Marine Forecast issued for Lake Ontario.Issued: 10.30 AM EDT Wednesday 23 August 2006 for the period ending At 10.30 AM Thursday with an outlook for the following 24 hours. Forecast: Wind light and variable. Chance of a shower this evening. Isolated showers and chance of a thunderstorm developing overnight otherwise fair. Waves less than 1 metre. Outlook..Light and variable.

It is the time for a big push on Wakaura (Two Canoes) the Wharram caterman. I have manages a couple of full days and things are begining to take shape. I only hope as I get his mess cleaned up Rick will be a little happier with the appearance in front of his shop. I did not make the mess nor am I responsible for the debris clean up, but my time left is limited I do not want bad feelings so the sooner the hulk looks like a boat the better.

The nights are becoming brisk and I have turned the furnace on several mornings to chase the cold. The good part is Rufus has begun to spend more time aboard and almost always is back on board by 02:00 and spends most of the afternoon aboard which makes me feel a bit more secure as the time to cast off approaches. I am deeply disturbed over the fate of Sweetie and SSerendipitythe boat yard cats. Serri the mom is a fabulous hunter and could live on an iceberg (although the noble and talented cat deserves far better). Sweetie is trying to hunt but not partially proficient and I doubt that she can survive without at least occasional human feedings.

The last week has been hectic. There is now an underlying pressure on me to wrap up my tenancy of Waupoos Marina. With the exception to Wakaura the Wharram caterman, and a sand out on Neema I have no jobs at Waupoos. They are deep into removing the cealing of the warehouse and I had to Norm from the trailer today and will start to move my work stuff into it over the next few days.

The serious cruisers are starting to come through and it is a time that I enjoy as I catch up with others and spin a yarn and tip a pint. Doug Gray came through last week and there was a great old anchorage get together with John and Dingo.

I have been hot on the hunt for a suitable shop and have crawled a lot of barns and buildings in the quest. So far Tony's old shop seems to fit the bill although I would like a bit bigger shop, with a lot better all weather access as I can see 5 hours digging out with the old tractor after a good snow. It is however 15 year established boat repair shop in properly zoned land. Not perfect but I believe I have the work to carry it and it is still in the County.

Once again it is my health that is the ultimate factor as I can know how to do the work and a very good at it. The problem is my last shoulder blow out cost me 6 weeks. What happens if I loose an employee and my body gives out. Delivery on time is a keynote of my service. The plus is that the 20 by 35' floor area shop should be acceptable to heat at least 10 months of the year and is closer to Belleville than Waupoos.

Marine Forecast issued for Lake Ontario. Issued: 3:09 AM EDT Tuesday 22 August 2006 for the period ending at 3.00 AM Wednesday with an outlook for the following 24 hours. Forecast: Wind southwest 15 knots veering to west near noon then veering to northwest this evening. Fair. Waves 1 metre or less. Outlook..Moderate northwesterlies veering to northeasterlies then diminishing to light and variable.

The weather has turned cloudy with fog patches the norm in the AM. The marina seems quiet and far more like September than August. I have now spent 3 days in the main electrical panel of Defiance in theory to install a new selector switch for the shore generator. THe problem is that I had to cut away all the old had wire for the old 12K Lister generator which was everywhere and very complex.

Kingston looks like a likable winter harbour with good prices and flexible services for the big boat. I found it interesting that the manager was concerned that I would not bubble saying that they got three feet of ice, which is the anticipated ice cove for most still water in Ontartio.

August 19: The Glenora Marine job is comming along nicely. This is a text book new transom! To the right the finished transom with 1 layer of cloth and 3 layers of matt. For the full story [check the pages here.]

August 20, 2006:
The Wharram Cat is slowly getting back up to speed as my shoulder improves. The forward two sections starboard now have a single coat of paint and a hatch.