Although we’re not cruising abroad this season we’re excited to be going back in the water. December 6 we splash and head south to a new marina closer to our home. Right now Dea Latis is on Merritt Island, almost an hour from the house which makes it difficult and expensive to get anything done. We found a very quiet, small, well maintained marina just a few miles north of our house and they just happened to have a vacancy that will accomodate our boat! We’re very excited to be going back in the water and having the boat much closer to our home.
Right now we are making sure Dea Latis is seaworthy and that all projects that must be done out of the water are complete before December 6th. We had a 35 year old seacock that froze in the open position, an unused seacock, and some painting that needs to be done. All of the remaining projects can be completed in the water.
We removed the unused seacock and filled the hole with fiberglass and epoxy. Of course that required grinding inside and out. Thought we were done with that:
Another hole in the hull is filled:
Then the one and only seacock I did not change during the refit froze in the open position, which means we were not able to shut it if needed. Gone:
In addition to stuck, it was also spinning in place, leaking, and after removal we found that it was never installed correctly. All in all a great receipe for disaster but it’s the last one and it’s gone! The thru hull was cross threaded into the seacock:
We’re also fixing the boot stripe just above the waterline. Just a little grinding, sanding, priming and repainting. Grinding off the bottom paint just below the stripe is complete. Now we have to clean it up a bit and repaint the stripe in a more uniform width/thickness:
She looks great! December 6th she will look even better!
We will update again soon!
Just when you thought you had seen the last of the blue dust…………….
…and I “promised” her we wouldn’t be doing this again!!!