Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 24 November 2015

Date: 24 November 2015 08:00 till 24 November 2015 16:15
Endpoints: Smith's Marina to Smith's Marina
Purpose: Haulout and Begin Winterization
Complement: Hank Greene and Yoni Bresler
Weather: down the Severn force 1
Engine Hours: 47.1 to 49.5 Change Oil and Filter
Fuel: about a fourth a tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Met Hank at Smith's Marina at 8:00AM. Drove to Annapolis. Engine not happy about starting at 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Took several attempts (three?), including spinning the engine with the decompression levers engaged...probably not long enough as I am used to the engine starting with a few seconds of hitting start. Departed Yacht Haven Annapolis at 08:51AM. Light airs. Drove under power to "Smiths Marina" in about one hour and thrity minutes making 5.5 knots upsteam, speed over ground as reported by GPS, at 2,800 rpm. Passed south of St Helena's Island. On the way in, about 20 yards short of the private mark nun bouy at the entrance to Smith's Marina, ran aground in soft mud or sand. After going aground, depth sounder reading 3.1 to 3.3 feet. Tried rocking, motoring forward and reverse, and poling usingthe spinnaker pole, all to no avail. Options left: run someone out on the boom, kedge, swim a line to shore. Smith's Marina does not have a boat to assist.

Ran Hank out on the boom to port, sufficient heel to break free and motor into the marina. Lost about 40 minutes trying the failed methods. Lesson here.

Removed sails.
Changed oil (Shell Rotella T 15W40, 2 quarts) and filter (Yanmar). Checked oil level repeatedly. Sufficient, about 1/5 from high mark on dip stick, despite seemingly small amount of oil. West Marine Manual Oil Changer worked beautifully.
Replaced raw water in cooling system with West Marine propylene glycol.

Drove Hank back to his car in Annapolis by 12:45. Stopped for coffee (lunch) at Ceremony Coffee. Returned to Smith's Marina.

Hauled out.
Tried winter cover, found that a midline zipper on the aft section, of three, needs to be re-sewn.
Removed cover.
Washed deck.