Sailing season is over

Sailing is over for 2014 on Lake Superior.

Going sailing next week

We will get up to Corny on Friday and plan on sailing and messing around with Beeses for a week or so. We will spend a night or two in the islands .

40th

Anniversary dinner, not fast food.

Ready To Sail

I had some projects to take care of before we could go sailing. First I needed to check the tension on the stays and adjust them if necessary. Then I wanted to get the dingy ready to go. The dingy motor had not been started since cleaning the fuel system and it needed to be started and checked out. I finished these projects with the help of Patrick, Jessica, and Bev so we are ready to sail.

Just Doing "At the Lake" Stuff

Today was a relaxing and fun day. We went to the coffee shop and had scones and coffee (Bev had a Skinny, Sugar Free, Vanilla, Decaf Latte). Then back to Summer Snow for breakfast before going to Bayfield to shop and just mess around. The photos are of little icebergs that just floated in through the harbor with Bev and myself and then Jessica and Patrick. There is lots of ice out on the lake in big chunks just floating around.

Not All Work

Getting ready to sail isn’t all work. We played golf on Thursday and Saturday at Apostle Highlands Golf Course which is a very nice golf course that overlooks Madeline Island. The views are spectacular, particularly with the all the ice floating in the water surrounding the islands.

Putting In

Before having Summer Snow put into the water I had the major task of polishing the “top sides” which is defined as the part of the hull between the waterline and the deck. Last year I had it done by the marina but this year I wanted to do it myself. It’s kind of like washing and polishing your car, that’s when you find all the scratches and dings and that’s what I wanted to do, find the problem spots so I could do the appropriate repairs. I used Turtle Wax and applied it by hand for very satisfying results.

 I decided that the bottom paint was OK for another year. It sure pays to buy good quality bottom paint although the fresh water of Lake Superior is quite friendly to the bottom of any boat. The ablative type bottom paint has to be renewed every few years but the “good stuff” I used before going to the Bahamas has lasted 3 years, going on 4. Boats that stay in the water all summer need bottom protection or they get a thick growth that slows you down although we don’t have the barnacle problem they have in saltwater.

These photos show Summer Snow being transported and then put into the “well”. Then I started the motor and motored over to our traditional slip. It is sweet to be back in the water! Now the interior cleaning begins in earnest.