Back from the shadows again!

Yep, as promised, I'm back. The Sixbears household was hopping with lots of family. We had a blast.

Apparently my navy of small boats: sailboats, rowboats, canoes and kayaks weren't enough. One of my daughters brought up three paddle boards. I used to think those things were a fad that wouldn't last. There were already better ways, in my opinion, to travel on the water.

My thoughts have changed somewhat. I still think they aren't really that practical as boats. However, where they is excel is as swim toys. Odds are that paddle boarders eventually go for a swim. That's fine as they are easy to get back back on. Unlike a canoe or a kayak they don't fill up with water. The paddler hops back on and is ready to go. Anything that coaxes people outside, getting exercise and having fun can't be bad.

There is one guy I know who uses a paddle board as a dinghy for his sailboat. He has a small Seaward. The keel can be lifted so it draws very little water, allowing the boat to anchor quite close to shore. It's a very short trip on the paddle board. Personally, I'd rather have my inflatable kayak, but that guy did make it work.

In my spare time I installed shallow bilge keels on the Ooze Goose 12 foot scow. Once the new paint dried the boat was flipped over and loaded on my trailer. Thank goodness it's still light enough for me to load it myself by hand.

Once I flipped it over I notice the deck received some damage over the winter. A little fiberglass work should take of the problem. That can be done the same time the rudder is being built. Also noticed the tips of the oars could benefit from a protective layer of fiberglass.

One of my Father's Day gifts was a rather hefty gift card from West Marine. Some of it was used to replace things lost in the shipwreck. Part of it was also used to purchase a NH State flag to fly on my boat. Even though NH has a tiny coastline, our state flag has a boat on it. Our state motto of “Live Free or Die” would not look out of place on a Jolly Roger, so I'll fly my state flag with pride.

The weather has been uneven. Temperatures were near 90 and sunny. Wednesday it was wet and cool enough that I lit a fire in the kitchen woodstove. That will probably be the last fire for a while as another warming trend is expected. If this turns out to be another long hot summer I'm going to spend as much of it on or in the water as possible.

-Sixbears