Time and Tide

This is the view out forward from our boat.   That is the big refinery in Anacortes.

Today's blog is about tides.   Time and Tide may wait for no man, but we are certainly waiting on them!

In order to haul the boat to swap props (see prior post for the prop story), we need to have at least 7' of water, this means we need a +2' tide or better.   That is 2' above zero.   Zero is measured as the lowest of the days' two low tides.  We have what are called "mixed" tides in the Pacific Northwest, that is two high tides and two low tides, but the heights of the highs are different as are the heights of the lows.   I won't dive into why, but tides are exceptionally complex, and just when you think you know something about them, there's yet another layer of complexity.

Anyway, to haul Blue Redd we need to have enough water under the keel so we can get into and out of the Travelift slings and we draw about 6.5".   This week the tides are all minus tides, meaning they are lower than the specified low tide.  Almost 4' lower, actually.

The low tide is occurring in the late mornings and lasting until the late afternoon.  The yard, Pacific Marine Center, has suspended all Travelift operations from about 10:00am onwards for the week.   And they are booked solid with other people's boats waiting to get in or out of the water early in the mornings.

Not being above begging, I whined and pleaded with Alex, the PMC Yard Foreman, to squeeze me in if anyone cancels.  Fingers are crossed (as are arms, legs, and any other available appendages).  Otherwise, we are stuck until next week when the tides are more favorable.

We want to head to Alaska now!!!   But the tides, they are against us, for the time being.

So, I spent the day working away making sales calls, talking with customers, and otherwise making good use of my downtime.

Tonight, Karen made Indian Butter Chicken, super yummy.   We paired that with fresh filtered water from our own taps!  No booze for us.😒.

After dinner we sat up on the flybridge and talked.  Nice conversation.

I'll blog again when I've got something interesting to share.  That may be a few days at the rate things are progressing.

Here is a parting picture of Blue Redd in the evening's dying light.