From the "You Can't Make this Stuff Up" Files

                    "It ain't no joke."
                          -Billy Squier


                  Spotted on a nearby dock.  Thanks to Gavin for pointing it out:

    Apparently, the person in charge of slip assignments has a sly sense of humour.




    "Talk the Dock!"

Dock Check

    "I'm a romantic fool..."
      Martha & The Muffins




    I stopped by the dock last week to get some pictures.  With Inky's passing, the April 15  Marina Opening Day passed unnoticed and unremarked.  Now I am playing catch-up.

Our amenities are installed :

The water level is higher than I expected, given our virtually snowless winter.

  At the time these pictures were taken the dock population was looking a little sparse.  Since, Rick has dropped in 20th Hole for another season,  James and Brooke have berthed The Instigator, Travis has snagged the slip next to James, Jim and Marianne expect to be splashing both boats this week, Jordan's boat Safira is ready to get wet now that Tempus Fugit is in the water over on Dock Two, Hilary's boat has arrived from Sarnia and is awaiting rigging and launching, Eric has repainted After School and built a new dinghy (more on that in an upcoming post) Jack is still deciding which boat is going to get wet first this year, JD has booked his slip, no word on Mark and Erica, Ralph and Julie and Gavin and Sylvia will be back rounding out the Siren fleet, did I miss anyone?

 New flotsam has appeared since last fall:

  I wonder if there is a tractor attached to that tire?

Soon,  we'll be home soon...

   New sailboat on the Dock.

   Travis'new ride:

    A recycling bin in need of rescue.

  True to form, we on Dock Six end up with the hoopty dock cart.

    Meanwhile, downtown Port Dover receives some attractive new signage:

   It's going to be a great season!

A Raucous Reunion

     "Guess who just got back today..."

                                    -Thin Lizzy

     (Insert your best "Jaws" theme impression here:)

      Dunh-duh....

      DUNH-DUH...

     DUNH-DUNH DUNH-DUNH DUNH-DUNH.......

   

       Garnet is back!

      

        For those of you who lost your copy of the roster, Garnet is Gavin's brother.  We had the enjoyable opportunity to sail with Garnet last season, and were pleased to see him return to our lovely little burg again as he seeks respite from his high-pressure career in our nation's capitol....

      (Alright,  so he's really just killing some "use it or lose it" vacation days, but come on, he works for the gubmint in Ottawa- if I don't inflate the importance of his slacktime, I might get audited.  Or subjected to a CSIS background check.  Or SWMBO might get deported.  Hey, I might be over-reacting, but better safe than sorry.  You never know with these government types with vague job titles.)

      

      ... and not just because he came strapped, bearing a bottle of fine small-batch Kentucky bourbon and smoked salmon,

       (coughgovernmentemployeecough)

      but because he is always good fun, with great stories, a cranial vault full of obscure trivia and a laid-back attitude.

      Within minutes the stove was warming up and Jack had joined the festivities.

      Of course, Garnet is not above questioning what the hell he is drinking...

But he is also willing to overlook the plebeian quality of the beers served on Whiskeyjack, and enjoy the antics of Jack and Gavin while SWMBO looks askance.

   Mildly amusing Garnet story:

    The day after the above photos were taken, the weather forecast was hot humid and wind-free. The decision was made to  set out for a "shake and bake" afternoon, anchoring off the beach and swimming.  However, while provisioning for said adventure, it was discovered that we were out of rum.

   This, of course,  will not do.  

   The brothers Smith were dispatched posthaste to our local liquor store, with instructions to return with a bottle of Sailor Jerry, the semi-official rum of Dock Six this season.

    They returned.  We anchored off the beach.  The swim ladder splashed, and the refreshment stand was open.

   Garnet had never tried Sailor Jerry.  

   Garnet is not a rum drinker.   

   Garnet said "I'll try it.  I'm not a big rum drinker, but I'll give it a shot.'

   Half a bottle later he was still not fully convinced.

   "I'll need to do more reshearchsh.  I'm shtill not sure I like it."

    This week I get a "thank you" email from Garnet

    (which is a refreshing change from some of the emails I get, which involve the letters "k" and "you" but the rest is unprintable in a PG-rated blog)

   and at the end...

     "ps. There is a bottle of Sailor Jerry now sitting on the Whiskey Shelf! "

    Dock Six:  Making a difference, one person at a time.

    Next week could be your turn!

    (Hey, there might be a contest in this!)

    Thanks for taking the time to check us out.  Please feel free to "Talk the Dock!  Link us, follow us, or just tell your friends.

Happy Canada Day!

     "It all started with the big bang!"
                        -Bare Naked Ladies


     This year, Canada Day actually fell on a Friday, giving us a true long weekend.

     Is this a great summer, or what?

     Thursday after work we packed provisions, pups and people into Lady Liberty (jeep) and Leonard (Smart car) and headed down to the Dock for an extended sojourn.  In typical compact- sport -pup fashion, as soon as a car door opened, Finn launched himself down the Dock to visit George on The Instigator, while SWMBO and I off-loaded and Inky gimped her patrol of the perimeter, establishing her primacy over all she surveyed, geese or no geese.

    Then the wheels came off Finn's evening.

        The mutt  was roughly 300 yards outbound on the 400 yard trip, ears back, legs pumping, tongue flapping, in full fur-covered cruise missile mode, when somebody set off a firecracker in the distance.  Without missing a step he reversed course, and REALLY put the coals to her, streaking back to the refuge of the jeep,  whereupon he made every effort to hide under the front seat.
 
     He really doesn't like firecrackers.  A lot.  Eventually he was coaxed back onto the Dock and down to Whiskeyjack, where he huddled in his cave under the v-berth while the rest of us enjoyed the sounds of live music drifting over from the marina pavilion.

     Next morning was the start of Port Dover's Canada Day festivities.  C-Day is a Very Big Deal in Dover, with a parade on Main Street, a dog show, Rib Fest, music, house decoration contests, yard sales,...
and the Boat Parade.  Alas,  I had to work, but SWMBO was able to capture some of the participants from the marina.

     Later that afternoon,  an impromptu parade was created in the marina, when a 92' Lazzara lumbered up to the fuel dock and occupied the majority of the fairway to boot.

    Here's the quick stats, according to the fuel dock staff:
   $9 million value. Or, about the total value of all of the boats on Docks 1,2,3,4, and 6.
   $5000 to fill up.
   $50 000 of fuel to travel from Dover to Miami, where the boat spends the winter.
   There is an enclosed PWC hangar on the stern that accomodates the requisite PWCs and RIBs.

   She pulled in for a pump- out, but the mission apparently went unaccomplished because the marina's pump didn't have enough lift- it could pump okay, but not enough to accomplish the "out" part of "pump-out."

   Friday I decided to drain the fuel filter, adjust  the valve clearance and retorque the head on our iron spinnaker.  In so doing, I managed to eliminate her ability to run.  Oh well, fix it on Saturday.  It was time to eat.  Jack joined us for a tasty meal of garlic-sauteed shrimp and vegetable risotto.  Finn hid from the fireworks.  Inky was happy to hang with Bas.  Bas was happy for the snacks.  Win/win/win...except for Finn.

   On Saturday, at the opposite end of the size spectrum  from the Lazzara, Gavin and Sylvia headed out in Persephone, eager to test out Gavin's new jib downhaul...  and his sporty new hat.  Apparently everything worked because they all came back, poodle included.

   It was Gavin and Sylvia's turn to cook, so we enjoyed barbecued ribs (ask Gavin for his "bone dirt" rub recipe- damn tasty.)  and asparagus and mushrooms while we watched the sunset.

     Meanwhile, what were the powerboaters doing?

     James and Mikey had invested in heavy firepower and light beer.





     Something tells me these are not CSA approved.

     Mikey invested so heavily in light beer, he thought that waterskiing to Pottahawk (about 11 nautical miles into the wind, with 2-3 foot chop) was a great idea.

    Best were laid, the departure was documented....

  Buh-bye!

     .... and Mikey came to his senses and stayed in the boat.  Or something.  As the saying goes, "pics or it didn't happen!"
    I haven't got pics, so the excuses don't matter.  It didn't happen.

   Sunday was a day of rest, with a pleasant surprise crew.

  But, that's another story.

Thanks for taking the time to check us out.  Please feel free to "Talk the Dock!"  Link us, follow us, or just tell your friends.

New Crew

     "We gotta get out while we're young..."
                                    -Bruce Springsteen




     Sunday was a beautiful day on the Dock, setting the scene for one of our most memorable day cruises aboard Whiskeyjack...  and not just because Gavin and Sylvia FINALLY showed up.

      As often happens, the breeze had picked up throughout the day, then died off about 4 in the afternoon.  SWMBO and I were relaxing in the cockpit, debating whether to cast off and motor out and drift around, on the off chance that the wind picked up a bit, and we could get a short early evening sail in before dinner and sundown.  While we were trying to make a decision, and simply enjoying the sun like a couple of old cats on a window sill, Gavin and Sylvia rolled up the dock with Sylvia's daughter, and Whiskeyjack's newest crew, Destiny.

      They LITERALLY rolled up.

      Y'see, Destiny uses a motorized wheelchair.  She has limited mobility, and very limited use of her hands.

       And she wanted to go sailing.

       Great!

       Waitaminnit.... how the HELL are we gonna manage this?

        The finger dock on our slip is three feet wide, and Destiny's chair is 30" wide. and the boat has a foot of freeboard above the dock deck  and the cockpit coaming is 3" wide  and...
...  what kind of faux pas am I going to commit and how much toejam am I going to be eating from sticking my foot in my mouth?  Is it impolite to ask about top speed on the chair, whether we need straps, would it be bad form to ask if Destiny likes her feet placed a certain way?   While I am doing the mental math and the gentility  geometry and trying to figure out the etiquette of moving a person from a wheeled conveyance to a floating conveyance, Gavin and Sylvia swooped in and Destiny gave me the only instruction I got...
     "Grab my legs!"
     ...And we dropped eased her into the cockpit.  Gavin then insulted Destiny, Destiny insulted Gavin, and my concerns began to subside.

   Last summer, Destiny took an introductory handicapped sailing cruise in Hamilton harbour, on Lake Ontario.  The experience wasn't great.  She didn't feel comfortable on the boat and the skipper didn't instill confidence, especially after he hit the dock.  To Destiny's credit, she was willing to give sailing another try.

    The wind was still absent, so we decided to take a tour up the river, under the lift bridge and past the yacht club.  We've found that chugging along the calm sheltered river, with lots to see on both banks, is a good way to introduce new crew to the boat, the water, and the area, and allow everyone to get comfortable and confident.   As the sun went down, we returned to the Bay, and made a long lazy loop past the beach and back to Dock, where we enjoyed a  two-burner dinner and a good bottle of wine.

      Destiny was a trouper.  A great conversationalist with a quick sense of humour, she is a solid addition to the crew.  Yeah, she can't handle sheets for shit, but she didn't get in the way, drop anything overboard, whine, complain or insult the cook, and she offered up a great idea for a future dessert!  THAT is solid crew.

     I'm not sure who had more fun, Sylvia or Destiny.

    I do hope Destiny will be back.  Thanks for joining us, kid.



    Thanks for taking the time to check us out.  Please feel free to "Talk the Dock!"  Link us, follow us, or just tell your friends.

They're baaaaa-aaaack!

     "Are you ready for this?  Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?"
                                                                                                   -Queen


      This weekend, a couple of the sailing pieces of our Dock puzzle fell into place.  Saturday, Gavin did a drive-by, splash-and-run launch-and-leave, muttering something about actually having a life, and being back soon, hopefully.  Bring Sylvia!

     Sunday, Jack splashed his new-to-him O'day, Blew Orphan, naked.
   
    The BOAT is naked.
     ie.  No sails.
     Not Jack.
     I don't think.

  Walt and Bas were along for the ride, and the trio joined us aboard Whiskeyjack  to celebrate the grrenhorn's first cruise.
    Welcome back!

In With The In Crowd!

     "Come on with me and leave your troubles behind..."
                                                                   -Dobie Gray




     We.  Are. In.

     Well, half in.  Whiskeyjack is hull-wet and in her slip.   Legacy?  Well, ahem, she will go in on the day she goes in, and not a moment before.  This spring has not been conducive to varnishing large uncovered objects.

     I am sore.  It has been an intense four days getting Whiskeyjack in the water.

     Below is the intrepid delivery crew:

   Gavin, Louise, and Finn the compact sportsdog.
   Not necessarily in that order.
More to follow later.

     Today we finish rigging and fit-out, if the weather cooperates.



   Thanks for taking the time to check us out.  Please feel free to "Talk the Dock!"  Link us, follow us, or just tell your friends.

Refit Roll Call!

     "Lord, I am so tired.  How long can this go on?"
                                                            -Lee Dorsey




      When we're not sailing, or fishing, or roaring across the Bay, or cleaning, or drinking, or eating,  Docksters are usually fixing.  Or improving. Or fixing what we had previously improved.  Since winter significantly cuts down on the "sailing, or fishing, or roaring across the bay, or cleaning" parts of our existence, we are left to fill the void with additional drinking, eating and fixing.
     Especially the fixing.
     If we drank any more than we already do, we'd have to start attending meetings.
     Bottom line, from October to April we get fat and work on our boats... not necessarily in that order.

     This winter was an especially busy one-  it seems like everyone had a project or two underway.
     Jim and Marianne gave Cranky a makeover- new topsides and deck paint, hardware rebedded, and fresh bottom paint.

   I like the rolling cradle, Jim.

   I have to admit to some serious boat shed envy.  Look at that high-falutin' ceiling fan in the background!  And Jim is working in short sleeves!  Heat AND ventilation AND shelter- that ain't fair.

   Here is what Cranky looked like before she entered the shed:

    Nice colour choice, Jim and Marianne.  It looks like we are starting an official colour scheme for the Dock Six fleet!

   James gets the "Pimp My Hull" award.  He built new smoked acrylic transom doors for George Too II, added more LED mood lighting, installed a deck throne, dialed in both outboards, and installed a new stereo with a DVD player and retractable LCD screen.  With the new entertainment system instalkled, James added cabling that will enable him to display his smartphone on the screen-  download Navionics chart app to  the phone and voila!  A fixed mount chartplotter.   Then he went over the top-  he installed night vision cameras fore and aft, and tied them into the screen on his stereo!  I can't wait to see how it all works.

     Jack bought another boat.   Jack will be splashing an O'day Tempest this season, providing he can find the sails, which apparently have gone missing.  I predict that Jack will buy another boat just to acquire the needed sails.

     Jim and Jill have been working on Carpe Diem, reworking the running rigging, installing a new loose-footed mainsail, and refinishing the teak trim.  It sounds like one of the prettiest boats on the dock just got prettier. I can't wait to see her.

    Rumour has it that Gavin bought new skatelaces for his fenders. (Oooohhhh, I'm gonna hear about that one.)

     The new boat, After School,  saw some serious structural surgery take place.  Eric discovered that the mast step was a little soft...

...so he did a little exploring...

 ...then a little more...

... then he cut away about half of the deck and the cabintop...

   ... pulled out all of the wet rotted core...

   Installed new oak core, laid new fiberglass...

 painted the repaired sections...

 ...then fabricated new mounting points for his bow pulpit, allowing him to remove the pulpit so the boat fits in his garage.  Slick!

     Jordan, Andy and the family got bitten by the dinghy bug, and decided to build a D4 dinghy, Tempus 2.

 I focused on adding function to the interior of  Whiskeyjack.  There was a lot of wasted space under the v- berth:

So we decided to add a hanging cubby to the underside of the v-berth filler panel, which you can see just above the dog in the picture.

  
   Hopefully the dog will still fit.

   In true low-buck fashion, this is a freebie project. One of the advantages of being a really lousy woodworker is that I always have lots of scrap wood lying around from earlier mistakes. Some of it is really nice wood, which I decided to put to use in a galley extension.  Our galley counter space is limited, and our room to add more counter space is limited as well, so I cobbled together a folding extension which will mount to the aft end of the galley, beside the sink in the picture below:

     Here is the extension folded for storage:

    (Please ignore the epoxy bubbles and runs- I still need to sand and add the final finish.)

   And here, it's ready for use:

    (While you are ignoring the epoxy runs and bubbles, please also ignore the dirty, disorganized, disheveled workshop in the background.  Please.)
    Hidden behind the flap when it is stowed is a narrow shelf, just big enough for nav tools, pencils, a pad of paper and issues of Good Old Boat and Small Craft Advisor.

    Most of the materials were scrap on-hand, but I did have to shell out $7.46 for hinges.

   Next, we plan to build some small book shelves for the v-berth,  a stowable helm seat, and I still have to install a larger solar panel.  Luckily, the Easter weekend is approaching, allowing me to get some of this stuff done.

    Fellow Docksters, if I got details wrong or left projects out, please give me a shout, and I'll get the info up here.


   Thanks for taking the time to check us out!  Please feel free to "Talk the Dock!"  Follow us, link us or just tell your friends.