The Illusion of Spring

Multnomah Channel from Pirates Cove. Portentous skies.

Spring is in the air here at Pirates Cove -- or is it just rain?
Perhaps a little of both wafts in to us under the tarps shielding Moontide, as we huddle and cuddle and listen to the droning wetness pouring down on us.
The dry winter is trying to make up for lost time in the Northwest with squall after squall of blustery rainstorms sweeping over the boats in our little marina.
Time for indoor projects... maybe catching up on a little reading.
With plastic covering most of the boat, we have been able to complete a few outstanding deck projects:

Though not particularly traditional, note that the new acrylic hatch does compliment the original acrylic hatch on the forward cabin.

We rebuilt the sliding hatch for the main companionway, replacing the original teak striped lid for a sealed acrylic top.
Gabrielle spent most of the Winter rebuilding the original 'turtle' or 'garage' for the sliding lid (see above), but we both agreed that the labor/time vs result on the lid itself made it worth updating our options. An added benefit is the light the acrylic lid gives to the galley.
Now I just gotta do something about those doors!!!

Note latch to hold the lid down on the side of the box

Finished lids make for nice seating in the cockpit

Another outside project finished, thanks to the tarps, are the sealed lids over the propane tanks (or saddlebags, as we call them) by the steering box. The propane canisters can be latched or locked into place with a vent exiting out the transom. It is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye, and considerably more comfortable to the bottom than sitting on top of the tanks!
Those of you kind enough to ride with us on Moontide last Fall know exactly what we mean!

Note the Captain's Table Bell, a gift from Captain Quicksilver (Mark Heimann) of Royaliste fame.

An indoor project that we've been meaning to do, and finally completed this month, is the repositioning of the saloon table to allow seating on all sides. Special thanks to Kim Winkler at Columbia Marine Exchange for locating the table parts that now allow us to slide the table in and out for more comfortable and accessible seating.

Boat life and Marina Life is a microcosm of our larger world -- people move in or move on, relationships are fostered, or lost to conflict. Owners legislate. Rebels isolate. The rest of us try to mediate. Illness comes and goes.
Puppies are born. Friends die.
We take a moment to Remember Roger Wenzel, a neighbor, friend, and boat builder, who succumbed to cancer this month after years of battling with it. Our hearts go out to all the folks who cared for him. He is missed.

That's about all we have new to share from the Wobegone branch of Multnomah Channel for now. 

Be Well, 
Fair Winds,
M&G