Camden, ME - 8/1/01 thru 8/27/01
For the month of August we put Early Out on the hard to have some work done.  We were still having vibration problems with our shaft/engine.  So we decided to have the boat hauled and get things fixed once and for all.   The boat yard in Camden - Wayfarer Marina - had a good reputatioon, so we decided to have the work done there.  With the help of the folks at Caliber in Clearwater and the folks at Wayfarer, it looks like our vibration problem has been fixed.  They ended up replacing the shaft, lower part of the strut and realigned the engine.  Things look a lot better.  We returned to Camden on the 24th and put a fresh coat of wax on her topsides and a coat of bottom paint on her hull.  The boat looks great.  We're very anxious to get her back in the water so we can start making our way south.  Tomorrow, 8/28/01, we're scheduled to launch her and go for a test run.  We're keeping our fingers crossed, but it appears the problem has been fixed.  Yea!

In the meantime, while Early Out was out of the water getting worked on, we went back to Cincinnati to visit family and friends.  Although our trip home was short, we had a great time seeing everyone and catching up.  Then we went on to Traverse City, MI to spend some time with Fred's family.   We also enjoyed a couple days of sailing with Max & Roberta on Lake Michigan where they had chartered a Catalina 320.  Sailed from Traverse City to Northport to Charlevoix, them back to Northport.  Had lots of fun.

Here's a couple pictures from our trip to Cincinnati and Michigan:
 

Celebrating my wonderful Dad's Birthday!!!
 

Visit with Dave, Chris, Stephen, Rachel and Daniel at their Cottage in Michigan
 
 

Max and Roberta in Northport, Michigan -- aboard "Tango", a Catalina 320.  Thanks for a fun trip!
 
 

Fred's family -- Traverse City, MI
 
 

Camden, ME - 8/28/01
We're back in the water.....and our vibration problem seems to be fixed......YEA!!!  Today we spent doing last minute things like laundry and a grocery run.  Wayfarer has a courtesy car which they let us use to go to the grocery.   What a big help!   The evening was spent studying charts and cruising guides to figure out our route south.  We're very anxious to get on our way.  Its so nice to be back on the water again.