Recomissioning Echo proved to be really difficult in 2011. Lake Champlain flooded its banks on April 27th and put an end to all Marina operations until the water finally receded below flood stage in early July. All of May and June were lost. When I first checked on my boat it was on land on jackstands in about four feet of ice cold water. By the third week in June the water had receeded to about a foot and, although it was really messy tracking mud all over the boat, at least I could start making upgrades in earnest. I finally had Echo launched on July 8th and immediately headed north to Indian Bay Marina on Willsboro Bay where Echo will be spending what's left of the summer.

The picture below is of Echo after 5 weeks of receeding flood waters. The flooding is down to about a foot.

I was finally able to get some work done on the boat while I waited for the Marina to dry out.

I mounted my GPS on a swing arm that sits in the companionway when in use and tucks away when not.

Made some new cushion covers for the interior.

Finally launched the boat on July 7th and headed north. Just a quarter mile or so up lake I passed the Valez marina where they are building the center span for the new Champlain bridge connecting New York with Vermont.

Made Converse bay by early evening, dropped a hook and spent the night there

Departed Converse early the next morning with the sun coming up over the stern

After a while I caught a southerly breeze and raised my mainsail for the first time this season

When I got to Indian Bay marina, I discovered that they didn't have their docks in yet. There were a few slips temporarily tied up to shore, but I wasn't sure they had the depth I needed.

I circled around a bit fretting about it until the marina owner came out and guided me into a slip. It would have to do till they got their docks set up for what was left of the summer.