Alaskan Haul Out Adventure (tons of pictures!)

[BrianW]

Folks,

Thought I'd share some pictures of our boat getting hauled out in Petersburg, Alaska. This is the first time I've had it hauled since we bought it last summer. I hadn't even seen the bottom till now, as I bought the boat while it was in the water (the survey was recent though.)

The first thing we had to do was get the 200 miles from Sitka to Pburg. Fortunately the weather was great and the ride both ways was uneventful. On the way down we stopped at a favorite warm springs halfway between the two towns. I've posted pictures of this place before, here's the wife and youngest daughter sitting in the warm springs...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/beccareginebws1.jpg

and me (fat and all) smile.gif doing the same...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/brianbeccabws.jpg

...there is another pool just out of the picture that's about 4 times bigger, but it was hotter too.

If you don't like the slimy pools, then these tubs are plumbed with the same water...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/bwstubs1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/bwstubs2.jpg

...and they're free.

(continued)

[BrianW]

The boat at the Baranof Warm Springs dock...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/gennycbws.jpg

...and the vicous guard dog...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/nevalookingoverrailling.jpg

A quick pic of the family (minus 2 oldest kids who are out of the nest smile.gif ) using the timer and a lousy camera rest. The waterfall in the back is the river that runs next to the warm springs...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/familywaterfall.jpg

Okay, last non-subject related picture, maybe...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/pburgfishmem.jpg

...but it does have a wooden boat in it! It's the fishermans memorial in Pburg with a Sons of Norway' Hall in the background. Thought some here might like that sort of thing. ;)

Next post will have actual pictures of a boat being hauled out.

[BrianW]

Okay, we finally get into Pburg Shipyard around 10:00PM Monday night and raft up off this 'glass boat for the evening...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/awaitingthehaulout.jpg

...the rail way is behind the floating work shop we're docked against, but before the ferry dock behind the boats which blocks access (and escape if you screw up with the current) from open water.

We're scheduled for a 2:00PMish haul out time, as that's high tide even though there's still a 2.5knot current running though the narrows which Pburg calls a harbor. Here we line up and head for the uprights (if that's the correct nomenclature?)...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/drivingintotherail.jpg

...I think this picture shows the boat size a bit better...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/drivingintotherail2.jpg

Almost had it perfect, but the slow speed and the current got me off line somewhat...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/drivingintotherail3.jpg

...but the shipyard had a skiff standing by right there that nudged out stern over to make everything alright again. Guess they saw the look in my eyes before I got started. smile.gif

In the rails and ready to ride...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/drivingintotherail4.jpg

...to the top, and climb the ladder off the boat...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/gettingoffboat.jpg

(next, the Ugly)

[BrianW]

Here's what it looked like down there...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/dirtyhullstarb.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/dirtyhull.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/dirtyhullstern.jpg

...not pretty, some corrosion because it had been 3 years since her last haul out and a lot of the zincs (like the prop hub!) were gone.

Still, no serious damage or rotten wood. All the important stuff was still good, like thru-hulls, shaft bearing, keel coolers, etc.

(Next, the Good)

[BrianW]

Here she is all painted and zinced up...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/hullpainted.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/hullpaintedgirls.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/cleanzincprop.jpg

...and back in the water.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/Haul%20Out%20Trip/hulldoneinwater.jpg

Should be good for another year. smile.gif

[Donn]

:cool: She's a big mutha!

[Meerkat]

Big splotch of red on hull above waterline?

[PatCassidy]

Thanks Brian. Great photo story!

[km gresham]

smile.gif smile.gif

[Dave Fleming]

Brian, I recall a book about Baranoff Hot Springs written sometime in the 1960s(?).
The Chechakos or something similar.
Family moved to Baranoff Island and settled near the hot springs. Ring any bells with you?

[PaulC]

Brian, great way to tell a story! Is there a protocol amoung fishermen, um fisherpeople, for rafting up?

[yorgie]

Great story and photos.I liked that shot of the faering and the SON hall.My grandfather grew up in Pr.Rupert,his stepfather was a founder of the fishermans co-op.I'd love to get up north someday,beautiful country.

Chris

[BrianW]

Meerkat,

Actually when she's tanked down the waterline is the black rub rail that goes around the boat. In that picture the holds are empty, as is the 2000 gallon fuel tanks which are located fairly aft.

I always fill the hold before getting underway to stop the 'cork' effect. smile.gif

[Noah]

Great Pictures, and a neat story. That's a big, but pretty hull.

Thanks for posting,

Noah

[BrianW]

Paul,

Good question, I don't know the exact rules for rafting up myself. The guy who runs the shipyard told me the day prior to raft up next to that boat. But when I got there I still tried to hail them on channel 16. But, nobody was onboard (or aboard?). So we pulled up and tied off. The owners showed up the next morning and had no problems with us being there. As a practice, I wouldn't leave my boat, or at least be in close contact, until I talked to the first boat owner to see when they planned on leaving.

When we got back to Sitka today, the harbormaster had put a transient boat in our slip and had not moved him by the time we arrived. They didn't write down our return time. Anyhow, I tied up at the transient dock myself (no power) and was told it would be tommorrow before I could get my slip back. We went home to get some sleep and the harbormaster called shortly after to say our slip was empty again. By the time I got down there, somebody was rafting off my boat and another was rafting on the boat behind me. Even though he was willing to move, a strong wind which was pushing me into the dock, plus would push me off my slip dock, made me decide to wait till tomorrow to move anyhow. I'm still very tired from the 21 hour run between towns and didn't feel like screwing around moving the boat again today.

Anyhow, it's common practice around these parts. Guess I could have just said that. smile.gif

[Wild Dingo]

WOW!!! Talk about bringing a ray of sunshine into my day! Thanks Brian :cool:

What a beautiful peice of the world that is...

Rightio!! Im off to try to pursuade her highness to let us just leave Aussie and head to that great beautiful place called Alaska and Canada!! :eek: yeah right! Like I could survive in such a frozen place eh :rolleyes:

oh and great lookin boat to by the way ;)

[BrianW]

WD,

Well since we our two countries didn't sign the Kyoto Accord, things are warming up nicely. ;)

Summers seem to average about 50-60F and winters around 40F, all above zero of course. smile.gif

Sometimes the smaller harbors, and some of the bays with lot's of freshwater run off will freeze for a few days at a time, but other than that S.E. Alaska is much warmer than most of the northern USA.

[BrianW]

WD,

I just read your post below, and am sorry to make light of your recent weather related problems.

I truly admire the Aussie resolve and determination to make the best of a bad situation.

Best wishes to you and yours...

[muscongus]

Wow! thanks for posting those photos. A great looking boat in a beautiful place.
Jack

[ccmanuals]

Great pics! Brought back found memories of our cruise last year from Vancouver to Anchorage. Alaska is one of those places that everyone must see at least once in their life time.

[George Jung]

I miss Alaska....

[brian.cunningham]

Looks nice up there

[RGM]

Great job with the pics Brian. Looks like you lucked out with the weather. I love S.E. Alaska. Thanks.

[Hal Forsen]

Thanks Brian, I always enjoy your posts; I think you've got it all figured out.
Love that Ginny C!
HF

[brad9798]

WOW!!!

Yes, she is huge!!!!

I LOVE your posts.

Thanks for taking the time to post photos!!!