If you’ve been following along with the blog and perused the Haul Out Interlude Pictorial, you already know that sometimes you have to make lemonade out of lemons, and it’s not always easy. You make challenges as palatable as you can. Daggers Down is our home and trust me it belongs in the water, not up on stands in the yard. However, for the safety of the boat and us, it is important to haul the boat annually for maintenance.
Our first try at hauling out in August was a Haul Out Debacle.
Finally Haul Out Day commenced on September 14, 2021. Cape Charles Yacht Center saved the day and got us out of the water for the maintenance we needed. Thus we were learning to “make do” without our usual home on the water.
First week on the hard
When we met with the yard manager, he indicated it could be 3-4 weeks that we would be out of the water. That was about 2 weeks longer than I had hoped. We had budgeted to live on the hard for only 2 weeks, not four. Oh well, here we go….
While we could stay on the boat for part of the time when it was on blocks, a lengthy stay could get difficult. It was kind of like camping on a boat. We had holding tanks, so while we could use the heads, we couldn’t do it for an extended length of time, because there was no way to pump them out. To use the public restroom, you had to climb down a ladder, walk across the uneven gravel parking lot, across the road and another parking lot to the bathroom. In addition, this was where you went to take a shower or do the laundry. Since, I am not a person of “grace” climbing down a ladder in the middle of the night and traipsing across parking lots to use the restroom sounded less than appealing. So, while I could use the head on the boat at night, its usage needed to be limited.
In keeping with the camping theme such as using public toilets, cooking on the hard also was a bit of a challenge. We had water in our tanks which enabled us to have running water, but we didn’t have anywhere for the water to run except on the ground below the boat. This was not ideal if someone was working under the boat or for large quantities of water usage such as to wash dishes. Therefore, when meals planning, I tried to consider one pot meals. Furthermore, since we were not connected to shore power when it was cloudy and solar power was reduced, I could not use many of my cooking appliances. I had to keep our power load to a minimum which required using propane whenever possible.
With these complications in mind, we decided to spend the first two and half weeks of our haul out in a “seedy” motel. Well maybe I shouldn’t call it that…let’s say an inexpensive motel mainly used by fishermen. On the upside, it had a full kitchen, so I could cook meals (after lugging groceries, spices, and cookware to the motel). On the downside, we spent most of the stay getting rid of gnats and other flying insects.
Now if you are ever camping and want to rid the area of gnats, my friend, Irene, bestowed a great solution. She said, “Put apple cider vinegar in a bowl, (which I diluted with water to add volume) and put in a little dishwashing detergent. The gnats were drawn to the liquid but couldn’t swim and sank. This process worked incredibly well. Ben oversaw killing the other bugs in the room. Otherwise, the room met our needs with a kitchen and a clean private bath that was “cheap!”
We also rented a car for the first part of the haul out. The car afforded us the fun part of the scenario. It gave us the ability to explore Cape Charles and watch the sunsets from the fishing pier.
On the pier we met and visited with a past mayor and learned about the history of the town.
In addition, the first weekend the boat was out of the water, we took a drive to Richmond to visit my cousin, Stacie and her family. We went to their favorite seafood haunt for drinks and super inexpensive seafood, which seemed to keep coming. Then Stacie’s husband treated us to an Ohio Buckeye College football extravaganza in his man cave where you could watch multiple games at once. On the front porch was big inflatable Buckeye Brutus in case anyone wondered who the Sydow’s were supporting or you just might hear the cheers down the street.
The first week of the haul out, it seemed that Ben and I did more work on the boat than the yard. I know, I know it’s all about getting in the parts. We were having both engines pulled for maintenance as well as through hulls replaced. So parts were ordered only after assessments of issues were made.
The Cummings generator technician came out and back flushed the generator and replaced the water pump. We are hopeful with the bigger hoses, through hull and the new water pump, the generator will work next time we try it. I have my fingers crossed!
Second week on the hard
We braved another week in the seedy motel, oh sorry, inexpensive motel, which did not make me a happy camper. Again, we saw very little work taking place on the boat. Nevertheless, Ben and I continued our chores such as:
- Cleaning and putting a protectant coat on the dinghy,
- Scrubbing stains off the deck,
- Cleaning the engine rooms and painting them,
- and oh yeah, fixing the water leak that was found while cleaning the starboard engine room.
The following weekend we were saved by the delightful strangers from Washington D.C. who invited us into their home as a respite. (See Haul Out Interlude Pictorial for more information on this lovely weekend). This interlude really was a reprisal from the motel and the yard.
When, nothing really happened on our boat the second week, I was getting rather impatient, and I was getting tired of the crappy motel! So Ben decided, he better make things start happening.
Third week on the hard
To appease us, they pulled the port engine and began working on it. They found that the starter was bad and even wondered how we had been starting this engine. So more parts to order.
Because shortly we will have to return our rental transportation, I began meal planning for our next passage so we could make a major grocery run. I put some meat in the freezer and got most of the dry goods we would need. When we get back to Gloucester Point to have the new stack pack installed, we would complete a short grocery trip for perishables.
Since this was our last weekend to have the car, we decided to drive to the Outer Banks of NC for some fun! We stayed in Kill Devil Hill at a cute bed and breakfast, Cypress House Inn, where the hosts were extremely informative and made exceptional breakfasts.
On Friday evening, we hustled over to Fish Heads Bar and Grill for dinner, as cousin Stacie indicated we needed to be there by 4:00 for happy hour. It was a cute waterfront restaurant with a long fishing pier. From 4:00-6:00 they offered 15 cent steamed shrimp. At that rate, Ben and I each ate 40 shrimp for a total of $13. Then a pod of whales went right past the pier, breaching with tails slapping. Now you can’t ask for more fun than that!
Watch movie of the WHALES!
After dinner, we set off to find a sunset view across the Kitty Hawk Bay. We were rewarded as we drove down Bay Drive to a boat ramp facing west. The sight was spectacular.
Saturday morning after a superb breakfast, we drove south to Cape Hatteras. The sand dunes between the road and the ocean were several stories high. It was a beautiful drive as we left the condominium towns of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hill and Nagshead.
We stopped at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. I could certainly see why so many people were enamored with the beaches of the Outer Banks. The sand was beautiful, the beaches were expansive, and the enormous dunes added mystique. I was quite taken by the sand, waves, and sunny skies.
We had hoped to ride the ferry over to Ocracoke Island, but the wait was 2.5 hours for the 1-hour ferry ride. We decided since we only had one day, we would forego this journey and travel back to our B&B.
We made a quick stop at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. It was interesting that the North Carolina Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras and Brodie Island Lighthouses were all painted variations of black and white.
Upon our return, we took a nap before checking out some souvenirs shops and looking for another sunset venue. We ate dinner at Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant. While they acclaimed great sunset views, the seating was not outside, and the view was not wonderful. Yet, the food was scrumptious which almost made up for the so-so views and the less than cordial wait staff.
Sunday morning, we had another amazing breakfast before heading over to the Wright Brother’s memorial. I could not image carrying a plane up Kill Devil Hill which, at the time, was made up of total sand and no vegetation. However, it afforded the Wright brothers a soft-landing surface.
Fourth week on the hard
As we returned to Cape Charles Yacht Center, we were hopeful that our Yard Jail would soon end as we could no longer afford to stay at the motel. It was time to move back full time to the boat and live on the hard! Ben talked to the yard foreman on Monday who indicated that most of the parts had come in so they would start working on our boat in earnest this week. They finally pulled the starboard engine and began working on it along with the port engine. By Wednesday, they were ready to start painting the hulls.
The paint smell drove us to make one last trip in our rental car which we needed to return on Friday. Since Thurs was my birthday, we decided to leave the paint fumes behind and drive up to Crisfield, MD. The legendary Smith Island Cakes with 8 layers were made there. This sounded like a wonderful birthday cake.
Crisfield was a small town, that has been trying to stave off dying for the last few decades. In its hey day it was a port town where it off loaded provisions to send north by railroad. It was known for its seafood and appeared still to be somewhat of a crabbing town, even today. We found the Smith Island Baking Company and purchase a double chocolate cake.
Then we drove around town. Main street was a sleepy little area. The waterfront diner we had planned to eat at was closed. However, we saw some new condominiums and what appeared to be a new marina under construction. So who knows what the future will bring for this town. The bay was lovely and would be a really nice place for a marina.
We ate lunch at a Linton’s Crab House and Seafood which was more like a seafood store that cooked the food in the back and brought it out to your picnic table. I finally tried some soft-shell crab. It was good but I think I’d rather pick it out of a blue shell instead. We also had some different flavors of Smithfield cake. I had the original which was yellow cake and chocolate icing while Ben went for the pumpkin spice cake.
My Birthday!
So what do you do for birthdays when you live on a boat? Ben and I have a pact since we moved aboard that nothing can be purchased unless it is useful for living on a boat. Ben’s birthday was last month, and his presents consisted of:
How in the world was he to top this?!
So what did we do on my birthday while living on the hard? First we helped our friend, Robert, as his boat was hauled out to join us in the yard. Then we painted our anchor chain so that we would know how much anchor we were dropping even in the dark. Finally, Ben grilled steaks and Robert came over to join in the party.
Oh, and Ben got me gifts that would be put to good use! He got me a new iPad cover, as mine had broken and a portable charging supply.
And a new portable power supply
Then to top it off, Krissy sent me a special dock mat for Daggers Down!
All in all, it was a super nice day. We got some things accomplished, some nice handy gifts and ate a perfectly grilled steak. What more can a girl ask for—except to get out of Yard Jail, but that was not to be.
Fifth week on the hard
Since we had to turn the rental car in last Friday, we spent the weekend working on small boat projects. Luckily, we were nearing the end of the list and could now focus on things we wanted to do like scrub the decks and hulls which were filthy from being in the salt water and now the dusty yard. As soon as the sun comes out, I will coat the teak with Semco. Meanwhile, we were taking care of business back home, relaxing some and meeting more people in the same “boat” as us.
Its now the middle of the fifth week and we have just been informed that some parts we thought had come in were, in fact, delayed. So it looks like, much to my chagrin, we may be overstaying our welcome here. Boo Hiss!
So I guess I better start thinking of some more one pot dinners. Some of the meals I have planned so far are:
- Stir fry
- Migas
- Frozen pizza
- Stouffer’s pasta dishes
- Grilled Pork chops and brown peas
- Instant Pot meat loaf and potatoes
If you have other suggestions for quick meals using very little cookware or appliances, please leave ideas in the comments.
Stay tuned for our escape from Yard Jail and will the generator work?…..
If you are not already on the blog email list and would like to be notified when a new post is available, complete the form below. You information will NOT be share with anyone.
