Fun, wet Saturday

[zoom650]

Yesterday saw somewhat of a milestone. My engine turned the 100 hours mark. It took two seasons to get there. Service was performed at 80 hours when a switch was replaced under warranty, so I'm good for a while.

Lake temperature was 77°, so I beached the boat, grabbed a scrub pad, hopped in and went to work on my toons. Its a lot easier to clean it wet. When lake traffic was sparse and waves few, I squeezed in between the lifting strakes to clean under the middle toon. Not my favorite of chores, I promise you. I don't like having my neck stuck out between bouncing lifting strakes!

I feel for you guys up north, putting your boat to bed for the season. But not bad enough to not go back out today! Y'all tie those tarps on real good.

[Bamaman]

I too was out this week on the boat with our 8 year old grandson driving. The skies are extra blue with the sun moving toward the south. Water was like glass and it was a glorious day. Our water temperatures are running 79 degrees, and it's seldom you can still swim in October in the Mid South.

But Wednesday night, it was perfectly clear but the winds really whipped up. They've been about 25 mph since--and the night temperatures have dropped substantially.

I'm looking for the leaves to turn in the next three weeks, but only one tree on our street has any color now. I expect when they start turning, the colors will come fast. I do dread the Battle of the Leaves with our 3 houses--each in a mature oak tree forest.

[zoom650]

I left the cover off the boat, thinking I'd be back at the lake today. After all, its only a fifteen minute drive from the house. There's always tomorrow. Weather is absolutely beautiful. I'll probably keep my boat in the water another month or so. Last year the hull got too dirty when I left it in it's slip during the coldest months. Wish I could install a lift. I'd leave it hanging year round.

But wifey wanted to go see Deepwater Horizon. Just got home from the movie. Gotta keep her happy! Decent flick. A terrible event to have occurred. We owned a beach house, west of Panama City Beach when it happened. Our beach was spared an oil slick and only found a few bits of tar globs that made land.

Panama City / Bay County is receiving nine million in restitution and they're trying to decide how to spend it. One good option on the list of projects is open the East Pass into St. Andrews Bay. This pass (east end of Shell Island) was silted in decades ago. Results would be increased water flow in and out of the bay and make the area even a better boating destination.

I feel your pain with the leaves. My place is carved out in a southern forest. Whoever invented the gas powered leaf blower has my undying gratitude. Since I'm the pool boy too, I'll be cleaning leaves just about every day.

[guy48065]

[quote="zoom650"]
I feel for you guys up north, putting your boat to bed for the season. But not bad enough to not go back out today! Y'all tie those tarps on real good.[/quote]
That was today's chore.

Sad to look out my balcony at my piece of lake with no boat and no dock.

[MH Hawker]

i was out last night fishing and it dropped to 50 so thats the last night trip of the year very glad i have a heater on board

[FLOUNDERPOUNDER225]

Getting nice down here, crystal clear skies, and low humidity. Saturday didn't get back to the house until 11PM, dolphin cruising, and dining at the local waterfront restaurants. I like this time of year because the island/s aren't as crowded, some down here believe that labor day marks the end of the summer and boating . we're out as long as it's tolerable temps.

[TDJ2591]

We took the boat out for our winterizing voyage on Columbus Day. Beautiful sunny Day with temp in the low 70s and a light breeze. The lake was nearly deserted and we saw only 5-6 other boats. With the water level 12' below normal we had plenty of sandy stretches to beach it on, areas that would normally be rocky shores. Pulled into a quiet cover and gave the seats and interior a good cleaning with Awesome then treated the seats with 303 and the console and panels with Turtle Wax Ice. It looked like new despite being 11 years old. Filled the tank before we went out and added a bottle of StarTron (yes, the whole bottle) as a fuel stabilizer. Put the cover on it and dry docked it until next spring.

Been playing with motor height because the marina "mechanic" didn't want to raise the motor enough to make the ACP align with the bottom of the transom. Each inch he raised it resulted in an increase of 1+ MPH and 200 rpm. Still one bolt hole to go to be even with transom. Best so far is 29.2 mph GPS at 5,800 rpm with almost no trim. Increasing trim slows the speed.