9th August, 2013

Jay’s Version of Cirque du soleil

Channel Islands Marina

August 5, 2013

The Problem: Have you ever tried to replace a porthole in the forward section of your boat with zero headroom, a pin rail blocking your path, and at a distance just an inch or two longer than your arms? Well, that is what Jay has been doing, and needless to say, there has been a lot of swearing along with the ridiculous contortions he has asked his body to perform.

It’s necessary to replace all of our portholes (she is over thirty years old) but none are as important as these. They are the two farthest forward and are most vulnerable when attacked by strong seas. In fact, that is what drew our attention to the reality that we had to get new ones. We were out on a day with some weather and heavy seas and when we arrived back in port we noticed we had taken on quite a bit of water – never a good thing on a boat.

The Solution: Our friends, Alison and Allan, came over for cocktails. Jay lured Allan below to contemplate the dilemma. Little did Allan know his head and torso would be squeezed through a ten-inch opening, his body suspended in air while Jay held him up by putting his hand on his butt, pushing him forward. (No worries; a cushion was strategically placed between the hand and the butt.) Allan, free to use both hands, was able to hold the porthole in place while screwing in the nuts and bolts. It was quite a funny sight, but success, nevertheless.

I guess you had to be there.