Weekend boat adventures [rowing]
May. 20th, 2024 10:16 amSaturday: The boathouse projects are neverending. When we installed our docks this year, we experimented by repositioning them further to the south. One of the consequences of this is that the metal stiffarms that we use to attach the docks to the bulkhead needed to be adjusted to the correct length. Up until Saturday, we were operating our docks with only 3 out of the 4 stiffarms, because the fourth one was about 6 inches too long.
We are incredibly fortunate as a club, because one of our longtime rower parents essentially has a full tool shop in the back of his truck, for his professional work.
He often has a hectic schedule, but we managed to get schedules to align on Saturday morning, which meant we could cut down and install a new stiffarm.
It's the one towards the center of this photo:
He also has a battery-operated angle grinder, which came in handy for the purpose of cutting down two overly-long bolts so they are less of a trip hazard now. I have a combination of angle grinderfearrespect and envy.
Recently, we have been having problems with our safety launch trailer tow dollies. This has led to a whole bunch of back-and-forth on the subject. I was elated to learn that I was wrong about an important thing about the two dollies, in that it turns out it IS possible to get replacement wheels for them, you just also have to get the appropriate axle adapters for a particular tow dolly's axle size. The best thing about this is that when we need to replace wheels, we can get the kind that are solid instead of pneumatic/inflatable, and they should hold up better for our usage.
In the meantime, I assembled a spare one, which makes everyone's life easier and safer:
Sunday: On Sunday morning, while we drank our coffee,![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
scrottie and I had some discussion about what to do that day. I had put a Post-it note in my calendar for May that said "Sailing," but Sunday didn't seem especially windy. So instead we decided to traipse (i.e. drive) down to the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY. I've been wanting to visit this museum for a while now, to learn more about the history of the river and boating on the river.
In addition to that, some time ago while working to get a sense of the scope of work of building and transporting an Annapolis Wherry double, I had encountered a video by someone who described what the process was like, and she happened to be local to Kingston. I wasn't sure whether things would work out or not, but I figured I'd better at least try to see if I could meet up with her and learn a little more about what it's like to haul these wooden doubles.
To my delight, she replied immediately and was available to meet up!
scrottie can tell you, whenever two rowers meet up, beware, because that's going to precipitate a whole bunch of jibber-jabber about rowing. Thankfully, while we jibber-jabbered, he had a chance to befriend the sweetest, most lowly chihuahua you've ever seen in your life: an elderly stray with only one eye who definitely needs to be snuggled and scritched constantly. And then our newfound friend went another step above and beyond and served up some delicious and much-needed coffee!
Here's a quick look at the inside of her wherry, which she is still working on because it needs sanding and a couple more coats of finish:
S was surprised by how heavy the boat was; I wasn't too surprised about that, but found it helpful to have a direct feel for its overall length and mass, and seeing it confirmed my desire to build one. I do think we're making the right decision to tow it with a trailer rather than trying to cartop it on the Mazda2. So I am incredibly grateful and relieved to have learned these things.
And then, the museum. But really, the Rondout River waterfront in Kingston, plus an awesome tour of the Rondout Lighthouse. We saw so much that I just cannot even summarize. Maybe I can offer a small taste with some photos instead. You should just go visit it all for yourself one of these days.
All kinds of boats, including more than a couple fixer-uppers:
Wooden Boatbuilding school!
Our lighthouse ferry, a fully solar-powered boat called the Solaris, mid-picture:
Entertaining wreckage:
S says this derelict crane had a sign hanging on it that said, "Does your rigging need work? Call ______." Hilarious. That's in addition to it hosting an osprey nest at the top.
Glorious Rondout lighthouse:
No Fresnel lens, but at least some glorious lighthouse views, including us.
On the tour, we very randomly bumped into a rower and coach acquaintance! Oh no, more endless conversations about rowing! Well, the ferry trip wasn't infinitely long, so everyone was spared.
How do you get an authentic Dutch canal boat from the Netherlands to the USA? Why, you weld it onto the side of a container ship, that's how! (!!!!!!)
The museum had a genuine George Pocock single hanging up inside:
And also one of the more interesting styles of sliding-seat rowing boats I've ever seen:
This is apparently a training/learn-to-row boat, which is apparently supposed to explain the flared-out gunwhales and lack of outriggers.
I wish I could bottle up this past weekend, so on some later dark and dismal day, I can uncork that bottle and savor the days all over again.
We are incredibly fortunate as a club, because one of our longtime rower parents essentially has a full tool shop in the back of his truck, for his professional work.
He often has a hectic schedule, but we managed to get schedules to align on Saturday morning, which meant we could cut down and install a new stiffarm.
It's the one towards the center of this photo:
He also has a battery-operated angle grinder, which came in handy for the purpose of cutting down two overly-long bolts so they are less of a trip hazard now. I have a combination of angle grinder
Recently, we have been having problems with our safety launch trailer tow dollies. This has led to a whole bunch of back-and-forth on the subject. I was elated to learn that I was wrong about an important thing about the two dollies, in that it turns out it IS possible to get replacement wheels for them, you just also have to get the appropriate axle adapters for a particular tow dolly's axle size. The best thing about this is that when we need to replace wheels, we can get the kind that are solid instead of pneumatic/inflatable, and they should hold up better for our usage.
In the meantime, I assembled a spare one, which makes everyone's life easier and safer:
Sunday: On Sunday morning, while we drank our coffee,
scrottie and I had some discussion about what to do that day. I had put a Post-it note in my calendar for May that said "Sailing," but Sunday didn't seem especially windy. So instead we decided to traipse (i.e. drive) down to the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY. I've been wanting to visit this museum for a while now, to learn more about the history of the river and boating on the river.In addition to that, some time ago while working to get a sense of the scope of work of building and transporting an Annapolis Wherry double, I had encountered a video by someone who described what the process was like, and she happened to be local to Kingston. I wasn't sure whether things would work out or not, but I figured I'd better at least try to see if I could meet up with her and learn a little more about what it's like to haul these wooden doubles.
To my delight, she replied immediately and was available to meet up!
scrottie can tell you, whenever two rowers meet up, beware, because that's going to precipitate a whole bunch of jibber-jabber about rowing. Thankfully, while we jibber-jabbered, he had a chance to befriend the sweetest, most lowly chihuahua you've ever seen in your life: an elderly stray with only one eye who definitely needs to be snuggled and scritched constantly. And then our newfound friend went another step above and beyond and served up some delicious and much-needed coffee!Here's a quick look at the inside of her wherry, which she is still working on because it needs sanding and a couple more coats of finish:
S was surprised by how heavy the boat was; I wasn't too surprised about that, but found it helpful to have a direct feel for its overall length and mass, and seeing it confirmed my desire to build one. I do think we're making the right decision to tow it with a trailer rather than trying to cartop it on the Mazda2. So I am incredibly grateful and relieved to have learned these things.
And then, the museum. But really, the Rondout River waterfront in Kingston, plus an awesome tour of the Rondout Lighthouse. We saw so much that I just cannot even summarize. Maybe I can offer a small taste with some photos instead. You should just go visit it all for yourself one of these days.
All kinds of boats, including more than a couple fixer-uppers:
Wooden Boatbuilding school!
Our lighthouse ferry, a fully solar-powered boat called the Solaris, mid-picture:
Entertaining wreckage:
S says this derelict crane had a sign hanging on it that said, "Does your rigging need work? Call ______." Hilarious. That's in addition to it hosting an osprey nest at the top.
Glorious Rondout lighthouse:
No Fresnel lens, but at least some glorious lighthouse views, including us.
On the tour, we very randomly bumped into a rower and coach acquaintance! Oh no, more endless conversations about rowing! Well, the ferry trip wasn't infinitely long, so everyone was spared.
How do you get an authentic Dutch canal boat from the Netherlands to the USA? Why, you weld it onto the side of a container ship, that's how! (!!!!!!)
The museum had a genuine George Pocock single hanging up inside:
And also one of the more interesting styles of sliding-seat rowing boats I've ever seen:
This is apparently a training/learn-to-row boat, which is apparently supposed to explain the flared-out gunwhales and lack of outriggers.
I wish I could bottle up this past weekend, so on some later dark and dismal day, I can uncork that bottle and savor the days all over again.
