Monday, April 29, 2013

Zinc Zen

It's springtime!

That means it's time for a ritual here on Eolian:  the semi-annual changing of the zinc (we only have the one - a D-sized prop nut zinc).

Brrrrr...
Puget Sound has not yet begun to warm up...  But that doesn't matter.  When I stand on the far edge of the finger pier, I can see the prop and that the zinc is really getting small.  So small in fact, that were I spin the prop with the engine, I'd likely throw it.  So before we can leave the dock this spring, I've gotta... *shiver* jump in.

My rational self, steeped in self-preservation is humming in my ear, "Put it off as long as possible".  But today (Thursday) we had unseasonably warm air temps here in Seattle - 70°, and the wind was calm.  That's as good as it is likely to get for a long, long time...

Who's that on the foredeck?
So I suited up, sat on the edge of the dock, had Jane pour a tea kettle full of warm water down my back into the wet suit, and then I jumped in before a conscious thought could form about what I was actually doing.  To pull this off, I have to sneak up on myself like that... sadly it's actually pretty easy.


A mere shadow of its former self
The screw was loose, which says that the zinc was truly on its last legs.  And when I got it off, I was glad that I had braved the cold - it was nearly gone.

Earned.



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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hate the idea of doing that in cold water. Even with a wet suit. . .

The Chesapeake is not much warmer than that now, though it will get a lot warmer than Puget Sound by June. That's the up side of hauling every year - I can do that kind of thing wearing a sweater and shoes.

Deb said...

Screw the beer - I'd be looking for a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top!!

Deb
S/V Kintala
www.theretirementproject.blogspot.com

Robert Salnick said...

Rick -

Every third year I get to do it that way...

bob

Robert Salnick said...

Deb -

Or a peppermint patty!

bob

Andrew said...

The strength of the elements over a year is truly incredible. That zinc was definitely on its last legs.

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