Ocean Breeze: ...And That's a Wrap (2013)

October 7th, 2013...probably the earliest we've ever pulled OB out of the water. We decided on the date when we knew taking her to Florida was out of the picture. Finishing the boating season early would give us time to close our summer digs and leave for our winter digs by the end of October.

Our last morning dawned beautiful after a couple of days of flooding rains ahead of an enormous cold front. The temperatures were chilly and the wind was blowing around 12 MPH. Not a big deal for OB since we were only going to the lift well and there would be a big crew to help us.

We always have early morning fishermen cruising by us in our canal that connects Sandusky Bay to Lake Erie. This morning started out quiet. We still had fishermen...only of Nature's variety.

So much goes into getting OB ready for her long winter's nap. This season's closing routine went better than usual. I started packing, cleaning and winterizing two weekends before our 'pulling' date. By this morning, all I had left was turn off the icemaker, put boxes of baking soda in both refrigerators and the icemaker, strip the master stateroom bed, hang mothballs in the closets, put softener sheets under cushions and mattresses and in all the drawers and cabinets, and finally hang Mildew Gas throughout the boat.

Todd pulled OB away from the dock 30 minutes before our 'lift' time so we could have our final holding tank pumpout and rinsing. The winds had picked up to 18 MPH but we had no trouble coming alongside the gas dock. Pumpout completed, the gas dock crew called the lift crew to meet us at the 'well'.

This last cruise is short...and always bittersweet.

Todd did a great job handling OB in the strong winds and getting her into the well where the marina crew could take over getting her up and out of the water. We get off the boat during lift out. The crew had to work hard to keep OB off the cement wall during pull out because of the wind.

Up she comes...

Time to wash OB's bottom.

Bottom washing is a process and the Bay Point crew does an excellent job! It also gives us a chance to examine OB's undersides. This year she was missing a zinc on her port shaft. We'll need a new one for next season's adventures.

After she's washed, OB is moved to her winter parking spot and blocked in place.

We have another great team that takes care of Ocean Breeze's maintenance. Rory and Clay at Mike's Dockside make sure OB has antifreeze throughout her fresh and raw water systems. They go through the boat and close her down for her long winter's nap.

When Mother Nature provides a calm day, Rory, Clay and their crew head for OB to wrap her in a large plastic sheet. Because of her size, any other day would send that plastic flying! They use heat guns to shrink the plastic down against OB's beautiful body. All this work will keep snow and ice out of nooks and crannies. Left without covering, ice and snow would work deep into OB's fiberglass and cause cracks.

As luck would have it, calm and clear skies appeared the day after OB was lifted from the water. Thank you, Laurel, Rory and Clay...for all your hard work and dedication to OB and all the other boats you maintain. You are THE BEST !!!