yes its all about surviving and hibernating. hunkering down at home wishing the snow and ice and freeze would end. i've been out to the bone yard to check in every other week or so.
i have a small space heater that i leave in the cabin all winter, just to take the edge off the cold. i keep the door btwn the cabin and the engine compartment open as well for the same reason.
i think i made a strategic error already for this coming season.
i was so anxious to get her back in the water asap that i booked the first put in day, income tax day, 4/15 to launch.
but now i realize that i may not get warm enough weather to add a new layer of bottom paint before then. not exactly a rocket surgeon i guess (intentional mixed metaphor).
i also want to have the packing checked, which i'm assuming is done in dry dock. again, hope i can get that taken care of.
finally, need to get the volvo penta tuned and (i think) slightly repositioned. i think the connections between the engine and the stringers (runners?) may be loose and the engine may have shifted slightly...which has got to be a bad thing.
towards the second half of last season i began to hear a slight squealing sound which seemed to be coming from the shaft/prop. it starts after running for a few hours and stops as soon as i put the engine in neutral. it didnt happen every time and i never had a problem with the engine or with propulsion or engine temp in any way... but i want it looked at.
so, thats it from Jersey.
Mark
Here she was last winter. i learned my lesson and have her tarped over pretty well now. worth the effort to put it on. really seems to reduce the impact of so many months on stilts in the freezing cold.
