Winter on Lake Champlain

 19 November 2022

Commodore Drive, Vergennes, Vermont

Marc-  Sue and I usually try to start the day off with a good walk of several miles.  Today we headed off to Button Bay State Park nearby that has become our regular stop.  On route we saw some snow covered Adirondack mountains and sheep in a snowy field enjoying the weather.  

The highlight of the hike was visiting Basin Harbor through some of the connecting trails with Button Bay State Park.  We were surprised to find the Lake Champlain flagship:  the Lois McClure securely docked in Basin Harbor for the winter.

Not all of the boats leave the lake for the winter months.

The Lois McClure (and her dinghy) is the only boat in the basin.

Winter Projects

 16 November 2022

Point Bay Marina, Charlotte, VT 

Marc-  Snow arrived this morning to Vergennes and it complicates our boat projects.  Fortunately we have been busy in the last few warm days of Fall.  I built a new centerboard and ordered a new pivot pin.  From the photos you can see the old board was broken in half and the pin was twisted.  I managed to cut out the steel core from the old board and install it in the new board.  The old board broke off just below the steel core ( a 1/2 inch x 6 inch x 36 inch carbon steel plate with a stainless steel insert for the pivot pin).  The new pin went in smoothly and fit tightly in the new board and snugly in the bearings.  We will have to wait for warmer weather to glass over the centerboard pin bronze access plate. 

New Centerboard.

Old centerboard pivot pin.

Hopefully there will be some more warm days (anything above 50 would be great) to work on a few interior plumbing issues.  The boat does have interior heating to help.