Catchin Up!

Well what a year to NOT put in the record books! Business has been very hard and all the medical issues with the Mrs. leaves me to proudly say "Goodbye 2010"!!

Late Summer and Fall and Winter flew by and I neglected my blog, but I did get in some good boat time. So far I am still short the 2 side curtains for a full dark blue canvas and a few snaps to boot. I must admit many of the guys on CSR mention the poor quality of the zippers and snaps that come from Great Lakes Boat Tops and it seems true. I need to just buckle down and make the trip and the time available to stay on the boat for a few days and wrap up the mattress upgrade and the canvas completion.

We did make a trip out for a very cool outing on the boat this past Saturday. It certainly was cold but so nice to be out with only the few fishermen around. I wanted to stop out and check everything over and get the engines and fluids up to temperature. It has always been my experience with old cars that when they sit they seem to have more problems. So hey, twist my arm and make me go boating right?!?

Fathers Day Aboard

Well, in prep for a nice relaxing Fathers Day aboard Knot Too Shabby I decided to bite the bullet and catch up on all the servicing due on the boat. We set up to have all the Dad's and Granddad's come aboard for a day of swimming and cooking out with all the grand kids and kids. All to the tune of 14 people aboard.

Would it all work out smooth??? NOT! We show up on Saturday for one night of quiet to find the service tech broke the antifreeze line to the generator and left it with no antifreeze in it. With shut down buzzers going off in my ear I was at a minimum upset. Of course with no generator that means no A/C in the cabin for the older family members to take a break out of the heat on the water. SO, off the West Marine we go to pick up parts and try to squeeze my big butt down into the bilge to get it fixed before Sunday morning.

Did you ever notice how no one ever answers the phone for the service department at a car or marine repair place when you actually need them?? Much less ever call you back from your message.

So we fixed everything and got it running and fueled up for a HOT day on the water with a boat full! Everyone brought something to eat and things turned out really well. The kids had fun and it gave everyone a chance to catch up. It was a shame everyone needed to go home because sunset is my favorite time to be out on the water!

A fair trade I would say........

The Mrs. and I always wanted a colored hull 340. We looked for that perfect blue hull but I was always a bit timid of the additional care involved with keeping that perfect shine. I read posts every day mentioning the "third" and "sixth" coat of wax to get that perfect shine....Holy Arthritis! So now owning a white hull we had to bring in some color. What better way than with some nice blue canvas??!! Little did I know that every one of the 150,000 snaps had to be installed by me! Still, at least I can move my shoulders when my hands are curled up! :)

But what a difference it has made so far. I am not quite done but it certainly gives the boat a step up from taupe canvas and white everywhere! I guess the wife was right again!

My first project aboard Knot too Shabby!

We certainly can not have a summer hide away without a grill?? Actually we bought the grill before the boat (which makes no sense right??)! So now it was up to me to mount this thing on the boat somewhere. From the look of most on our dock the perfect spot was astern.

So I proceeded to slowly attempt to remove the storage locker below the mounting spot and drill holes to through bolt the grill. I can not BELIEVE I am actually drilling a hole in comething we just paid all this money for!! But, wasn't it someone famous who says "MORE POWER! grunt grunt!".

The adventure begins.........

I have read a few of the guys in CSR's blogs and enjoy them quite a bit. What could possibly be better than a beautiful boat and some adventure to go along with it??

So, I am determined to detail our new ownership of our 340 Sundancer and all our good times and projects this summer!

Now untie the dock lines and lets give it try!!