To recover from our 5K trail walk we took the Momentum bikes out for an 8 miler. They are set up with 8 speeds, plenty, and nice cushiony tires that still roll well. We also set my bike up as a Grocery Getter and Thrift Shop Raider.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Physical and Mental Therapy
28 May 24:
Skipper hurt her back in 2022 and is lucky she didn't end up in a wheelchair, but, she's hard headed. As part of her recovery and our ongoing effort to keep pave with an active lifestyle, we walked a 5K at Lake Mariner in Newport News.
There are some small up and down spots to make the winding trail interesting, plus a lot of lake vistas. We highly recommend the Noland Trail if you are visiting Newport News, and of course the Mariners' Museum.
Boat Yard Critter Update
28 May 24:
We had two Inspectors on site today...I say on site, it appears that they both live under the deck and/or the sheds, which we so kindly provided for them.
Our buddy named Buddy, a Carolina Box Turtle.
And one of more than a few anoles at the boat yard. It seems to be wearing deck camo today, they are usually blue.
Our critters are boring. If you want to read about a sensational tale involving two anoles, check out Webb's post from Self-Portrait In the Present Sea, May 28th: Hilton Head Island: sex on the deck; ship’s weasel; unleaked; repair
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Bath Time for CYANE
26 May 24:
Poor CYANE, our 1972 O'Day Day Sailer II, was turning kind of green in her shady porch spot, so we pulled out the pressure washer and gave her a 2000 psi fresh water rinse. The porch is getting hosed off as well.
We are still scouting for a good spot to rig and launch. In the Old Timey Days we had enough pep to rig (step 22 foot mast), sail and downrig all in one day, but that didn't leave much time for sailing. So our 2024 Plan is to spread the rigging, sailing and downrig over at least a 2 day period, maybe even find a slip to leave the boat for a couple of weeks. If you have some ideas around Southside VA, leave a comment please.
Cheers,
Kent and Audrey
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Yard Sailing
25 May 24:
Skipper's Drascombe Lugger was starting to disappear behind flotsam and jetsam in the garage, and we prefer to not have to move a bunch of junk to get the boat out, so we did some garage TETRIS today followed by yard sailing.
The purpose of yard sailing is to check that we have all the bits needed to get out on the water, and that we remember how to rig the boat. A dress rehearsal.
Friday, May 24, 2024
Caulking a Seam - Inch by Inch
24 May 24:
We are caulking seams when we can, today we got another couple of feet done between chasing the Grandkid around.
Log of HENNING.
Here's a tip. Leave a tail of cotton sticking out when knocking off for the day, so you know where to pick up the caulking next time.
Boat Works still life.
This little waxed canvas bag from the WoodenBoat Store has found a use, it holds our caulking irons, seam rollers, small mallet and a few other caulking related items.
There are several parts of this gunwale trim that are chowdered up, we need to come up with a plan to copy and replicate some new pieces. A medium size piece of braided line is nailed into the cove to act as a bumper. If you have ideas, please add a comment.
All bunted for Memorial Day and July 4th.
Log of HENNING.
TSCA Warraskoyack Chapter Scuttlebutt Update
17 May 24: TSCA Warraskoyack Chapter Scuttlebutt Update
Howdy from Smithfield,
1. Gregg sent a notice about a workshop at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, they're inviting folks to learn about taking lines off of an 18 foot Abaco Sailboat 13-14 July.
2. Eric, Captain of the Jamestown Replica Ship Fleet, has checked in to the Chapter and invites folks to drop by Jamestown to say hi and see the ships. The Jamestown ship GODSPEED will sail this Saturday May 18 (Edit - Rained Out) for Jamestown Day and again on Sunday. There will be a film crew and chase boat out on Saturday, so Sunday would be a better day to spectate from the water.
3. Steve E and SPARTINA are messing about in the Pamlico and Albemarle. https://
4. Audrey and I are caulking tiny seams on our 10 foot Bahamas Dinghy HENNING, and boxes of Kirby primer and paint are stacking up. Maybe we should host a Prime and Paint workshop? FWIW it is safe to drop by now, all of the old paint removal and rough sanding are finished up....well, except for the mast. Swing by if you are in the Smithfield area. Our blog has the latest on HENNING's progress: https://
5. We like to launch at Tyler Beach, Rushmere, Isle Of Wight County. There is a decent beach for dolly launching and also a ramp that leads into a protected slip area. Tyler Beach is on the shoal corner of Burwell Bay and the water is shallow quite a ways out, a fun spot not visited by many powerboats. Be careful in the water though, there are cinder block remnants from an old shoreline structure, but the water is clear enough to see most of those.
Bennett's Creek in Suffolk is another good launch spot. 3 ramps that are part of a City Park complex. Good water with marsh, and Decoys waterfront restaurant is not too far away with docks and slips.
6. John is back from Walt Simmon's shop with his new 15' Lincolnville Wherry, hoping to splash it soon.
7. Holler back with your news and pictures to add.
Fair Winds,
Kent and Audrey
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Cartopping a Kayak
22 May 24:
A first for us, we cartopped our kayak to a local creek. Our little RailBlaza C-Tug came in handy to get the kayak fro the car to the launch ramp.
Skipper celebrating the success of her plan. Her partner in crime is our Pelican Premium Icon 10 named CLARK.
Local watermen bringing in 30 bushels of oysters.
Then they hauled their boat out.
We bought the Outback for its off road capability and All Wheel Drive. And for the nice roof rack system where the racks swivel out of the way and stow on the roof when not in use. The XT turbo model is also rated to pull up to 3500 pounds
Two straps from Malone Auto Racks did the trick, they tightened down secure and did not loosen during the drive. To get the kayak on top we stood the kayak on its stern next to the car, slide the bow up over the side bar, the lifted the stern and rotated the stern over the aft rack. We placed the cockpit down because the top of the kayak is flat, and the seat back slid snug under the forward rack, helping to keep the kayak from sliding forward.
Monday, May 20, 2024
Interlux Seam Compound
20 May 24:
Once a plank seam is caulked and painted, a flexible seam compound is put in the seam to protect the caulking. We bought two cans of the Interlux brand, the brown for underwater seams and the white for filling seams above the waterline.
What's the difference? Here's a note from the Interlux Tech Team: "The brown is for below the waterline as its made to withstand constant moisture, the white is for above the waterline as it will not dry out as it's above the water."
Some folks also mention that the underwater compound is brown in order to be a close match for the most common colors of bottom paints, while the white matches the popular white topside paint.
Free Pest Control
20 May 24:
Our local pest control slithered by, an Eastern Ratsnake. We had a very short conversation where I mentioned that I was not a fan of how well he blended in with the garden hose that I was reaching for...
...and he mentioned that he was thirsty and hot, so I obligingly sprayed him on his tail just a bit, which sent him on his merry way...but not before he crawled all around and across our front door.
We are glad to see him, they like to snack on rats and copperheads.
Patent Swivel Oarlocks
20 May 24:
Our dinghy HENNING has four oarlock brackets that use swivel patent oarlocks. These oarlocks require a precise fit, and we had found only one so far. So we rolled the dice and bought two more oarlocks, or "rollocks" as they are also called, from rbay.
The rollocks arrived today. Will they fit? Watch the video: https://youtu.be/iueCu1ZRvz0?si=EE1Sasm08T4O5WsP
Yes, they fit!
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Drawing Table Alert
18 May 24:
I am working on plans for the wooden Alcort Sunfish hull, and need a table in the Library where I can leave the drawing materials out for a while. So I borrowed Skipper's antique drop leaf table.
This little table has followed Skipper around for decades, and it's ready for its latest assignment. We are not sure what it did for its former owners, but we are sure it was nowhere near as exciting as Skipper's travels.
Art Festival
18 May 24:
This is a photo of our rained out Main Street Arts Festival.
Since there was no man made art to view we turned our attention to see what Mother Nature had to offer at our local park...
Look close, there's my favorite tree...
Friday, May 17, 2024
Bahamas Dinghy HENNING - Primer
17 May 24:
One side of the boat is caulked and faired. We primed the seams with Kirby Primer, the oil based primer protects the cotton and adds the first bit of moisture back to the wood and the cotton. Next we sanded the fairing compound with 120 grit discs on a DeWALT random orbital sander, connected to our Dust Deputy/ShopVac. Then we rolled primer for the entire starboard side.
Will any marine grade paint system work? Yes. But Old Timers prefer the oil based qualities of a system like Kirby's or Rust-Oleum, they feel that these type paints and primers add some beneficial oils back to the wood.
We caulked a few of the port side seams and then primed those seams with Kirby primer, applied with a thin brush.
End of Day.
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