Drove up to port Dover today. This is just east of Long Point on Lake Erie. Liz and I checked out this 42 foot Niagara. Nice vessel but the price $135,000 is steep for what you get.

My other problem is with the old style of stern on this vessel. (Fan tail???) The name escapes me but basically, from the binnacle back the hull is out of the water. This may look "Yachty" but it costs you valuable space on-board and decreases your waterline. That translates to speed. We will keep looking. The name 'JULY INDIAN" is from a song up in Rainbow country. Basically it is what first nations people call tourists who turn red during their vacations up there. 

 First sail of the season. Shake down trip across Lake St.Clair to Harsons Island on the St.Clair river.
We are getting better. A few rough tacks but other than that we did OK. Liz is trimming the sails by herself . Go Liz!

This is our Marina (I took this shot from our Gulfstream jet) Yes I am BS'ing.

 Worked all week on the beast. I planned on moving it up the Detroit river to my slip on Sunday but a big front was coming in on Sunday so I got everything done on Friday while the boat was still on the stands. They dropped it on Saturday morning and after checking everything over Liz and I cruised up the river.

 The current was running at 2 knots against me but the wind was abeam so I raised the jib. We were moving at 3 knots. With the jib we hit 4.2 knots.
We passed several Homeland security boats and saw several of their cars along the US shoreline. Then a helicopter buzzed us. We saw two big coast guard RIBS with mounts at the bow for 50 caliber machine guns. The border is becoming very militarized on the American side. Sad.

 Well, three straight days of cleaning, compounding and waxing with heavy paste wax. Followed up with a lambs wool bonnet buffing. She looks great. There are a few spots at the bottom of the keel that had to be faired, thanks to the lack of water in the great lakes, but not too bad! One more coat of VC-17 tomorrow. Oil change ( I change it in the fall with cheap 10W-30. I leave the old oil filter on. In the spring I run it for a few minutes then pull the oil and filter)I pour in the good stuff and it ends up being 
much cleaner and staying clean.

 New instrument pod coming along.

There was some kind of 6 inch vent here, long gone.
I replaced it with this clear cover but plan on adding a proper vent or maybe a dorade. That hatch in the background is on death watch. Looking for a replacement. The water heater works from engine heat but no longer from an electric source. Last year it did but had to be watched because the thermostat was shot. That's going to have to be replaced. After that the refrigeration unit will be replaced. This stuff gave good service but 1984 was a long time ago.
After that I think I am good. HA HA... yeah I know.