60% 0f a Marine Unit

SHIP'S LOG:

Well, it has started. The threat of rain at the yard, along with the rather chilly temp, made yesterday a "Buying/Spending" type of day. In the end, I ended up spending 60% of a Marine Unit, about $335, 2/3's of it for bottom paint. It is bad to be an "impulse marine item buyer" turned loose in a West Marine store but I actually bought only the stuff I actually, positively, truly, absolutely needed. Now I actually have to make use of the purchases.

That will happen today, or at least will begin today. Today is boat bottom painting day! It is a slightly messy and often contorted process. First, I have to edge the waterline with masking tape so I don't paint over it. That means setting up the ladder, running a strip of tape about 10 feet or so, then getting off the ladder, moving it an appropriate distance, then back up the ladder and run-out another 10 feet or so of tape, then down off the ladder, move it and go back up . . . . . . . Once the waterline is done, all the thru-hulls have to be taped over as you do not want to paint over these metal items. the copper in the paint will react with the copper in the bronze and stainless steel and can induce galvanic corrosion which is a bad thing. It tends to eat away the metal and since the thru-hull are under water, it it makes the metal fittings go away, leaves you with holes in the bottom of the boat. No problem out of the water, big problem in it. Once all the taping is done, then you have to paint around it with a brush as you can't really do it cleanly a roller. That means mix the paint, up the ladder, paint 10 feet or so, down the ladder and move it, stir the paint, up the ladder and away around the boat. The warmer the weather, the quicker the paint dries, on the boat and in the can. The warmer the weather, the more thinning and and stirring needs doing. After I have cut out all the taped sections, then then it is time to paint the rest of the hull with the roller. That is actually the easiest part but the messiest and the roller tends to spray the paint around, usually on me. It will take a couple of hours to do and it will dry out by tomorrow so that the second coat can go on. Then it is done . . . except for the part that is being repaired. Once they finish the work . . .that they haven't started yet . . . . I will paint the repairs and ABISHAG will be ready for the water. HUZZAH ! ! ! !

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

I really wish the boat wasn't so far away. It's a good 80 miles and it is a drag to drive. Thank goodness it is all highway but it is still a drag. Getting the bottom done will really make things seem like they are moving along toward summer, and that can't come soon enough.