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After trailering the boat for almost two years I decided that I just wasn't getting to use the boat enough. Given my location in Chesapeake it was 45 minutes to an hour each way to a ramp. It always took me at least an hour to set up. So about four hours of every outing was setting up and taking down the boat. I decided to try a slip and see how I liked that.
The cheapest and most convenient one that I could find was Nautical Boats marina in Portsmouth on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River, just west of the West Norfolk bridge. The slip was $85 per month but it turned out to be some of the best money I've ever spent. Once I got into the swing of things it would only take me about 15 minutes to get underway when I reached the boat. The slip was also a little closer than the ramps I was using and only took me about 30 minutes to get to it. So, the non-water time for each trip went from four hours to 90 minutes! AND, since getting underway was so much less stressful I was going out much more often. The short little evening sails were the best!
In anticipation of arriving at the new marina, Dad and I went out earlier in the day and practiced our docking techniques. I had used milk bottles anchored by lines tied to rock to simulate the four corners of the posts of our slip. Then I spent about two hours practicing approaches and docking. It was really hot, we found out later that the temperature was 101 degrees! Luckily there was a nice breeze on the water so it didn't feel too awfully bad.
After lunch, a line of storms came through and Kerrie, David and I went back to the marina at about 6PM and went out for about an hour and a half. I wanted Kerrie to see the sunset from the water but it was too cloudy and we didn't get a very pretty sunset. However, Kerrie and David had a good time so the cruise was a success.
Since I was now using the boat so much more often it trip was not a major event and I have stopped logging every cruise. Now I am logging only the "significant" cruises .
Our first outing on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River
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This page last updated on 1/29/2012 6:49:35 AM. If you have comments or suggestions, email me at webmaster@jscheetz.com