Log Entry In Pictures

Here are some shots from the trip.

Preparing the boat for sail.

Sailing to the dock to pick up the rest of the crew.

Some of the crew waiting.

The Skipper

Helmsman in training.

Forward shot.

Log Entry

For the first time in nearly four years, The Cat's Pajamas has set sail! We sailed upon Stony Creek Lake for about two and a half hours, with a full compliment. For the first time since I've owned this boat, I launched and retrieved it by myself. This in and of itself was important. The new winch proved itself out as well. At any rate I was able to run under power long enough to empty the tank of the stale fuel and to add fresh fuel to my "iron wind". It was a maiden voyage for a member of my crew as well, my 3 year old son, who seemed pretty excited about it and overall was a pretty good sport. After motoring around for a bit, we finally hoisted up just one sail, the Genoa. There was enough wind that we were able to manuever without a lot of trouble on just one sail. I was very pleased.

Some items that came out of this shakedown: I didn't have all my usual ropes but fortunately I had some other ones that came in handy. The electrical connection from the outboard to the deep cycle battery needs to be repaired. One of the bunks on the trailer needs to be refastened to the trailer. A brake light is out on the left side of the trailer. I need to get that hawse vent too, the cabin was too hot and stuffy.

New Bike

Last weekend I went into the local bike shop looking for parts and accessories for my existing fleet of bicycles. I am always amazed when I look at bikes in REAL bike stores because they are so hi-tech. This summer I've been able to get into bicycles again so I needed to replace the pedals on my very nice, second-hand department store ten speed. I bought this bike from my brother about 16 years ago. It was in great shape, almost new in fact, but still second-hand. One of the people in the store approached me and we began talking. I've always been a fan of three speed bikes because they are so rugged and low maintenance I even remember the name of the shifter on my brother's purple Schwinn three speed when I was a kid. Little did I realize what a legendary name "Sturmey Archer" was even then. At any rate, the guy in the store turned me on to a bike called a Townie 21. What a beautiful bike. I think that I will buy one of these bikes, that way I can say that I had at least one new bike before I shuffled off this mortal coil. The 21 is not an internally geared bike (like a three speed), but derailleur technology is so much better in the last several years (even my 16 year old ten speed is pretty reliable).

In related news, I had about a 27 year old three speed that was given to me last year by a relative, I had put new tires and tubes on it and used it as my neighborhood 'beater' but I decided to get rid of it. Well, my ex-neighbor's grandson was walking by the other day, a young man of about 18 who hasn't had an easy life thus far. At any rate, I gave him the bike. Just told him to take it and, he did. He seemd pretty appreciative of it, I've felt great about that decision, ever since.

Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three...

I tested my outboard today. With stale fuel from last year, she fired right up and purred like a kitten. I might even take a shake-down cruise tomorrow or Sunday.

I can taste the lake air.

Trip Down Memory Lane

Just thinking about boats in general always takes me back to my first one, an O'day Javelin. What a great boat!

New Com-Pac Sloop Design

Com-Pac Yachts (Hutchins Company) has on their news page an item about their new sloop to replace the old Com-Pac 16, they call it the Legacy

Picnic Cat Dilemma

I've been thinking about getting rid of my boat lately. I'm simply too busy with other things and the Com-pac 16 is just a bit more work than I want some days. I'm thinking about "downgrading" to a Picnic Cat.

Comments? Suggestions?

More Pirates And A Profile Update

Well, one of my faithful readers wanted a post, but since I'm still stalled on working on my boat (there were small craft advisories for Lake St. Clair this weekend so it was no loss really) I don't have much to say except I need to get my parts for the boat and wax the deck and the hull once again.

Anyhow, I did change my picture on my profile to the Jolly Felix.

And here is a picture of a pirate ship, since I cannot seem to get any of my own screen shots from my Pirates! game.