The First Mate Said............
I have chosen to make my first posting today as I feel we have finally turned an important corner on the “Boat Project” that being, after 3-weeks of demolition and evaluation of water-damage, we finally have begun putting things back together on the “Emerald Lady”.
We are presently situated in “Boat Purgatory” , the Maintenance –Self Serve yard at Aqua Land Marina on Lake Lanier. At first blush, we figured on removing and re-bedding all hardware on the cabin top and deck top in an effort to abate the flow of water that had developed over time. We did not know however that this simple task would be complicated by the fact that nuts/bolts were imbedded on the overhead with fiberglass mesh and that our newfound best friend would be the Dremel Tool. After several hours of freeing up the connections – and the uncomfortable after effects of fiberglass particulates that cling to all of our fleshy parts – we feel that we are now able to move on to the “easy part”. We have also learned that the best part of the day is a nice hot bath at the end of the day – where we reclaim ourselves from the fiberglass and grit.
We set out this weekend with the express desire to leave Boat Purgatory with our newly-made bowsprit attached to the bow and the rub rails, stripped, caulked and ready to varnish. Being fairly new to the “sailing world”, we have not as of yet acquired all of the necessaries like a wagon to pull our supplies from truck to boat. We begin the trek each morning by schlepping various and sundry buckets, tool bags, clothing changes, food/drink containers, and boat parts and connections from house to truck and then from truck to boat which is located across the Boat Yard / obstacle course. Of course this same trek is run in reverse order at the end of the day – boat to truck and then truck to garage. Who needs a gym in which to pump iron – when all you have to do is run this routine several times a week.
“The Skipper” aka Keiffer discovered that the starboard-side rub rail was not tightening against the hull due to a split in the wood. After removing the bungs and the rub rail, he set about the repair with a thickened epoxy and a half dozen clamps – and the results were impressive. Better than new I think!
We are presently situated in “Boat Purgatory” , the Maintenance –Self Serve yard at Aqua Land Marina on Lake Lanier. At first blush, we figured on removing and re-bedding all hardware on the cabin top and deck top in an effort to abate the flow of water that had developed over time. We did not know however that this simple task would be complicated by the fact that nuts/bolts were imbedded on the overhead with fiberglass mesh and that our newfound best friend would be the Dremel Tool. After several hours of freeing up the connections – and the uncomfortable after effects of fiberglass particulates that cling to all of our fleshy parts – we feel that we are now able to move on to the “easy part”. We have also learned that the best part of the day is a nice hot bath at the end of the day – where we reclaim ourselves from the fiberglass and grit.
We set out this weekend with the express desire to leave Boat Purgatory with our newly-made bowsprit attached to the bow and the rub rails, stripped, caulked and ready to varnish. Being fairly new to the “sailing world”, we have not as of yet acquired all of the necessaries like a wagon to pull our supplies from truck to boat. We begin the trek each morning by schlepping various and sundry buckets, tool bags, clothing changes, food/drink containers, and boat parts and connections from house to truck and then from truck to boat which is located across the Boat Yard / obstacle course. Of course this same trek is run in reverse order at the end of the day – boat to truck and then truck to garage. Who needs a gym in which to pump iron – when all you have to do is run this routine several times a week.
“The Skipper” aka Keiffer discovered that the starboard-side rub rail was not tightening against the hull due to a split in the wood. After removing the bungs and the rub rail, he set about the repair with a thickened epoxy and a half dozen clamps – and the results were impressive. Better than new I think!
We had one little mishap along the way: “The Crew” aka, Bentley, our little chorkie (Chihuahua/yorkshire terrier) unbeknownst to us had wandered in and around the drippings of the epoxy and cemented himself to boatyard debris and the local flora. Needless to say, Saturday night was the night he received his new summer-doo – a new shorter haircut !
Although we did not meet the first criteria of a “successful weekend” – by having the rub rails completely ready for varnish, we are 95% there.
As for the bowsprit, after much work laying out the through-hull bolt pattern on our newly fabricated bowsprit, and only (3) trips to the local Marine supply and Home Depot, Skipper was ready to tackle the re-attachment of one of the The Emerald Lady’s finest features – her spruce bowsprit and teak anchor platforms. Armed with 5200 adhesive, and 16 bolts/washers and nuts, “the First Mate” aka, Patricia was directed to lodge herself in the small opening to the anchor chamber along with socket wrench, under-deck connections, on metal plate, and a small rag impregnated with solvents that she used periodically to wipe away copious amounts of 5200 adhesive that had dripped though the holes and that got on her hair, face, and clothing. Have I mentioned how much fun we are having!Success! Due to the Skippers’s painstakingly careful preparation, the metal plate + holes + bolts all aligned perfectly and the First Mate’s time spent in the anchor chamber was not too long!
So…..all in all, we feel like we accomplished what we set out to do.
