- Joined
- Dec 14, 2004
- RO Number
- 15902
- Messages
- 15
On Friday, March 17th, I messed around all day trying to take my boat to South Beach, Oregon to launch and moor it for 6 months. However, it rained all the morning and I was doing my niece's taxes, etc, etc. The clouds parted and I finally got outside at about 4:00 in the afternoon and pulled out at 5:30 pm. That was good, because I had promised my wife that if I was not gone by 6:00 pm I'd have to take us out to dinner, as she was eating leftovers and had not prepared for us. She smiled and waved me goodbye. I was wearing a gigantic Saint Patrick's Day hat - she told me I had to.
Got to the launch at about 7:00 pm and I could see the beautiful night sky and the stars were coming out, but boy, what a cold North 20 knot wind! My hands were freezing! But I could take a little wind and cold - I'm not that old. But then came the ice cold showers, driven by the 30 knots North winds. I got most everything ready, including putting in the plug
and then retreated into my running pickup truck. I called my wife and told her I was going to sleep right there at the top of the ramp - I was darn sure no one else was going to try it then. But I also told her that it would be a lot warmer and more comfortable if I could sleep on the boat hooked up to shore power.
Then at 9:30 pm the rains stopped, I got out of the truck and it was noticeably warmer (well, I made myself believe it was warmer). I backed her in and started up both motors. Everything went smoothly. Even my friend who was planning to drive over the next morning came and stayed in his motor home and fed me dinner. I slept all warm and snug in my boat.
Got up the next morning and the bar was closed! Well, I'd expected that because it had been closed all week. My other friend showed up and we went bay crabbing - did terribly, until we heard the radio at 10:00 am. Bar closed to all recreational vessels 22 feet and less. That means - opened to my 25 footer. They both looked at me and said, "What do you want to do?" They looked like children asking daddy if, now that the rain has stopped will you take us to the fair.
We left the crab pots in and opened up the throttle and were bottom fishing. I caught the fist one, and within 2 hours of the first hook dropped we had our 18 fish limits (6 apiece) and headed in for the parade which I was signed up to participate in. It's called the Blessing of the Fleet. Coasties are first in line, followed by commercial, charters, and then recreational.
Engines ran great, radar, gpses, sonar, etc, worked great. Morning Star passed inspection. One of my mounted radios was a little strange. It seemed to have trouble picking up the Coast Guard on channel 22. No trouble transmitting or receiving on 16. I went below and my other radio (2 separate antennas) was just fine. I'll test it out next weekend with my handhelds. I never liked that Icon anyway, I'll maybe need to get a new Standard from Boatfix.
We picked up the crab pots (one keeper dungenous - I'm eating him this evening), cleaned the fish and the boat, and I was home for dinner at 6:30 pm Saturday evening. Beat-up, but happy. Saw the wife of one of my fellow fishermen at church - she said, "You sure wore out me husband yesterday." But he was still on stage playing backup guitar. What a great beginning to the 6 months ahead!!!
William
Got to the launch at about 7:00 pm and I could see the beautiful night sky and the stars were coming out, but boy, what a cold North 20 knot wind! My hands were freezing! But I could take a little wind and cold - I'm not that old. But then came the ice cold showers, driven by the 30 knots North winds. I got most everything ready, including putting in the plug
and then retreated into my running pickup truck. I called my wife and told her I was going to sleep right there at the top of the ramp - I was darn sure no one else was going to try it then. But I also told her that it would be a lot warmer and more comfortable if I could sleep on the boat hooked up to shore power.Then at 9:30 pm the rains stopped, I got out of the truck and it was noticeably warmer (well, I made myself believe it was warmer). I backed her in and started up both motors. Everything went smoothly. Even my friend who was planning to drive over the next morning came and stayed in his motor home and fed me dinner. I slept all warm and snug in my boat.
Got up the next morning and the bar was closed! Well, I'd expected that because it had been closed all week. My other friend showed up and we went bay crabbing - did terribly, until we heard the radio at 10:00 am. Bar closed to all recreational vessels 22 feet and less. That means - opened to my 25 footer. They both looked at me and said, "What do you want to do?" They looked like children asking daddy if, now that the rain has stopped will you take us to the fair.
We left the crab pots in and opened up the throttle and were bottom fishing. I caught the fist one, and within 2 hours of the first hook dropped we had our 18 fish limits (6 apiece) and headed in for the parade which I was signed up to participate in. It's called the Blessing of the Fleet. Coasties are first in line, followed by commercial, charters, and then recreational.
Engines ran great, radar, gpses, sonar, etc, worked great. Morning Star passed inspection. One of my mounted radios was a little strange. It seemed to have trouble picking up the Coast Guard on channel 22. No trouble transmitting or receiving on 16. I went below and my other radio (2 separate antennas) was just fine. I'll test it out next weekend with my handhelds. I never liked that Icon anyway, I'll maybe need to get a new Standard from Boatfix.
We picked up the crab pots (one keeper dungenous - I'm eating him this evening), cleaned the fish and the boat, and I was home for dinner at 6:30 pm Saturday evening. Beat-up, but happy. Saw the wife of one of my fellow fishermen at church - she said, "You sure wore out me husband yesterday." But he was still on stage playing backup guitar. What a great beginning to the 6 months ahead!!!
William