This winter has been too long

[Ross]

I have been reading the threads and coming to the conclusion that cabin fever is at pandemic levels. We have on thread that is blithely discussing the spending of tens of thousands of dollars for a boat just on the basis of price. there is another that is wondering how to get the government more involved in our private lives in order to keep us safe. This being the same government that brought us the Internal Revenue service and Airport Security. And now there is this one wondering if everybody has run amok. Besides all of that it is starting to snow again.

 

[Manny]

Cabin Fever big time

Ross, I definitely have a terrible case of cabin fever. I went down to the boat yesterday and for the first time I ran out of anything to do. Well, let me re-phrase that, I couldn't do anything due to the temperature. All my projects at this point involve epoxy, paint, or sealant which at best need a minimum of 50 degrees constant. I don't even have anything I can bring home and work on. We were lucky with warm weather all the way through the end of December and I was able to accomplish a lot. I drove an hour each way to basically rewire my bilge pump and eat a sandwich while staring out at the half frozen marina.It sure beats work though...You getting snow in MD?I wish it would snow here, at least I could possibly head to the Poconos and go skiing.Think warm thoughtsManny

 

[JoeD]

Gee Guys

Keep the boat in the water. Just setting here reading and listening to some good music. Did a few projects and now time for some Beer. Keep the heater at 65 and it is very nice. Now how to get off the boat in the snow? Better not slip because the water will be very cold. (Grin)The problem is that everyone wants something from the Government. Without those demands we would not be taxed so much. The ones that want the most bitch the most. What ever happened to taking care of ourselves? Guess I'm just from a different mind set.Hey, spring is just around the corner.

 

[Al]

Cold days ahead

The high for tomorrow morning will be around 10 and with a nice westerly wind it should be below the -0 chill factor. Hey it's winter, comes every year, sometimes earlier, sometimes later, according to the groundhog it'll be an early spring about 5 weeks away. Actually with out that prediction spring should be here in 6 weeks anyways. The hull was painted in November when we had 67+ days and and most of the stuff on the outside that I waited to do, will have to wait til spring (5 or 6 ) weeks away. We did order the new sails in January so they'll be ready. Put another log on the fire and read all those instruction manuals you never really had time to read as your were to busy sailing. Sure it'll work ok for now times. Sorry retirement has it's finer pionts.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Cold here tomorrow Also

I'm staying bed with Joan and wait for warmer weather.56 MORE DAYS...JimS/V Java

 

[NYSail]

Sailing on Sunday

Frostbite sailing on Long Island!!!!!Get the sun fish out of the closet and put on those foulies (and some long johns)!

 

[Warren Milberg]

While I generally agree

with Ross' sentiments, it seems to me that winter started 45 days late this year on the Chesapeake. Couple of weeks ago I was working on my boat in shirt sleeves and 70-deg weather. Now is it's really cold. Calendars notwithstanding, if winter "ends" when it normally does around here -- mid-March -- I'll have 2 weeks to finish up the bottom work, wax the boat, and be sailing on April 1st or so. Making my lists, checking them twice.... we'll all be back sailing before we know it.

 

[Ctskip]

I've been reading those threads also

and it seems that our boats are our saviors. They allow us to long for those dawns to dusks and everything in between. The escape is necessary. The wife just said last night, she missed our boat. It only 20 minutes away ,and I visit her every three or four days. It helps me stay sane (tolerable). Sometimes I'm on her( the boat) for 15 minutes, other times 2 hours. Just to escape my everyday life. It's been a late winter here in Ok. but it's still winter. Temps in the teens and 20s, makes for winter for me. Fortunately the lake doesn't freeze. Waiting for spring sailing, impatiently though. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[Bob V]

Winter's end

Winter ended for us thursday when I suggested that we bundle up in warm clothes and go sailing for the first time this year. I was thinking maybe a couple of hours to get back into it. The idea was met with so much enthusiasm that we turned it in to an overnight trip to Port Townsend. We sailed there with double reefed main and tiny roller jib so as not to scare the dogs on their first boat ride in 2 months. The next morning we motored home (7 miles) in dead calm in t-shirt weather (at least behind the dodger).A great time was had by all and the season has officially begun.

 

[tom]

Days Getting Longer

Wow it's still light when I get home from work now!!!! We are having the coldest days in Alabama right now. But the old diesel started up yesterday without too much complaining. I used the cold start lever and a small heater to blow warm air near the air intake. Very cold motoring my hands went numb while talking on the cell phone. Wouldn't it be great to live aboard and just move north or south to always be having spring or summer??? We had some Argentinians at work who would go home for skiing in July and home to the beach at Christmas. With a good sailboat and no anchors set there is no good reason to endure another winter.  Ross you are retired??? Why do you suffer through winter??