Best Of

Re: Meet the new La Rea!

(cross-post from yesterday's blog on LaRea.net)

After a lovely five weeks living in a "dirt home," we're underway for another year of adventures!

We stayed in the same small waterfront home that we rented before we left last year. And you know what? We enjoyed it! The king-size bed, endless hot showers, real toilet paper ... these are the little things that helped us tolerate life ashore.

In the shower is where I feel it most ... that feeling boaters get when they go ashore. The floor is definitely moving, though I know it really isn't. That feeling went away after about a week of sleeping on land. I want to get it back.

Our time here was hectic. Lots of boat projects and maintenance, as I've already shared. Lots of medical appointments, because LaRea's crew also needs routine maintenance. Lots of visiting with our neighborhood friends, and especially our long-time boating buddies!

Back in the day, most of us had "express cruiser" boats made for overnighting and weekending -- which we did often. On any given Sunday morning, you'd likely find us waking up with the boats all tied together, anchored after a long Saturday of floating, music, eating and drinking. These "raft-ups" took place mostly at Gunston Cove, just a quick four miles from home. Fun times!

When Diane and I moved up to a motor yacht, most of our friends did the opposite. They downsized to center-console boats and ski boats, and they love them! Over the past couple of weeks, they treated us to boat rides when our yacht was landlocked by the Potomac River's shallow water at low tide. It was refreshing and great fun. They don't care when the next low tide will happen, because their boats can go out any time. So easy, so carefree.

We've known most of those friends for decades. For them, I suppose it felt like we went away for a year, then returned home. To us, it felt different. Now the boat is home, and we were only visiting our old stomping grounds. Today we're home again -- back on the water. Sorry to be leaving, but so very happy to be underway!

LaRea

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Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canucks, and those that wish they were! Cheers!

Willhound

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Re: Gelcoat repairs

YYZRC said:

TonyG13 said:

The caveat of how well Spectrum will match is how much your hull has faded over the years. And a really good gelcoat guy should not have a problem matching any gelcoat colors. If he can't, you should look for another one.

Where do you keep your boat? Someone on the forum may have recommendations for your area.

^^ this. No professional will use Spectrum on a boat that’s more than a couple years old. They will mix to match.

I might not have said it correctly, but that was my point. If the gelcoat guy can't figure out how to match what he's working on, find another gelcoat guy.

TonyG13

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Re: Fuel Sniffer

Wouldn’t the fumes be low in the engine compartment and bilge though? How accurate are they mounting them up on deck?

aero3113

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Re: What did you do to your boat today

First overnighter of the season. Had to anchor because somehow the mooring ball that was there last week is no longer on the mooring. I did find the chain and the old swivel was gone but last fall I put a new one in parallel with the old that was still there so not sure how the shackle would have come undone. Replaced the upper chain and put a temporary float on it. All went well except for stubbing a toe on the dock. Will have to stay away from the dock longer next time.

Rich_

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Re: What did you do to your boat today

My windows have really bad hard water spots and I have tried two products that work really well and wanted to share.

The first one is for mild water spots that aren't etched in. It's a gel you put on and leave for about 15-30 minutes then wash and clean the window.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/products/heavy-duty-water-spot-remover

This is the second product I used which is a window polish you apply like your buffing a boat. This works really well for etched in water spots which is what I have on my side windows. You use a polishing pad specifically for this process, it looks like white felt.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/fine-glass-polish-16-ounces/

Aqua_Aura

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Re: Lets see your pets out on the Rinker

So we went out for a nice run to a restaurant for Father’s Day. We took Winnie inside with us and had a great lunch. Walking out I started talking to a couple and they asked if we had a life vest for her. I put it on to show them because it’s always a good laugh when I pick her up by the handle! LoL. About 20 minutes goes by, I’m on the phone with my dad and I hear a big splash! Winnie fell off the platform!! Luckily I put the vest on, she was panicking and trying to get up on the bulkhead but obviously that wasn’t happening. I was able to just barely reach her and pull her back onboard. If she didn’t have the vest on, I’m sure I would’ve had to jump in to get her. Frenchies aren’t the best swimmers!!