Wax on-Wax Off

 The last wax and buff was over 2 years ago.  The hull was dirty and nasty, yet ASD was still somewhat shiny. It was sunny and warm.  I first used a hull cleaner to remove some bad marks and green stuff.  It has acid in it so gloves were a must.  Then I started with an orange pad to cut the dirt and grim.  It took all the black marks and makes it shiny.  I started on the port side.

Then with a red pad, I added Starbrite polish. and buffed until the surface was chalky.  Next with the with the buffer, I used a micro-cloth buffing pad to bring out the mirror shine.

Not bad for 34 year old boat!

No the bad news.  As I was adding polish, the buffer would not shut off.  The switch went bad. Unless I wanted to wait a week for a new switch, then an additional week polishing the starboard side, I went out on the internet to find a new buffer.  Found one in Seattle at Fisheries.   A 4 hour drive and an almost 6 hour drive back.  By then it was late.  Then Kay was flying out early the next morning so yesterday was a wash and lost sunny day.

Today, pouring down rain and 30mph wind.  No-Go today.

On The Hard

 After getting beat around in the marina for 2 days with 40+mph wind we finally get hauled out. At first look the bottom is not that bad.  I had to laugh as last year we hired a diver to change the zincs.  He left the old ones on.

This time out of the water will be to fix the swim step, wax and polish the hull.  Ilwaco has a new lift which is awesome. for not being out in 2 years she doesn't look that bad.  A good power wash and time to go to work.

With fuel tanks at 3/4 full, full water, ASD comes in at 48,000 pounds.

2021 Hualout

 Took off from ASD's winter dock and headed to Ilwaco WA for the annual haul out. I looked at the weather and moved the departure day back to Wednesday as there was some winds coming up Thursday Afternoon.

We left at 10 AM and had nice smooth run or 57.6 miles. As we pulled into Ilwaco marina the wind started and was blowing us away from the dock. Took 5 runs at the dock and finally had a bow line tied and was able to bring the stern around.

By 5 PM the we had a steady 25mph and it was going to get stronger over night. Well this sucks as I was adding additional lines. Good thing I did. By 10 PM we had gale winds blowing. Never seen white capes inside a marina. By 8 AM, the haul out was cancelled and they don't work on weekends. 11 AM on Monday is our new haul out.

Not much sleep last night with the howling of the wind and creaking of the lines. The winds pick up and we are having 42mph wind gust with 32mph steady.

So here ASD sits in the marina in the wind and rain. Winds are suppose to reduce later tonight. 

A few pics from the travel down river.

The Crew

Looking down river

Sharing the River

Old Pillar Rock Cannery

Astoria Bridge

Entrance to Ilwaco Marina

Our spot to observe the wind

ASD 2021 Preperations

 So the purpose of this thread is to share what ASD's crew is doing to prepare for a summer cruise to SE Alaska. We have a check list of items that need to be accomplish before Crossing the Columbia River Bar.

 While sitting on the dock yesterday, the Admiral and I started to run down the list of things we would have to do to get ASD ready. It's been a year since she has tasted salt water.

So what have we done so Far? Not much, but it is a start.

1. Received my 2021 Waggoner and Tides and Current

2. Payed the (extortion) annual tax for border patrol

3. Re-applied for my NEXUS Card. It was a good thing the Admiral brought this up as it expired in April.

4. I have arranged for an annual two week haul out at the end of March. Inspect and fix anything on the hull. Cut, buff and wax the hull.


Come March we start unloading storage and packing the boat. We will also run each system and update the navigation charts.

The chart updates are a spendy one, $100 per card. I have 3 Navionics cards and CE Canadian charts.

Not much to start, and lots of $$ but we are making the process.

We will keep everyone updated on our progress.

 

No posts for 2020

We are sitting on the winter dock as the Canadian/U.S. border is closed.  So no entries for this summer.

We will prepare for next summer.

2018 cruise up the Columbia

I just realized we did not post any blog for the 2018 voyage up the Columbia and Snake river.  Here it is on the Trawler Forum:

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/pairadice-asd-columbia-river-adventure-2018-a-38536.html

Final Thoughts and Numbers

Final Thoughts and Numbers

This year seemed like we were actually returning home. Our goal this year we to go to Sitka.  We had never been there and the navigation was pretty straight forward.  We were surprised by the friendly town and the attitude of the commercial fishermen.  They nicknamed the recreational cruisers as “Yachties.”  We were told they were surprised by the number of Yachties and how early they were showing up in Sitka.

Our biggest disappointment was the salmon fishing.  One of the reasons we went to Sitka was the Chinook fishing.  We were told it is the King fishing capital of SE Alaska and the shark hole was the place to be.  Kay and I fished hard for two weeks, as we had freezers to fill.  Not a single salmon bite, not one landed.  As we left the legendary rains came.  Up until then it had been sunny and warm.

We explored old and new places.  The south arm of Hoonah Sound was a big surprise.  We spend 4 days there and didn’t see another boat.  We also did not have any VHF or cell communications.  You were in true wilderness.  It kinda of made you nervous.

We also met up with old friends and made new friends.  The nicest place we stayed was Taku Harbor just south of Juneau.  This was the playground for the residents of Juneau.  We did skip Juneau as we didn’t want to mess with the crowed docks and cruise ships.

As always Canada was awesome.  We found new anchorages like Bottleneck and old favorites like Kutze Inlet.  Spent a lot of time in Kutze. Still one of our favorite places.  We also hung out in the Gulf islands side and explored some new spots with our great friends Chris and Bridgette.  Winter Cove was awesome.  Ganges was crowded and a mess.

The “Gate” crossings (Dixon Entrance, Cape Caution and Open pacific) was like we have never seen.  Smooth crossings both ways!!!  In fact, we didn’t really have that much bad weather.  As our buddy Ketchikan Al would say “Tea Cup smooth!”

Overall the trip was without any major breakdowns and ASD operated great.  We did have a “smart start” on the main A/C unit go bad, but we had the forward unit that worked just fine.  Our trip to Seattle to get it fixed was a mess, especially the Ballard Locks.

Lessons Learned:

·         Never ever approach a nuclear submarine in the Strait of Juan De Fuca.

·         Know were WG is located.  It was amazing how many idiots couldn’t tell you were it was located and whether it was open or closed.  We had no issues.

·         Having Auto Pilot is AWESOME.

·         Kay bought me a “range finder” for anchoring.  One of our new friends Doug of the “Overdrive” suggested it to us.  This simple tool made crowded anchorages easier.

·         Never be afraid to explore new places.  You never know what you might find. 

·         Water maker is AWESOME.

·         There are thunderstorms in Alaska

·         We got better skilled using the radar.  Practice using radar as it could save your life.

Did I say Never ever approach a nuclear submarine in the Strait of Juan De Fuca.

We already have our winter “to do list” and planning next year.

Final Numbers:

Fuel Costs:  $7864.44

Fuel used: 2412.6 Gal

Miles Traveled: 3363 miles

Total Engine Hours: 373.7

Average MPG (Generator included): 1.4mpg

Average Fuel Burn (Generator included): 6.45gph