Getting to work

While we were doing our traveling we left several tasks for the yard to accomplish. Much of it I could have done myself but wanted to get the work done as soon as possible because there was still much to do when we returned.

While we were gone the yard found the problem with the charging and there was a broken wire on the alternator so charging the battery and fixing the wire solved the whole electrical issue that we developed on the way north. With that solved they went on to do a 1000 hour engine service. We last had one done when we bought the boat. However, the bow thruster wasn't serviced so that would be the focus when we got to it.

Cleaning off the bottom on haul out.

Our home for 1 or maybe 2 weeks. Notice the ICW mustache.

It rained on Memorial Day, the Monday of the long weekend so when we got back to Oxford the boat and sails were wet. But, we took them down anyway and put them in the shed to dry so we could fold them and take them into Annapolis for service. Tuesday we got hauled out but not before checking out the bow thuster and found the brushes were sparking indicating they were worn. So that would be another task to complete.

The tasks to be completed during the haulout included: cleaning and waxing the hull; servicing the lower unit of the bow thruster; apply bottom paint; replace the zincs; and evaluate and repair damage to the hull caused by mooring balls. When we were in St Augustine last Fall, the mooring  ball pounded the hull whenever the wind opposed the current. With the boat out of the water we were able to fully evaluate the damage and their were significant gouges in and around the boot stripe. Going forward we will need to develop a way to secure the mooring while keeping it away from the boat.

Our home with the mustache cleaned off and before the hull work began.

One other task we wanted to accomplish was replacement of the sonar system that was on the boat but didn't work correctly. After investigation we determined there was no good replacement so we removed it from the boat. One the major components was the huge transponder mounted on the hull that required a fiberglass patch. So instead of getting back in the water in about a week we were out about 2 weeks.

Living in the boat on the hard is challenging as many of our systems don't work because they require water. Our refrigerator is cooled in the water so we keep ice in it to keep things cold. Our HVAC requires water for operation and we can't pump out our holding tank so we only use our head sparingly.

Today I went through my "to do" list. When we got here  had a list of 52 items that has been knocked down to 17 in just a few weeks. Some of the items haven't been completed yet but are underway. With luck we will get everything done over the summer and be ready to head south. Our biggest challenge is to be sure we have what we need to fix what we need to survive. After 2 years on this boat I think we're close to being ready.

Next week we get back in the water and our focus turns to our annual medical appointments and visiting other friends. Once back in the water there is more work to be done but we will be able to get out and sail But now back to work.

In our running around for errands we stopped at the Boatyard for lunch one day and then a few days later we met some friends, Dave and Cindy of the boat TomTom who we met in New England last year and as it turned out live a mile from where we used to live. Here is Linda at the bar at the Boatyard in Annapolis.