The first thing we did when we arrived to see the boat was “BOMB” the boat for bugs!!! I really hate bugs and there was no way I was going to co-habitat with them. After bombing we sprayed all of the outside. Not sure how good it works but we shall see...
Then the work began. Work! Work! Work! That is all we have been doing since arriving here. We stayed a week in a hotel while the boat was still out of the water. During that time we had to get the boat ready for its insurance survey. The boat was in good shape but we wanted to clean things up a little and I wanted to ensure there were no creatures of any sort aboard.
The bottom paint needed to be redone so we did that (unfortunately we did not know we were not allowed to do our own work in that yard…oops… we will know for next year)! At home we had stripped the boat prior to leaving on this journey and then applied a couple coats of red and then a couple coats of blue ablative paint over the red. This paint helps keep barnacles/algae off the bottom of your boat which can cause you to lose speed and performance (remember in an hour we only average ~ 6 knots=6.9 miles=11.1 kilometers) so we don’t want anything that will slow us down. Therefore, it is important to keep the bottom paint in good shape. With this kind of paint you know when to recoat as the red paint begins to be visible in areas where the blue has worn off.
It was a beautiful day to paint so paint we did!! I think I had as much bottom paint on me as the boat.
Job after job we were thankfully we could check it off our list. System after system was checked. Byron was intimate with his engine, as usual.
The sails went on and up to ensure they were fine. Electrical, communication and navigation instruments were all in good running order. Our fear was that she may have been hit by lightening at some time but things all seemed good. Thruhulls were checked, propeller was checked and greased, zincs replaced, anchor chain was reversed, etc… the list goes on and on. We were getting her ready for her inspection but more importantly we were getting her ready for sailing and to do that we want to ensure she is safe.
During that time I saw a COCKROACH in the cockpit!! Boat was bombed AGAIN!! And she was sprayed too… Remember I hate bugs.
Prior to coming we knew the boat needed to have a marine survey for insurance to continue coverage and we knew the surveyors were extremely busy so we had to find a reputable professional who would work with us and our insurance requirements. Typically a survey is completed in two phases (while the boat is on land and in water) often on the same day. Our process was a little different. Once the surveyor completed the land inspection I was to contact the insurance company with information from the surveyor to let them know if the boat was safe to go in the water and then they would give permission to splash the boat. The surveyor we hired was the best!!! He was professional, thorough, ensuring the boats safety and ultimately our safety. He went over every inch of the boat on the inside and outside. He checked every system to ensure it met code and performed to standards. We were extremely pleased and will definitely hire him again!! We hired John Gallagher with Blue Squared Maritime jg@bluesquaredmaritime.com out of Jacksonville; he is fantastic.
Once the out of water survey was completed, and we had permission to splash, the travel lift came to put our baby in the water. Prior to moving it we wanted the “god forsaken piece of s..t” diesel generator taken out of the boat. This is the same generator that I was insistent on being operational before I would leave Corner Brook as “I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it” and there was no way I was going south without air conditioning when I wanted it. Much to my amazement we did not use air conditioning once in the Bahamas last time and we only ready needed the generator for making water. We had a portable generator for that plus the diesel generator (with 120hours on it) was broke more than it worked. It definitely was a “bone of contention”. The generator was a Fischer Panda 4500 watts…. Never again will that go in my boat.
Tom from Holland Marine helped get the generator disposed off!!. Instead what I wanted, for now until we go further south, was another portable generator in case the other portable broke. We have 2 Honda generators on board. The generator is used to mainly run the water maker and we all know I need water… and I need even more water to use my washer spin dryer !!!LOL!!!
Things went well and we splashed (John Gallagher even helped). The water survey was then completed. Now we were ready to start even more work with things we would like to do since the needed things were done preparing for the inspection.
Byron was a happy boy changing his batteries and getting the boat ready. I provisioned (probably too much again) and prepared in case our children came to visit. Life is good!!!
We closed out our storage room. Duke got his ride in the dinghy (his love) and now keeps going to the back of the boat trying to jump in the dinghy!!!
I am so thankful to my family at home and the staff who call me, text me and face-time with me to let me know how my mama is doing. So far so good!! Thank God.
Unfortunately we are stalled in Green Cove Springs waiting for a water maker membrane (although it is a beautiful place to be since we have our car here too). We ordered it early and they said it was in stock and should have come from southern Florida but 3 weeks later it was still not here… apparently it was back-ordered and not in stock. We felt deceived… Now we are on the hunt for another supplier. Stay tuned! If this is our own complaint life is good for sure.
Live Life Now!
Happy to hear that the boat is full of provisions, safety checked and almost ready to sail. xoxox Enjoy the sunny days while you wait to begin your sail!!! xoxo Diddie
Love the pictures of your mom. She looks good! Enjoy your travels