MacGregorSailors.com

As mentioned above, it's not possible to attach a video. At least not properly.
Create a youtube channel and host them there and link here. That works well. You can even make them private and hide the links from the general public.

How cool to see dolphins. I'm surprised they come inland that far. I hope you don't have alligators. My cousin lives in Lousianna and takes his jet ski out on gator-infested waters. No thanks.

The joke is that Harbor Freight is the biggest tool rental store with its generous return policy.
Okay, I'll admit I once "bought" an impact gun for a one-time use to remove a bolt and returned it. I know, I know.
Water heaters have annodes that need changing, and the manufacturer torques them so tightly that only an impact gun can loosen them. You have replaced your heater anode, right? I replaced it with an electronic anode that lasts 20 years. The biggest reason water heaters fail.

I did BUY a hammer drill from them. Used it once and kept it. Worked great to drill concrete.

As most of the country has been experiencing super hot temps, we have been COLD. Monday we had lows at night in the 30s while we saw 100s in other parts of the country.

We got out of that cold period and had a beautiful 80 degree no no-humidity day on the lake this week. Perfect weather. Sorry.

Hi All!

While we get to see Mommy Dolphins and their babies here in South Carolina it appears that Canadians are so nice that Momma Bears free safe enough to swim out to show off their cubs to them!




Best Regards,
Over Easy

Hi All!
Well Friday was sort of a bust as far as getting out in the boat.
Saturday was better even with a late start.
We got out from Port Royal at nearly 2 pm and managed to get up the Beaufort River and onto the Coosaw River.
We traveled as far ar Sam’s Point where we decided to turn back to allow some time with day light to take care of some light cleaning chores on the top deck areas. Saw a couple dolphins, Osprey, egrets and some storks with elegant black wing tips. It was hot out (as usual)



Plans for getting out on Sunday, while off to a good start fizzled away with useless stuff until it wasn’t worth it anymore.
After 5 to 6 pm the bugs start coming out as the temperature cools off which can be annoying when one is just starting out at that time of day… Oh well, the plans of mice and men……. Did get a visit by a Doe and her fawn which was nice!



Not to have a totally skunked day I threw in the towel on the days boat plans and changed into work clothes to attack the on going trailer refurbishing…. Both the Port and Starboard new leaf spring sets are now installed and completed. There are 6 new u-bolts left to do on the frame. I should be able to get back to them on Tuesday. After that are the new bunks to be fabricated…the items that triggered this project

I’m hoping we can get out on the boat tomorrow but as the forecasts have not really matched up at all with the realities we’ll have to see what tomorrow brings when it gets here….

Meanwhile small incremental progress continues to be made on the kitchen remodeling…. Very small and very slowly
I have the new floor receptacles going and that will now entail crawling under the rear deck to make the foundation side entry point for the electrical supply as well as disabling to old bogus one done by the original builder nearly 40 years ago. I’ll never understand what was going on with him but it’s typical still here in the south more so than elsewhere I’ve been. Just so short sighted even when doing it correctly and to code would have taken the same amount of time and resources or less. It makes no sense at all….. Oh well, it’ll be done right and code compliant this time around.

My younger daughters and her friend came back from their music festival in a flurry of activity of packing up for their hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. It quite the undertaking! They are starting north and working their way south. I have logistical support duties in that I need to get their supplies mailed out ahead of their staging point arrivals. My daughter has made something on the order of 70 plus each of dehydrated dinner meals and lunches. That should cover her for the first two months or so which would be the end of August. That will be a decision point for her as to whether to continue further or call it a day. She’s talked about taking a break for a week or so then deciding if she’ll carry on further or plan on picking it up next year. Whatever she decides will be great as this is definitely not a walk in the park by any means. She’s a tough cookie.

Meanwhile we’re taking care of her dog Bonzo who is the nicest cattle dog I’ve ever met. He is such a great companion. (He misses her)


Best Regards,
Over Easy

I feel your pain. My trailer refurb started as a bunk replacement as well and ended up replacing every spring, hanger, u-bolt, bunk, and bracket. Almost forgot: the "goal posts", wiring, and lights as well.

It's a very nice trailer now.

Hi Be Free!

Our trailers must be related ….
When we first got Over Easy we replaced the tires. Then had both the axles greased which ended up with new bearings and seals. That was followed by new lights. Not long after the short original posts were changed out for taller ones. Not long after that we added a second set of posts to help keep the boat squared up on the trailer when hauling out with cross winds and currents…..

It would seem that boat trailers like to have as much attention as boats do! Who knew?

I’ve been thinking of giving our trailer her own name….

Best Regards
Over Easy

Hi All!

Well two days on the boat out of four this past weekend wasn’t bad. Not as many days as I’d hoped but given the heat it was enough.
On Monday we explored the main course and three branches of Cowen Creek.



Just a nice leisurely cruise to enjoy our local waterways.
We had the waterways pretty much all to ourselves.

We saw an old MacGregor wantabe sailboat that had replaced their rudder entirely with and old outboard.




We’ve seen sailboats with outboards before but not one where the rudder had been fully replaced by an outboard in such a bolted on manner.

We also got to see a dolphin in our marina feeding in the shallows.
It appeared to be using a “stranding” type feeding technique where it chases fish or crabs up into mere inches of water to trap them.
The still shots don’t do it Justice…lots of splashing and darting!











It’s the first time we’ve personally observed this type of behavior.
Fortunately we were up on the causeway enjoying a cool cider when the activity kicked off!

Best Regards
Over Easy

How cool to watch dolphins "hunting". I know they are intelligent, but that's fascinating.

I have a feeling that's a keelboat with the rudder below the cockpit and they modified the boat for an outboard. Probably the inboard motor died and it was cheaper to mount an outboard on the back.

I can't make out what kind of boat it is.

Hi All!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Fourth of July Weekend!
We did!

For us it was a relatively quiet one at home for the most part. It’s been VERY HOT & HUMID here in SC!!!
Winds have been an issue with that tropical storm hugging the coast before making landfall north of us at Myrtle Beach.
(Fortunate for us but not so good for that area…..)

The “pop-up” thunderstorms have also played a role in our staying in port.
The winds were also a consideration given being bounced about in the chop (isn’t as much fun nowadays verses ones youngerdays ) so we skipped viewing the Pot Royal Sands Beach Fireworks Display this year from the water. As the shore and beach gets rather crowded in ( along with the heat and humidity) we decided that staying at home was a good alternative for us.

The weather gave us a bit of a break on Monday though and we got out in the boat around 2:30 PM and headed down the Beaufort River after refueling. The current was turning to an incoming tide. It’s always interesting to me to see the currents change so dramatically from one direction to the other in our regions rivers and estuaries. We regularly have 6-to-8 foot tidal height changes and the differences are unique. The out going tide starts gently but picks up slowly. The incoming tide seem to rush back in and picks up speed.

The wildlife know the rhythms and change tactics and activities. As the tide goes out the Osprey tend to hunt more along the tidal marsh edges and outlets. The Egrets like to patrol the freshly exposed mud flats for snacks. Herons wander the tidal pools like the genteel shoppers in the grocery store. Dolphins patrol the marsh drainages. As the tide comes back in the Osprey seem to wander about more. The Egrets move into the reeds and the Herons watch the marsh channels with renewed interest. The Dolphins like to increase their activities as the marshes reflood and the shrimp and bait fish return.

We headed toward the Atlantic on the Beaufort River with Fort Fremont in mind as an intermediate objective …. About two thirds along increasing chop and swells soon dissuaded us and we adapted by tucking into Cowen Creek and slowly cruising up the Eastern tributary. We watched the Osprey, Egrets, Heron and Dolphin go about their activities. There were two Dolphin families entertaining us as we traveled at idle speed in these calm waters. Several children on summer vacation were fishing from various piers and landings. It was somewhat idyllic.



Our return took us through Cat Island Cut back onto a now MUCH calmer Beaufort River as we headed back to Port Royal around 7 PM. Quite a nice day out on the water. As the tidal flow and wind had slackened considerably we decided that now would be a prime opportunity for the Admiral to practice her targeted long pier docking given that the fuel dock was entirely open. She did GREAT!!! The first was a little long past her target but she looped around and got spot on the second time around. Given we were set up with me in the bow hatch she tried her hand at landing us on our slip. She was a bit nervous as this would be her first attempt at a slip. She took in a deep breath and looped out to start her entry approach…. Rounded the end of the entry pier at idle speed making the starboard turn into the main marina channel correcting nicely for the abrupt current changes, then a tight turn to port to get into our slipway followed by the turn to starboard to align with our slip…a burp of throttle to head into the current and maintain steerage… a slow steady advance straight into the slip… engine to idle for a gentle coast and a perfect snag of the dock cleat with the boat hook! Perfect! Great Job! Couldn’t have done better!
Perfect end to a perfect day!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Hi All!

I knew I’d eventually have time catch up to me, but I didn’t figure it was so fast!
Whew! Has the heat and humidity been taking it’s toll as of late (the past two months to be more accurate!).
Just saps all the giddy-up into giddy-gone out (and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon )

The trailer refurbishment is the priority project (given any NOAA hurricane forecast warnings coming out from here on out are almost all gonna be late, wrong or misplaced since Doggie & company have by all appearances nixed those with its marbles imho).

The weather on my work days this week has not been cooperative with lots of unforcast substantial pop up thunderstorms with lots of wind, rain and lightning for our area. Trying to get set up and accomplishing anything has been more like betting on a dice game following the forecasts. Phhhbbbtttt!

In spite of the repeated start/stops I managed to get the new springs mounted and the last of the structural frame bolts changed out. I broke down and bought a small (disposable?) right angle grinder and cut-off wheels from Harbor Freight. A lot faster than my pneumatic die grinder cut-off by a 100%.
The little HF grinder paid for itself already in the time saved cutting the old bolts and nuts. Worth everyone of the $14 I paid for it! All future uses are just bonus!

Got the new 2x6 PT boards from Lowe’s… lumber still seems overpriced and has gone up over the past several months locally which is odd given the number of tree farms here in SC. Go figure….

Trimmed them to their various lengths and radiused all the edges with a round over bit and router. That will hopefully help make the new bunk carpeting last longer.

I had been hoping to use the old bunks bracket holes as templates to drill the new bunks. But after stripping off the old bunk carpets that was found to be a lost cause. Though with the carpeting removed and the old rusted staples removed as well I figure I should be able to use these old bunk boards for gravel/concrete forms to give them a “recycled” life. Waste not want not…

The next step (on a dry day is to mark out the new bunks for their mount brackets, drill the holes with counter pocket reliefs to accept SST carriage bolts that will pierce the bunks from the top of the carpeted bunks to keep the heads well below the contact with the boat hull to avoid any concentrated pressure spots.

When carpeting the bunks I’ll use a hot point to melt the hole edges through the carpet to hopefully avoid any future unraveling. I may also flame the carpet cut edges to melt them a bit for the same reason.

Just as well we decided not to get out on the boat today with the current (unexpected) weather happening outside right now. Buckets of rain with lots of noise! Oh well, it is what it is….


On the kitchen remodel front I finally attempted to get under the deck to drill through the foundation side to route the under slab conduit for the two I slab receptacles… that just not gonna work out as there just isn’t sufficient space to fit me.. not even in my younger skinnier days, never mind my nowadays. So much for Plan A…. time for Plan B which would be to make an access through the slab on the interior of the house and drill the conduit access hole from the inside out. Then get a long length of armored Flextite and route it out through the foundation to where I can connect to power. I’ll be needing to concrete in the two new through slab access holes I’ve already made for the two receptacles … what’s a little more concrete amount friends eh?

I have to get going on the filling/leveling of numerous old carpet nail strip spalls and level out a couple of places before I can start laying down the new flooring planks. The ‘intent’ is to have those divots finished by the middle of next week. I really need to pick up my pace!

Hope everyone is having a great summer and getting out on the water!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Retirement can be tiring with all the projects.

I think understood about 10% of the terms you used in this post.

All I can say is Harbor Frieght is a great one time use tool supplier. I have several that I saved a bundle for only needing one time.

The definition of a “pop-up” thunderstorm


Clear skies … let’s go to the boat

Nooooo……


Life on the South Carolina coast….

Best Regards
Over Easy

Yet another one….



Sorta like popcorn except with a light and sound show…

Just another perfect SC beach day!

OverEasy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:08 pm Just another perfect SC beach day!

Looks so inviting...not.

I would get out of there.

It's nice we live in an age of smartphones where we can check on weather often. I sure do.

I know how you feel. My giddyup and go has done got up and went.

I checked the temperature yesterday at 8AM and it said the heat index was 108 degrees. We are covered with humid air and no breeze right now; 87 degrees with 107 heat index. I think I'm actually rooting for that system that's sitting over my house to develop into something. At least the wind would blow.