Finally, last week Tom and I were able to go down to Palacios to assess Contrail's condition and begin getting her ready. As usual, there was little that had changed over the months that we've been away, other than a quantity of water and a dead fish(!) in the cockpit. We decided that our priorities would be to clean out the boat and find someone to do the bottom job. We'd like to do the painting ourselves, but after six years there may be some blisters to repair. The centerboard stopped going down about a year ago so we didn't know what would be up there. Charl de Villiers (his
website) is doing freelance boat work and agreed to arrange the haulout and paint the bottom. We plan to be there with him, watch and work alongside so we can do it ourselves next time.
We were astonished at the amount of junk we hauled out of the boat. Box after box of it. Contrail now bobs several inches above her waterline. Even more amazing, we did a huge cleanout a few years ago. The boat came with 20+ years of cruising equipment (including some really great things like CQR anchors and some not-so-great things that didn't work anymore). This time we are emptying everything below decks except the locker aft of the cockpit (not enough room in the van, but not in need of extensive cleaning since no one will be living back there). Friday was the last day before the boatyard closes for the holidays, so we will keep it on the hard until Jan. 2nd -- we get a few free days, and hope to work on it while it is out.
Charl was great to have on board as we moved the boat. For me the greatest anxiety comes when we are getting in and out of a slip; I am always convinced we are going to plow into the dock or, worse, someone's $100K boat. Tom has become pretty good at manoevering the boat under engine power, but we mostly slid in and out under the momentum of the boat (she weighs 12000 lbs). Everything went smooth as silk, and the lift rolled out onto the dock to receive Contrail in its cradle. It is impressive to watch.
Out of the water, a couple of guys set blocks under the keel and propped up the sides with stands on each side. We met Laddie who runs the boat yard, then he climbed back into the lift and gingerly released the cradle. He remarked that sailboats were tricky to get out of the water; I guess it has something to do with their height and depth. With the centerboard up Contrail only draws 3 feet, but they needed to get it six feet off the ground so we could lower the centerboard. There was some talk of maybe needing to remove the backstay if it wouldn't fit into the lift, but fortunately there was just enough room. Thank the fact that our rig was originally a yawl, so the backstay is fairly far forward.
The two guys who set up the blocks immediately began scraping away the oysters from the hull. There was not nearly as much marine life as we had feared. The prop and centerboard were cemented with crustaceans, but both came loose with a little work. A salty old chap in a headscarf (it's interesting how many guys around boatyards sport the stereotypical sailor image) hit the hull with a power washer and the black slime ran down the sides, revealing the hull beneath. We left for lunch at Maricela's (where we go for almost every breakfast in Palacios, due to their excellent breakfast tacos). Upon returning we met Charl and surveyed the bottom. At that point there were 5 or 10 blisters, not too bad but definitely in need of fixing. He recommended us a course of action and we wrote him a check for the paint (he can order directly at discount).
We planned to return after a couple of days for the actual painting. Tom also ordered thru-hulls for the cockpit so he can fix the drains. We decided that our priorities for now are to finish the bottom, check the seacocks and replace the zincs, change the packing (which is on the outside of the prop) while it is out of the water.
The other priority tasks can be done in or out of water: the wiring is probably 20 years old and needs to be redone. Tom will sand the inside top (on a boat, do you still call it the ceiling?) of the cabin so it the new paint won't peel like the last coat did. The cockpit drains I've already mentioned, and Tom may install another bilge pump.
We should have some kind of door across the aft end of the quarter berth so the kids don't crawl into the aft locker, and also need some kind of curtain giving privacy to the person in the quarter berth. We are thinking about using the quarter berth and giving the kids the V berth. Also, the sink needs to be hooked back up and there are a couple of other plumbing issues. We'd love pressure water, but I think it will have to wait.
Once all woodwork, sanding, and other messy stuff is done, we'll clean out every locker and cabin, then paint everything with a good primer and paint that won't peel so easily. I've scraped all the loose paint from the V berth, but there is a lot of peeling paint in the main cabin. For some reason the quarter berth is clean as a whistle. After the painting, I want to lay new carpet over the sides of the berths (and behind the bookshelf) where we removed the old carpet a few years ago. I'll wash and dry the cabin sole carpet for good measure. I'm not a fan of carpet in houses, but in a boat the space is so very small and dampness such a problem that I think it is the most practical solution for now. After whacking my head on a deck screw in the V berth I'm about ready to carpet the ceiling as well, but Tom is casting a strong vote against that.
We have lifeline netting to go up before the kiddies are to join us, and we have already to decided that everyone will be tethered to the boat while on deck. Maybe some people may think this is excessive for the ICW, but we don't want to take any chances with small children.
Meanwhile, back home we need to recover the berth cushions (and cut new foam for the pieces which don't fit). The sails are in the garage, waiting to be checked (and restitched if necessary). I need to make up a stencil for the name on the stern -- when we repainted the boat this was never done.
Update to this: after returning home, the weather has turned rainy. So the painting will have to wait until after Christmas.
Dana
