Chinook's Great Loop

[Chinook]

I had accumulated a small list of items. The main one was fabricating a new spacer, which inserts under the steering seat and provides a partition between the cockpit and the motor well. I managed to crack my original one while tilting the engine up. I store a pair of plastic gas cans on a stern platform and I oriented one the wrong way. When I tilted the engine up it pressed against the gas can, which then pressed against the partition and cracked it. This became a problem because the 3 2.5 gallon gas cans I store under the steering seat would no longer stay in place. I considered bolting a splint on it and using the old one, but managed to find a store with a huge inventory of new and used boat parts, and was able to buy a new 2' by 4' piece of plastic, and with the tools at hand at my friend's place, we were able to make a new partition. Next task was to make a new mounting bracket and relocate the compass. I have a hand bearing compass which was originally mounted on the starboard side cabin bulkhead, facing the steering wheel. I never liked it there because it gets in the way of sitting forward and leaning against the starboard bulkhead. I finally managed to crack the old plastic mounting bracket during the trip. My friend had some stainless steel strap material, and he fabricated a pair of "U" shaped brackets which I used to bolt the compass handle in place. I located the compass on the back facing part of the sliding hatch, just to the right of the pull handle and tilt o meter I have mounted in the center. I like it there because it's no longer in the way of anything, it fits well, and is easily seen and close to the center line of the boat. We also made a set of spacers which evened out the elevation of the floor under the steering seat, where I keep those 3 gas cans. I have built a nice stern platform behind the drop off of the cockpit floor, however, the level of the platform is exactly 2 inches lower than the cockpit floor. The transition occurs half way back from where the gas cans sit. We made 2 inch high spacers out of some aluminum siding scraps my friend had. They fit perfectly and now my gas cans don't lean back at an angle. Last thing was to fabricate a spacer to help me level up my 2 gallon kerosene tank, which sits in the bilge inside the galley cabinet. This tank holds fuel for my Wallas stove. Because of the angle of the hull, the tank always sat at a substantial angle, and by placing a shim under the inside edge of the tank, it now sits closer to level. This makes it possible to still pull fuel out of the tank when it gets low. I also had to replace a few Command hooks whose adhesive had failed while we were pounding through heavy seas. Last little project was to replace the wireless temperature sesnsor for the Engel refrigerator. The unit had stopped working and Engel shipped me a replacement under warrantee. It was a simple matter to put the new one into position. It's working for now, and time will tell whether it continues to serve. None of these items were substantial, but getting them done was so much easier while at the dock and with stores/tools/miscellaneous materials readily at hand. And, once completed, it raises spirits, knowing that things on board are once again in good shape.

[C Buchs]

I got my Wallas stove working well for the first time last night. It was 8 years overdue for service and never worked right. It was nice having a warm boat to work in. I'll take your idea about leveling the tank up. Thanks for the reply.

Jeff

[Chinook]

We've reached another milestone on the Great Loop. Arrived today at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, following a rough run up from Annapolis. We've cruised more than 4,500 miles thus far, and have most of Chesapeake Bay behind us. In a couple of days the two friends who have helped crew the boat up from Portsmouth VA will fly home and Sandy will rejoin me, after being with grandchildren for the past 2 1/2 weeks. We look forward to a sidetrip to Philadelphia, and then a sojourn down Delaware Bay and up the New Jersey coast to New York Harbor. I'm hoping that this chilly wet weather will soon come to an end, and a return of sunshine. Old sol has been mostly absent for over a week now.

[kmclemore]

Your friendly moderator and his admiral joined Ray (NiceAft) and his lovely admiral for a dinner with the crew of Chinook. Ray arraigned the evening, with dinner at a great Philadelphia restaurant where they serve a selection of absolutely wonderful crepes. It was a superb evening of conversation and comeraderie and we were sorry to have to leave. I was great meeting the Chinook folks and I look forward to seeing them again someday!

Fair winds for the rest of your journey!



Thanks, Ray!

[Chinook]

It was truly a most memorable and enjoyable evening. We so appreciate Ray reaching out to us as we drew near to Philadelphia, and for setting things up with Kevin and his wife, so we could all meet for dinner. What a great welcome to Philadelphia, and it was great fun spending time with fellow Mac owners. It's always special to meet up with folks we've only known previously from their posts on this board. Hopefully our paths will cross again one day down the way. Our thanks to Kevin, Jan, Ray and Natalie for a lovely time.

Mike and Sandy

[Catigale]

Nice...hope to reciprocate up here north of NY on the Hudson.

[Chinook]

We'd love to meet up with you when we get in your neighborhood. We should get up your way sometime around the end of June or first of July.

Mike/Chinook

[Harry van der Meer]

Hi Mike and Steve,

Leona and I would love to join you when you get together. We have been following your blog with fascination.

Regards - Harry

[Chinook]

The more the merrier, Harry. And speaking of that, the marina here at Cape May is now cheered with the presence of two Looping MacGregors. Richard and Jill, aboard the Jill Kristy, arrived here today after their trip down Delaware Bay. We met them back in late November while they were still getting their boat ready for their Loop trip, and now, here they are, nearly a thousand miles along on their journey. How amazing is it for two MacGregors, engaged in cruising the Great Loop, to be sharing the same marina together. And tomorrow evening we may go even one better. Lee is a third Looping MacGregor, and he's now anchored out in the harbor just outside this marina. All 3 of us plan to make the ocean run from Cape May Inlet to the Atlantic City inlet tomorrow. We may well all share the same anchorage. I'm pretty sure that will be a first, 3 MacGregor boats (2 26X boats and a 26M) cruising along in a group on the Great Loop.

[Rackman]

Do you guys have any idea where you're going to be staying once you hit the Hudson River?

[Chinook]

Plans for New York are just beginning to take shape. We're anchored at Barnegat Inlet for tonight, with rainy, windy weather holding us up. We plan to move up to Manasquan tomorrow and hang there Monday and Tuesday nights, again waiting on weather. Wednesday looks to be the first good day for going outside and rounding Sandy Hook for entry into New York Harbor. If that works out, we hope to anchor out at Liberty Island, on the New Jersey side, for the night view of the statue and lower Manhatten. Thursday morning we figure on going up to the 79th Street Marina and staying there through the weekend. Probably on Monday morning we'll head up to Half Moon Bay Marina, and be there for a couple of nights. Not sure exactly. No firm plans after that, other than getting up to Troy at a reasonable pace. Not sure of the best strategy, but we'd like to visit West Point and Hyde Park sights along the way. Don't know the best strategy for doing those, such as where to anchor or tie up and how to get around on land to see those places. We'll figure those things out as we get closer. Any recommendations or suggestions greatly appreciated. Also, any boats in the water in or near New York Harbor are invited to cruise with us past Lady Liberty. If Gazman is reading this, we've talked about doing this in the past. Would be great if it could happen.

[dthiesmeyer]

Many years ago, we went to West Point. There is a train that runs by West Point that connects to the NYC subway system in New Jersey. If not renting a car, check out the train.

Dave

[Tomfoolery]

Many years ago, we went to West Point. There is a train that runs by West Point that connects to the NYC subway system in New Jersey. If not renting a car, check out the train.

Metro North RR has the Hudson line on the east bank of the Hudson, but I don't know of any passenger service on the west bank, where West Point is. There are tracks there, so maybe there used to be, but I don't believe there is any now. But Metro North takes you to Grand Central, which is a much nicer way to enter the city than NJ Transit into Penn Station, or PATH trains. But you do need to take a cab from over the Bear Mountain Bridge, a little north of the Peekskill Metro North station, and it's a scenic ride along the river.

But even more scenic is to travel north on the Hudson itself in your boat.

[Johnacuda]

Correct, Metro North is on the East Bank of the Hudson . West Bank is freight.

Metro-North has rail service from Grand Central Station in mid-town Manhattan, up the east bank of the Hudson. Trains to Garrison, NY, directly across the river from West Point, take approx 1 hour and 10 minutes and cost a little under $15. If you don’t have a car, get off at Peekskill, one stop south of Garrison, where cabs are often waiting. You may want to call to reserve a Highland Falls or Peekskill cab. Driving time from Garrison or Peekskill to West Point is approximately 20 minutes.

Bus:

Short Line Bus offers daily bus service from the New York City Port Authority, near Times Square in midtown Manhattan, to the West Point Visitors Center; one-way trip takes 1 hour 40 minutes and costs approx $15. Short Line also has day trip packages with sightseeing and local discounts.

There is the West Point Yacht Club, but it is Private.

[Gazmn]

Plans for New York are just beginning to take shape. We're anchored at Barnegat Inlet for tonight, with rainy, windy weather holding us up. We plan to move up to Manasquan tomorrow and hang there Monday and Tuesday nights, again waiting on weather. Wednesday looks to be the first good day for going outside and rounding Sandy Hook for entry into New York Harbor. If that works out, we hope to anchor out at Liberty Island, on the New Jersey side, for the night view of the statue and lower Manhatten. Thursday morning we figure on going up to the 79th Street Marina and staying there through the weekend. Probably on Monday morning we'll head up to Half Moon Bay Marina, and be there for a couple of nights. Not sure exactly. No firm plans after that, other than getting up to Troy at a reasonable pace. Not sure of the best strategy, but we'd like to visit West Point and Hyde Park sights along the way. Don't know the best strategy for doing those, such as where to anchor or tie up and how to get around on land to see those places. We'll figure those things out as we get closer. Any recommendations or suggestions greatly appreciated. Also, any boats in the water in or near New York Harbor are invited to cruise with us past Lady Liberty. If Gazman is reading this, we've talked about doing this in the past. Would be great if it could happen.

AHHH! I'm not even in the water yet

I just PMed you my #. & would love to meet up with you & Sandy - & any takers when we get together

I'm dragging my feet on a hydraulic steering upgrade & just ran into a snag today

I think I'm dragging cause I'm still pooped from Florida