s/v YOLO Day 295 Entry 066 Washing Portholes

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Monday, March 10, 2014
Day 295 Entry 066

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Actual Date:  January 27, 2014 Monday    
Weather:   Cold. Cold. Cold.  But no snow!   Temperature dropped to 52 degrees and the wind gusted to 30 mph.  But it is warmer here than most places in the country!

Washing portholes (windows) is just a little different and a little tricky.

Due to the salt residue left by the dried sea water spray, the portholes have to be rinsed with fresh water before wiping.  If not the salt in the residue will scratch the glass windowpane.  Also, unlike house windows that ‘tilt in’ in for easy cleaning, portholes do not.  Most of our portholes are along the side of the boat just out of reach.  Even if I lay on my belly and reach over the side I can't reach them let alone see what I am doing. 

So I wash the portholes from the rubber dinghy, which is the tricky part.  Actually, the tricky part is standing in the dinghy.  Basically standing in a dinghy can be very precarious.   OK, I promised to be honest in writing this blog so, I admit no one ever called me or will ever call me, agile!  (FYI there will never be any pictures of me washing the portholes from the dinghy!   I promised to be honest regarding my words not pictures!  So I will try to explain in detail my experience so you can picture it!]    The first time I washed the portholes I found it very difficult to stand in a moving dinghy, while trying to hold on to the boat railing with one hand and wash the portholes with the other hand.  I should mention that I have to bend down to wet and rinse the sponge in the pail that is sitting in the bottom of the dinghy, therefore I have to let go of the railing.  All the time praying to my ‘go to girl’ that a big boat that creates a big wake does not go zipping by! 

Insert But Captain Steve was a big help as he sat on the deck!  He called to me to’ hold on’ every time, well almost every time, a boat went by, so I wasn't  surprised when the dinghy started to bounce from the waves caused by the boat’s wake.  What a guy!   But even so I fell into the dinghy.  Thankfully the dinghy is an inflatable, so my landing was somewhat soft, but not in the least graceful.  My landing was also very wet, since I knocked over the pail.   I decided that there has to be a better way of washing the portholes, short of hiring some one to do it!  Subsequently, I mentioned my problem of only having 2 hands to Captain Steve.  I was flabbergasted when Captain Steve had an immediate solution!  He offered to run a line known as a ‘life line’ along the side of the boat so I could hold on to it and still be able to bend down to reach the pail.  I very calmly asked why he didn't offer to run the line before; to which he replied “Our neighbors were enjoying your antics.  You were this mornings’ entertainment for the mooring field!”  I turned towards the 2 closest boats and bowed to each as they applauded!   

So the next time you complain about washing the tilt out windows on terra firma, think me washing portholes while standing or while trying to stand in a dinghy!   

Sea u later!