replacement plastic trim from Catalina Direct</a>. I'm not a big fan of plastic trim on boats, but I'm making an exception here. (Oh my gosh - This is my first boat with coaming boxes in the cockpit, and I love them! They really appeal to my sense of <em>a place for everything and everything in its place.</em>)<br />
<br />
The Tiller Tamer also came in handy while sailing in the dark, when I made a few <em>spider patrols</em> to shine my flashlight over the transom and then dispatch each newly-discovered creepy-crawly with my tennis-racket-bug-zapper. UGH - where do they all come from, and why are they so freaking <em>huge</em>? I know that you all don't like it when I wantonly kill innocent spiders, but I'm feeling a teeny bit pleased with myself for being a big girl and going sailing by myself at night. The only reason I haven't done so before is my spider-related sense of <em>complete dread</em>.<br />
<br />
Oh... also... my boat? She is <em>fast.</em>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-75718939968271957722010-06-15T22:48:00.001-04:002010-06-15T22:50:18.348-04:00beautiful boat for sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
My '73 Kittiwake - <em>Ragtime Gal</em> - is for sale. As I tidied her up a bit, I was once again struck by what a gorgeous boat <a href="http://www.alberg30.org/CarlAlberg/">Mr. Alberg</a> designed... and what a lovely job Wes, the previous owner, did in caring for this boat. That, coupled with my perfectionism and <a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2009/07/second-verse-same-as-first.html">my obsessive need to paint her hull a classic navy blue</a>, have made for what I believe is one of the most striking Kittiwakes in existence today. I'm not saying that just because she is for sale (on <a href="http://columbus.craigslist.org/boa/1785432033.html">craigslist</a>, <a href="http://www.sailboatlistings.com/cgi-bin/saildata/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&view_records=1&ID=17959&mh=1">sailboatlistings.com</a>, and soon to be on <a href="http://sailingtexas.com/">sailingtexas.com</a>.) Here, see for yourself how spiffy she is!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90QC8HX5fijHsscj6j71aJvr-v0IaCjX7fzNh5aZ6uuScJa7Og-WY_pHIVbfKTbG6FxGeKa3A-rLWKkZ2CVxKF9cYorcGdgTf_stnl-hZZwToDLU6qBDTICHoqqK4uD40MlmR/s1600/SDC10253-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90QC8HX5fijHsscj6j71aJvr-v0IaCjX7fzNh5aZ6uuScJa7Og-WY_pHIVbfKTbG6FxGeKa3A-rLWKkZ2CVxKF9cYorcGdgTf_stnl-hZZwToDLU6qBDTICHoqqK4uD40MlmR/s320/SDC10253-640x480.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDjEPs5BSR1kOEk0Aqy-VRfPTKEgy07eMHyizA0YlIo1FZXAM2R9YUJ6qMFUNuVyRCm6co-dlbifGqL8ZAd-j4OFdyAyS3fvQl_4qn67YQXd-1PQYqGHrYLlL4cKUZXXLNkvD/s1600/SDC10244-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDjEPs5BSR1kOEk0Aqy-VRfPTKEgy07eMHyizA0YlIo1FZXAM2R9YUJ6qMFUNuVyRCm6co-dlbifGqL8ZAd-j4OFdyAyS3fvQl_4qn67YQXd-1PQYqGHrYLlL4cKUZXXLNkvD/s320/SDC10244-640x480.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH52stXdNOlV27wMYjwDA180XHn-twSKZrEdgYJiXFicTGha_iNTJob7KSo15Eg2bI8zIUNBzYvI4Wbi2S5o_psk1ZNhryB5KfPTMRK__e9a1yCnYFz19L1Sbd6aCUGS2b2Kf7/s1600/SDC10223-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH52stXdNOlV27wMYjwDA180XHn-twSKZrEdgYJiXFicTGha_iNTJob7KSo15Eg2bI8zIUNBzYvI4Wbi2S5o_psk1ZNhryB5KfPTMRK__e9a1yCnYFz19L1Sbd6aCUGS2b2Kf7/s320/SDC10223-640x480.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoH9u59RfdPZfVWr_HZFuY3zu3v6NDRmKn0149N7On75WcNoiTk36RuDcsQwqeSRhvT0bFRcOU0tu3X54ejI7VyoS-d7kLhb6wAMb61koFpwqa1xI1jrYPVJ5aKGCdqQs1Jggl/s1600/SDC10228-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoH9u59RfdPZfVWr_HZFuY3zu3v6NDRmKn0149N7On75WcNoiTk36RuDcsQwqeSRhvT0bFRcOU0tu3X54ejI7VyoS-d7kLhb6wAMb61koFpwqa1xI1jrYPVJ5aKGCdqQs1Jggl/s320/SDC10228-640x480.jpg" /></a></div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-56358573518727911712010-06-15T22:25:00.001-04:002010-06-15T22:26:08.782-04:00makeoversThe time has come for a makeover -- for my blog, for my new boat, and for ME! My new Central Air is now wearing her new decals. As soon as I can line up a few friends to help me with raising the mast and launching her, I will gleefully motor her over to D-Dock, rig her up, and then hopefully spend the majority of what remains of the season <em>on the water</em>.<br />
<br />
Also, to celebrate an upcoming significant/yucky birthday, I've decided to indulge myself with some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdermabrasion">recreational face-sandblasting</a>. Good times!Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-22635524893477444642010-06-04T20:05:00.004-04:002010-06-04T20:35:59.826-04:00it's my prerogative (boy, that's a weird word to spell)Okay - <em>this</em> is the part where I pretend that the year 2008 didn't happen.<br /><br />And <em>this</em> is the part where I pretend that the year 2009 didn't happen either (although my <a href="http://www.kittiwake23registry.com/">Kittiwake's</a> gorgeous<a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2009/07/second-verse-same-as-first.html"> yachty-blue paint job</a> turned out SO pretty! BTW, she's for sale now, because - as you may have read quite recently - <a href="http://centralair.blogspot.com/2008/10/2008-sailing-goal-update.html">the year 2009 didn't happen</a>.)<br /><br />Now then, the year is twenty-aught-ten -- or <a href="http://www.twentynot2000.com/"><em>two thousand and ten</em>, if you insist</a>. This year is actually occurring, in <em>real-time</em>, as we say in the software development biz, and (thanks to God, my family, the passage of time, the loss of around one <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ7wWX8hEpxEdSFeajVpVCcE1C-iALdCHDfCPP_Tr38C2yIC88apmUavoJ34ub_BklsmzSfvb3NkRuztZkIaKL0Z43JUypohlegyNhehyphenhyphen1gbr1bNJnz_6T89LZosM4QPdZ3BI/s400/judy-pfd">Judy Jetson</a> worth of weight, and a variety of pharmaceuticals) this year is shaping up to be <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416961496?ie=UTF8&tag=christyclean-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1416961496">freakin' fabulous</a>. Don't worry. I'll tell you all about it as things continue to play out.<br /><br />So, in summary:<br />2008 - huh?<br />2009 - wha?<br />2010 - YEAH-<em>BUDDY</em>.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-48090204633627954052009-07-26T23:48:00.000-04:002009-08-27T22:05:35.365-04:00anchor light? check! steaming light? check!... constant, vague sense of confusion? Check!<br /><br />I stand amazed. My brother-in-law Terry is super-skilled at wiring projects.... and is also a master of 'how to do things efficiently and with high quality.' Terry offered to install the electrical system in the new boat. We delayed launch day long enough to wire the masthead anchor light and the steaming light. (I remembered to attach the new Windex before we raised the mast too -- woohoo!)<br /><br />So here's the brainteaser: After drilling holes at the masthead, mid-mast, and at the base of the mast, we organized our supplies:<br /><br /><ul><li>30' wire for anchor light</li><li>20' wire for steaming light</li><li>25' conduit to surround and protect the wires within the mast</li><li>25' fish tape</li></ul><p>It would have taken me - conservatively - about 30 minutes with pencil and paper to figure out the sequence of events needed to fish the conduit up through the hole in the base of the mast (or down the open mast "cap")... then fish the two wires (one at masthead and one through a hole at mid-mast (and in the conduit at the same place)... and then end up with everything in the right position to connect the lights to the wires. Terry, on the other hand, paused for perhaps 10 seconds (at most) and then jumped right in with the hole-drilling and "fishing!!"</p><p>If it was up to me, I would probably still be up at the boat lot with fish-tape in one hand and conduit in the other and a completely puzzled look on my face. I guess we all have our own individual gifts. Basic problem-solving apparently is not one of my gifts, but I guess you probably already knew that.</p><p>Also, my bro-in-law ROCKS! Next up on the electrical to-do list: stereo and speakers!</p><p></p><p><br /></p>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-37764528674909552032009-07-24T20:16:00.001-04:002009-07-24T20:16:25.973-04:00yes, it has come to this<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLKwVHox9fWHy_5bdq8P8QnjZigGNVCXxAuLlakKzsasve2nFflLxzM0jG1iMY5nGveMzlrZc6THN8hrEJdzOne2dAInkwBrQx8zP_XXjZjSmN1fe8zRKH8Wa6ymmtPuMF2Ks/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxMDAuanBn%3F=-785974"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLKwVHox9fWHy_5bdq8P8QnjZigGNVCXxAuLlakKzsasve2nFflLxzM0jG1iMY5nGveMzlrZc6THN8hrEJdzOne2dAInkwBrQx8zP_XXjZjSmN1fe8zRKH8Wa6ymmtPuMF2Ks/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxMDAuanBn%3F=-785974" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362185005258644514" /></a></p>Meanwhile, back at the NTB, I've decided to continue my game of 'Where's Waldo ?' with this blasted book. I can't believe I missed this one! On the cover of the book is a full-color shot of a man standing on his boat wearing what appear to be "Mom Jeans."<p>Krikey! Sure wish my car was ready!<br>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TChristy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-7946618443849558022009-07-24T19:40:00.001-04:002009-07-24T19:40:34.410-04:00perhaps I spoke too soon<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3g32WMJDa5apDddQtXtg3ADTXiQyhvo-UbDDAul-Fd46FLpFMaiX70Enh7MyQJA66mcSQgBUdkqkiyv-lX6RSwmZJeufijqc4HoY9batbQZZl5uninq6M4sfhIMjJS2ParXa/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxMDEuanBn%3F=-734411"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3g32WMJDa5apDddQtXtg3ADTXiQyhvo-UbDDAul-Fd46FLpFMaiX70Enh7MyQJA66mcSQgBUdkqkiyv-lX6RSwmZJeufijqc4HoY9batbQZZl5uninq6M4sfhIMjJS2ParXa/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxMDEuanBn%3F=-734411" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362175762961358978" /></a></p>_Modern_Boat_Maintenance_ book report update!<p>I'd never want to exaggerate, so I must set the record straight: on closer inspection, I found this androgynous creature on page 167. There are also a few disembodied hands sprinkled here and there throughout the text.<br>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TChristy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-73565775706985516522009-07-24T19:06:00.000-04:002009-07-24T19:07:34.054-04:00book report: _Modern_Boat_Maintenance_<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHM9TWYn1rRql5amieNdWgmyINclbz2uvcQRFKiZNbrX60u_OQVe4jBpeP17gZ6ruz8rubNGOEzaSwZPhE_wxNXqBefK8WS71ZI_aNBhMWQw2Q4SUP4EvQNfxqYFGBVpePDcd/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwOTguanBn%3F=-754055"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHM9TWYn1rRql5amieNdWgmyINclbz2uvcQRFKiZNbrX60u_OQVe4jBpeP17gZ6ruz8rubNGOEzaSwZPhE_wxNXqBefK8WS71ZI_aNBhMWQw2Q4SUP4EvQNfxqYFGBVpePDcd/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwOTguanBn%3F=-754055" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362167259560661362" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSijycrv89f7aBP9o7ZmJXCALPbLSAXKj45n-jUx8HS-S0PzbQBrz-iB85myDeciUAxRAmvzUVFD_bqHg-MV2wSp_VrqS68eFt53lMJeYX9G1N3Fx09c3FIUhuL22Sb9AmEFS/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwOTkuanBn%3F=-754934"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSijycrv89f7aBP9o7ZmJXCALPbLSAXKj45n-jUx8HS-S0PzbQBrz-iB85myDeciUAxRAmvzUVFD_bqHg-MV2wSp_VrqS68eFt53lMJeYX9G1N3Fx09c3FIUhuL22Sb9AmEFS/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwOTkuanBn%3F=-754934" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362167261816107154" /></a></p>Here I am at the NTB tire store sitting in the 'customer lounge' listening to the strains of a rapping contest on tv and waiting for my tire to be repaired. (What a glamorous life I lead.). At least I had the presence of mind to grab a library book from the car before I turned over my keys. I've been voraciously reading every boat renovation book I can get my hands on lately.
<br>
<br>This book is not really scratching my boat-reno itch, unfortunately. I'm sure that its contents *were* "modern" boat maintenance practices -- back in the mid-90s when it was published! This book is *ancient*! For pity's sake, iPods had not even been invented then!
<br>
<br>If that wasn't enough to fully discredit this book, let the record also reflect that the illustrations are all lame black and white line drawings... and there isn't a single boy pictured anywhere (not even a stick figure.) Also, this book does not seem to have an author gutsy enough to put his name on it.
<br>
<br>In summary, spend your (1994 inflation-adjusted) dollars on some other boat maintenance book.
<br>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TChristy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-88495144436534869232009-07-23T23:32:00.006-04:002009-07-23T23:43:51.708-04:00sailboat hull / smokey eye<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1T7776ODJnQkTilLlO9DP0MEGFvb09SlIJ0cY8khYFnxhlg1B8DGHF8j4mRW8NV7c3uNO6uP6YopnlEgdt1wf0oW6Qs1fWmdjBhZHLOoj-UbwjDEEgd66uP_d-mso5_Tpyje/s1600-h/smokeyeye.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361866468439690962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1T7776ODJnQkTilLlO9DP0MEGFvb09SlIJ0cY8khYFnxhlg1B8DGHF8j4mRW8NV7c3uNO6uP6YopnlEgdt1wf0oW6Qs1fWmdjBhZHLOoj-UbwjDEEgd66uP_d-mso5_Tpyje/s320/smokeyeye.jpg" border="0" /></a>Yes, I'm still basking in the afterglow of my painting project. And yes, I am still regretting not yet taking photos of the finished paint job to show you. I think I've come up with the next best thing, though...<br /><div></div><br /><div>If my boat was the classic "smokey eye," she would look like this:</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Pretty fabulous, eh?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-19164058609209085532009-07-19T20:28:00.002-04:002009-07-21T23:41:52.824-04:00hull = painted!I don't have photos, so you must take my word for it:<br /><br /><div align="center"><em>My new boat is now dark blue!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left">The second coat didn't provide quite enough coverage, but the third coat perfected the finish. (Where 'perfected' = '<em>good e-freaking-nough!</em>') My sister Jessi did the rolling and I did the tipping. As is typically my style, I attempted to make up for my lack of skills and experience by purchasing the best equipment I could find. For the painting project, I purchased <em>four</em> badger (or were they China bristle? potayto-potahto, I guess...) brushes. This provided us with a fresh new brush for tipping for each coat. (Jessi and I both did the tipping on the first coat, while Terry did the rolling.)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We let the paint cure while we had lunch at the nearby Cheshire Market and Bait Shop, and then we excitedly removed the painter's tape to reveal the boot stripe. There were many 'oohs' and 'aahs,' but mainly there were heartfelt expressions of gratitude and relief that the hull painting was finally finished. By completing this project, I have proven that - without a doubt - <em>anyone</em> can paint a sailboat.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">We are now only 14 days from launch!</div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-19898820258179400232009-07-08T20:56:00.000-04:002009-07-14T21:55:35.110-04:00second verse, same as the first<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBDfr056MWcnagXf_2pYoRH5hrUXRTT0kvTAJ_KYDsufMTSbROQjcakoeVLQmKUsMYDfcgKwKR7kztxTBdNt3S82o8uG7ihmlvhtba6sICXLi_K7QngVdvj1otdxmv3oZOQF4/s1600-h/5-20-2009+7-29-55+PM.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358499352985478562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBDfr056MWcnagXf_2pYoRH5hrUXRTT0kvTAJ_KYDsufMTSbROQjcakoeVLQmKUsMYDfcgKwKR7kztxTBdNt3S82o8uG7ihmlvhtba6sICXLi_K7QngVdvj1otdxmv3oZOQF4/s320/5-20-2009+7-29-55+PM.jpg" border="0" /></a>Two coats down, one (knock on teak) to go. There is nothing especially noteworthy to report here. Perhaps a photo (a low-quality blackberry snapshot, unfortunately) will tell the story... a story with an ending that could only be <em>better</em> if the second coat had provided sufficient coverage to make a third coat unnecessary.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-49592869497417529722009-06-25T20:18:00.000-04:002009-06-27T20:44:06.295-04:00a "thank-you" note<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUaGxeQhAyHECzrt4-chhGCO7WlXU-sXODzkERpxMge-7Fjn0Whu-Tl-iiq5amLcVg98PpdjbKFAuH-9MkV4xwjt3ndHiRDCRXaXYQ5GIK48mc90L2OMWRMjj5WdyEDgxhgTn/s1600-h/IMGP0964.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352168413270887442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUaGxeQhAyHECzrt4-chhGCO7WlXU-sXODzkERpxMge-7Fjn0Whu-Tl-iiq5amLcVg98PpdjbKFAuH-9MkV4xwjt3ndHiRDCRXaXYQ5GIK48mc90L2OMWRMjj5WdyEDgxhgTn/s320/IMGP0964.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Dear <a href="http://www.yachtpaint.com/usa//product_guide/primers/US_prekote.asp?ComponentID=9806&SourcePageID=6941">Pre-Kote</a>,</span> <div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">You gave my sailboat a smooth, monochromatic finish, and you are so safe and easy to apply. For these things, you have my gratitude.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_aggression">I'm sure you didn't <em>mean</em> to run out when the boat was 92% covered. Don't worry. It wasn't really that big of a deal.</a> Thanks again!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Love,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Christy</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div></div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-8604353877595872522009-06-24T23:20:00.002-04:002009-06-25T22:04:18.402-04:00killing me softly with a sanding spongeThe "tagline" for Marine-Tex is...<br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Handles like putty.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Hardens like steel.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Sands like wood.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left">A more accurate tagline would be... </div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>Handles like scary-#ss </em></div><div align="center"><em>weapons-grade uranium.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Hardens like steel.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Sands like steel too.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">My Marine-Tex experience can be best described with a mathematical theorem:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong><em>Every minute saved by applying Marine Tex in a slapdash manner results in thirty-four additonal minutes (per patch) of sanding the Marine Tex.</em></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em></em></strong></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I hope I never have the occasion to hold a sanding sponge in my hand ever again! (Yes, I see you, teak trim. Stop looking at me that way.) The sanding was an excruciating process. I'm so grateful to my sister Jessi and her husband Terry and stepdaughter Hope for their help. They are the most fun and most talented crew ever! We definitely made the best of a hatefully awful situation (aka all the sanding), and we took a break to enjoy the most excellent pizza in the world at the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.nyfolklore.org/images6/fw05-bait.jpg">Cheshire Market</a>. I love that place.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">After about <em>sixteen</em> person-hours of wet-sanding, the hull was finally ready to receive a coat of Interlux Pre-Kote Primer. (Heh heh - this should be a <em>sponsored</em> series of blog posts. <em>Hey Interlux, are you reading this? No? Okay - didn't think so. But if you do, please know that I adore your products. Also, you are really quite attractive, Interlux. Are you married? Seeing anyone?</em><em>)</em></div>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-88878696518129492052009-06-23T20:39:00.001-04:002009-06-23T20:39:01.606-04:00the eagle has landed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RBEdBd3VUpZ915oWrRdjfQlpwV7rTllz7UDDz22EKXfftF68YhOubl90-ZGOVpl4C0hJfqx5suhl8gxX8U2h9UQLS-s3_pOwMN0av-5K7H59tJxwx4dvywUYhV2Q_WtiSs2L/s1600-h/IMG00037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350347245977880962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RBEdBd3VUpZ915oWrRdjfQlpwV7rTllz7UDDz22EKXfftF68YhOubl90-ZGOVpl4C0hJfqx5suhl8gxX8U2h9UQLS-s3_pOwMN0av-5K7H59tJxwx4dvywUYhV2Q_WtiSs2L/s320/IMG00037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My new (old) boat has (had) an eagle on the transom. It is (was) a very sharp and salty-looking accent. I decided that I wish to have my boat name and home port decals displayed prominently on the transom, so I (reluctantly) removed the eagle from the transom. I will find a special place for it either on or inside the boat, or at home. It's a lovely piece. I love it!... just not on my transom, I guess.Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-78878654961001133762009-06-20T23:39:00.001-04:002009-06-25T21:40:46.190-04:00marine-tex, weapons-grade varietyThe next step in the topsides-painting project is finished. I had one false start, where I drove (40 minutes) to the boat lot, read the <a href="http://www.marinetex.com/">Marine-Tex</a> instructions and <a href="http://www.actiocms.com/view_msds/ZZZ_msdsdisplaycode_author_new_ANSI.cfm?edit_msds_id=3053&dbname=AUTHORING2&language=1&CFID=1290433&CFTOKEN=4716621ed89dcaa0-1A154A04-A847-F947-037D485C76DCD30E">warnings</a>, put on nitrile gloves, paced back and forth several times, and then got in my car and drove back home<em>. </em><em>Seek prompt medical attention if it comes into contact with your skin? Seriously?!?!</em><br /><br />I tried again a couple nights ago, and fortunately my friend Commodore Kathy drove up to visit me. Her presence made me feel less afraid of the mixing and usage of the dangerous substances that were packaged in the innocuous little red, white, and blue box.<br /><br />Wearing long pants, a long-sleeved t-shirt, (hello, summer weather!) and of course the nitrile gloves, I carefully and quickly mixed up the first batch of resin (or whatever the white stuff is called) with the catalyst gel. I applied it with a putty knife, and I worked as quickly as possible so that (1) the marine-tex wouldn't harden before I was finished applying it, and (2) because I felt like the fewer minutes I spent handling the stuff, the better. Less time handling dangerous things = better chance of coming through the experience relatively unscathed.<br /><br />Since I was working as quickly as I could, my application of the marine-tex to all the dings and chips of varying sizes was fairly <em>slapdash</em>. This would turn out to be a very bad idea...Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13495701.post-1332835054918750882009-06-16T22:17:00.002-04:002009-06-22T23:19:58.345-04:00the point at which decal adhesive, razor blades, and dangerous inhalants intersectI just finished a full weekend of difficult and dangerous work preparing my new boat for painting. Here's the overall hull-painting plan:<br /><br /><ol><li><div align="left">Remove registration numbers and pin stripes.</div></li><li><div align="left">Wash hull.</div></li><li><div align="left">Prepare the chips for patching.</div></li><li><div align="left">Marine-Tex the chips.</div></li><li><div align="left">Sand.</div></li><li><div align="left">Mask off the parts not to be painted.</div></li><li><div align="left">Sand.</div></li><li><div align="left">Pray that one coat of Interlux Pre-Kote will be sufficient.</div></li><li><div align="left">Apply one coat of Interlux Pre-Kote.</div></li><li><div align="left">Sand.</div></li><li><div align="left">Apply first coat of Brightside paint.</div></li><li><div align="left">Sand.</div></li><li><div align="left">Apply final coat of Brightside paint.<br /></div></li></ol><p align="left">I completed step 1 this past weekend and am so thrilled that it's done! Let me explain why it was such a big deal...<br /><br />One of my quirks is my hatred of stickers, decals, and their accompanying adhesives. If I buy something that has a price tag or label on the item itself (rather than on the packaging), I simply cannot rest - or use the item - until the sticker itself and all trace of adhesive is gone. This might be the strongest of my quirks. I was not at all excited about the prospect of removing registration stickers, various permits and the like, as well as the pinstripes from the hull, but I knew that when the work was done I would be so blissfully happy and relieved.<br /><br />I tried removing part of the pinstripes with a paint scraper/putty knife a few evenings before and decided that I would need something more serious. I reluctantly picked up a few razor blade scraper tools. I am terribly afraid of scary, sharp objects. Serial flailers and sharp objects don't mix well. The final ingredient in this ordeal was, of course, dangerous chemicals... those that can be fatal if inhaled and that sort of thing. I brought with me a quart of Interlux 202 Fiberglass Solvent Wash, two small tins of Goof-Off, and another larger can of some other random paint/adhesive remover. (Yes, some people have a well-stocked wine rack. I have a well-stocked selection of adhesive removers.)</p><div align="left">I started with the registration numbers. There were very few of them that came up with just one swipe of the weaponry. Usually the clear layer came off in pieces, leaving the seriously-adhered gray-ish bottom layer that required all-out <em>violence </em>to remove. To keep things interesting, when I became frustrated with one side of the bow, I moved to the other side. I'm not sure why I thought this would be more interesting, as they were of course the same exact registration numbers on the other side. It actually wasn't so bad. The whole process had a sort of <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primal%20scream">meditative</a> quality about it.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347738317585678210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ8Iu9wVkca6B-RunS99RckpqOQsORCR6sfzRfHLy2n_9KIK6D43FkNvSOkUhbV4-mffE7g5nkAwjZ05UDlQkoUuz428fR8FZEGPUxn3IyfcH2WHIRfMUXFLzTJKGkyNL1cOC/s320/IMGP0961.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Work in progress</span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">After I removed the registration and permit decals, as well as [cough] bits and pieces of the previous paintjob [cough], I moved on to the pinstripes. First, let's have a little fun with the math:<br /><br />LOA: 23' 6"<br /># of pinstripes: 5<br /># of sides on a boat: 2<br />---------------------------------------------<br />total length of pinstripes to be removed: 235 feet (or, the distance between one football goal line and the 20 yard line at the other end of the field.)<br /><em><br />235 feet</em> of pinstripes and the commensurate adhesive.... plus razor blades... plus toxic inhalants. This is the mathematical equation that equals<em> torture</em>, people. </div><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350346955132002226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq_q8RTdqM4ah8Ix3cw8WPhmcWNO_lF2Io21cOg3iDm8V8QetrDxahRrawxJuGthhFwH9BNWjceoj4igH1Na6r8UJz3a2lafCIeHTETY6V4BM64PAeIOtbYpQSZC_Nw7VXUfv/s320/IMG00033.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Full-On Horror: a still life</span></em></div><br />Amazingly, I survived with all of my digits and the majority of my brain cells intact. The decals and the adhesive (and the aforementioned existing paintjob) didn't fare quite as well. It took tons of scrubbing and cleaning with the chemicals to get all of the adhesive goo removed from the hull, but I did it!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350346959678910306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixonwzn_9CHzOjenzPibTIzd6RQFUBoWH6PSeiejSOTPjDQhQJ5fcb3w9duCw3gqk93RzbInS0uie2deXyJE4XPpEJOtAMBgZG27zGbnUqfle63FIdy-CaYz_sMcvzQNpAzF1I/s320/IMG00035.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Done!</span></em></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh yeah, and my manicure didn't fare very well either.</span></p><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350346961959054802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKh2PXNkhTZc0qJnUXFLZjGJUpu5bcvINTQadF0UXglIWmSXxzgKli5YVcWwnI5wku9xOJzInNViIyZXFgxpWDdzOLynQfarAQkXrOwiUYMj0yzOYSnDQg0JkVvPu7HtGghDo/s320/IMG00034.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">This manicure brought to you by the fine folks at Interlux....<br /></span></em><em><span style="font-size:78%;">and also the super-cool people at Lilly Industries, makers of Goo-Gone.</span></em></p>Christy ~ Central Airhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01642569076496175410noreply@blogger.com0