Like it or not, every two years, it's time to haul the boat out of the water and 'do' the bottom. For you land lubbers that's all about pressure washing the accumulation of muscles, green slime and other such varmints clinging to the boat bottom below the water line. Then we wait for it to dry, after which someone; us for the past many years but now we choose to support the local economy and pay some young, agile person to do the dirty work. This includes preparing the hull bottom and stirring and applying the very heavy and extremely expensive marine bottom paint . A trick we learned in Mexico is to alternate the paint colour each time we apply it. That way we can keep an eye on how well the paint is holding up. If we start to see the previous paint colour showing through, we know it's time to refresh the paint . This is particularly helpful if you're penny pinching like I am and only haul out for new bottom paint every other year. There is also the propeller and drive shaft, adorned with gifts from the sea. I still do this job myself although I must say, this years growth seemed harder to remove even using my trusty power drill and spinning disc of diamond bits (well, ok, not diamonds but pretty hard bits). That task seemed to go on forever but I finally quit and sprayed the works with zinc spray and walked away. Speaking of walking away, it seems my favourite (and only) 6' step-ladder wandered off when I wasn't watching. I searched everywhere but it must have run for the hills once it abandoned our boat site…. 😕
All and all, it was a good days work and we returned the next morning to watch the boat return to the water; after which we motor-sailed home to Maple Bay. I must admit though, each year the ladders seem to get longer and steeper, the paint cans heavier (and certainly more expensive), and the whole experience just a 'titch' less enjoyable. BUT; job done for this year 😀 👍 Now it's time to start preparing for our next salt water adventure; "the summer cruise". Stay tuned…
Wishing you a barnacle free spring with lots of gorgeous flowers. CJ
