Apostle Islands

2018 Seasons Plans

I think I had mentioned this in a previous post. That we travel to the Island 2-3 times per year.

This typically leaves the Spring trip for boat projects and maintenance, while leaving the summer trip for a roughly 3 weeks splash and a fight for attention with us and the multitude of other activities outside of Sailing.

So this year will be no different.

Boat work on the Egress in the spring will focus on checking out how she faired over the winter, and beginning a plan to re-bed the fittings.

Questions that will be answered this Spring are:

Did the solar panel keep the batteries charged up over the winter.

Did the boat leak and if so which deck fittings/ ports leaked. (This will help the re-bedding plan.)

It is doubtful that we will have anytime to actually accomplish any re-bedding do to our short time on the Island in the Spring.

One item that should be a priority to check in the spring are the condition and operation of the thru-hulls. It’s something I’ve neglected in the past, but will not any longer as this is something critical to check. I don’t want any surprises regarding thru-hull shut offs. Additionally I am going to tie plugs to each thru-hull so they are located where they will be needed rather than digging thru lockers etc to find them. So this is priority number one.

Other items I want to accomplish this season are.

Relocate VHF radio.
Purchase and install RAM 3 microphone for the VHF radio and install on steering pedestal.
Purchase and install auto-pilot.
Remove decorative rope on the pedestal.
Purchase and test life sling 2 MOB lifting tackle.
Locate and test the emergency steering system
Look at a way to permanently get the solar panel wiring harness into the battery compartment.

Of course the above list is not inclusive of normal engine maintenance. Change oil, impeller etc…

Hopefully Our August trip is not as busy as it was last year so that we can actually get out and sail!

August 3, 2018 0

A big decision. Anchoring our roots to the rock.

A place to call Home.

Hello B-16!

I debated whether to write and publish this post. It may interest some of you and others it may elicit a “meh”.

We had been contemplating becoming members of the Madeline Island Yacht Club (MIYC) since we had purchased the Egress back in late 2014.

There were many pros and we couldn’t think of one con when contemplating the decision to become members.

Pro

Saves money
Limited amount of memberships given.
Guaranteed slip
Can put slip into rental poll when not using it.
Equity in the Club

We had been paying by the week when renting a slip for three weeks every summer. For our size boat it was darn near the price that a member pays for an annual slip fee. In addition, we payed separately for launch, haul out, and a monthly fee for storage. Normally other than a storage fee for members, the launch and haul out are included in the annual slip fee. Additionally, the price for shop work was about 30% higher for non-members. Becoming members would save us money, and more importantly guarantee us a slip. But most importantly for us, it would solidify our ties to the Madeline Island boating community, and make us feel like part of the family.

We are indeed Anchoring our roots to the rock.

For more information on the Madeline Island Yacht Club please click here.

April 14, 2018 2

Oh sing to me sands of Stockton

One day before pulling the Egress out for the year we finally made landfall on our first Island of the 22 Apostle Islands Archipelago besides our home port on Madeline Island.

You can see our You Tube Video Below.

Stockton Island

Stockton Island is the second largest of the Apostle Islands. Madeline Island being the largest. Stockton Island is the largest island included in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The Apostle Island National Lakeshore encompasses 21 of the 22 Apostle Islands.The island chain is located off of Northern Wisconsin’s Bayfield peninsula in Lake Superior. Continue reading “Oh sing to me sands of Stockton” →

February 20, 2017 2

A slow roll to Chequamegon Point Light House

After returning from the Duluth Tall Ships festival we needed to take the Egress out for test run.

We decided to head for Chequamegon Point Light House, we hoisted the sails but the wind was so light and variable that we quickly doused them and motored slowly to get a good view of the Chequamegon Point Light House. We put together a brief video of our slow roll. You can view it below.

Three lighthouses have graced Long Island. Though once an Island, Long Island is now part of a peninsula that stretches nearly eight miles out into Lake Superior, creating a natural breakwater for Chequamegon Bay.

Continue reading “A slow roll to Chequamegon Point Light House” →

February 16, 2017 0

Just call me Captain Crash…

“I don’t want to be that guy” I told the marina Captain, as I explained why I was very apprehensive about backing out of the slip with a strong wind on the stern and a engine whose idle is set to low so that it dies whenever I retard the throttle. “Everyone gets to be that guy” he replied.

So I had adjusted the idle and this fixed the engine cutting out, yet I still kinda felt jinxed since I missed the marina guys stepping the mast and failing to put the traditional coin on the mast step. I had hoped this didn’t mean bad luck.

Barb, myself, my brother and his girlfriend set off and enjoyed a sail. We actually had some really decent wind (10-15 knots) for a change and where able to hoist the sails and had an awesome day.

A sweet sail

Having a good time

Soaking up the sun

Relaxing

Old sail still catches wind

On our way in to the marina I phoned my Ma and told her to meet us at the dock so that she could take some pictures of us. luckily she wasn’t filming.

Heading in

Slow is Pro

Coming torwards our Slip

Preparing to turn back towards slip

“Watch out kid”! Everyone yelled as we came barreling into the dock. Reverse is up! Not Down! Damn it!

Continue reading “Just call me Captain Crash… “ →

December 13, 2016 4

What I did on my 2015 summer vacation (part 4)

Onward to Canada eh!

Another motor was in store prior to the arrival of our guests and the festivities of the Fourth of July. Our house and lawn would end up looking like an overfull backpackers hostel and a tent campground. So many folks were coming, that we needed one last time on the calm waters to relax prior to entertaining for 5 days.

We left the marina and headed into the North Channel towards Basswood Island, which is the closest Island to the mainland. We had a nice leisurely cruise and circumnavigated Basswood Island. Our first!

I was having such a great time that Barb had to remind me after passing the Northern tip of Basswood to take a 90’degree port turn to head south else we wind up in Canada! Thank goodness for my trusty first mate!

heading up the north channel

a perfect day

basswood island

getting closer

closing in on basswood

a nice sailboat in the distance

around the top of basswood

A quite sail.

After a 6 day lull, we finally hoisted the sails! Joining Barb, Captain Scott and myself were my brother and sister. The sail was wonderful.

We went into the South Channel and heaved-to above the Lucerne shipwreck. The water was somewhat choppy above the wreck and we were unable to catch a glimpse of her. After about four hours on the Lake it was time to sail back to the Marina. It turned out to be a memorable first sail on the Egress and left us looking forward to 2016!

Note: The Apostle Islands area is littered with Shipwrecks, these wrecks make for great cold water diving and viewing from above when the water is calm. For those visiting without your own boat, you can take a glass bottomed ride out to some of the wrecks with the Apostle Islands Cruise Service.