Wednesday October 22: Getting Started on Repairs - as always :-)

So it seems things don't like to sit unused for months at a time - particularly electronic things like TV's.

Of course it was getting a bit older - like 7 years - but for something on a boat, we thought it held up quite well! So after turning on and working for about 3 minutes - the tv in the main cabin died.

Off to Best Buy for an improved, larger one.

Not all a bad thing that it died!. The aluminum brace attached to the back of the TV. Keeps it from falling when it's a rough day on the water.

Next - try to figure out why the shower divertor on the tub spout would no longer work. This has happened before - but looking up into the spout really didn't offer any insights!

Then it just started working again. Perhaps it was a case of operator error - who knows? It gets confusing sometimes trying to remember how things work on each of the two boats ... or maybe I'm just getting old!

On to the next project: replacing the 1000 watt inverter with a larger 2500 watt inverter. This will enable us to run the microwave while traveling. It's just more covenient than having to start the generator just to heat lunch or make a hot drink.

That was my job. Done :-)

Steve got the hard job - finding and digging out any soft spots in the walkaround deck. This is an ongoing project that just needs to be kept up with - kind of like chasing a water leak.

The deck flexes as the boat moves so even though you can't really see any movement in the deck where it attaches to the hull, it is definitely there and causes small cracks in the paint/floor finish.

If any soft spots are found, the wood is dug out and repaired with JB Water Weld. This 2-part epoxy is great as it will cure even if it is wet. Not very many epoxies will do that.

Next step will be to cover with 5200 adhesive (they say not to use this stuff if you ever want to get the pieces apart again!).

Next - on to redoing the flybridge floor.

It is SO nice being under cover - have I mentioned that??

We are using Raptor truck bed lining to redo the floor. This was first done 7 years ago and the bed liner wears like iron. So why not use the same thing again, right?

This is also a 2 part epoxy (so a base paint and a hardener). It has a 1 hour work life so there is no rest as this is done!

I start by trimming the outside edges with a brush and then Steve follows up using a roller.

The paint is quite thick but goes on easily. Rule number 1: don't get the stuff on you! Or your shoes - then it gets tracked everywhere.

We both did pretty well - until the end when I sort of stepped right on a painted spot on the hatch on the aft deck. Oh well - fix it with the next coat :-)

It came out really well - won't be really dry for a week but it looks like that won't be a problem as we'll still be around here for a while .....

It hasn't been all work though. Steve has managed to find a very nice spot at the end of the dock to sit and fish in the late afternoon.










The first fish he caught was a gar! Not for eating of course but fun to catch anyway.

His teacher for fishing here is Yam. She comes most afternoons and is usually successful!

Steve also caught an eel .... what's that about? The fish of choice is a red drum. Never had it but certainly willing to try!




The latest Must Be Stupid moment: Steve decided we could watch the rise and fall of the tide to best determine when to fish, right?

The best fishing is at high tide or at low tide when the water is moving the strongest.

Can do. Just put the fishing pole out with the sinker hanging right at water level. Then merely watch and observe when the water is above/below the sinker and keep track of the time.

Right.

Sadly neither of us noticed that a pole sitting on the boat would go up and down with the tide so the sinker would remain at the same level relative to the water - right at the current water level.

Very sad ....