Splash 2023

As luck would have it, we found another bird nest on Mystic this spring. Dave noticed a bunch of debris and bird poop in our cockpit. The only logical place for a nest was inside our boom which is where we found a nearly completed, rather large nest, tucked deep inside, almost out of our reach. The starling couple that was feverishly trying to finish their new home, were not happy with us for removing their attempts at setting up housekeeping. They hadn't laid eggs yet, so we dodged last year's bullet of having to raise a baby!

We thought our bird troubles were over until two days later when we realized the tenacious couple were now trying to enter our boom at the mast. The tiny opening didn't seem big enough for a starling to fit through but they definitely were in full construction mode. We stuffed a plastic bag in the hole and wrapped a bright red life jacket over the top of the boom to discourage them. They sat on our neighbors boat, (which happens to have an open ended boom on it as well), and screeched at us in anger. This became annoying but we chuckled at the irony of our Marina being named "Nestegg".

Starling screeching at us from next door

Starling hovering over the
end of our boom

We spent Saturday washing then waxing Mystic's hull. The months of dirt and grime slowly disappeared with Dawn dish soap, 409 and a whole lot of elbow grease. The wax brought out Memorial Day reflections on our blank white topsides. Mystic looks much better.

Memorial Day Reflection

We walked over the interstate bridge to Menomonie, Michigan for an emotional Memorial Day service. A small group of Veterans, scouts and half a dozen motorcycle riders marched from the band shell next to Menominee Marina to Veterans Memorial Park just a few blocks away. We watched a beautiful ceremony of remembrance, finding comfort in honoring those who were lost, fighting for America. A soldier carried a wreath out into the bay to honor those who died serving our country on the water. This along with taps and a gun salute brought me to tears.

Mystic is one of a dozen boats left on the hard at Nestegg Marine. Sitting behind us is a Bayliner named Bob Tale. We know this boat from our Great Loop adventure. We met Paul and Jean at Hoppy's along the Mississippi in 2016. So far, we haven't run into them but we hope to reconnect before they leave the marina.

There is only one boat in front of us set to splash on May 30th. We've been assigned to Slip 6 on Stephenson Island. Our plan was to leave Marinette right after launching to cruise Canada, but things are on hold while we figure out life issues. Leah, the marina manager, has been wonderful and accommodating. She knows it is possible that we will be here again this summer.

Mark guiding Mystic to the well

That moment when your boat is
suspended in the air...

Splash!

Season 2023 begins

Good Old Boat magazine posted a meme about the feeling you get when you see your boat suspended in the air in the sling. It is absolutely heart stopping! Our launch went well though. Mystic was settled in her slip by 1:00. When we left the launch well and approached the end of slip #6, the current caught our stern and pushed us down river. The rubber bumper on the corner of the dock was missing. The metal bracket holding the dock together gauged our starboard hull as we slid past, putting a long deep scratch along Mystic's starboard side. Our new neighbors Dan and Nina were waiting to grab our lines. They told us they had the same experience when they docked their boat Shoo Fly in the slip next to us. We are disappointed by this. Luckily, Dave can repair the gash. Dan spoke to Leah and requested Nestegg purchase new corners to replace those that are missing throughout the docks. We will assist with installing them in order to protect against damage in the future.

With Mystic settled in her slip, we gathered the last of our things and hit the road. We will return in a few days and bring her sails. Just maybe, we'll get out on the bay for a sail soon.

Anchoring Peace of Mind - Our New Mantus

Sailor Sam's, a marine products store, sent me an email thanking me for my recent order. I did not order anything, however; once I opened the email, it was obvious that Dave was the big spender.

He'd bought an anchor. For the record, we already have five anchors. When I asked him why we needed another anchor he dodged the question with the statement, "I bought us Peace of Mind, because we need THAT."

An anchor can be, and often is, a lifeline. Dave tells me he's had more than one bad experience with anchors not setting or holding during big changing wind. I asked for an example. He shared an experience he had aboard our 23 foot Coronado, Keewatin, while he was sailing north of Captiva Island in Florida. He was running ahead of a thunderstorm and sought refuge in a gunkhole. As he rounded a blind corner to enter the anchorage, he realized that four boats were already inside. There was no room for him. He was forced to anchor immediately, while still in high wind and couldn't get the CQR plow anchor to bite into the hard sand. Keewatin was slowly being driven into the other boats. Eventually, Dave was able to throw a Danforth over the stern. That held long enough for him to get the plow anchor to bite. He added a third anchor and kept the engine idling just in case he needed it to power against the wind. He sat there for two hours stressed over the uncertainty of those anchors holding in the intense conditions. The experience made a huge impression on him.

Plow Anchor

How many anchors are too many? Generally, boats carry two anchors; a smaller, lighter version that is meant for short, daytime anchoring and a main anchor, or storm anchor meant to hold fast overnight or in inclement weather. Mystic came with two 25 pound plow anchors. One is a true CQR, built by Lewmar. The other is a 25 pound knockoff of the CQR. Both are marginal in size to hold a fully loaded 35 foot boat weighing 16,000+ pounds when fitted for cruising.

So, even though we are a little anchor heavy, I'm glad that the 45 pound Mantus arrived safely with Peace of Mind and free shipping. It was delivered today in a battered box. I felt sorry for the delivery guy who had to schlep that thing up a dozen stairs to get it to our door. I'm pretty sure there was swearing involved.

Mantus Anchor

Mystic's Windlass

Side view of Mystic's bowsprit and windlass

Traditional vs Composting Marine Toilet ~ A decision swimming around our HEAD!

Our son gave us Poo-Pourri as a gag gift for Christmas this year. It's like pot pourri only it's designed especially for those hard to hide, man made bathroom smells. His timing was perfect since composting marine toilets keep bubbling up on our list of items to consider for cruising.  Dave has been researching them and keeps trying to convince me that we should convert Mystic's head to a composting system. My first reaction was "Doesn't it STINK?!?" Apparently it doesn't. Dave tells me that the bad bathroom smell targeted by Poo-Pourri is from the wet part of human waste. Dry poo does not smell, only wet poo does.

I hate to sound skeptical about this plan but I'm a proponent of the thought, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"! In an effort to sway my thinking, Dave reminded me that our traditional head doesn't hold enough waste to get us through a summer of weekends aboard Mystic. He also mentioned that during a year of cruising we could get ourselves into a situation where we need a pump out without a pump out station in our neighborhood. Then he tempts me with the fact that we would gain a substantial amount of space by removing the holding tank. Now he's got my attention. I begin my own research and find that composting toilets have come a long way in the past few years. The original models DID have issues with odor and ease of maintenance. In addition, there were health concerns regarding pathogens in the composted waste. Modern composting toilets address these issues. From my research I'd have to say that it's a simply complicated system.

When Dave first broached the topic of installing a composting toilet aboard Mystic, he explained that the solid and the liquid waste must be separated to ensure an odorless system. Of course, I imagined us carefully scooping the floaters with a slatted spoon, but he assured me it all happens below the lid. I was relieved (no pun intended). The composting system has it's own strainer which collects the urine into one chamber for evaporation through the vent system and allows the Poo to fall into a separate chamber where it is treated with saw dust or peat and is composted naturally. The environment is a balance of moisture, heat, oxygen and organic material. A finishing drawer collects the fertilizer by-product which is generated through composting.

So I ask Dave, "What do we do with the by-product?" He answers, "We collect it!" I challenge him with, "And then what?" He tells me we empty the compost tray into sealed containers then carry it to shore. This compost can be thrown away, flushed or added to the base of trees. Apparently, it can be used in vegetable gardens as well, however it has to be treated and transformed into organic fertilizer first. I've been toying with the idea of growing tomatoes aboard Mystic. Compost would come in handy. I wonder what Dave will think about that!

The debate continues. We both need to do more research in order to make a final decision on this bucket list item for cruising. Our kids heard us discussing this over Christmas. Our daughter thinks we should add a Squatty Potty to our new toilet.  That way, we'll have a happy colon along with our happy head!

http://www.squattypotty.com/