The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Sailing Season ‘08 is over

- Page 54 -

Description

Michael Sullivan and I took Chip Ahoy off its mooring for the last time this season and motored around Marblehead to the boatyard in Little Harbor.  This is where it'll be hauled out for the winter, put on its trailer.  (Oct. 14, 2008)

We had a nice day for it, partly sunny sky and in the mid-60s.  One more day of nice weather is forecast, then the temperature is supposed to drop to unseasonably cool through the rest of October and into November.  I'm getting Chip Ahoy out while the getting's good.  I'm grateful for the unseasonably fine weekend we just enjoyed and the photo shoot opportunity with John Graichen and Malacass.

Once we got Chip Ahoy tied up to the dock, Michael and I proceeded to remove the sails, lines, boom, and everything else that had to come off before the boatyard can remove the mast and hoist the boat.  The final step was to set up the mast supports for when the mast is laid over the boat.  Tommy expects to haul Chip Ahoy out probably tomorrow.  (Oct. 14, 2008)

I went down to the boatyard this morning, arrived at 8:15 and Chip Ahoy was already out, on its trailer.  The mast had yet to be taken down.  My plan was to arrive early, replace the trailer jack on an empty trailer.  I discovered yesterday that the jack had frozen, wouldn't crank up or down; it took John and me lifting it onto the truck's trailer hitch, then off again at the boatyard where I left it.  I didn't think I'd be able to lift the loaded trailer back onto the truck, so bought a new jack.  (Oct. 15, 2008)

The old trailer jack, frozen in place with likely a stripped internal gear.  I mounted the new jack, jacked the trailer up, blocked it and removed this old jack, repositioned the new Fulton 1500 jack, bolted it in place, then lowered the trailer onto it.

I towed the boat home at about 3:30 pm, after driving down to the boatyard and finding it ready to roll. 

The new Fulton 1500 trailer jack -- and a nice, clean bottom on Chip Ahoy.  (Oct. 15, 2008)

After off-loading the "food locker" for the season.  Still a lot of goodies remain, enough to survive being marooned for at least a few days!  (Nov. 1, 2008)

Among others, Dwayne Perser ("Bohemian Rhapsody") asked on the discussion group about the stock Catalina Direct adjustable backstay and how it's set up.  They want to build their own from scratch.  I spoke with Dwayne on the phone last night, told him I'd take some photos and send them along.  (Nov. 9. 2008)

-- SEE:  2004  Adjustable Backstay Project --

I got back to unloading Chip Ahoy for the winter today and realized the backstay cascade was still attached to the boat, and I'll leave it so over the winter.  I took these photos and sent them along to him.

In them, I tossed the loose line over the stern pulpit life line so the blocks would line up alongside each other.  In use, of course, the block below rides between the cable that runs from the two eyebolts on each side of the transom.  The block on the left is part of that triangular run from the two eyebolts; a cable attaches it to the starboard side eyebolt . . .

The static backstay cable up to the top of the mast runs off this block.  (Nov. 9, 2008)

-- SEE:  Adjustable Backstay Complete and Installed (2004) --
-- ALSO SEE:  Backstay in Use --