Winter Jones is always wondrous

I remain baffled why people don't use their boats in the winter. Most often, the weather is benign and the temperatures mild, and you have the islands to yourself. We sure did on this trip, as usual, have them to ourselves. Leaving the slip in Friday Harbor on Saturday morning we were the only boat in San Juan Channel. There was a light southern wind pushing us north toward Jones. For fun and variety, we went through the Wasp Islands a bit and up the East side of Jones. We were alone in the north cove and on Jones. Just incredible. In summer, it is overrun with hordes of folks. We walked all around, circumnavigating the island and saw a remarkable number of seals. We tossed a frisbee. We watched birds. We admired the cactus that grows on Jones. CACTUS! Saturday night had some wind but as forecasted, it was from the SE and SW and were fine in the north cove. Boy those king tides are the real deal, right now. Never seen them higher at Jones. Overnight is the low low, and the speed of that change had to drain about 12 feet of water out of the Salish Sea. Amazing. We came back Sunday morning for an early ferry back to the mainland. Once again, the calendar says a brief weekend turn around, but it feels like we are gone for far longer. Clocks and calendars only tell one version of the truth!

Haul out at Jensens, big surprise!

 I let more time go before this haul out than any other I can recall. It had been three full years since I last hauled. In that time we did a big summer trip up to Desolation Sound and countless shorter trips around the San Juan and Gulf Islands. I fully expected to find a prop well covered in barnacles and a missing anode, with maybe even hard growth somewhere on the hull. 

This was the condition after 3 years

But what to my wondering eyes should appear out of the murky depths but a perfectly clean prop! Let me say that again, after THREE YEARS a PERFECTLY CLEAN PROP. 

No words can convey my delight at having found a prop treatment that does this. For the entire time I've had Aeolus I've tried various things, usually Lanocote and found problems with hard growth and algae growth before a year had passed. I would have to snorkel down on the boat to scrape off barnacles and mussels on the prop to not ruin the performance of the little beastie. 

So this is what I want to announce to all my sailor friends out there, I tried something new and it worked a dream. After cleaning the prop, I sprayed two coats of Petit Zince Prop Coat. Many people stop there, but it says right on the can that for longer protection apply Hydrocoat bottom paint. Hydrocoat is a non-metallic ablative bottom paint that I use in black. This combination kept my prop absolutely clear of any growth, despite being pretty well worn away after three years and a lot of use. Astonishing. 

I also found that the aluminum prop anode lasted those three years, and was still intact and about 30% present. Never get that from a zinc anode, and I haven't had any change in the performance of the corrosion protection visible on the prop. 

This haul out was initially going to include the PSS Shaft Seal, as they recommend replacement every 6 years and it has been about 10 on mine. But I inspected it closely and the darn thing looks pristine, like brand new. Absolutely zero sign of any rubber aging or flaking or fatigue. So I put the replacement off for another haul out in the future. 

Same treatment and ready to go for a few more years!

She's not too clean or made up pretty, but boy she's a beauty

So this one was just bottom paint, prop treatment and a few odds and ends. Was only out Friday to Monday morning. 

One thing I always do at haul out is put lanolin on the balls of the ball valve. I keep a tub of lanolin on the boat that will last me my lifetime, I think, and it comes in handy. By putting lanolin on the valves, it keeps growth from happening on them and keeps them easy to exercise. I routinely exercise all the ball valves on Aeolus as a regular thing to do, but when I treated them this time, I could see with a headlamp that they still had lanolin visible on them and no growth. 

A word on bottom paint. I've been using West Marine PCA Gold for many, many years. This will be my last time. The can I bought was nowhere near the product it used to be. It was so thin and light compared to the copper content the prior versions had, and they no longer use Igoral or whatever it was because it's been banned as nasty stuff. I'll do some research and use a different product next time. 

My time at Jensens is always easy and delightful. Being on the island is always so fulfilling. The weather cooperated and I had an awesome few days with a friend and even Amy came up for the weekend. 

Aeolus is good to go for our big 2026 trip to Desolation Sound environs. Can't wait! 

P.S. I had two different guys walk up to me and offer to buy Aeolus while she was hauled out. She was flattered. Another person left a note on her asking if I would sell her. Sorry folks, she's mine for a good while longer. I tell people that if I won the lottery and had millions more, I'd keep her and just fix her up some more. There's not a boat in the marina that would do better what we do with her. 

Gratuitous Cattle Point shot looking toward Olympics. One of my deep home places. 

New Windlass batteries for Lofrans Tigres

 I checked my windlass batteries the other day and saw they were new in 2009! Though they still seemed to be holding a charge, I knew it was time to replace them. 16 year old wet acid batteries are a testament to the quality of the Interstate batteries from Costco. I use two of them to power our Lofrans Tigres windlass that pulls a lot of power, and I always do this with the engine running, alternator powering, and the windlass batteries linked with the house batteries, also two deep cycle. So in effect, there are four batteries putting power to the windlass. We never lack power for pulling up our rode! 

High Summer seas and trails

After an awesome family backpacking trip at Glacier Peak wilderness, we had a few days to get to the boat and head out for some water time. It was a relief to be back near the sea, with moisture and cooler temps, after the intense solar radiation and blue skies of the mountains. It was just Amy and I aboard, which makes it easy and lovely. We went to Jones first, enjoying a night in the north cove and a bit of walking on our tired legs. The next day we went to Prevost Harbor, which always feels more like Canada than the San Juan's because of how it orients. We wanted that view and the shorter walk to the lighthouse, as we were still recovering from our hike. Glorious weather and the lighthouse was open for the usual summer tourist season. What's remarkable is that even in summer it's really not that busy in these places. I mean, they are far busier than in winter, when we have them to ourselves, but considering how many boats are in Puget Sound, it's not a high concentration of them. And once you get out and walk, you are alone enough to not mind the few you pass. Heard a story of a big sailboat, 50+ feet, that ran aground near John's island last week because they were too close to shore. We all make mistakes, but with modern chartplotters and GPS, there is really no excuse for running aground in that area.

View from our favorite high spot near the lighthouse

Another day at the prettiest spot in the San Juan Islands

Prevost view out

To Jones with visiting family

 Such a pleasure to have taken so many friends and family to Jones over the years. It was packed this weekend with boaters and campers, and reminded why we enjoy it in winter so much. But we were able to anchor in the North Cove in about 50 feet of water. 

Conditions were benign this weekend, with mild temperatures and light winds. We had family visiting with their young son, which brought back all sorts of memories of raising our own sons in the islands. We dinghied around, hiked around, played around. Going feral in the islands is one of the greatest pleasures in life for all, but especially for little kids. They don't get that freedom at most homes, or in cities. 

We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and noted the benefits of being in that semi-wild place while the world seems to crumble around us. I thought often of Wendell Berry, Edward Abbey and Thoreau. Thank you Aeolus. 

Tumbo Gumbo-Memorial Day Funbo

What joy! Both boys and a best friend aboard Aeolus for the three day weekend. To Tumbo we go. 20nm direct from Friday Harbor but a necessary stop at Bedwell Harbor customs adds a few. More importantly, that stop means you must traverse a good long way east to round East Point on Saturna and you had better have the current with you when you do that. We had bluebird skies on Saturday, warm and lovely. Caught the flood. 

Cabbage Island is sadly closed to day use, at least above the high tide line. This is evidently for preservation of cultural resources but I know of no other island paid for with public funds that is closed to public use for preservation of cultural resources. Surely all the others have that same claim. Surely Russel, and Portland and Jones and so on and so forth. While part of the Gulf Islands National Park mandate is obviously respecting and preserving First Nations cultural resources, this should be done by closing specific smaller places on Cabbage and not a blanket closure. Truly a shame. The signage says it is until further notice. Perhaps they are waiting for public outcry. It is outrageous to sea kayakers, and for other boaters. The solution is education and enforcement, not closure of the whole island. 

View into Reef Harbor

Best view in all the lower Salish Sea

The cycle of life-a harbor seal 

Found fun is all around on the south beach

Anyway, we enjoyed Tumbo as always. So special. Saw two river otters, loads of bald eagles, seals, norther flickers, swallows, and deer. It's the most fecund place we know of anywhere in the Salish Sea. 

The trip back was incredibly fast. It was a very strong ebb on the new moon day. Caught that ebb all the way back, with only the usual slowing and difficult as you transition to President's channel from the rush of water trying to go out Boundary Pass. Did 9.6 knots, sustained, in President's channel. Total travel time back to Friday Harbor was only 3.5 hours. 

Lovely Jones escape with puppers

 What a gorgeous weekend to be on Aeolus and escape to Jones. Sunny and calm, verdant and spring. We've acquired a new creature in our lives, a puppy we call Calvi, and he's a real charmer. This was his first trip to Aeolus and he seems to fit right into the boat life. Not alarmed at anything, mellow, eager to have fun. He's not quite potty trained but caught on quick to using the cockpit for his business when not ashore. 

We walk slowly with him as he's a hound and smells everything pretty intensively. Going slowly is just fine, as consciousness moves at the speed of a slow walk. He brings your attention to every leaf and bug. 

I recently changed the thermostat on the engine as it kept running cool down to about 165 or 170 even though it was an 180 thermostat. I brought it home and tested it in hot water and it seemed to work OK, but I didn't trust it. The new one functions properly and brings the motor slowly up to 180 and sits there. 

Another interesting thing is that I changed the engine oil some 11 engine hours ago. Normally, the engine oil turns dark black within an hour or two of operation. But I've gone to only using renewable diesel, which I have to acquire in Portland and drive up in 5 gallon containers to Aeolus. It's clear, and burns cleanly. Well, my oil is still looking clean and amber 11 hours after replacing it. Unheard of. I can only think that is due to the renewable diesel, as nothing else has changed.