Anticipation

The anticipation is building as we prepare for the big haul out. My parents have graciously offered up their trawler for us to stay aboard while Hope is on the hard, we were able to take out a decent loan to cover expenses, and a big shipment of parts arrives at West Marine on Tuesday (the Defender order comes later in the week, I think).  I'm not looking forward to the hot work, but I know it will be so rewarding as we finish each project. 

Every weekend now is devoted to preparations in some way. We think, that if we can do and find everything we think we need, then all the things we've overlooked won't be such a burden when the time comes. I'm sure we'll spend a large chunk of time going to west marine and Home Depot during the haul. 

Well, time to sleep a bit. Tomorrow brings with it a non-functioning water pump for the air conditioners. Glad we have 2 pumps. Redundancy is nice, but I'm worried we will overheat the ac units if we were to run all 5. Shouldn't need them all till August, but broken things bother me. As most boat owners know, there's always something that needs attending. A visit to West Marine is in my near future...but when isn't it? :)

Gearing up for a haul-out

Oh boy.  The words no boater wants to hear.  Haul out. On the hard.  In the yard.  It's a boat, after all, and should be floating happily in the water.  Except when it needs a bottom job.  Ugh.  So, Hope will be hauled out the first of June and put up on the hard for a month (hopefully less).  She's in need of some extensive and expensive maintenance.  The items on our list are no surprise, we knew they would need replacement and repair at some point.  The time has come.  We will be doing most of the labor ourselves.  I'd better find a good pair of coveralls and a NIOSH approved mask.

Here's the list:

• bottom cleaning, grinding, then painting with multiple coats
• upper decks sanding and painting with multiple coats of AWLGRIP
• upper decks traction areas repainted with textured Awlgrip
• replace all thru hull fittings 
• replace all seacock valves
• replace the packing glands
• replace the...I always forget the name of the thing that allows the shaft to spin
• replace all sea strainers (the ones on the engines are HUGE and cost $1500 each)
• install 2 new air conditioning units
• replace all air conditioning water cooling system hoses
• replace all head waste directional valves

Needless to say, I took out a substantial loan today.  I'd rather be taking a vacation, but this list has to be completed.  It's not optional work.