October 29, 2015

Several small projects kept me busy this week.  I continued touching up and refinishing the exterior wood, and took care of a small issue with the turnbuckles on the forestay.  I also scored an unusual Rocna anchor to replace my current one.  (Found on Craigslist.)  When I bought my 25 kg (55 lb) Rocna, I had really wanted something about 66 lbs, but the next size up was a 33 kg (72 lbs), which was a bit too big.  So, I settled for the 25, which would be fine under most conditions.  The one I just got is a 30 kg, which hasn’t been made in quite a while.  Not only is it the size I really wanted, but because it is an early Rocna, it was actually made in New Zealand, not China like they are now.  It’s in perfect shape too, having only been used only a couple of times.  I sold my 25 to a new friend heading to Mexico, so it cost me a reasonable $100 net to upgrade.  The 25 will be perfect for his Hunter 38.  We are now both waiting for the arrival of the proper shackles and swivels to hook up the new anchors.  

Just talked to my diver about the impact of my encounter with the rock at Catalina Harbor.  Looks like much of the bottom of the keel got scraped and bumped, with a few dings here and there.  Rudder and hull are unscathed.  So, as I anticipated, I'll have some glass and epoxy work to do on the bottom of the keel next time I haul out.  Still, a good week! 

October 22, 2015

After getting back from the Catalina cruise, I had the usual post-cruise chores to do, like flushing the outboard and burning the fuel out of the carb, cleaning up, etc.  I also needed to fix the anti-siphon valve in the exhaust loop.  Rather than replace it only to worry about it failing again, I simply vented the loop into the cockpit where I can easily confirm cooling water is flowing and have no worries about failing valves.  The week's other projects involved preparing for the possibly very rainy winter.  I resealed an aft porthole that had a small leak and started refreshing the finishes on the exterior teak.  I did manage to squeeze in a little fun at the annual Kinetic Sculpture Race and a car show in the Harbor Village.

Cat Harbor Cruise II: October 15, 2015

The rest of my week in Cat Harbor was pleasant, despite the heat.  Carol was able to join me for a few days and we had a very nice time. She even crewed on the passage to Marina del Rey.  The only negatives were a couple of jerks in Chace Park in Marina Del Rey.  One on a pricey 50-footer couldn't be bothered with carrying his own trash and just left a huge bag of garbage right on the dock when he left.  Later, a low-life sneak-in (on crack?) played talk radio all night in his cockpit.  Sigh. But I did get a visit from dolphins on my way back to Ventura...always a high!  Still and all, it's good to be back home!