The Boat is Back

While Abby and I were in Oregon the other week, a boat mysteriously appeared in our backyard. Okay, not really, but I'm sure it seems that way to Abby! Kevin had his boat hauled from Westport to our backyard so he could do some dry-dock work on it and have it close by for the many projects he needs to get done before fishing season starts up May 1st. Two years ago, he did the same thing and for many months I had to look straight out my kitchen window at a 36-foot charterboat. After the initial startling reaction wore off, it just got plain annoying to stare at a boat every day as I was eating lunch or making dinner. Thankfully, this year the boat movers brought a larger trailer that made it impossible to get the boat that far into our backyard behind the house and instead had to leave it on the back corner of our property on a gravel parking area. Kevin doesn't like the fact that this makes the boat so conspicuous to neighbors and passersby (and thus more problematic for possible complaints and more enticing for theft of tools and equipment), but I am sure enjoying having it out of my sight! =)

Kevin has many, many hours of hard and frustrating work ahead of him. A few days ago I climbed aboard and he briefly explained some of the projects he planned to do. Here he is with the engine uncovered on the floor of the cabin:

I don't understand much about the boat, but I do know that the engine space is tiny, dirty and hard to work in, that salt water and salt air wreak havoc on nearly all surfaces and objects on the boat, and that there are always a never-ending amount of improvements and upgrades needing to be done. Of course, once the off-season work is done, the in-season work begins which is much more fun. Getting excited while talking to me about tuna fishing, Kevin had to grab a pole and show me how it was done.

"Tuna fishing" off the side of the boat in our backyard. =)

He likes to kid around that if I knew how much fun he had fishing every summer, I would never again feel sorry/be appreciative for all the long hours and hard work he does! =)