Hard Aground...in a good sort of way.

We are still in shock over what was brought up attached to the underside of our boat at haul out. While the memory still gives us the shivers, Nicki May is beginning to look prom ready. As someone once said, "she sure cleans up well."

We have had varying amounts of rain nearly everyday, so the trick is to be ready when the rain stops or nothing will get done.

The topsides (waterline to deck) have been acid washed to get the tannin stains off, then a normal wash, then buffed/polished with Presta Ultra Creme Light, and finally followed by 2 coats of Collinite Fleetwax (the hard paste stuff), with a third coat from the waterline plus 18 inches.


Applying the wax.

The smooth sections of the deck and cabin top got the same treatment, but only one coat of wax. I never saw the Karate Kid, but I did see the ads. I'll take the kid on any day. I can go clockwise, counterclockwise and left or right handed--all day and then some.

I also spent several hours sanding the bottom of the boat by hand. Mostly a waste of time. Plenty of red came off but I couldn't get it smooth. We use a hard paint and I really need to invest in an orbital sander to make any headway.


The dinghy got a good cleaning as well. 

The fiberglass bottom got an acid wash, buff, and a couple coats of wax. The hypalon was a bear to clean, but it finally looks acceptable. We took advantage of a rare low humidity day, and applied 2 large hypalon reinforcement patches on the tubes where they come into contact with the davits. The 2 part epoxy we used does not tolerate humidity--really should be done in a garage or a shop where conditions can be controlled, but we don't have a garage. Sigh.

I also added 4 new lifting ubolts which are in a slightly different location than the originals. They were installed after this picture was taken.

We installed a new pressure water pump and a new accumulator tank. It was a luxury to have an unlimited water supply while trouble shooting the pressure water system.

Lisa scrubbed the side panels of our enclosure--the sections that hang down from the bimini and dodger. She did the dodger and bimini while at the marina for the hurricane.


I got 1 gallon of Trinidad SR bottom paint on before we sort of shut things down for a mini road trip. I will finish the bottom when the rain takes a break. The bottom paint contains 70% copper (which repels barnacles) and some other smelly stuff in it that repels slime. It really stinks for the first couple of days.

This side of the rudder has not been painted with the new paint yet.

Earlier this summer, Lisa got her Technician's license to be a hammy while in Southold, NY. We thought we were set, but should have read the directions. The Technician's license is only good for a hundred miles or so. Could have bought 2 cans and a string. So, Lisa got the study guide for the General test. While I was working outside the boat she was studying for test number 2.

Test day was October 8th in Davidson, Maryland--about 150 miles northeast of the boatyard. We took advantage of a weekend rate from Enterprise, went to the test site, took the scenic route home through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and of course made the obligatory stops at Walmart and Home Depot.


The testing site was kind of out in the sticks--pretty sticks though. We were glad we left early enough to find an alternate route, as part of the road was washed away not far from our destination.


Lisa exiting the Anne Arundel Amateur Radio Club where she aced her test. 

We spent that night in a hotel, then had a beautiful drive through the mountains the following day. Though not in full fall dress, the trees are changing and are quite stunning.