I'm Back!

It has been a long time since my last entry as I have been busy with the new job protecting and keeping Lake Michigan clean! We have spent the last two weekends getting the B'haven ready for this season. The bottom is painted, the hull is waxed and she is ready to go, now if only Mother Nature will cooperate, we have been in a stretch of very shitty weather. For a few days it is sunny and in the 60's to 70's and then it is raining and in the 30's. Springtime in Wisconsin! there is no better.........................We plan on launching on May 2nd no matter the weather and have not missed a launch day yet. See you on the water and drop us a line.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Friday, September 19th, is the annual "Talk Like a Pirate Day", so all you wanna be pirates out there, have a good one. http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Live Aboard while at home!

Live Aboard Your Boat While At Home

1. Sleep on the shelf in your closet.
2. Replace the closet door with a curtain.
3. Four hours after you go to sleep, have your wife whip open the curtain, shine a flashlight in your eyes, and mumble: "Your watch!".
4. Put a wall across the middle of your bathtub and move the shower head down to chest level.
5. When taking showers, shut off the water while soaping.
6. Put lube oil in your humidifier instead of water and set it to high.
7. If your basement floods, during a sudden thaw, go down and start bailing.
8. Bring inside some type of gas motor (lawn mower, garden tiller, etc), start, and leave running while trying to listen to favorite CD, or having an in-depth conversation.
9. If the wind, outside, is howling, race around the house to make sure all windows and doors are secure. At night, everyone takes a turn on 'watch'.
10. Place all none edible garbage in small plastic bags, and store in other half of tub (edible garbage to be thrown out the window).
11. Wake up at midnight and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stale bread. Cold canned ravioli or soup, is optional.
12. Make up your family menu a week ahead of time without looking in the pantry, 'fridge, or freezer.
13. Once a month, pick a major appliance, take it completely apart, and put it back together.
14. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot, and allow it to sit for 5 to 6 hours before drinking.
15. Put a fluorescent light under the coffee table, and lay there to read a book.
16. Every so often, throw the cat in the tub (hot tub, large sink, etc.) and shout, "Man overboard!".
17. Run into the kitchen and sweep all the pots/pans/dishes off of the counter onto the floor, then yell at the wife for not having the place "stowed for sea."
18. With every major windshift, have your alarm go off so you can reset your address.
19. Periodically throw some sand about the house.
20. Cut two legs shorter on each chair.
21. During a thunderstorm, wake up - go to the front porch - throw a bucket of cold water in your face - go back to bed.

First Race of the 2008 Season

On Friday, July 18th we finally mustered a crew and made it to the race course. The course for the night was our middle distance race, from a start just north of the Main Gap to the South Shore Bell Buoy and back. The conditions for the race were iffy from shore as there was no wind and it was hot, as soon as we motored through the North Gap, we found a cool SSE wind blowing at about 10 knots and calm seas. We had a good start, third over the line and held our way during the race and maintained a second place position in our division until the moment when we were about 1/2 mile from the finish and the wind stopped! We bobbed on the lake for about 30 minutes with the other boats, not making any headway and watching our masthead fly going around in circles trying to catch any semblence of a puff or breeze with no success. We finally decided to start up the iron genny and crossed the finish line under power to at least say that we finished the race. Shortly after, the committee called the race and all boats that were stuck in the calm (along with the B'haven), were awarded DNF's for the night. Still, a night on the lake beats a day at work anytime! Thanks to the crew of Katlyn, Hayden, and Dave for making the night a success.

For your enjoyment

From "What's A Hoy?" by Cap'n Drew Brown
Ten Boating Phrases That Sound Dirty, But Really Aren't1. "You really should see his Johnson"2. "She'll always bring you home"3. "I'm having a party down below"4. "She just let fly"5. "Pull this"6. "She gives a pretty bumpy ride"7. "Reach underneath and see what you feel"8. "She rides great when she lays down flat"9. "I think there's a problem with my lower unit"10. "She's holding a lot of water lately"

Newest B'haven racing crew member!

Congratulations to Laura and Jeff and the birth of the newest crew member to the B'haven racing team, Jackson Jon Stollenwerk. Jackson was born this morning and mom and dad and little Jackson are doing great.

April 29, 2008

It has been awhile since my last post and the time has been spent waiting for good weather to get the B'haven ready for launch. The weather has been our typical Wisconsin weather, upper 70's one day and then back into the 30's the next. In spite of this, I have been able to get the boat ready. The hull is waxed; the bottom has a new coat of VC-17; and the topsides have been cleaned of the winter grime from being on the hard. We rigged the sails on Sunday and set the dodger to keep the cold winds away and are ready for May 1st. That glorious day when we technically enter into another boating season and launch the B'haven. Of course, being in the water does not necessarily mean boating season has begun, especially for any of you that have or currently live in the great state of Wisconsin. It is only a hint of what is to come.....