BOATYARD- AYAMONTE - Day 4

It's Monday morning already and I'm looking forward to jet washing my boat's undercarriage, but the wait, unexpectedly, continued into the morning.  I was also told that I would be going back into the water a day early, as another boat was booked to come out.  There must have been some sort of mix up with the days and I was left feeling immensely pressured.  After calculating what I still had left to do, this was a set back, as I may have to forgo some of the jobs, and only concentrate on getting her sanded, primed and painted ready to back into the water.

Leaving the frustration of possibly not completing everything I needed to do, I had to concentrate on the best plan to do as much as possible.  I could save the cutlass bearing for another time, for example. (A cutlass bearing is a cylindrical bearing made of brass with an inner grooved rubber lining that is lubricated by the surrounding water, and supports the drive shaft, where it exits the boat.)

I decided the hull was priority and that was it.  A friend was coming down later to stay over and help, so we would get it all done in time.  That would also mean Eby's best friend Mr Bob would be staying too and even I began to feel lighter.

Preparing below the waterline for repainting can be a messy, difficult and dangerous work, so it's not for the faint hearted.  Usually the best way to rustle up any enthusiasm with anyone is for them to own a boat too and for you to have helped them when they hauled out. A perfect quid pro quo situation.  There are always numerous people who will get caught up with the romantism of boating and affirm their help even as far as the boatyard.  But in the blink of an eye they will find a limitless supply of excuses not to help you, when they find out what's really involved maintenance wise!

 

Keels cleaned, sanded and primed not to mention the 3 pairs of knickers drying nicely on the guardrail!

The hull needed seriously sanding to remove every last trace of barnacles.  We are aiming for a smooth as possible base to build up from.  The smoother the better, the faster.  Yes boating can be rather anal at times.  I handed the sander to Jen when she turned up and she got busy.  I on the other hand was to drag myself to the worse area to work on.  Directly under the boat, between the keels.  With my small angle grinder, I worked away, against gravity, against anything that comes naturally really.  It was agonizing work, but had to be done.  One sings, yells, whoops and sighs, during the arduous process and believe me, it really helps.  The other saving grace was looking forward to a hose pipe shower, (when all had gone home) and a few cold beers and tapas at our local haunt.  Sometimes it's the little things in life, that make everything else seem rosey.

Jenny working on her 'blue rinse' look!

I have seen many a boat hauled out via travelifts, trolleys and cranes, but the small fishing boat that came out and was chocked up next to me was the most interesting.  During one of the blue dusty breaks I saw the owner of the yard and a worker strip down and prepare to head for the water once more.  What are they up to now  I wondered, so I downed tools and watched and waited. 

Not walking on water!

The half walking on water was the best bit as they were merely getting wet again for another haul out, crab style.  They stuck it on a support next to me, unchocked and looking most precarious.  Good for us, there was no storm forecast from the North East!

Chock free, live dangerously!

The aquatic yard crew run the boat up the runners and in all the excitement, I think they forgot to chock the boat for safety!

BOATYARD LIVING AND ADAPTATION (cont.) - DAY 3

I felt disillusioned over the weekend as I was unable to plug into electricity and crack on with things.   Improvisation is a popular word to anyone owning a boat, so I made the best of it.  First job up I thought, was to tackle the blue line.  This operation didn't involve any power tools but what I did need was a low scaffold, where it would be safe to prep and sand and paint my new blue line.  What I ended up with was a crude improvisation.  An empty 44 gallon metal drum! I chocked it level with an assortment of pieces of wood that were in abundance just about everywhere.  It's a boatyard after all, full of interesting bits and bobs and boat wrecks, which is all generally rubbish to the untrained eye!

Now Eby, the proud ship's dog was looking forward to her daily run, but I had noticed her becoming increasingly worried about the method of getting on and off the boat.  As you can see from the photos, a ladder lashed onto the trolley was the only access up and down.  There never seemed to be a problem with us getting onto the boat.  I simply lifted Eby up under one arm and scaled the ladder while she put her front legs on my leg each time I stepped up to give her leverage and perhaps think that she was helping the situation.  However, it was not so easy on the way down.  Eby would come to the edge of the deck and look down and almost shake her head and back up, do a little dance, keeping her feet moving in a nervous moment of vertigo!  I tried to coax her sweetly, but she wasn't having any of it.  Usually we had an audience of boat workers which could have even added to the problem.  Finally I thought of a solution.  I would put her in the doggy lifejacket and carry her on up and down if need be, like a piece of hand luggage! We were thoroughly impressed with the innovation, well at least I was.  I think Eby had other thoughts on the idea!

A not so impressed Eby!

 With the problem of getting Eby onboard solved, I could get stuck into the re painting of blueline with no further worries or problems.  We had the boatyard to ourselves and Eby thoroughly enjoyed running around at her leisure, investigating every nook and cranny, the memory of the stressful descent from the boat long forgotton.

As the day came to a close, the full moon rose up, lighting up the cockpit with a soft lunar glow.  

A subtle satisfaction washed over me, in spite of no electricity, no bathroom, shower and a dog with vertigo.  We always have to make the best of what we have, and always look at what we have achieved, not what's still on the 'to do' list!