Hull Work

The main job today was to apply Interlux Interprotect 2000E with Microplates.  It is a two-part epoxy coating developed to protect fiberglass hulls from water absorption, which can lead to osmotic blistering. The microplates create an overlapping barrier to help stop water migration through the coating.  We applied it where there were minor blistering or where we had been a bit too agressive with the sanding (that is when we went from 80 grit to like.... 36! he! he! that's what you call desperation).  But overall the hulls are in very good condition. 

Before

Application of Interlux Interprotect 2000E barrier coat

Moving Along with Spring Commissioning...

Finally we are done with sanding - don't know if we'll ever want to do that again: it was a grueling job!  So next we washed the hulls with boat soap and rinsed them:

and then applied solvent (Interlux 202) and wiped it off like so:

More tomorrow....

Guess who?

Still not done...

and More Spring Jobs...

changing our cutlass bearings...
first pray that the previous owner did not put a permanent adhesive like 5200 !

Please budge....

Yes, it's turning...

More Spring Jobs...

1st step: Avi is at it and will be for many countless hours...sanding the hulls (to be able to paint the antifoulant which helps to prevent encrusting with foreign matter such as barnacles; lasts a season or two)

Spring Jobs

Changing our anchor, shackle, and chain-

A tight place?  no problem, send your 50-inch 50-lbs boy to get that shackle all the way at the back between the water tanks....

I am tightening that pin in the shackle well: we don't wanna lose the anchor !

And voilà: the job is done, man!

Before...

and after!

Winter Jobs...

Examples of winter works we did today:

- sanitary plumbing:

Your absolute best friends: WD40 and PB Blaster,....

and tiny screw drivers for tight places....

Lubricating valve

with Steve's help here, we are fitting our 2 new holding tanks.

- the 1336 sq ft & 168 lbs main sail: a broken batten, a batten pocket torn on the way from Florida, and a bit roughed up overall; we'll have to have it stitched up.  Replacing it is out of our budget - these babies cost $7 to $10K.