We have been on the hard for a long time this year. The boat was at Ross Marine docks on January 20th. It was on the hard a week later. We had a lot of work that we wanted done; if you have read some of the other postings you know. After a while a bad notion creeps into your thought processes. It goes something like this, “Since I have been out of the water this long why don’t you fix this next thing.”
Trust me there is always something else to fix. The yard gets stickier and stickier. In the time you are waiting more stuff breaks and needs fixing. While I was waiting to get out and hurricane or two passed by. The resulting flood destroyed my radar. Fun.
For some unknown reason, a boat that sits and does nothing breaks. And you just have to leave. We finally did. Not everything is perfect or even done. But at least we are using her and getting reacquainted. I cannot begin to tell you how awesome it felt to motor away from the courtesy dock at Ross Marine. I was nervous and happy at the same time.
But a boat changes while its on the hard for a long time. Anyone that has had boats will know. The performance may not change, but the sounds definitely do. So now I begin the process of learning her new sounds. Until then, every small creak sends more rummaging through lockers listening, hunting. After a few more nights on her, I should adjust.