I did the other day. My hands hurt. But they've been hurting in the spring for a few years now. Boats can be hard on hands.

The guy on my starboard is launched. He's 86 and does all his own work, waxing, varnishing(Sabre 34, maybe a cup or two to my seasonal gallon), bottom painting, etc. He does a lot of work on his boat. They're a lot of work if you do your own. He was talking about giving his boat away to the guy that helps him, but not quite yet.

The guy on my port side hasn't even started getting ready to launch. He works at the boatyard and this is his crunch time. His "project", sort of got away from him a few years ago, he's about 70. "I hadn't planned on getting too old to do the work", he told me with a defeated smile last year. But he sails, starts late and goes into November, and sometimes beyond.

I'm the youngster in the middle, at 60. But these guys got me thinking. All good things come to an end.

I've spent some time after work and weekends sanding my topsides. I've been roll and tipping it about every three years with a one part enamel. It's a pretty easy task( needs to be recoated sooner than two part), but takes time to dry very hard before you can tape the cove stripe and boottop.

Time, that's ok. This time of year seems to give me all the time I need. Rain days, cool moist days, east winds. The spring weather that makes me happy not to be on the water, oil paint on the other hand, doesn't mind drying in(after it's set a few hours).

The members finally cleared the docks for the Boat Club off of the landing so my harbor view is unfettered. I can see my mooring is in and just beyond the Sky blue fishing boat with the harpoon platform on the bow. The weather will get better soon, it always does.