tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51842660755787788182012-01-06T11:05:24.513-05:00Saga of the Shady Lady. Nordic by birth, the chronicle of her half-century saga seems appropriate.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.comBlogger151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-69159824206807661262010-12-29T12:14:00.000-05:002010-12-29T12:14:35.567-05:00

This is the final Shady Lady picture gallery for your enjoyment.  It's been just over a year since we bought her, and 3 months since we sold her.  Those are still two very happy days, buying and selling! 

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-70475051624902937902010-09-16T10:23:00.000-04:002010-09-16T10:23:02.527-04:00

What a summer!  To cap it off, we just sold the Shady Lady.  A fellow from Indianapolis responded to my ad, fishing to see if there was interest, and last Monday, within 48 hours of our first contact, we met in Hessel, took her out for a sail, and concluded the deal.  Bam!  No one is selling boats, especially in the U.P., so this was a remarkable end to quite a story for us.   In the end, we

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-70424085877505521022010-08-11T11:23:00.000-04:002010-08-11T11:23:04.399-04:00

We're settling in to our new home in Hessel Harbor at Mertaugh's Marina.  Not too many live-aboard folks like us, so not too crowded, facilities are nice and the town reminds me of Harbor Springs before it got all monied and snooty.  Lovely looking out our "back porch" (the stern deck) at Marquette Bay and pine trees on the islands.  Quiet and peaceful at night, although I couldn't stay up to

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-75273599130800445772010-08-08T15:49:00.000-04:002010-08-08T15:49:46.701-04:00

Last Thursday's events improved dramatically on Friday.  The storm passed over night and when we got back to the Lady she was happily at anchor where we left her the night before.  Water coming in was only when lots of water came over the deck (spray, she doesn't nose into even 8' waves--very cool).  During Friday's short trip I finished cleaning out the bilge area and had to clean the pump

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-913500995340529972010-08-05T21:41:00.002-04:002010-08-05T21:56:14.476-04:00

 "Steve, is this water supposed to be in the cabin?"  Thus began a several hour side-trip.  Two things, it turned out, combined building up water in the bilge and starting to flood the cabin.  Four miles from land and no suitable safe harbor nearby, in 4-6' waves with heavy spray covering the deck...these are not happy words! We think that heavy spray on the deck (which is not that well

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-73066101965169850102010-08-04T18:04:00.000-04:002010-08-04T18:04:57.422-04:00

No land in sight for about four hours today, a disorienting and fascinating experience.  Just 36' of well-designed wooden boat keeping us afloat and on course.  I have a short panoramic video but have to get it out of the camera yet.  Funny, there is so much to do that there isn't lots of time to mess about with things I used to fill my days with.  Maybe tonight I'll catch up on the pics and vids

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-7538730496554807112010-08-03T21:25:00.000-04:002010-08-03T21:25:41.185-04:00

Today we headed north half the day with SW to W winds about 10 knots so we figured we may as well sail, since we took the classes.  The Shady Lady is a sweet sailing boat, I think (what do I know?).  Always seems in control, although it's still confusing how to trim the sails for maximum benefit.  Thanks to Alan's Annapolis book on seamanship, I can read up at night and give it a try tomorrow. 

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-88385458671897701652010-08-03T10:01:00.001-04:002010-08-03T10:01:22.234-04:00

After excellent mechanic work we made Harbor Beach last night.  Turns out the throttle cable was not secure so the whole mechanism shifted around.  Worked like a charm.  One exciting event yesterday.  I idly watched a 6' long, 1-2' diameter floating log pass our starboard side about six feet off.  WTF!?!?  Glad it was lined up with the boat and not sideways and that we missed it!  Oy... Today is

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-41828828108044426642010-08-02T10:35:00.001-04:002010-08-02T10:35:54.085-04:00

Dateline, Monday, Aug. 2, Port Sanilac.  Looks like the folks in the marina know their stuff.  Talked to mechanic and he'll be over before or after lunch.  So maybe make Harbor Beach tonight.  Then...possible thunderstorms tomorrow and Weds. for the crossing of Saginaw Bay.  Have to watch that and see what the universe offers.  A pleasant breakfast, phone call from Bob checking on us and some

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-3651242471164699782010-08-02T10:31:00.002-04:002010-08-02T10:33:43.883-04:00

SUNDAY, AUG. 1.  STILL UPRIGHT.  Winds light out of the S-SW today, under sunny skies.  Not much trouble getting up river past Pt. Huron, although the current is very swift there.  Shallower on the inside of the curve there, the Canadian side, so we followed other boats (lots of Sunday boaters out!) and made it just fine.  All of a sudden there was nothing but open water in front of us, Lake

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-57042235711625284212010-07-28T23:18:00.003-04:002010-07-28T23:28:11.425-04:00

Hot diggity!  Today was a red-letter day: the mast was stepped and the engine went through its first start-up of the season.  Last things first, only minor snafus with the engine and it was off and running.  Terry has an expert's feel for the system, where a valve might be closed that should be open, seeing right away that an exhaust hose had come off.  He did a great job explaining the whole

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-39623935761592835692010-07-23T22:34:00.005-04:002010-07-23T22:46:09.249-04:00

 Today was a working day with lots of "two steps forward, one step back" action.  At least that's progress.  Our Universal 4-cyl engine (above) is in great shape, overall, but it needs some tune-up action.  Terry Mahoney and his guy, Jason, spent time on her but couldn't start her.  The had to pull the distributor and take it to their shop for some bench time.  Classic old-school tune-up action,

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-19607561535287744562010-07-18T19:11:00.004-04:002010-07-23T22:42:27.051-04:00

Dateline, Lake St. Clair (June 5-7, 2010).  Carol at the helm of the Windependent, a 30' Catalina, our sailing-school boat.  Our two classmates are in the forground, with Captain Dave (back left) and Captain Tim (back right), both of the Fair Wind Sailing School.  A great experience, three days on the water with at-dock studies and tests.  We passed both courses, Learn to Sail and Basic Coastal

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-30547085643229518142010-07-14T15:52:00.004-04:002010-07-14T16:02:04.520-04:00

Big day Monday as she took the five mile trip overland to Gary Snider's Clinton River shop (more wonderful service, thanks, Gary!).  She went in the slings and in the water and started leaking like a sieve, just like she's supposed to.  By today she is taking on very little water, so the planks are swelling up nicely.  First time I've seen the Shady Lady in the water and it was great!  Gary put

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184266075578778818.post-39918618400802259892010-07-12T21:13:00.002-04:002010-07-13T10:55:26.141-04:00

Middle of July and we're stilling working on the Shady Lady. This week we hope to get her bottom wet, then a couple of days in the straps while the planks soak and swell (and the bilge pump runs!). Then we can step the mast, find the sails, etc., and motor down the Clinton River to Lake St. Clair for our first sail! There will be pictures...good and "oops!" Built in 1958 in the Nouway boatyard

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10596925887325488986noreply@blogger.com0