Aground?

We have run aground!  But we did it on purpose.  Yup, that’s right, we beached the boat this morning on Eagle Island using three anchors because Michael plans to adjust the J prop (propeller) pitch from #10 to #9.  The reason we want perfect pitch is that the correct pitch helps maximize the efficiency of our motor and avoid damage.  You are all wondering now, “How did the pitch get screwed up in the first place?”  It’s not entirely clear, but it may have had something to do with the re-installation process that took place in the New York winter.  Back then, the idea was to put the damn thing together before Michael’s fingers froze off.  He thinks he may have rushed it a bit.  Regardless, the pitch adjustment cone loosened, causing the propeller blades to rotate freely in the wrong direction.  Now the adjustment cone is back in place, but one last tweak is required.

On land, I can only equate this situation to Zachary getting a flat tire last week.  No doubt it was a pain in the ass to get that tire fixed, but when it was all said and done, he was happy, because he learned something new and it was an adventure.  So you know how a car can’t move with a really flat tire?  Guess what?  A boat can’t move under power without its’ propeller blades functioning!  

Let’s backtrack about two weeks and cover the highlights.  It rained and rained in beautiful Perry Creek, but when the sun did come out the anchorage was special.

With the clear sky, we sailed to Rockland to run some landlubber errands (laundry, grocery, Home Depot, Hamilton Marine).

And, celebrated our one-month of cruising anniversary. We had blueberry beer (only in Maine!) to toast the occasion.

Then we motored to Rockport, famous for the “Rockport roll.”  Rockport Harbor has no protection from the prevailing southerly ocean swell.  Use your imagination.  Regardless of the roll, we really enjoyed Rockport.  It had great walking, ice-cream, and dogs, so it met all of our basic requirements for a good town.

Next, we arrived in Camden, where we treated ourselves to a mooring (typically we anchor, but in Camden, most boats moor) and along with the mooring at Lymon Morse came a courtesy car.  A car! It had been five weeks since we had been in a car!

We laughed because we didn’t miss it, but we’re not stupid, so we took advantage and bought a bunch of heavy stuff at Hannafords Grocery.  After all, we were preparing for our guests.

Yay! guests!  Andy and Ellie brought the sunshine with them. 

Things were so great in Pulpit Harbor that it’s hard to believe how this blog started.  They were superb guests, meaning we love them, they didn’t think we were too weird and they didn’t vomit.  The highlight for me was when we found the treasure map that led to the oyster hunt. 

I don’t even like oysters, but Andy and Ellie were all in!  The quest involved an unchartered dinghy ride, a slug through the mud, and a race against time as the tide was running out. In the end, the girls found it! A treasure chest that resembled an old refrigerator filled with oysters and clams!

Sun-drenched and exhausted our plan was to settle down in the cockpit for happy hour, but we realized we had anchored a smidgen too close to a newly moored boat.  It’s no big deal to just scooch over a little bit in a calm harbor, so we hoisted the anchor and voila!  We have no propulsion forward or backward and we’re drifting!

All the credit goes to Michael, who remained cool as a cucumber during a series of events that kept Gerty safe.  One, drop anchor.  Two, rig outboard onto Gerty.

Three, assign crew: Andy on outboard, Jill at helm, Ellie at lookout, Michael at anchor.  Four, move boat to safe area and drop anchor again.  Five, don wetsuit, swim in freezing cold water, assess problem.  Six, drink beer, eat oysters and clams, consider problem.

Here’s the great thing- Gerty is a sailboat.  You guessed it, we sailed to Camden, dropped off Ellie & Andy, and hauled her out for a look-see. 

Bill (nicest boat mechanic ever) and Michael reattached the pitch adjustment cone and set the pitch to ten, as this was their best guess at the right pitch and everyone in France, where Gerty comes from, was asleep.

Michael knew the pitch was off as soon as she was back in the water, but the prop was functional.  All we had to do was dry out somewhere else (aka, somewhere free) and tweak the pitch to #9. We found a spot over the rainbow.

Michael says that our first dry out attempt was unsuccessful.  I disagree.  While it’s true, the ground at Dark Harbor, Islesboro was so soft that Gerty’s J-prop sank into the mud so that Michael couldn’t access it,  I had the terrific job of power washing my husband! 

If you can get your hands on a good boatyard hose ladies, I highly recommend this.  I love the guy to pieces, but there’s no denying that this experience was oddly therapeutic.

In the time it took to write this, Michael adjusted the pitch and the tide has risen, so we’re free again to sail the seas.