[Minnewaska]

We're in!! Okay, I know all you southern salts don't get it, but splashing up here is like being born again. We'll spend most of April on projects, but we fully moved in this weekend. Shakedown cruise by May 1 is the goal. Nothing I like better than watching the mad Memorial Day rush, having been at anchor already for weeks.

Let's hear when you make it back!!

 

[CS Cruiser]

Our club has officially delayed all launches a week, due to ice in the yard still.

 

[cthoops]

Congrats! It was looking a bit dicey there with the cold temperatures.

We'll be in at the end of the month. Can't wait!

 

[Markwesti]

Congrats Minnewaska , hoist one for me . I know you peeps had it bad this year . Hoo Haw let the fun begin !

 

[DonScribner]

Still have a foot of snow in the shadowed parts of my lawn

 

[TakeFive]

Due to the tidal schedule, our club has limited days that they can launch boats. I requested a splash for April 19, but I'm blocked in and not seeing ANY activity on the boats that are blocking me in. So may backup date is May 2, which is the next launch window. That will be the latest I've ever launched.

Thanks to weather, I am also well behind my normal prep schedule. I'm taking off work tomorrow to vacuum-sand my bottom. Hopefully I'll get that done tomorrow and be able to mask the waterline, ready for a couple coats of paint later this week.

 

[HUGOSALT]

Actually is a first for me, yard is ready to launch (that means sometime this week)
and I am not...but a productive day off tomorrow at the boat should make all things right.
So based on mid afternoon hi tides this week in Manhasset Bay will likely will be in for
the weekend. The snow that just melted in the shadow areas of my yard will be but a memory!

 

[Minnewaska]

We were not the first in here, but close. Maybe 5th or 6th. Water isn't on the dock yet, so we can't really clean the deck too well. But plenty of other commissioning to do for now. We should have water once the temps are comfortably above freezing.

 

[courish]

I have 4 feet of snow on my lawn and 8 feet at the end of the driveway where the plow piles it up. Cant even get to the boat yet. Its going to be a while. Congrats to those that are in or soon will be!

 

[brokesailor]

Skalliwag's splashed. All systems go except sails still need to be bent on.

 

[anthony1]

Hi courish
Not as bad off as you are with the snow banks, but the boat and trailer is still buried in snow and ice, it's going to be a while before it melts.
I'm up in sheet harbour on the eastern shore and hoping for a quick thaw.
Lots to do before I launch I'm hoping for mid June but no garauntee at the mo.
Anyway all the best to you and best to all who have their boats in.
Anthony

 

[Don L]

I'm suppose to splash Tuesday so spend the last 3 days painting the bottom etc. But near as I can tell the 3 boats between me and the lift haven't done anything yet. Watched the yard splash a Boat Friday that was over by the lift, but they had to shovel the snow to make a path for the lift first.

Doesn't really matter to me if I splash this week as it is still pretty cold this week.

 

[Minnewaska]

It was blowing near 40 kts on Saturday, while we were commissioning. I much rather do this work, while it's too chilly and too windy. No point wasting good cruising weather on commissioning!!

 

[Sal Paradise]

The ice is just this week gone out of the Hudson River. I have no idea if I will go back to my old slip on the river or move the boat out to the Ct shore of LIS.

 

[Minnewaska]

First night aboard last night! I swear it is more comfortable than our bed at home. It's the 4" memory foam topper. (inexpensive, hand cut to size, recommend it to everyone)

Went down to 36 degs last night, but dressed for success. Kept a space heater in the stateroom. The heat pumps are working, but water temps are in the upper 40s, so they run constantly and freeze up.

Commissioning and project work lying all around, but it still feels great! Having coffee, breakfast and watching the sun rise against a cloudless sky.

Today is a good day to be alive.

 

[RobGallagher]

I've got the cover off and started to get things squared away. I hope to be in by the end of the month but it might go to the first week of May.

I'm usually ready to go around April 15 but this year it seems like everything is a month behind weather-wise. Plus I'm out of the country for bit.

I might actually pay someone to sand the bottom this year if I can find anyone who likes cash and hard work. First time I've ever paid for anything except rigging, but this winter weather has got me jammed up. It did allow me to work more when I should have been working on the boat so I guess I can justify the expense.

Bottom sanding is about the only thing I really hate to do. Yes, I'd rather be in a suit and tie then a suit and respirator (and I hate wearing a tie).

 

[TakeFive]

What a frustrating spring! On the Delaware River there's basically a daytime window for splashing one week out of every two. This week was the window, and I didn't see a single boat splash at our boat club. We're blocked in by at least three other boats.

I worked my butt off the past three weekends (gorgeous weather!), but didn't see anyone on the boats that are blocking everyone in (except for one guy on "G1" shown below). The others are nowhere close to being ready, and they missed the window so it's going to be at least another week before anyone gets splashed.

Rumor is that the guys blocking us in are not members of our club, they're from another club that lost some pilings due to the ice. So they have no place to go, and they're blocking EVERYONE in. Another factor is that our club's beloved marina/boat yard manager passed away last year, and I get the feeling his replacement(s) -- there have already been two -- aren't getting on the phone and pushing people to get out of the way. I'm not sure, and I won't complain because these guys are volunteers and giving up their time to do these jobs, so I appreciate whatever they can do.

Here are some pics from two weeks ago. Not much has changed since then, except I finished painting my bottom and stepped my mast:

 

[chip]

This is my first spring with a boat big enough to require a lift, and it's making me crazy. On my old 22, we would have been sailing by now.

We technically splashed by some measure, but we're still missing some important bits.

Ugh.

 

[Minnewaska]

Our marina lost several pilings as well, so we've been in temporary quarters. Heading out later this afternoon and hope to be settled in our slip. Not a huge problem, but I keep screwing down and then unscrewing and stowing the stairs, hose goes on and off and back on again, etc.

Sails are bent and I'm technically sail ready. I do need to get the dinghy launched and have a few mechanical items that I really want to get done, such as descaling the motors and air conditioners, neither of which have been done since I purchased the boat.

Then, I get close to a long list I can kid myself with, rather than actually do, for the remainder of the season.

 

[ultraclyde]

All this talk of ice and snow amazes me. It will be 90 deg F here on Sunday. I feel for you guys.

OTOH, our sailing season will be over in another month and a half as the summer doldrums take hold. No fun sitting on a boat with no wind and !00 degree weather.