Jean Sund came with us for the Mother's Day weekend.
Last weekend we got the new dock put in. It seemed a little more difficult to install than advertised, but I think that was because we hadn't payed enough attention to exactly how they do it in the video on their web site. Regardless, because of the water depth at the end of the 4 8' sections of dock, the lift still had to be deeper than the end of the dock. So I bought another section.
This weekend, with no other options, I figured out how to install the last section by myself: Carry the section out upside down with the legs folded up by standing inside the frame. Set it down on the dock crossways. Unfold the legs. Pick it back up the same way and stick in the one end. Press it up over your sholders and let it splash.
Unfortunately, it was evident after I installed it and put the decking on that the 1" x 2" aluminum support beam had bent during shipping. After bending it back a bit using a ratchet tiedown and some wood blocks, I called Pier of D'Nort, and they're going to make and send me a semi-permanent aluminum shim that I'll slip over the supports to shore it up better. I'm hoping to be able to just screw the shim on permanently so I don't have to try to keep track of that every spring and every fall.
Next we cleaned the hull and windows of the boat and put it in the water. The hull cleaner I used is wonderful--Waterline Stain Remover from Aurora Marine. The boat went in without a hitch...er, without a problem. Having the dock at the boat launch is really helpful.
After adjusting the bunks on the boat lift, it seems to be set up just right for easy launch and return now. The only problem is that one of the dock legs sticks up far enough that it gets in the way of the boat wheel--maybe it's time for a motorized crank for the boat lift...
I got the dog fence fixed--there was a break in the wire over by the neighbors. They probably broke it with a shovel when doing a bit of landscaping to manage water runoff. I put the wire inside a length of garden hose right there so it is less likely to happen again. The fence now works, but it may be quite a task to train the dog to retreat from the noise before he gets stimulation. The instructions say to train more than 4 days per week for a while, which we obviously can't do only being there on the weekends.
We also got the first two sections of the "sunset dock" installed. The third section broke last year when we took it out of the water. I got a good start on repairing it. Next weekend, I think I'll be able to finish up the repair and get it in the water.
Graham caught an 8-inch Catfish with his fishing net near the new dock! We were walking along when I saw a fish hanging out in the shallow water near the shore line. I told Graham and he caught it with his net. We carried it onto the dock and put it down in the water. The fish flopped about a little, but not as much as you'd usually expect. We convinced him that the fish was probably not healthy and to let him go so he can get better and grow bigger. The fish floated there in the water kind of sideways for a bit, but once I used the side of the net to roll him upright, he quickly swam down to the bottom.
We were able to get in a few boat rides to see the loons nesting, as well as a camp fire with smores.
Graham did some swimming with his wetsuit on. Ian wanted to really badly, like Graham, but it was just too cold.
Favorite things:
- Graham: 2 speed-boat rides, campfire, catching a catfish, swimming
- Ian: eating cantaloupe
- Shaun: using the new dock to get into the boat
- Liz: exercising by the lake
- GJ: speed boat ride, grilling hamburgers and chicken
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