Making Progress On The Hull

   We're making steady progress on getting the hull back in shape. Had to do some major scraping of the bottom paint that was peeling from the bare fiberglass - the hull was not thoroughly dewaxed before its initial bottom painting in 2003, and sitting 2 years in the sun caused alot of paint to separate.

   After scraping, sanding, and dewaxing, we applied non-sand primer paint on the bare fiberglass patches. This primer is super sticky stuff - they must mix glue in with the paint.

   Next comes a layer of red bottom paint covering up the no-sand primer spots to build up the areas scraped down. 

   Then we're ready for a full coat of red undercoating.   Meanwhile, I'm still working on the boot stripe. Put on a undercoating of white filler to repair the numerous scratches along the waterline - I guess from mooring balls. I have finished the first sanding. Now need to repeat with finer grade sandpaper.

     Along with bottom prep and painting, we have also been stripping and Cetoling the gunnel. Got 4 coats on in the past week and now time to reinstall the stainless rubrail. We will do the top of the gunnels once the boat is back in the water.  Its just much easier to do the outside while the boat is pulled.

Another Job Nearing Completion

After 15yrs its time for another new set of batteries. And that means hoisting 4 70lb house batteries and 1 50lb starter battery up into the boat which is still up on jackstands.

   Its a multiple segment journey from the truck bed to the battery compartment. First, hoist the battery to the stern platform. Then lift it by hand to the helm seat. Then carry to the companionway. The carry down the 4 steps to salon and over to settee. Then finally position into the battery compartment.   Its a two person job for most of the steps. The dinghy davit hoist does a good job of lifting the battery to the stern platform, but then Sue has to push the battery onto the platform while I ease off the hoisting line to let the battery swing forward. From here it is lug them by hand up to the cockpit.

  Once all 4 house batteries are in the salon, its time to position them into the battery compartment.

   Going into the battery compartment is a tight fit. There is absolutely no wiggle room. You have to lower the battery athwartships into the opening, then holding it above the 2x4 framing, spin it 90deg to get it into place. Lowering a 70lb battery requires a tripod stance, 2 knees plus a forehead braced. A boat cushion makes good protection for my forehead. 

   Finally, all in place. I'll do the connections in the morning when it isn't 90deg temperature and 90percent humidity. There is also the starter battery to position into the rear bedroom. Fortunately, it only weighs 50lbs, but still is an awkward install going down into the engine compartment, then sliding sideways into its shelf location. The problem is where to brace your forehead as you are bending over the engine compartment lowering the battery, then pulling it back toward you - basically it ends up on a shelf under your knees. 

Making Progress

Every job takes about twice as long as you think it will, but at least being retired means you have the time to spend.  I finished up the starboard side compounding, first using heavy oxidation cutter, then again with 3M Finess-It fine cut.  Takes about 6hrs for each pass so 2 days to do each side. I still need one more pass with Finess-It on the port side.  Then move on to waxing and buffing. That's probably a day per side.  The hull looks pretty good except, now I know how many scratches I have - lots. But you dont see them unless you are this close.

   My arms are tired from the compounding so I decided to do some "cross-training" and move on to teak sanding/scraping.  It took 2 days to sand the outside gunnales (80 and 240 grit) then a third day to strip the 1/2inch wide underside - then most of day to remove the protective masking tape and wash off the glue residue. The a thunderstorm came through which meant having to sand again the next day. Finally, ready for the first coat of Cetol. I am only doing the outside of the gunnales while the boat is pulled; I'll do the rest of the job at Dare Marina once we are finally on the water. 

     Still have the bottom to do and boot stripe. That's a week or more of work.  Not looking so good for 31 May launching unless I step up the pace.  Given that it hit 90deg today, that may not be likely.

Hull Rubdown and Wax

   After 15 years its time for Tides Inn to have a good rubdown of her hull topsides. Sitting in the boatyard in the sun, the hull has gotten pretty pasty looking.

   You cant tell it from the photos but in this "before shot" the hull has no shine whatsoever. 

    Working on the starboard side with the first application of "heavy oxidation" removal rubbing compound. 4hrs of weight-lifting the 10lb orbital polisher.  Then (next day) another 4hrs of "finishing" rubbing compound, plus 2hrs to do above the rubrail with both heavy duty and finishing duty rubbing.

    

     All done with the rubbing compound. Starboard side now ready for waxing.  Sue removed the gunnale stainless trim in preparation for stripping and new Cetol varnish for the gunnales. That will have to wait to next week as we are off to Nashville tomorrow.   And, of course, there is still the port side to do.

  Meanwhile, Sue has been working with Rivah to stay calm in the kayak - preparing for future kayak rides in the Bahamas. So far, very successful but not too many distractions.

  

First Project Accomplished

My first project was to replace the soundproofing foam lining the engine room. The old 15yr foam basically disintegrated and came unglued from the walls.  I used 18 tiles from SailorSolutions and about 12x54in of foam mat from Sounddown. Taped the sides and seams with ducting tape from Home Depot.

Had to buy new stainless screws to remount the Racor filter and Voltage Regulator as the new soundproofing is quarter inch thicker and less compressible. Of course the new racor guage mount looks perfectly located but actually doesnt clear the opening when you open the door, so you have to push it in slightly to close the door. 

Refurbishment 2018

   Looking forlorn, Tides Inn has been sitting in storage for the past two years waiting for me to return from working in Europe. Going on 15yrs old, its time for general overhaul of many of her systems. Its time now to get started on a thorough refurbishment.  First up, in preparation for a new bottom painting,  is stripping off the areas of bottom paint that have been flaking off. 

   
     Also, its time for a new cutlass bearing and cleaning up the prop for treating with PropSpeed to slow down marine growth.

    These are the first tasks on the 3-page worklist. I'll keep updating the progress on the blog here.

Back on the water, with Jackson, Ella and Reed to Yorktown, VA

 

 After a long year of projects on the boat, commitments at our jobs, and other family concerns, we finally had the opportunity to get back on the water for a weekend with the grandkids.  Here's the Pirate Crew, ready for a night of partying and sleep prior to getting underway at 0-dark-30, tomorrow morning, bound for Yorktown, VA,

   It's a perfect day for sailing, blue skies, 70 degrees, winds 10-12, and light seas.  Capt Mark demonstrates to Reed and Jackson how to ease the genoa furling line as we set the sails.

   Ella has the lookout watch, making sure no enemy vessels sneak up and surprise us. Its unlimited visibility today. There are several ships out there today, but no one coming our way.
   Capt Mark gets to check out his new AIS receiver which shows all the commercial vessels within 30 miles or so on the chart plotter. We can see all the merchant ships entering the Chesapeake and heading for the Baltimore or Thimble Shoals channels. And, also confirm the two tugs and barges up ahead are at anchor and out of the channel.

   SAIL-HO, Ella calls out. Its a fast moving, 3-masted schooner coming down on us from the starboard side - not transmitting any AIS signal. Could it be a pirateer trying to cut us off?

   No, its only the Schooner Alliance based out of Yorktown taking some guests out for a local sail on this beautiful day. They're tacking back and forth across the York River with the wind and tide taking them downriver. Fortunately they also have an iron-genny to motor them back to port or the guests might have to stay onboard till the tide changes.

   Approaching Yorktown we'll anchor off the beach at the foot of the Yorktown Monument, site of the culminating battle of the US Revolution where George Washington accepted General Cornwallis' surrender following decisive victories by the French naval forces under Admiral de Grasse at the Chesapeake entrance and effective sea and land blockades by the French Navy and Franco-American ground forces under General Lafayette and General Rochambeau. Wait, whose revolution was this?

 
   Securely anchored, its time to head to shore and soak up some history, then a stop at Ben and Jerry's to spend my birthday gift certificate. Ice cream all around for the terrific crew.

   Its a great day for a tour of the town and battlefield including a trolley ride, waterfront walk and sea-chanty concert.  Oct 19th is the anniversary of Gen Cornwallis' surrender, 233 years ago, and date for the annual Yorktown Victory Days.


   Tides Inn sits quietly at anchor off the Yorktown shore.

   It was too good to last though, the next morning the wind was 20-25kts from NW putting us on a lee shore. It was time to up anchor and fly back to Chisman Creek with double reefed genny taking us downwind and down current at a great pace. We tucked into the creek and waited out the blow, heading back to our slip by 1700 with a gentle 8-10 kts. A great weekend trip.
   

North on the ICW through the Carolinas

   We departed St Mary's Inlet on a sunny day with light southerly winds and sailed/motor sailed offshore for 2 days coming back into the ICW at Georgetown, SC to avoid a passing cold front with strong thunderstorms.  The Waccamaw is one of the prettiest sections of the ICW and we really like to transit this area, but we were a little early for Spring conditions, the trees just starting to leaf out.

   The Waccamaw winds through a true Cyprus Forest filled with wildlife. One year we spotted 5 bald eagles through here. This year we only saw one, but saw lots of Osprey - more than we have seen before.

   In addition to the ospreys, there are herons and egrets all along the ICW. Also the playful dolphins pop up along the ICW usually close to the inlets.

   We anchored for the night, again behind Richmond Island near the Wacca Wache Marina, mile 383. There is room for several boats here. There were two of us behind the island this evening. Tucking behind the island keeps you away from the ICW traffic and their wakes and noise. Entrance here is deep right along the island shoreline looking to the right on the photo. Shoals on the left.

The next day we transited up to Little River Inlet and anchored for the night just inside the breakwater. Our plan was to leave at first light and make the offshore run up to Cape Fear River, bypassing the shallow shoals of Shallotte and Lockwoods Folly. Its a bad sign when Skipper Bob's guide tells you "Shoaling is always a problem here, Approach with caution."
   Unfortunately, the wind gods did not cooperate and we were looking at 15kts on the nose offshore. We revised our plans and went back to the ICW. No sense getting bashed up motoring offshore into 20kt apparent headwinds.  Both Shallotte and Lockwoods Folly were very shallow, despite both being dredged in Jan 13 when we were heading south. At low tide, (yes, all the gods were conspiring against us as we had to pass through the inlets at low tide so we could make the flood current at the Cape Fear River), we saw about 5ft in short stretches mid channel in both inlets, but got through without bumping.

   This was actually a very nice anchorage just inside the Little River breakwater on the red side behind the dunes. We were told you can carry 6ft for quite a distance behind the dune here and locals like to spend the weekend up this little creek. We dropped the hook in about 7ft and didn't proceed up too far as we had hoped to head out to see early the next morning. Once the sea breeze and the inlet boat traffic quieted down after sunset it was a very quiet and calm night.

   Next day we made it to Carolina Beach State Park and got Tides Inn tucked in on the T-Head as we had to return to Yorktown for a week for some work and personal commitments.
   The transit up the Cape Fear River was "interesting", sorry no photos. We had 20kts of apparent wind on the nose along with 2.5kts of flooding current carrying us up the river into the wind. That meant a bucking bronco ride but making 8.5kts over the ground with our modest 6kts through the water.
   We parked on the T-head because this pier has only 35ft slips. Turns out they put us here because we asked for 30amp power. If I had told them I had a 50amp converter, we could have been on Pier-A which are 40ft slips, but only 50amp receptacles. Worked out ok as we avoided having to maneuver into the tight slip fairways.

   Carolina Beach State Park marina is a nice place to stay with a flat rate of $30/night and good fuel prices. The marina was recently renovated with new floating docks. Most important, they dredged the approach channel which is now reported to be 6ft at low tide. We saw 7.5ft at mid tide (4ft tides), so the 6ft is correct for normal tide conditions. Unusual lows with strong north winds you would see less than 6ft.
   The marina is fairly empty of slip holders right now as they raised the annual rates after the renovation and scared many renters away.  But the transient rates are still the same low price.  Good deal.  There are walking trails in the park and its just over one mile to Carolina Beach for shopping and dining and beaches. We'll go back here in future transits.