Another great reason to live in Florida

[Trav White]

For those of you with snow built up on your boat, I thought I would let you know it was sunny, 72 deg, and windy today in Jacksonville. I managed to get out a few hours in the St. John's river today with my 13-yr old sone, wearing only jeans and a short sleeve shirt. Winds were about 15 knots. Quite a few sailboats out today. And to think, I was actually thinking about selling the boat from lack of use. But, after an afternoon like this, its priceless!

[albion]

Thats great Trav. Just stay away from those tornados. Oh and Jeb Bush.LOL I dont know how you stand all that heat.We have lovely refreshing snow here in Ohio.

[c130king]

Trav,

I hear you. I have sailed 7 of the last 9 weekends (including New Years) on the St. John's...even when it was only about 50 degrees.

However, Tuesday 27 Feb will be my last sail on the St. John's for a quite a while. After my friend and I get off the water we will pack the boat up and drive it 2+ hours to Valdosta (my house) so I can finally get the thing in my driveway for about a month of busy work.

Plan on giving it a good washing/waxing. Need to remove and wash the sails (2 years worth of stains on them). Still have to figure out how to cover-up/remove the little scratches (maybe better called rubmarks) from where the fenders rub against the side of the boat. Also need to repair one bad section of rubrail and recaulk the rubrail (starting to peel away in some places). Planning to add another 12V outlet in the cabin...probably up by the electrical panel. And last but not least, I plan to redesign the lazy jacks using clips that will allow me to more easily pull the lines to the mast when putting on the sail cover.

Oh, yeah I also have to finally put on my registration stickers and the boat name ("König"...German for King).

But, after all that is complete I have a two month trip to Norfolk Naval Air Station coming up (Apr - Jun) and I am taking the mighty with me.

Standard military academic environment. Take 2-3 weeks worth of academics and stretch it out over 9 weeks...just kidding.

But no family, no chores, and I plan to to rent a slip and leave the boat in the water at the base's marina making it easier for me to run out after class and sail as much as possible. Should be the best temporary duty I have ever had.

Boat will be back in Jacksonville the end of June. But unfortunately it will be sitting unused for 2-3 years because I am moving to London. Maybe I will get a chance to come back and visit my folks and put the boat back together for some sailing.

Sorry we didn't get a chance to get out there together.

Jim

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Still have to figure out how to cover-up/remove the little scratches (maybe better called rubmarks) from where the fenders rub against the side of the boat.

Been there done that, little bits of something rubbery on the boat...the answer is baking soda! (at least with white boats...note that baking soda is somewhat abrasive, but did the job on my boat)

[Alex]

Canadian live fun as well snow and no tornados.......

-fc

[c130king]

Dmitri,

Can you better describe for me how you use baking soda? Mix with water? How thick? Apply with what?

Thanks,
Jim

[John McDonough]

Up here today, the snow turned to ice and now its raining. As soon as the rain stops I have to go out and repaiir the tarp covering my

[Divecoz]

A Special Gift is on its way to Trav White and C 130
The down side is , its the fleas of a 1000 Camels to infest your butt's.
Slush Rain and now Snow with freezing temps tonight .
House is Rented on Coz cannot even threaten to hightail it out of here.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Yea, just make a some baking soda paste with a little water and then use that under your sponge or paper towel and apply some pressure over the paste. It will still take a little elbow grease but it comes off like magic. I had tried most of the other cleaners (solvents, cleaning wax, even soft scrub) I could find before that and nothing would take it off like the baking soda did. Mine was a big teal colored fender so it left some nasty marks on the white X boat. After getting the specific marks off, I then went over the whole area with some cleaning wax and after you buff that off, it looks like new. Of course, then you will have to do all of the topsides and it may end up being more than you wanted to do originally

[tangentair]

What does a Florida divorce and a Florida tornado have in common? One way or another somebody's gonna loose a trailer...
I will keep Chicago's snow and sleet this weekend gladly so long as Florida keeps my ex. Sig Olson speaks of the "feel of Spring and the joy of wilderness travel after the breakup" in his book "Runes of the North". I can wait a few more weeks.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Ah yes, the feel of winter. Got that good when I was up in NJ a couple weeks ago and the temp dipped into the single digits. Sure was glad to get back to Florida temps and go sailing with the kids yesterday. So in Spring, you have daffodils, and I have orange blossoms.....and pool parties.. Don't worry, you can make fun of me during hurricane season..

[albion]

How do you guys live in a place with only one season. It must get quite boring. Only sand boating,sunshine,water skiing. We have cold, warmer, hot, and lovely leafs to sweep up. Oh and snow skiiing.

[eric3a]

..

[albion]

Eric you forgot one . You have five # 5 is too bloody hot.And dont forget the bugs, sharks and jelly fish stings.Xmas aint the same in hot weather.Good luck to ya.

[Theo]

Trav, you'er just being mean. Not something us SoCal guys would ever do!! And, you know its even nicer here than there.

Last weekend, played in the mountains and the snow. 2 hour drive.
This weekend perfect 3 to 5 foot surf. 2 minute drive.

Be nice.