The Adventures of Capt'n Jim!

After the recent installation of the bevel adapter for the new furnace flue.  I had to reinstall the plastic grab rails.  Unfortunately, one of the mounting holes was now covered by the bevel adapter, so I had to split the grabrail into two pieces, and reshape it.  I think it came out OK... I am bedding everything with Butyl Rubber, and the recent sleet storm tested it with no leaks found.  while working on Via Mente in my front yard, it is so cold, and the times it is warm enough to do anything outside are few and far between.... I spend a lot of time reminiscing.... Here was a fun day. November of 2016 Sailing back from Marco Island to St James City.

 It was cold here in Maine this last weekend.  Temps down to negative 16 around the house, and windchills into the minus 50s.  The water pipe feeding the house froze in the middle of the night, woke Saturday at 3am to no water.  I dug out the ice from in front of the access. and started running my space heater under the house.   when there was enough light to work, I moved to the other side of the house to get closer to the problem area.  once I thawed out the plumbing, the water meter started spraying out everywhere.  It had cracked from ice.  I crawled thru the rapidly growing puddle and shut off the valve.  My coverall was frozen stiff by the time I got back inside the house... I'm sure there were dozens if not hundreds of similar stories all over the region, BUT, no lie.... On a Saturday morning, Maine Water in Bucksport was there to replace my meter in less than an hour after my call.  Hot Showers for Everyone! ...But back to the boat.   After my install and test of a fantasti