And the cover is...

[Neil Gordon]

OFF!

Happy spring!

[Gary M]

So Neil, whats a boat look like after months under wraps? I've never done that.

Happy Spring back at you, our marina celebrated "Opening Day" last weekend.

Gary

[Neil Gordon]

So Neil, whats a boat look like after months under wraps? I've never done that.

It looks much the same as before... like a short-term time capsule, in a way... the can of diet coke that I didn't clean up during fall de-commissioning is somehow still where I left it in November.

I'm always surprised by the dust and dirt that covers the boat the cover. I suppose it's what settles during the fall and doesn't get hosed off... there's no cleaning between out-of-the-water and cover-on time. Much of that will wash off with a good rain. What doesn't can wait until after launch.

[Mike Rodriguez]

Good for you Neil. I know just how you feel. I lived in Gardner MA
for about ten years and every spring it was a big rush to go out to the garage and take the cover off my 1951 Mercury (I didn't have my CD then). I now live aboard and sail the Caribbean but sometimes I really miss the change of seasons.

Have a good one!!


Mike Rodriguez

[Joe Myerson]

I'll probably cut a door into my boat's shrink wrap this weekend. Can't wait.

--Joe

[Mitch F]

Thanks Neil! I was hoping to go skiing this weekend and by removing your cover you ensured we will have a couple feet of fresh snow!

- Mitch

[Neil Gordon]

Thanks Neil! I was hoping to go skiing this weekend and by removing your cover you ensured we will have a couple feet of fresh snow!

Ha. Check up on Murphy's Law, pal... it will surely snow, but probably just a swirly squall that will dump a pile of white only in my cockpit.

[bottomscraper]

For pictures use this link:

http://sailmahalo.com/MahaloCoverOff2006/

[Neil Gordon]

Happy Spring!!!

What's the plan between cover off and launch?

I keep the commissioning list short... only the must-do before splashing the bottom. So hopefully this week...

Light compounding and wax
Touch up bootstripe
Touch up bottom paint + full coat on the waterline
Seacock maintenance

2-3 half days should do it.

[Len]

For pictures use this link:

http://sailmahalo.com/MahaloCoverOff2006/

How do you like the canvas cover? I'm considering purchasing one for next winter, but am concerned about the quality of the frame and the weight of the package to haul up the ladder. The shrink wrap has sure spoiled me - no more retying/ flapping / broken frames/ etc.in mid winter. But, it seems such a waste to trash it every year, not to mention the yearly escalation in price.

[bottomscraper]

We love the canvas cover (from Fairclough). It's after the 3rd season and it still looks like new. HOWEVER - get them to put a zipper down the middle! The cover is heavy! We have a heck of a time getting the canvas up on the boat in the fall. We are having them install a zipper down the middle so that we have two smaller pieces to deal with rather than one huge hunk of canvas.

The frame is made from EMT electrical tubing with some special fittings. The horizontal pieces are just wood strips. The wood strips are just taped to the metal with strapping tape. The metal is strong. The rubber crutch tips needed to be replaced after 3 years (cheap at McMaster Carr). I gave the wood a coat of stain the first year and they are holding up just fine. At first I thought the strapping tape was a bit lame but it goes up fast and when done the frame is very rigid. It also comes down fast in the spring!

For pictures use this link:

http://sailmahalo.com/MahaloCoverOff2006/

How do you like the canvas cover? I'm considering purchasing one for next winter, but am concerned about the quality of the frame and the weight of the package to haul up the ladder. The shrink wrap has sure spoiled me - no more retying/ flapping / broken frames/ etc.in mid winter. But, it seems such a waste to trash it every year, not to mention the yearly escalation in price.

[bottomscraper]

Lots of work bottom paint, wash & wax, refinish teak, some gel coat cracks to fix, polish stainless, replace engine vent hoses, de-winterize engine and water tanks, flush water tanks a few times...

I did the seacocks in the fall.

Happy Spring!!!

What's the plan between cover off and launch?

I keep the commissioning list short... only the must-do before splashing the bottom. So hopefully this week...

Light compounding and wax
Touch up bootstripe
Touch up bottom paint + full coat on the waterline
Seacock maintenance

2-3 half days should do it.

[Joe Myerson]

Hey Rich,

I just finished clamoring aboard for the first time this season. (I had intended to cut a door into the shrinkwrap--only to discover that I had ordered one installed last fall. Old age is scary sometimes!)

One of my projects for this season should be replacing the engine vent hoses. The springs inside the old ones, which look like they were just old dryer hoses, has rusted away and the plastic is very brittle.

My question: What are you using to replace your vent hoses? Is it just dryer hose, or do you use some marine-grade stuff?

BTW it's cold and foggy today, with a chill wind blowing off Buzzards Bay, so I'm glad I didn't actually remove the shrinkwrap yet.

--Joe

[bottomscraper]

We decided on 3" dust collector hose. It is heavy gauge black plastic which is significantly more substantial than the dryer type hose that was on the boat and is what most of the marine stores sell. This was suggested by Steve Laume a few monts ago. John Danicic also suggested plastic gutter downspouts which sounded like a good idea.

We got the dust collector hose from Amazon. This link may work:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002 ... 76-1768102

If not the product title is "Woodstock International W1028 3" x 10' Hose".