New Chainplates!

As part of my ongoing maintenance and search for any weak spots on Aeolus, I've tackled the replacing of both chainplates. The original plates, dating to 1988, had no obvious signs of corrosion or cracks, but there is that always suspicious space between the decking that hides the weak spot.

We all know sailors who have had a shroud snap or lost their rig, and there is nothing remotely funny about it.  Among the greatest fears of any sailor is losing their rig, and this fear can be easily assuaged by routine replacing of parts. So, I pulled out my chainplates and decided to replace them no matter what I found. Turns out that when pulled there was no sign of cracking or corrosion even in the space between the decking, but diagnosing crevice corrosion and metal fatigue is a high-tech business.

Weekend getaway to Stuart Island

Amy had been up in Vancouver BC for a Salish Sea science conference and so we met her up north to do a trip to Stuart Island. Saturday dawned clear and beautiful, and after a quick trip to our favorite Friday Harbor bakery we were away.

Being aboard the boat is as much a journey on a magic carpet as one can imagine. There is something distinctly transcendent about it, at least insofar as the experience goes much deeper and wider than what is happening in the manifest world. We experience stretched time (without mind altering substances!) and compressed focus, expanded perspective and lucid insights.

Approaching western tip of Spieden with Stuart in the foreground

PCV system a major upgrade on Aeolus

This past weekend was the first time we used Aeolus since I installed the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system on her Universal 5432 motor. Wow. Not only did it completely improve the smell of the cabin and air from the cabin heater, which draws air from the engine space, but the engine itself is no longer shrouded in an oily mist when I check on her.

To elaborate, the cabin used to smell strongly of oil exhaust as the crankcase vented to the engine compartment and the cabin heater sucked air from nearby to blow into the cabin. So to be warm, you had to put up with a noxious smell.

I can't believe I didn't do this sooner, as it is a major upgrade to our experience on the boat. Yippee!

Weekend trip to Jones Island

We went to Jones Island this past weekend and had a truly wonderful time. It seemed we all needed the get away. One of the most striking things about time on Aeolus is how great it is for our relationships with each other. At home, there are many places to get away and things to do. On the boat, we are close to each other and interact much more. We talk more, we play, we read books together, and when on shore, we are taking walks and playing frisbee and roasting marshmallows.

Perhaps this is unsurprising, but it is really distinct. Amy and I also notice how much more we talk when on the boat. No computers or phones or TV to isolate us from one another.

Jones was its normal beautiful self. We got there Saturday morning and enjoyed a mostly sunny and warmish weekend. We did in fact play some mean frisbee, and roasted marshmallows over a campfire, and circumnavigated the island on different walks.

We talked a lot, and deeply. We helped our boys with homework. We ate good food. In short, we did virtually everything good and healthy one would seek to do with their family.

It was perfect, and made us miss our easy access to those experiences we had when living in Friday Harbor. Oh well, can't complain too much, as life is always a tapestry of different threads, as we try build the best cloth!