Lock Down

This past weekend I intended to take Bluster out for a little sail but other things came up so instead I used a little of my free time to address some mods and maintenance issues.  I guess it is the boat builder in me but I really enjoy puttering and fussing on and around my boat.  Almost as much as sailing - a sentiment I have heard from other builders too.

A couple of years ago I purchased a lock set to enable me to secure the Bluster's cabin.  Today I finally got around to it.  Fairly straight forward jot that involved drilling a 3/4" hole in the top drop board, inserting and bolting up the lock set then attaching a cleat on the underside of the hatch.



Lock set 



Lock set intalled



Inside - unlocked

 

Inside - locked


The finished job looks good and works well.  It would not deter a determined thief but may reduce the chances of 'crimes of opportunity'. 

Now, where did I put the key?

On the Lazy River

I have been recently storing Bluster at a tidy little marina on the Pitt River.  What is really great is that I can leave her rigged and ready in the secured lot and then use the adjacent launch ramp to access the river.  The Pitt River is actually fairly short (connecting Pitt Lake to the Fraser River) and does not have much of a current.  What makes both Pitt River and Pitt Lake unique is that, being so close to the sea, they are both affected by the tides.

This past weekend we launched around 0800 hrs and spent a very leisurely cruise up the river to its confluence at the lake.  This is a voyage of about 15 km, the water was flat and the air windless.  We were also experiencing a bit of a heat wave in southwest BC with temperatures into the low 30 degrees.  For the most part the Pitt River is contained by dikes that have turned much of the 'polder' land from swamp to agricultural land.  There is still a great deal of wet lands and we were impressed by the bird life - herons, eagles, ospreys, geese and more.  A prominent little hill along the way is being systematically eroded away by a gravel mine. 

On the chart I noticed a little basin connected to the main river by a tight canal.  With Lisa on the bow we were able to negotiate the weeds to explore its deepest corners. 

At the entrance to the lake proper (Grant Narrows) we finally felt a bit of a northerly wind.  This was our planned turn around for the day so we raised the mainsail and enjoyed a good run down the river.   We used this time to give Bluster a good wipe down of the accumulated storage grim and dust.

Eventually the expected afternoon southerly winds made their appearance so we furled the mainsail and motored back to the ramp, arriving there around 1400 hrs.  It was getting very hot by this time and the river was getting busy with all the power boats and jet skis.   A nice outing and an opportunity to visit an area I have never explored before even though it is almost in my back yard.

Some photos...

Cottages - nice location!

Looking north towards Pitt Lake

Doing the African Queen thing

Picking a route through the weeds

Getting hot

Gravel works off the bow

Getting in a little sailing

Busy but efficient ramp

Iron Wind - Honda 5 hp Outboard

I love my 5 hp BF5 Honda outboard motor.  After ten years of yeoman service this engine has never let me down and fires up on the first or second pull even after sitting for months.  As a lad my brother and I fiddled around with the family collection of ancient and balky 2 stroke Evinrude outboards.  Based on these early experiences I decided during my boat build that if I ever completed the thing I would reward myself with a new four stroke engine.

Shiny and new

The outboard was in fact purchased during the build and I modified the transom to fit it.  This motor comes in  either a regular or long shaft version and I opted for the regular one as the leg, when in the run position, was no deeper than the shoal rudder on the Chebacco.  My thinking for this was that tucked up like this the expensive engine would not be the first part of the boat at the scene of a grounding.  I was concerned that the prop may not be deep enough for maximum efficiency but this has not been the case.  The downside of this is when in reverse the wash is directed onto the rudder and a firm hand is required to keep tiller from slamming over.

Clamped on like it belongs there

The Honda is very miserly in the fuel consumption department and is nice and quiet as well.  One criteria I felt important for the outboard was a remote fuel tank.  I know from experience the limited integrated tank capacity can let you down just when  it is needed if not carefully monitored.  The well between the cockpit and transom I designed to fit two of the 12.5 litre (3 gal) remote tanks.  In practise I only carry one.

The prop was replaced with one more suited to pushing a displacement hull resulting in a half knot speed improvement.  Half throttle pushes Bluster along easily at five knots and opening  it all the way only grain another half knot or so so I rarely go there.

If I realistically looked back on the time spent on the water since launching Bluster back in 2002 as memorable as the sailing times were, we probably spent as much or more time motoring.  Investing in a good outboard, for me, was money well spent.

No wind, no problem