The first outing in 2 months

Date: March 18, 2017 

Trip #3 (#23)
Weather: Sunny 
Waters: Mostly flat
On board: C, A and J2 
New gear on board: Melamine plates (with blue Mediterranean-inspired design, no less) for future high dining on the high seas, and an in-board flushing kit 

This was our first trip out on LW2 since the Sebana Cove journey, hampered as we were week to week by bad weather and an assortment of distractions and obligations, but mostly unseasonable weather - rain, unfavorable tides and currents. December wasn't as wet, and it just seems like the skies have been making up for lost time; it's been a wetter-than-usual January/February. 

We were only three today. The day was cheerfully sunny and the waters mostly calm.  

I noticed this tableau from a few outings back. It is about 15 minutes after the
boat leaves the marina and before it reaches "The Elbow". It looks to me 
such a sad scene: it's a place where retired buoys go to spend their last days, 
baking in the sun on terra firma before they crumble and die.  

There was no plan. We came upon Pulau Hantu and decided to berth in or around the lagoon. It was just after 1pm and the tide was coming in, and for once, the mouth of the lagoon wasn't awash in that ugly brown seaweed.

The waters of Pulau Hantu Besar lagoon were a little too shallow still; the depth gauge went crazily from 1.4m to 10m, probably confused by the rocks on the seabed. We rounded the island and berthed instead in the channel between Hantu Besar and Hantu Kechil. 

The sun beat down and the guys went into the 1.4m water to cool off. Music on. Beers downed. Cashews and macadamia nuts crunched.

A, fiddling with her telephoto lens, a Christmas present, got this.   

 

It was a peaceful hour or two. We shared the lagoon with only one other boat - two dudes who were there, but not to fish. Must be good pals. Hahaha. The reverie was briefly broken by a convoy of three water scooters. They didn't get the memo about such toys being banned in the lagoon. 

The sun ducked behind the clouds briefly and we got a
"Our Daily Bread" moment. Cue soaring violins and religious awakening. 

After we got back to the marina, C hosed the boat down, and used a plastic attachment to hold the dock hose to an outlet in the boat engine. We ran fresh water through the system for a while to rinse out the saltwater. Not many boat owners do this, but we have decided to protect our investment.

It used to be simpler to do with LW, no need to lift up the rear seat and see the innards of the engine. We just attached the hose to an outlet on the outboard engine.

LW2 has power steering, which makes it more of a challenge to steer while out on the water; "trimming" is also required while underway to get the boat level, unlike with LW. Overall, it's a more sophisticated beast than LW was.

We are still getting to know our new boat.