Beware the helpful spouse

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

I am half done with my Arch Davis Sanddollar eleven foot skiff and just yesterday put a coat of epoxy on the outside of my (upside down) hull. Took the morning off to do the work and then off to work at noon on our first warm day of the year. Thoughts of my wet epoxy turning to sticky wet by the time I returned home that evening floated through my mind. Finally I was nearly ready to turn the boat over - I could almost visualize myself sailing.

Returning home I rounded the corner and noticed that the garage door was WIDE open. Sinking feeling... Steve McGarret driving style ensued... heavy acceleration... slamming it into park... left engine running... ran to my very tacky wet boat - worst fears confirmed. Horrors!!! Burst through the door into the house... counted to ten... remembered to honor my faith... passively inquired of my Dearest Wife, "Love, who left the garage door open?" She replied, "Oh, it was so warm out that..." I didn't wait for the rest. Did my best John Cleese / Nazi storm trooper imitation as I goosestepped through the house looking for the tweesers. Why you ask? On this the first balmy day of the year the long dormant asian lady bugs finally came out to stretch their wings and, tiring, settled on MY BOAT!!!!! Arghhh!!!

I was able to "tweese" out most of the big parts of each body and it looks like by sanding and then putting on a second coat the remains will be entombed for all time. She felt terrible about the whole thing but for a control freak like me it just confirms...

[John Blazy]

Oh how our sweet girlies love to "help". What's the story behind "pre-capsize"?. Varnish or paint over the bug remains should cover up their parts impressions. At least its not like Margo's Concordia where she got a lizard stuck on the varnish.

[Concordia..41]

Yeah, ladybugs smadybugs. You haven't lived until you've picked THIS out of your varnish :eek:

http://www.sailingwithsarah.com/Pic/Lizard.jpg

Besides, just think of the legions of ladybugs who gave their all just to be a part of your skiff ;)

[Mrleft8]

I DO expect that you will name your boat "Lady bug" in honor of all those who gave their lives....
(plus the fact that your wife will never ever forget her errant ways as a result....) :D

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Lady Bug Lady Bug
Fly away hoping
The epoxy is liquid
and the garage door is open :D

[scepticus]

I have the remains of a moth embedded in the polyurethane on the floor of my office. Nobody's ever noticed it but me. :cool:

[NormMessinger]

Don't blame your wife, sir. All you would have needed to have done is mentioned "wet" epoxy before you left and asked that the door not be opened. Be cool. The world is not going to end. (Um, you are exagerating your reaction though, right?)

[Rocky]

Second that. How was she to know?

[videoguy]

The puddy cat got my last finish coat on Pas de deux . She jumped on the bow walked the full length of the side deck to the transom and hopped on to the work bench :( :( ...Phil

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Thanks for the consolation and even the defense of my Better Half. This has been a learning process all along but an enjoyable experience too.

Not a bad idea to name it Ladybug but... I don't know. That is one thing I can't come up with is a name. Wouldn't you think that I have plenty of time to think of one as I work away? So far nothing clicks. The family wants SS Minnow. As accurate as that will likely end up being... no can do.

To allay your fears, yes there was some "embelishment" to the episode that I described - somewhat. Let's just say that my delivery truck is, at 159,000 miles, incapable of any Steve McGarret moves.

As to my name, Captain Pre-Capsize... it is a fair description of my sailing abilities. On vacation we rent a small sailboat and I take turns taking out our children one at a time. Hedging her bets my Lovely Wife will permit one child with me but holds the other two in reserve on the dock in case we go under. No amount of, "There are flotation tanks and besides we have on PFD's" will set her at ease. So off I go careening around the lake with her one sacraficial child that she alternates every half hour as I drop one off and pick up another. Her time is spent on the dock nailbiting and covering up the eyes of the other two children at what is sure to be an impending disaster. "The boat is LEANING OVER!!!" she will yell from the dock. I look around myself, up at the mast and feign surprise, "Yea, the snotter went around the gunter rig via the transom off the starboard tiller!!" Relief visibly passes her face just knowing that I am aware of the problem. This has been going on now for years and I love her more dearly every day - really. smile.gif

[Ken Hall]

Captain, I like the handle. When I first joined the forum I called myself SelfSinkingFlatiron.

[Rocky]

If you don't behave I'll make you go sailing with Daddy! NO, Mom, please, I'll be good! tongue.gif

[ 03-20-2003, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: Rocky ]

[Dan McCosh]

Bug feet make a nice non-skid surface.

[NormMessinger]

Captain, Phyllis says Lovely Wife has her sympathy. The only reason Phyllis sails with me is because she is more afraid of being a widow that of drowning. But, you are right, it gets better every year--going on 43 or 44 or so now.

[ 03-20-2003, 09:49 AM: Message edited by: NormMessinger ]