We had Sea Lady moved from the storage area to the work yard at Marina Seca after we got to San Carlos. Then we needed to remove all the foil and tape we put on her to protect her through the summer. We were damn lucky and found only a bit of dirt on the deck clogging the scuppers with a little standing water. We had left the bilge pump on, but turned the batteries off so we had a little water in the bilge. The worst thing for me was the heads (thats marine talk for toilets) boiled out the enzyme-water mixture and the oil we put in to keep the seals flexible. It smelled putrid and I had to wipe it out. We’ve heard some horror stories though. Shadowfax had bees nesting in the mast and he told of another boat that had ants because sugar was left aboard. One gal on an Island Packet said the cockpit drains plugged up and the water flowed into the lazerette and soaked the new sails, so now they were red, purple, blue, green and yellow with mold and needed to be cleaned. Water also went below and soaked their aft cabin custom-made mattress. She said she was lucky because another Island Packet had water back up into the cockpit and flood the engine. I guess it’s all in the perspective.
So we have spent about a week here in the yard. We’ve been sleeping aboard, but dry camping as we haven’t taken on any water. First we (Steve) wet sanded the entire bottom and then we put on a new coat of Trinadad Red oblatetive paint. Two gallons cost over $400 and only did one coat! Then we cleaned and rigged the halyards and lines. By the time the boat is up on blocks and stands we have to use a straight ladder to get aboard. I guess it is about 13 feet from the land to the deck. A couple times Steve had to climb the mast to run the new jacklines. So he’s up there pretty high. The first few times I climbed the ladder it felt as though I was climbing 2 stories.
So we have spent about a week here in the yard. We’ve been sleeping aboard, but dry camping as we haven’t taken on any water. First we (Steve) wet sanded the entire bottom and then we put on a new coat of Trinadad Red oblatetive paint. Two gallons cost over $400 and only did one coat! Then we cleaned and rigged the halyards and lines. By the time the boat is up on blocks and stands we have to use a straight ladder to get aboard. I guess it is about 13 feet from the land to the deck. A couple times Steve had to climb the mast to run the new jacklines. So he’s up there pretty high. The first few times I climbed the ladder it felt as though I was climbing 2 stories.
