When it comes to boy toys (and boats in particular) the tendency is to consider that bigger is better. 

The last couple of days has reminded me of the fallacy of that argument.  We hauled Silver Lining home a couple of weeks ago to get her cleaned up and to finish several neglected projects before the 2013 cruising season. 

While getting her pulled out and transported home wasn’t a problem, we had forgotten just how heavy a 30hp 4 stroke outboard could be (260lbs in our case) – getting it off the transom was a major deal for the two old coots working on it.  Once that was done, I updated the mount (as planned 3 years ago) and replaced the ballast drain valve with one I can operate from the safety and comfort of the cockpit instead of by hanging over the transom. Re-installing the motor made the removal look like a cake walk but we finally managed without too much bloodshed.  Now, the valve works easily and smoothly and the motor is mounted on a rock solid base.

Next step:  Empty the boat so working inside is easier.  Ahh, remember the bigger is better comment?  You can actually get several tons of stuff inside a MacGregor 19.  Yep, TONS!  It took Mary and I all day to empty out the boat of all the “I may need that” stuff.  Enough life jackets for a fleet, paddles, boat hooks, fenders, a few miles of line, sails, cushions (and cushions and cushions and cushions), anchors, rhodes, binoculars, portable radios and gps units, porta john, paper towels, cooler, battery charger, extension cord, fans, charts, maps, owners manuals, binoculars, plates, glasses, silver, serving pieces, pots, pans (the kitchen sink stays put).  Of course there was 3 of everything (see cushions for more than 3) and we dutifully dragged it all out and tried to find a place to store it all for the next couple of months.  No wonder the trailer tires protested when we pulled the boat out of the lake, if you are in need of tires, find tires here.  We had enough stuff aboard for a world cruise.  An entire day of emptying out little 19 foot boat!

Take a day off to recover.

Next Step: Wash it down.  Anyone who doesn’t own a boat might think that something left afloat in a nice clean lake might, itself, be fairly clean itself – NO WAY!  The bottom grows hair (at least it looks that way) and the top of our white boat was actually black.  It didn’t look black until the first swipe with a pressure washed revealed a light streak.  Another whole day pressure washing and scrubbing and then repeating it again.  This boat is about as big outside as a car but it takes 6 times as long to wash it.  Again, bigger is not better.  The boat is pretty though.

Take a day off to recover.

Still lots to do – stay tuned for the further adventures of Captain Richard and his 19 foot yacht.