Our Feathered Freinds

Just the smallest parcel of open water is all it takes to create a fishing hole. The bubbling water around the docks at Frentress Lake, East Dubuque, IL. provide just such of an opening for the eagles to catch their lunch. On the day I took these photos there was as least 25 to 30 Eagles in and around the dock area. If you open the photo of the eagle in flight you will see a small fish in his or her talon. An old timer told me a while back that the only way to tell the difference between the male an female bald eagles at a distance was to listen to them. The one that does all the screeching and screaming are the females. After watching them quite a bit while waiting for just the right photo opportunity, I haven't the slightest reason to doubt the old timers wisdom. They sure are majestic creatures. It's no wonder they were selected to symbolize our nation.

Aqua Villa on Ice

CAN YOU TELL?

Cabin fever is an affliction that consumes one's ability to stay sane. For boaters that are sane to start with and cruise our northern waters, winter time is the leading cause of this dreadful disease. The fever starts creeping in when the first thoughts of winterization come to mind. Last year it was a late October morning while on the hook, our stern east, and glass flat water reflecting another sunrise spectacle. The ducks were flying, the air was crisp, and there was the slightest hint of frost on the dingy. Standing there clutching a hot cup of coffee I thought, where in the hell did I put Capt. Rick's step by step list for winterization. Even though there were weeks of great boating left to enjoy, the seed was planted and the fever starts to grow. By the end of January most boaters usually overwhelmed by full blown cabin fever. You'll know when you get that stage of the fever because you can't remember that sweet smell of diesel exhaust, the smell of boat wax has long since disappeared, and you can't remember what non-skid feels like under your toes. By the time most of us get into the later weeks of February we are a total basket case and start rummaging through our boat supplies to make sure we have plenty wax on hand for the spring shine up. In my fever madness I thought it would be fun to post some photos to see if you can pick out the ones where cabin fever has taken hold and which ones are fever free.

Drawers

I'm finally getting around to building the drawers for the built-in dresser in the loft bedroom. Pretty standard for the most part, Baltic birch plywood boxes with a 1/4 inch dado slot hard board bottoms. The real difference of these drawers are the box corner joinery using the Kreg Jig system for pilot drilling the very steep angle holes for the screws. The Kreg Jig is available at most home stores and on line at Rockler Woodworking and McFeeley's, not to mention many more locations at Amazon tools.com. This system has worked pretty slick so far and gives you the option of putting your screws on the inside or the outside which ever you prefer. For this project I am screwing and gluing to get the added strength needed to handle the abuse that drawers inevitably get. If this goes well I may try to build some teak tables and chairs for the dock and boat. Most likely it will be the table first, as Lisa has been after me for a while now to fabricate a table for the fly bridge. The Kreg Jig should work just fine with star board and other synthetic lumber products used to make marine grade items. Enjoy the pictures and feel free to post questions or comments that you might have by using the comment tab at the bottom of each posting.

Aqua Villa Repair Crew

Boaters Dream

Our northern Illinois liquid landscape has been frozen about 3 months now and its about this time of year that boaters start dreaming of the spring thaw. While spring just can't get here fast enough, Lisa and I often slip away to a sun drenched fantasy where you can hear the sounds of flip flops slapping the dock, sail mast hardware pinging in the breeze, and the slightest scent of coconut oil floating on air. One of our favorite escapes, Legacy Harbor Marina in Ft Myers, Florida is more than a dream, it's a destination that we will be visiting later this spring. Legacy is special because some of our boating friends have made the dream a reality. This will be the second year that the Tourist made her way from Midtown Marina in East Dubuque to the Gulf and then onto Legacy Harbor Marina on the Caloosahatchee River in Ft Myers. This marina is beautiful with all the amenities that a boater could ask for and their staff is something to be envied. Well that's enough chatter from me. Please enjoy the photos and hopefully if you close your eyes, you'll be able to take a little vacation without leaving your chair. Remember smell the coconut oil.

Aqua Villa Crew

Ice Golf

Yesterday was the annual ice golf tournament at Mid Town Marina in East Dubuque, IL. Not that we knew this was going on when we went to check the dock boxes and survey the condition of the boats in outside storage. As we neared the marina the first thing that stuck out were the cars. Cars everywhere, hundreds of cars. A bit strange given the marina is closed up tighter than a clam in the Mississippi mud in February during the winter season. After making our way through the parked car maze we pulled up to H dock which was the location of a very tough up hill par 3 hole. To play ice golf you need one iron (your choice), a tennis ball(s), a team sled/cart, warm close and alcohol. Lots and of lots of alcohol. After snapping a few pictures of this winter spectacle we headed for the marina bar/clubhouse for a beverage. Pulling up to the bar we found ourselves looking an other couple from H dock, Bobbi and Kyle Volkens. A couple of hours later and numerous cocktails we headed for home. They sure had an excellent day for there golf outing and it was great fun to catch up with friends from the dock.

BE MINE

Nothing says I love you like taking your bride to the shooting range. Last fall Lisa got her hands on a brand spankin new XD 45 from Springfield Armory firearms. Let me be the first to tell you, she does pretty darn well when it come to making holes. Right now your all thinking I didn't think this through, am I right. Well it never hurts to have back up. After a couple more trips to the range she will be knocking the ten ring all the time. Any body can send flowers and give chocolate.




Aqua Villa Security

Winter Repairs

When the Aqua Villa was hauled out last winter we new there were repairs in her future. Last summer the port transmission started to creep when ever the engine was running. Rather than end up in a situation where the transmission would not disengage or not shift we thought it best to have Dr. Jerry (owner) at Island City Harbor Marina, Sabula, Ia. take a look at her. With the exception of needing about 20,000 lbs of pull to separate the transmission from engine everything is going quite well. The repairs will include replacing both the forward and reverse clutch packs and assorted springs and retainer clips. The clutch packs are located in the smooth band area of the shaft looking gizmos and are about six inches in diameter. Jerry was very pleased with condition of the internal parts surfaces as they looked like new for the most part. No metal filings, burnt bearing surfaces. or pitting to be found, all great news. The other issue was a water intrusion problem at the rear of the swim platform where the rub rail is attached. With the rub rail removed it was easy to see what the problem was, holes from a previous repair attempt and a general drying out of the rail sealant to which it is embedded. After a good cleaning, a bit of sanding, a dab of 5200, and a new polyurethane selant job we should be as good as new. It will end up being a three step project to get it back together, but the job will be done right. No fiberglass repair was needed letting us get everything finished before ice out this spring.

Aqua Villa Staff

Snow Day

Yesterday I went for a bit of a drive looking for photo subjects during the blizzard to give myself a break from my latest woodworking project. When I get to the exciting part of that project where the wood does more than just lay there I'll post some action shots. Not much traffic yesterday, until you stop to take a picture that is. The roads were drifting a bit but not terrible, nothing to complain about unless your Lisa and we all know how she like snow banks, driving in the snow, and winter in general. This post offers up some local winter scenes I hope you'll like. I have to say that when I stopped to take the picture of that solitary old oak I couldn't help but wonder what this territory looked like when that tree was only five feet tall. As big as that tree is it must have been in the 1500's sometime. Wild times in the neighborhood back then I suppose. Please double click on any of the photos to enlarge for better viewing.

Aqua Villa Bilge Rat (aka Moose)

That Niffty Fifty

Lisa, my sidekick of 25 years has turned 50. But you wouldn't know it to follow her around for a day. I think everyday she gets faster and I get slower. The party was a great time with friends and family from all around. Pam a close friend of ours came back from sunny Florida where they spend winter on their yacht the Tourist. It was a trick to get her home without the sneaky one finding out about it.

Aqua Villa Staff

A Mix

A strange mix of photos that sum everything up. The snow just keeps coming, Then the birds get fed, and last it time for a nice sipper in front of the fireplace.

Moose