It's winter - now what??

After returning to Chattanooga following Thanksgiving, we virtually didn't see the boat again until after New Years.  There was one quick drive up and back in mid-December to add another bilge heater, but that was it.  December always has too many things going on from our anniversary, parties, trip to Houston, Christmas, daughter's birthday and then New Years' with all the celebration and football. Anyway the month went by very quickly.

January arrived with record cold temperatures and, having no experience with what to expect, I watched the weather and the internet reports every hour I was awake.  In trying to prepare for the weather normally expected, I contacted everyone I knew who had done it before to get pointers.  We had added heaters to a boat that had never seen a freezing temperature before and ran one of the on-board units for a little extra oomph.  It worked and all seems to be fine.  Not only did we have 5 degree temperatures, the river even froze in the marina.  (Great ice breaker video Ben!!)  One of our friends on the dock stayed on his boat and broke the icicles off discharge ports in the worst of it.  Thanks Barry - I owe you for that!!

The one thing that this cold weather is good for is getting ready for warm weather.  That means doing my winter chores.  So far the fuel tanks are topped off, oil in both engines and the generator has been changed, a leaking water hose on the generator has been replaced and covers have been installed on the hull intake vents.  There is a stock of anti-freeze and transmission fluid in the forward stateroom that still has to be exchanged for the old stuff.  Of course these are things that I have never done before, so each chore from here on is an adventure.  I believe that the coolant exchange will be next just because it will get rid of 16 gallon bottles to de-clutter the space.

Our friends who have boats always told us that there would always be things to do on-board.  Its true!!  My list of things that need to be done or that we want to do, change or correct grows with each visit.  Little things that you would expect to be easy seldom are because of the way things are put together.  As the old saying goes "you just can't get there from here"!!  A trained spider monkey would be a great pet if he/she could twist a wrench or splice a wire.  If anyone out there has such a critter or if you happen to be double jointed and are willing to work in exchange for some boating fun, let me know.

So until it gets warmer, I'll be in the bilge!!  See you in the Spring.

 

 The Erwin Marine ice breaker at work.  Just think - we could have been on a cruise ship in Antarctica!!

My new vent covers custom made by Sabrina.