As I watched Hurricane Matthew come up the coast, the cold hard reality that I could lose her hit me square in the face like a Flounder. After doubling all the lines, tying down the antenna, sealing up the gaping hole where my dashboard was / will be with plastic and about a whole roll of blue tape, I stood on the dock looking at her floating in the slip, with a terrible feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach, like it was the last time I would ever see her.
We'd had a Nor'easter before the hurricane and the water level was already higher than normal. A couple friends stayed at the marina and watched over the boats - truly brave souls, indeed. To whom I will always be in awe of.
So Saturday morning, as soon as I had some coffee on board, I flew out the door. What greeted me on the dock nearly brought me to tears:
She was just as I left her. A whole lot dirtier, but all there and not a scratch. I went into the cabin and checked the forward bilge and saw this:
Bone Dry...
And then I flipped on the automatic bilge pump.... not a drop came out. I have to admit, a small part of me was pretty proud of my girl.
Now the dock box on the other had... well, that was a mess inside.
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| That black line isn't supposed to be there and wasn't when I left the last time. |
I didn't lose a lot of expensive things, but having to completely empty it and wash it out (oh, did I mention there was no water at the marina? Yeah, the water pump fried itself Saturday morning). So a bottle of Spray Nine, some water from the boat, a mop, and a chamois, I got it done. It's really neat and clean now!
At the end of the weekend, I came home, plopped down on the couch, sighed, and realized just how lucky I truly was and I how couldn't have imagined my life without her.
I guess Poseidon was watching over her for me!
Jim
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