ANOTHER WINTER CHECK UP

 The temperature moved up to the mid-forties one day and so it was time to go do another Winter inspection on Bianka in the boatyard. Primarily to rebalance the 48 volt electric propulsion battery bank. While there I also emptied the bilge of about two gallons of water that on my last visit was a frozen solid block of ice. I also taped over the portside cockpit hatch where I think most of the water may have entered.  I found a forward hatch leaking onto my bunk and taped over it’s flange to stop that until warmer weather arrives and I can address that issue. Finally there were high wind warnings for the next day and I made sure the nuts holding the Lexan bimini cover to the frame were tight and also secured an extra line to the frame in case those 60 MPH winds did actually arrive. It was a quick visit but still a productive one.

A FEW MORE THINGS

Went back to the boatyard to finish up winterizing the boat and taking off a few of the remaining provisions I left on board. Along with storing a few items. Starting with the outside hatches:
cabin doors

I will store them out of the weather for the winter. I might add another coat of Cetol over the winter if I get ambitious. Though more likely it will be next spring before I get around to it. I also removed the mainsheet line that was connected to the boom no reason to leave it out in the cold winter weather. I'll bring it home along with all the other lines and wash them:

Also note above that I have tapped up the hatches. Since I don't plan on accessing them for awhile adding a little bit of weather proofing. It can't hurt keeping more water from entering the bilge.

I also took the cockpit table off the the steering pedestal:

Like the hatch doors this is done to try and preserve the varnish finish. Like the cabin doors I may bring this home and add another coat before launch next spring:

That pretty much covers the winterizing items I needed to do in the cockpit. I then went to the galley lockers and took the remaining canned items I have left on board:

I'll use them for cooking at home over the winter and I don't have to worry about cans splitting open over the winter. So that wrapped up another day of winterizing. As I took a walk around deck I could not help but. notice that a few of the shrink wrapped boats reminded me of snow drifts:

A reminder that winter is just around the corner in about a month.