More Fun Than A Barrel Of Monkeys

SHIP"S LOG:

Yesterday was basically consumed by the task of caulking the forward half of the port deck. It is not a particularly difficult task. You pull out all of the old caulking from between the teak deck slats. You out line the grooves to be filled with new caulking with masking tape. You fill the grooves between the slats with new caulking. You wait and hour our so and then remove the tape and the deck is now caulked! And that's basically what happened.

The thing is that getting the old caulk out requires a utility knife with a new razor blade some sort of hook with which you rip the old caulking from it location. The old caulking is the age of the boat - 33 years old - and for the most part is hard, brittle and comes out rather easily. For the most part! Some of it has a tenacious grip that seemingly defies any and all attempts at removal. It is also a process that requires that you be on your hands and knees in the hot summer sun! This fun process also uncovers parts of slats that are mushy and/or not readily affixed to the deck any more. This requires an ample application of "Capt.Tolly's Creeping Crack Cure," a wondrous items that is right up there with "Murphy's Marvel Mystery Oil." Both sound like hype but two of the move effective products of their type. Capt. Tolly's is a penetrating sealant which, as the name implies, seals the mushy wood and makes it like new again, while adhering it to the under deck.

After cleaning the groves of the old caulk, it is necessary to outline the the grooves just like to do a room when you are going to paint it, and for the same reason. You don't want the caulk going anywhere but in the grooves. The stuff is in a tube for a caulking gun and has the consistency of frosting.You squeeze it into the groove, using a putty knife to make sure it fills the groove completely and work your way down the seams to the point that they are completely filled. Of course, the taping with masking tape, especially if you have to go around items on the deck - cleats and the like - if tedious and frustrating as there are actually very few straight lines to the edges of all those slats. And the caulk, no matter how careful you might be or try to be, gets everywhere, including on you. All it takes it one careless step and you track black caulk everywhere. And of course, if you forget to wear a shirt in the hot summer sun as you been over the deck for approximately 5 hours, well let's just say it is a burning experience.

And the best part, the very best part, is now you have the deck on ONE SIDE OF THE BOAT FINISHED!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

There is something nice and fulfilling about having completed a task. It was something I started back in Black Rock Harbor two years ago! Now all I have to do is the other side and I will really be fulfilled!!!!!!!!