October 15, 2025: Reflection is hauled out of the water. Mixed emotions. Sailing season ends, but time frees up for land activities. For Harold, that meant cardiac rehab. Testing out the heart repairs to be sure everything works correctly, don’t want a problem next season.
But still, no more sailing. It’ll be seven long dark Michigan winter months until Reflection floats again.
And there’s the repair and maintenance projects. And there’s the improvement projects.
Making a spreadsheet to track what needs to be ordered and what vendor has it for the best price and who is the most reliable.
We want to replace the dodger windows. Install a mainsheet clutch. Be able to charge the dinghy electric motor battery from our solar system. Fix the seepage from the holding tank and install a locking valve – no sewage into the clean lakes. The anchor windlass needs maintenance, and we should get those molded coolant hoses for the engine – wouldn’t want to need those special order parts during our cruise next summer.
That’s just part of the list of jobs to accomplish during the off season. There’s still the regular spring commissioning. Cleaning, polishing and waxing the hull. Painting the bottom to prevent aquatic growth on the hull that would slow our sailing, and to keep those pesky zebra mussels filling every nook and cranny.
Finally, warmer weather arrives and the work can be done. I can get that done on my own. I’ll need your help with this one. And then it’s too cold, too rainy, weather is just right, but I’ve got this appointment and you’ve got that one. The part is back ordered until May 1st. We have to be back on Sunday.
We can go over on the 13th. You book the motel, I’ll book the van rental. Still not in the ten day forecast. The weather is looking good, and then ‘why is it going to rain on Wednesday? – we needed that day’.
Work begins. My knees bother me, it’s my shoulders from polishing. Look how swollen my ankles are. That toilet hose was quite ‘fragrant’. Oh, the windlass sounds better than ever. Do we have enough polish? Pre-medicate. Pace yourselves. It has to get done before we splash. Does it though?
Oh, the room with the Jacuzzi tub was a great idea.
Can’t wait until Tuesday. Reflection sure looks good. Let’s just have ice cream for dinner. We need to be on the road by 8 to get home on time. Get the van unloaded, it’s 9:55am – it’s due at 10am, and I still need to stop for gas. I’m tired, you?