2023 Splash!

About to leave to go to the marina for launch this morning. Of course it has to be one of the coldest days in weeks, and I think almost a record cold snap[. Windy too. It’s lightly snowing out the window. Damn. No cleaning today after launch. No cold beer either. Back home to warm up.

IMG_0187.png
 
Creekwood said:
About to leave to go to the marina for launch this morning. Of course it has to be one of the coldest days in weeks, and I think almost a record cold snap[. Windy too. It’s lightly snowing out the window. Damn. No cleaning today after launch. No cold beer either. Back home to warm up.

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Yep, freeze warnings posted for SE Michigan tonight. But... High 70's by Sunday.
 
Marinas supposed to launch this week! Plan on driving up Friday night to stay the weekend. Currently 45 in New Buffalo, but supposed to be up to 70 by Saturday. We are looking forward to getting her stocked and set up for the summer :cool:
 
I've got 2 more weeks to launch. Hoping you guys can do your best to get rid of all this crap weather between then and now :)
 
Well I’m launched. Snow on the sidedecks when I got there. Sketchy getting the fenders on with the boat high and slippery.

Boat started and ran well. Took a while to warm up the engines and burn off the storage oil before I was confident to go to the slip. Strong wind on the bow when backing in my shared slip. No help either. Handling skills a bit rusty from the long winter. But put it in the first time. Just not super straight so had to manually pull the bow over.

Nice and sunny back at the lake house though. Cool but nice enough to sit outside and take in the view. Would have been nice to stay at the boat but it was too cold to get it cleaned up and ready.

It’s starting to feel like summer is not too far away.

IMG_4604.jpeg
 
KG & JJ said:
Wow, great view from the lake house
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It’s Georgian Bay. It’s about 20 miles wide straight across but if you head right it’s about 120 miles to Manitoulin Island and the North channel. The sweet water sea.
 
Creekwood said:
Well I’m launched. Snow on the sidedecks when I got there. Sketchy getting the fenders on with the boat high and slippery.

Boat started and ran well. Took a while to warm up the engines and burn off the storage oil before I was confident to go to the slip. Strong wind on the bow when backing in my shared slip. No help either. Handling skills a bit rusty from the long winter. But put it in the first time. Just not super straight so had to manually pull the bow over.

Nice and sunny back at the lake house though. Cool but nice enough to sit outside and take in the view. Would have been nice to stay at the boat but it was too cold to get it cleaned up and ready.

It’s starting to feel like summer is not too far away.

View attachment 162711
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That almost looks like GM in that glass?
 
Soulshine said:
Buffing sucks.

There, I said it.

I’ll say it again.

Buffing sucks.
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I did the hull sides before launch. Before I started I stood there looking at the massive hull sides, and tried to convince myself that it wasn’t too bad and I could just launch without buffing. It was really mentally hard to get started. It’s such a horrible job. On a ladder holding a buffer over your head for hours. Once I got half a hull side done, I could look down the hull and see the difference though. That motivated me to finish the job.

Now I am looking at the topside that desperately needs a deep compounding in multiple stages. Far less acreage to do, but more tedious working around cleats, hardware, stations, etc. I’m waiting for a clear sunny cool day. Maybe next week.

I also bought a set of the more modern sea ray oval black/silver logos for the arch sides and new Sundancer black text decals. I am going to strip the black/gold striping on the bow deck and the dated sundancer and beach umbrella decals and go with a clean look. Similar look to the recent Sundancer 330s. So it will take a while, but should look good.
 
Creekwood said:
I did the hull sides before launch. Before I started I stood there looking at the massive hull sides, and tried to convince myself that it wasn’t too bad and I could just launch without buffing. It was really mentally hard to get started. It’s such a horrible job. On a ladder holding a buffer over your head for hours. Once I got half a hull side done, I could look down the hull and see the difference though. That motivated me to finish the job.

Now I am looking at the topside that desperately needs a deep compounding in multiple stages. Far less acreage to do, but more tedious working around cleats, hardware, stations, etc. I’m waiting for a clear sunny cool day. Maybe next week.

I also bought a set of the more modern sea ray oval black/silver logos for the arch sides and new Sundancer black text decals. I am going to strip the black/gold striping on the bow deck and the dated sundancer and beach umbrella decals and go with a clean look. Similar look to the recent Sundancer 330s. So it will take a while, but should look good.
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All those words and not a single pic
 
Creekwood said:
I did the hull sides before launch. Before I started I stood there looking at the massive hull sides, and tried to convince myself that it wasn’t too bad and I could just launch without buffing. It was really mentally hard to get started. It’s such a horrible job. On a ladder holding a buffer over your head for hours. Once I got half a hull side done, I could look down the hull and see the difference though. That motivated me to finish the job.

Now I am looking at the topside that desperately needs a deep compounding in multiple stages. Far less acreage to do, but more tedious working around cleats, hardware, stations, etc. I’m waiting for a clear sunny cool day. Maybe next week.

I also bought a set of the more modern sea ray oval black/silver logos for the arch sides and new Sundancer black text decals. I am going to strip the black/gold striping on the bow deck and the dated sundancer and beach umbrella decals and go with a clean look. Similar look to the recent Sundancer 330s. So it will take a while, but should look good.
Click to expand...

I had no trouble starting…was into it actually, but that passed quickly.

Going back to finish, probably tomorrow is going be tough.

My shoulders are on fire here.
 
Soulshine said:
I had no trouble starting…was into it actually, but that passed quickly.

Going back to finish, probably tomorrow is going be tough.

My shoulders are on fire here.
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I take a naproxen (Aleve) before I start. It lasts about 12 hrs and helps with the aches the next day.
 
Blueone said:
All those words and not a single pic
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I said earlier it wasn’t that great a buff job. Ran out of time and weather to do a stage 2 on the hullsides.

I will do a before and after pics on the topsides and logo replacements. The topside is really bad. Did nothing last year because I broke my wrist in April and had surgery to put a plate in. So no buffing in the summer. I left it for this year.
 
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