Rites of Spring

The Christmas gifts we opened in December usually have to wait around for a few months, but the biggest present gets unwrapped in April.

We named the 34 foot Luhrs Sportfisherman the Miller Time. It spends about half the year out of the water, but it feels like much more. Its a labor of love taking care of this yellow-hulled beauty.

As New Englanders, we have to make the most of our time on the water. Before the first log entry gets written, there is a lot of work to be done on land. For a lot of people, its easier to write a check than it is to do the work themselves. For others, the anticipation of warmer weather and the smell of bottom paint is almost cathartic.

I hope to share some of the (dirty) jobs associated with getting the boat ready, keeping the boat ready and getting it ready for next year.

There was a time when I was able to fit in the bilge with greater ease, but I'm a little bigger now. I try to spend every free spring/summer/fall moment on the boat, weather permitting. Sometimes we catch fish. Sometimes we get skunked. Sometimes we look like we know what we're doing. The beer is usually cold. The bait usually smells. And, the fish usually win.

I dont intend on becoming the literary John Greviskis (from Ship Shape TV). However, I would like to share some pictures, some true stories and some lies told from the Miller Time. Hopefully, this can be an online logbook where characters will come to life and (some) secrets can be told. Maybe we can even learn something.