Gratitude
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 33
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-248 C
- Hull Identification Number
- fmlt2531e708
We named our Tug Gratitude because life has been good to us even though we live on modest means. This weekend I learned again what I already know how grateful I am to have the privilege of being able to access the waters of the Great Northwest.
I just came off a stunning weekend. Friday, I left with a good friend who is a diesel mechanic for the Redmond Fire Department. We departed from Des Moines at 9:00 a.m. and headed down to Eld Inlet near Olympia. It was a Five Star Day with mirror like water and Mt. Rainier in all her glory. It took us only four hours with an opposing tide.
The purpose of the trip was a board of directors meeting in a member's family cabin. Cabin far nicer than my house.
Saturday with white caps forming we headed back home. It was equally beautiful but in an entirely different way. The clouds were right down on the deck making it quite ethereal and mystical. We could always see land but it was shrouded in clouds. The winds were building from the South to about 25 knots. We faced an opposing tide which was ferocious when we went through the Tacoma Narrows. The boat slowed to 3.9 knots at the low point with six foot waves boiling around us. Holes would open up in the boil that were the size of the boat. I had it on auto pilot and two of us stood right in the center line of the boat enjoying every minute of it. The boat was sound and the engine was doing due diligence at 2800 rpm.
Two very different days and each equally thrilling. The boat once again proved to be worthy of my respect for it.
The only challenge I had was trying to reset the anchor on Saturday morning. I dragged anchor a couple of feet over night and with the winds coming up wanted to be sure I had secure anchor for the day. I tried to set it at high tide and wanted to be a bit closer to shore to save my time in my dink.
Try as I might I could not get the anchor to bite. The wind was blowing and the current running strong. Finally I abandoned my efforts and managed to tie off to a neighbors buoy.
I continue to learn something every time I go out. I don't recommend challenging the weather but I was grateful to see how well the boat performed knowing that if I get caught off guard the boat has the ability to reach safe port.
We heard one or perhaps two "man over board" reports. If I were to retrace the weekend I would have either worn my inflatable or had the life jackets more readily available rather than stowed in the mid berth. I would rather be safe than sorry.
Owning a boat for our household really is pushing our limits but you can't put a price tag on the experience of this last weekend. I have buried 9 people in the last 18 months who were 50 or younger (I am a Lutheran pastor). I can say for sure that in my life time a great number of the high points have been on the water. It doesn't pencil out financially but it sure does when it comes to be life giving.
I sure hope we can hang on and get through this recession. We may have to pull our boat out of the Marina which has been a real luxury. I hate to lose the easy access. We are like many of you taking it one day at a time and taking every advantage we have of getting out on the water.
One grateful guy.
I just came off a stunning weekend. Friday, I left with a good friend who is a diesel mechanic for the Redmond Fire Department. We departed from Des Moines at 9:00 a.m. and headed down to Eld Inlet near Olympia. It was a Five Star Day with mirror like water and Mt. Rainier in all her glory. It took us only four hours with an opposing tide.
The purpose of the trip was a board of directors meeting in a member's family cabin. Cabin far nicer than my house.
Saturday with white caps forming we headed back home. It was equally beautiful but in an entirely different way. The clouds were right down on the deck making it quite ethereal and mystical. We could always see land but it was shrouded in clouds. The winds were building from the South to about 25 knots. We faced an opposing tide which was ferocious when we went through the Tacoma Narrows. The boat slowed to 3.9 knots at the low point with six foot waves boiling around us. Holes would open up in the boil that were the size of the boat. I had it on auto pilot and two of us stood right in the center line of the boat enjoying every minute of it. The boat was sound and the engine was doing due diligence at 2800 rpm.
Two very different days and each equally thrilling. The boat once again proved to be worthy of my respect for it.
The only challenge I had was trying to reset the anchor on Saturday morning. I dragged anchor a couple of feet over night and with the winds coming up wanted to be sure I had secure anchor for the day. I tried to set it at high tide and wanted to be a bit closer to shore to save my time in my dink.
Try as I might I could not get the anchor to bite. The wind was blowing and the current running strong. Finally I abandoned my efforts and managed to tie off to a neighbors buoy.
I continue to learn something every time I go out. I don't recommend challenging the weather but I was grateful to see how well the boat performed knowing that if I get caught off guard the boat has the ability to reach safe port.
We heard one or perhaps two "man over board" reports. If I were to retrace the weekend I would have either worn my inflatable or had the life jackets more readily available rather than stowed in the mid berth. I would rather be safe than sorry.
Owning a boat for our household really is pushing our limits but you can't put a price tag on the experience of this last weekend. I have buried 9 people in the last 18 months who were 50 or younger (I am a Lutheran pastor). I can say for sure that in my life time a great number of the high points have been on the water. It doesn't pencil out financially but it sure does when it comes to be life giving.
I sure hope we can hang on and get through this recession. We may have to pull our boat out of the Marina which has been a real luxury. I hate to lose the easy access. We are like many of you taking it one day at a time and taking every advantage we have of getting out on the water.
One grateful guy.
