Posted By RichC on February 17, 2018
The irritation of “the week that was” has given way to the positive memories like waking up to this kind of sunrise view … even if it was in a marina. I’m thankful to have the out of water maintenance headaches behind me and can now look forward to “escaping” to our little corner of paradise once again.
There is part of me that envies those retirees who live on their boats and socialize each day about mundane things … while the other part is so satisfied with having business to attend to, children maturing into adults who still ask me for advice and squeezing my nearly one year old granddaughter who know little more than unconditional love for those who cherish her (and feed and diaper and entertain and comfort and “well you get the picture.”)
Life is so very good at this moment. Thank you Lord!
Category: Personal, Sailing, Travel |
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Tags: encore, family, marina, morning, sailboat, sunrise
Posted By RichC on February 17, 2018
To the non-boat owner, having a sailboat sitting out of the water "on the hard" might seem like an inexpensive way to "park" a boat for a while? Well let me tell you that is not even close to being true, at least at a working yard.
Several months ago I had such grand plans for my brief scheduled maintenance during hurricane season. A quick haul at a "do-it-yourself" type yard for new bottom paint and a couple underwater minor items. Unfortunately once the bottom was blasted, I ended up having to deal with blisters again (unfortunately an all too common problem with older fiberglass boats). The process lead to hiring out the excessive labor and replacement of stuck seacocks and mushroom fitting. Finally, after adding the last splash of bottom paint to her keel once in the travel-lift and a new zinc to the prop shaft, we were able to launch. I was able to coerce a friend 
with breakfast to give me a hand so as I could putter Encore into a "new-to-us" dock … I do miss my friends Mark and Dar now that they have moved to Savannah.
It is good to be back in the water although a leaking thru-hull (never good) did make me a bit nervous. I spent a full day cleaning the dust and dirt off the boat and gave my new neighbors, Sven and Nancy, a hand with their engineless boat; they were hauling out this week to replace their flooded old diesel with a new Beta engine. I’ll be anxious to see it and am looking forward to connecting with them again once they get back in the water.
My other new neighbor was trying some new Rustoleum Rust Dissolver Gel (Walmart Quart?) on his stainless steel rails. It worked well since the "gel" seems to stay where you rub it, and he was applying it with his bare hands! Yikes … I’m going to have to give it a try since there is no way the Snobol toilet bowl cleaner can be used like that!
Category: Archive, Sailing |
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Tags: bottom, encore, florida, launch, paint, repairs, sailboat, sailing
Posted By RichC on February 16, 2018
This might be one of the greatest SUP, Longboard, Kayak, Dinghy "mashup" ideas around … I could see myself working on this kind of project! (thanks Dane)
Category: Misc, Photos, Sailing, Tidbits |
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Tags: boats, longboard, mashup, outboard, project, sup, surfboard
Posted By RichC on February 15, 2018
Using acetone to clean up after nasty messy projects such as epoxy or sealant? There’s something that works better, is cheaper AND is less toxic!
…
Vinegar. (more…)
Category: Advice, Blogs, Misc, Sailing, Tidbits |
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Tags: acetone, advice, boat galley, cleaning, tips, vinegar
Posted By RichC on February 14, 2018
This content is restricted.
Category: History, Holiday, Personal, Photos |
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Tags: ani gif, anigif, annalyn, brenda, family, katelyn, valentine, valentine's day
Posted By RichC on February 13, 2018
Somewhat timely shared archived New York Times newspaper clipping (click image for larger) from 100 years ago. The February 6, 1918 article (tweet below) had me thinking about those in our country handling information that puts operations and the security of our many service personnel and undercover operatives at risk when politicians, intelligence bureaucrats in Washington DC and journalists (and wantabees) seeking to disclose information first. Those of use using social media aren’t helping as we often don’t think about the sensitive details we’re dumping out on the Internet that can put someone as risk.
The days of slower paced "just in the evening" television news or daily papers offering time to have extra sets of eyes (editors) are in the past, but we still need to evolve with some kind of AI review or individuals hired by our government should be held accountable for damage to our national security.
(more…)
Category: Misc, News, Politics, Social Media |
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Tags: article, national, opinion, security, tweet, twitter
Posted By RichC on February 11, 2018
iPhone panoramic of home theater from the rear
Finally the correct seat came in and I was able to assemble the last of our eight home theater seats for the home archive. The sizing and spacing is near perfect and even without the riser that I am planning to add to the rear row, the viewing angle is pretty good in every seat.
Perhaps the only two additions will be to replace our defunked sub-woofer and add a new screen to the projected wall image. All in all, I’m happy with how it has turned out.
Poorly married two photos from the front of the home theater
Category: Archive, Entertainment, Misc, Photos |
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Tags: basement, furniture, home, panoramic, theater
Posted By RichC on February 10, 2018
Here is the short take from the guys who wrote #thememo. No matter which political party is using the FBI, Department of Justice … or for that matter IRS or other agency … in order to stack the deck to achieve their favored political outcome, it has to stop. Those abusing power need to be held accountable, if for nothing else, a deterrent.
Category: News, Politics, Video |
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Tags: corruption, deterrent, fisa, gop, government, thememo
Posted By RichC on February 9, 2018
With the rapid drop in oil prices, and equal "10% correction" in the overall stock market, will improving wages offset by falling
commodities (oil) cause the Federal Reserve rethink their concern that inflation is picking up?
Current thoughts were that we could see three quarter point rate hikes in 2018 if the economy continues to pick up. But until inflation starts to really be a concern, three hikes could be premature?
My thought is that cheaper energy reduces the inflation concern and may relax the Fed’s concerned that the economy is overheating. We’ll see.
Category: Energy, Financial |
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Tags: chart, crude, economy, federal reserve, finance, interest rates, investing, oil, policy, stocks
