More Maintenance

Last weekend was another weekend where sailing didn’t happen but boatwork did.

On Saturday, I was at the Indian Summer working some more on the battery compartment, and realized I need to revarnish some of the brightwork.  So, removed a few pieces (including the external hand hold which the varnish had worn off of and an interior locker cover which had water damage from the poorly installed compass) to refinish back at the OK Corral.

While at the boat I also check on the boat across the way at dock 5 as the previous weekend it appeared to be sinking.  The cutie Harbor Patrol guy (Nick) appeared to think so too as he brought the head (non-cute) Harbor Patrol guy out to point out the sinking aft port corner.  They must have gotten aboard and pumped it out as this week it’s floating higher in the water, but give it time.  It’s a disaster in progress and I’ll document as long as I can.

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Sunday was sunny and I was supposed to sail on the Nova Gina, but we didn’t go due to crew issues, so I started with the refinishing.  Varnish fumes mix really nicely with sun and cheap Chez Target brand chardonnay.  A fine time was had by all, i.e. me.

I sanded down all the wood pieces, then scrubbed with AJAX and water to bleach out the mold and mildew, let dry in direct sunlight.  Brush down then clean with a water/varnish soaked rag that has a special name I forgot (the fumes get to you after a while).  The book on boat maintenance which my brother and Shelley gave me for Christmas is incredibly helpful because it has tips on things like how to keep bubbles out of the varnish and what to use if AJAX doesn’t work.

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It’s a really satisfying process, because the wood goes from looking like crap to looking like honey, the grain appears looking like molten bits of flower petals.  Extremely beautiful.  That is why people go gaga over wooden boats – they’re gorgeous when they are in good condition.  However, I now know there is no way I could ever handle that sort of required maintenance.

Engine update

yay! it’s gone!

$75

Craigslist rocks!

The Beast

I finally broke down and posted the old Merc 7.5 on craigslist.  This is the first time I’ve ever tried to sell anything on craigslist.  Its amazing.  I got 20 or so responses within 10 minutes.  Have spoken with someone who asked the right questions and therefore sounds reliable and wants to pick it up tomorrow.

We’ll see how it goes.  Come on big money!!!!

Repairs – am I done yet?

Lessons for today:

1.  Sunny weather is your friend

2.  Always have a plan B

We finally got a break in the rain that coincided with a weekend

  2 sunny days in a row = prime fiberglassing weather

I would like to point out that as I grow older, I start to learn from my mistakes.  On Saturday, I put on disposable nitrile gloves BEFORE mixing up the fiberglass.

I was working on a long delayed project to improve and bring the battery area up to code.  Here’s what it has looked like until now.   Those of you who have been on my boat are probably now thinking “HOLY SHIT!  I had no idea we were in such danger the entire time we were sailing.”

I say to you – Relax.  How often do I even remember to turn the radio on while sailing?

We’re in much more danger at the dock when I’ve got the lights on….

The first step is to make a stable flat platform in the aft seat well.  Easier said than done.  My first plan was to model it on a single battery holder that was previously there but rotted out.  I ripped it out and apart, planning to use it as a guide to have new pieces of wood cut to match.  Unfortunately, the only place I knew to go for wood was Home Depot.

I have to state first off that I hate Home Depot.  I hate its dim lighting, I hate its overfilled shelves with empty spaces only for what I need, and most of all, I hate its employees.  I consider the trip a success only because I did make it out of the store without killing anyone.  I did bond with some other customers who also needed to get some wood cut – we had plenty of time to chat while we waited 35 minutes for someone who could run the saw.  After waiting 35 minutes for the saw guy to show up (I believe the problem was due to his gang affiliation – between the presumably fake limp and the crotch of his jeans hanging below his knees, the poor fellow could barely walk), I learned that Home Depot saws, unlike saws in other parts of the universe, cannot cut on a diagonal.

This is when I moved on to the ever essential Plan B.  Rather than having it set up with diagonally cut supports underneath, the shelf could be supported on three sides by lips attached to the hull and the inner lining.  So, appropriate pieces of wood were bought, sanded, varnished and allowed to dry for 4 weeks.  4 weeks because it kept raining.  I didn’t think it was a good idea to fiberglass any of them in while it was raining so I had to wait for it to stop.  Saturday, fiberglassed the holder in and put the shelf in to mold it all in place, in a plastic bag so the shelf won’t be permanently attached (I’m really proud of myself for thinking of that).  It doesn’t look very impressive right now.

But it will.  Its all part of the master plan.

Having firmly started down the battery road, I turned to another long overdue and very minor repair: the rip in the sail cover.

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Note the lovely shadow my left bosom makes on the boom in the after photo as I shoot it.  Intriguing, no?

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Before                     After

The Ramp

Finally made it to a day trip destination:  The Ramp  http://www.ramprestaurant.com/

I felt like Leaf Erikson arriving in Nova Scotia, the Pilgrims stepping off onto Plymouth Rock, Columbus discovering India.  I found … the Ramp.  Along with my trusty crew of Carlos (aka, the Sandinista) and Anna (aka, Mal-de-Movement), we sailed North towards beer.  The coast was blanketed in buildings so we had to manoeuver with difficulty, attempting to visualize where the destination actually was.  We knew it was on 3rd around 16th, but that doesn’t help much from the water.  So we edged carefully along, sometimes by motor, sometimes by sail, looking out for the pirates that we’ve heard roam the area (according to my dock neighbor Cheech).

We weren’t turning back until we found the Ramp, so its a good thing it showed up before Alaska.  Luckily, the Sandinista had provided plenty of supplies so we didn’t starve prior to finding it and had no need to sacrifice any of the crew.  We docked in a blaze of glory at the Ramp (that’s what giving the captain wine does for you) and went ashore for drinks.  I don’t know about my crew, but I felt like the coolest person on the planet.  Showing up at a bar by boat beats every other way I’ve ever arrived.  We had a quick drink (I had to get back in time for Pilates) and headed out.  My boat looked very small at the docks among all the other boats – they were all at least 34 footers.   

We sailed home on a nice broad reach making great time, the wind that I had promised all day finally picking up.  Anna didn’t get seasick at all! 

We go back to dock, with Carlos providing his expert services at jumping off and holding the boat (a vital boating skill).

Then I put the Indian Summer away for the week or so (bad weather and business trips ever since).