[TO NARRATIVES AND PHOTOS LIST]
JULY 25, 1999
It is a rainy foggy day, and we're in Buck's Harbor. I got outside long enough to place the flag.
Then, inside quickly to make coffee. This is the view from the companionway in the
galley, looking aft. The rope ladder hanging from the boom gallows allows access to
the dinghy when it is lowered to the water, about a 4 1/2 foot drop. Buck's Harbor is known as
a "hurricane hole" in this area, not that Maine has a lot of hurricanes. It has 360 degree
land-protection from waves and wind ... and is very crowded at this time of year with pleasure boats.
Buck's Harbor's main facility. The small house on the left has general supplies, fuel and water.
This is high tide, so it'll drop about 12 feet in a few hours. The round white tank
(in front of the gambrel roof) holds fuel; the house behind has toilets, outside showers
and a laundry. A mooring here cost $25 for one nite, and that seems expensive. Up the road to the left
about a half mile is Brooksville, the town with one intersection.
THE DINGHY!. Indispensable but such an irritation. As I mentioned it sunk at first
launch three weeks ago because of plank shrinkage when stored in Maine's
dry winter air. We let it sit under water for two days. With that
treatment the planks should swell, but this one still takes on 4 to 5 inches of water every day.
That black and white 'stork' on the transom is the electric outboard; the battery is aft
of the middle thwart. This motor does not look 'macho' when you power around the
harbor, but it does not require gasoline. No gasoline aboard means carrying
one less fuel that can blow up. It is also operates quietly which is nice
when you must power around other boats early in the morning.
Ellen thought this should be included. I'm working on the head which still has a leak - thankfully on the water INTAKE side.
I took the entire thing apart and rebuilt it with a new gasket kit.
It's better but is still a beast that we must keep. I heard a story from a boat delivery captain today.
When they were bringing a boat up to Maine from Florida, two crew got seasick.
They used one of the boat's two heads constantly. Of course it broke down, and the healthy
crew tried to repair the inoperative head. After several unsuccessful take-apart
then put-back-together episodes, they unbolted it and threw it overboard! I couldn't do that; this is the only one on the boat.
I'm reminded of my earlier comment, "The thing's only redeeming value beyond its primary
function is that at nite, plankton in the water give off a blue phosphoresence in the bowl when you pump vigorously."