2025-06-05 Up the mast, down the mast, and repeat - more time in Portsmouth

Monday we took the bus to Lowes.  There is a main bus hub less than 1/2 mile from the dinghy dock, which makes it super convenient to get to many places in Portsmouth.  Bus is $2 per person, so not too bad.

Decent buses, clean and not too full

Lots of very pretty lilac bushes/trees in the area.  Smell wonderful and very pretty in full bloom

We needed some longer bolts, and some PVC pipe to build a support for the new anchor light, having lost the old one, and since the old one was no longer made we could not purchase a direct replacement that would easily mount - of course - so had to build a custom support.   

Got hungry, and had time to kill before the next bus came after our Lowes shopping, so tried a new place called "Cook Out".  We have seen a lot of these in the Southeast, but had never eaten there.  Burgers were good, fries only so-so.    

Back at the boat, Dean got all the tools together and Kris hoisted him up the mast - so happy we have an electric winch - it makes taking someone up the mast an easy task.   Unfortunately, when he went to hook up the new anchor light, he found that the wires coming out the top of the mast, which he had tied in place, had managed to slip through the line and had disappeared into the mast.  He did get the new Raymarine wind vane installed though, and it worked right away, so that was a win.

Large hole where the wires were, no wires. 

So - now what.   We have a 24" flexible grabber, so he took that up the mast to grab the wires - no luck.  Next trip he took up the flexible endoscope he could put in the hole to see where the wires were.  He could see them, but could not get the flexible grabber to reach them.  Part of the problem is the hole where the wires come out was not in line with the small PVC tube that holds our wires in the mast.  So decided to drill a hole directly over the PVC tube to reach the wires.  So back up the mast, with drill and drilled a hole.  Then down again and back up with the grabber and scope.   No luck.  Then a modified hook on the end of the scope, but not strong enough.    Between Monday and Tuesday, he made about 10 trips up and down the mast.   Kris's hand were getting raw from the lines, so she even put on sailing gloves as when you let someone down the mast, the lines slide through your hands, and it is a slow-controlled slide, but still burns a bit after 10 trips.  Deans legs were getting sore from death gripping the mast while trying to work at the top, as any little wake at boat level is amplified at mast top - so he had to grip with his legs around the mast.

Dean up the mast

Tuesday we ordered a longer gripper off of Amazon - that would arrive on Wednesday.   We walked up on Wednesday, picked it up.  Dean went up the mast, reached in the hole and got the wires.  So simple 😂  By the end of day Wednesday, the new anchor light was mounted and working.

New anchor/tricolor light mounted on "custom" PVC base.

Another project for the week was the dinghy.  It was leaking again on the patch over the bullet hole.   We decided the one part glue just was not working well, and we were running out of patch material as well.  Kris found a place online nearby called East Coast Inflatables that said they did repairs.  What a lucky find.  The guy came to our boat the same day - in his center console runabout - patched the lead with a two part adhesive, had thick patch material, and did not accept money until two days later when the patch was proven and not leaking.  All for only $200.  Super happy with his service.  We could have got more patch material - but shipping two part adhesives - dangerous chemicals is not permitted to Amazon lockers, so it would have been difficult for us to get the supplies needed.

The other project for the week was working on the new mainsail cover.  Kris's back was feeling good enough that she could work hunched over for short periods.  The mainsail cover is going about as well as the anchor light project, and as much un-sewing as sewing has been occurring.  It is also a pain to work on a 16' long by 12' wide project, when your workspace is only about 6' x 5'.

Kris working on mainsail cover.

So it was not all work and no play.  We went out for a nice dinner Tuesday night at a local Mexican restaurant, which was quite tasty.  

Mexican restaurant "Guads" in old historic building

We have enjoyed our walks to the bus station, and the Amazon locker, seeing new sights in downtown Portsmouth.  There are quite a few murals in Portsmouth.

It is also entertaining to watch the ship traffic, a combination of pleasure boats, cruise ships, and large ships with tug escorts.

Have had rain off and on, keeping temperatures cooler, which is nice.  Using the rain catchment, we have not had to run our water maker in the last two weeks, and have done a couple loads of laundry as well.  There is also enough sun that are batteries are staying up as well.

Water catch still working well, keeping tanks topped off.

Kris is still having chiropractic appointments 8 times a week, and getting better, so that is good.  She was able to walk 3 miles to the grocery store on Saturday, and take the bus back without being exhausted at the end of the trip.

We will spend the rest of the week here, more chiropractor appointments, and working on the mainsail cover.  We thought we would be sick of the area, but surprisingly it has been a great spot to spend a bit of time.

View of the anchorage - dark clouds coming in - more rain coming.

Nice sunset over Hospital point