Our friend Chris — from way back in the hazy past of high school — stopped by for the day. He was in Florida for a bunch of family-related things (weddings and some vacation and stuff.)

Nothing more helpful than a steady, extra pair of hands to work on a fiddly little job. We look to keep our anchors lashed down solidly; but the lashing isn't always enough security.

A few times, now, we've had an anchor jump out of its roller and chafe through it's lashings.

Most recently, this happened when we were out in 6' seas. See "Bail Out— Plan B — Abort Abort." The line we used to keep the anchor from bouncing all around the bowsprit finally chafed through. CA suggested we use some wire rope that won't easily chafe through.

Chris and I bought some clamps, cut some wire rope and didn't drop a nut or a tool into the Ortega River. Total Victory.

Toe Rail

One of the Whitby Old Salts told us to wash our toe-rail once each year in a mixture of ammonia and water. It cleans the crud out of the teak's pores, restores the color and improves the longevity of the wood.

On the left is where CA scrubbed with ammonia and water: ½ c. ammonia in 1 gal. water. On the right is the grey toe rail with several years of salt and sun. Wow.

She's doing all the external teak as fast as she can. What a difference.