Getting Changes Ready

We've had some really warm and dry weather this week - had record high's in the mid 80's - so Phil has been busy getting Changes ready to put into the water. Unfortunately, some of the red Vivid bottom paint had flaked off the interprotect - so he had to scrape off all the loose areas in addition to the normal sanding. Part of the keel and the bow were affected. He thinks that maybe it was too cold when he put it on, as not all of the bottom paint is flaking off. Some history: In preparation of changing the bottom paint to be compatible with salt water instead of the fresh water Changes has been set up for, fall 2008 he removed part of the old bottom paint and repainted with the Vivid red. spring 2009 he did the rest. It's the areas he did in the fall that we're having problems with now. Of course he had to order more paint - and is now waiting for the additional quart of paint to come in on Tuesday so that either Tuesday or Wednesday he can paint the rest of the bottom. He has cleaned the top-side with the windex- so it's nice and shiny and plans to wax the topsides on Monday. Besides these last two chores, all that needs to be done is to charge and install the batteries, which he won't do until close to when the boat is scheduled to go in to the water and Changes will be ready to go in the water. April 27 is the first day that boats go in at Grand River Marine and he hopes to get an appointment on that day.

Phil is now over his friend Kay's home picking up the dinghy, where it was stored for the winter. He plans to sell it and have us use the new one that he is making for when we cruise. The new one so much bigger because it has a flat bottom so we'll have plenty of room to put us and the water jugs/food/supplies that we'll need when traveling.

Here is a picture of starting to put the bottom on the boat.

Here is a picture with the bottom being clamped on.

Here is the bottom after it's been glued, fiberglass and epoxy applied and sanded.

The Daffodils are starting to bloom in the bed next to the house. Here they are in their prime condition. We have the greenery up of the daffodils across the driveway, but no flowers yet. There are buds coming out on the trees and Phil trimmed the plum tree in the back yard. The red stalks of the Peonies are starting to poke out of the ground too. Spring has arrived! Even thought it wasn't a bad winter, the weather was hard on the bush type plants and japanese maple tree - as limbs have broken off. Too bad! I trimmed the bush rose bushes and hope that they will bush out more this year.

Phil preparing Changes

Phil decided to go down to where "Changes" is on the hard.  He brought his trailer full of things(water hoses and what not) to work on the boat but forgot to bring the cordless drill.  Figures that with all the stuff that you need to get the boat ready to go in the water, he forgot that.  This is when Phil really misses the Suburban.  use to be he could put everything int he suburban and keep it there until he was all done.  Harder to do that with the open trailer.

He was able to wash Changes and found that there are some stains on the red paint.  He's working on deciding what to use as the Awl Grip paint products don't get all the stains off.  Phil needed the drill to remove the sole (floor) so that he can varnish it.  He had removed the shelf that he had made in the quarter berth and has modified it to fit the ham radio on it.  While it was out, he varnished it.  Phil also got some aluminum bar stock in the mail to make the  arm that attaches to the rudder for the under the deck autohelm.  I'm sure there is a proper name for it, but I can't think of what it is.

Won't be long until the boat goes in the water.  That will wait until Phil gets back from his trip transporting a Hinckley 42'  from St. Thomas to Albany, NY.  The captain Dave Block, expects it to take about 9 days going at 6 knots/hr.  Then the boat will go to Erie, PA.  WE have to get him to the airport at 430am, so it's going to be an early morning.  Phil says all I have to do is get up - I can sleep on the way to the airport (1 hr drive), drive the car home and go back to sleep.  I may do that as I've been up at 4:30am 3 times this week.

Our friends Jack and Sue are back from their winter on the catamaran.  It was great to see them at Capps Restaurant on Tuesday.  Hope everyone is well.