Time for chores!!! I mentioned a list of things I wanted to get done before leaving, well this list even grew as I awoke a number of times adding things I didn’t want to forget. Today we’ll spend the day washing and waxing. The gel coat is nice and shiny and I want it to stay that way, to do so we had to apply UV protection. I’ve done a bit of research on what type of wax is best to use and got a number of answers so I went with what I know and it’s cheap and easy. NuFinish . . . the once a year car polish. It isn’t wax based so the intense heat and sun does not cause it to melt off as carnuba would, next time we’ll try something else maybe Fleetwax 885.
We got the full enclosure up which will be awesome in cooler climates. I’d like to see if we could get a canvas store to make us some screens to use for keeping out bugs, or maybe we’ll just get a sewing machine?!
Did I mention it’s hot??? It is so hot, no one on the West Coast can ever complain how hot it gets, the sun w/ humidity create oppressive conditions that is just insane. In these working conditions we managed to wash and wax the entire boat. I’ll complain some more . . . Did I mention this thing is big?? It’s like waxing two 40ft boats, maybe more when counting how big the bridge deck is. Well we didn’t buff to a mirror finish, but got enough on that it should protect it for a few months. On our second day of waxing we only had the morning as our flight was scheduled for 7pm. Just able to finish and scrub the decks down with a PTEF to protect it from staining. I also wanted to try out the $1000 outboard stand on the boat, yes it was that much and no we wouldn’t have ordered it ourselves. One of the few things that went right the first time was lifting the outboard with the spinnaker halyard and getting it on the bracket w/ no fuss. It worked great and is now securely locked and covered taking a bit of strain off the davits when we’re gone.
Hi Guys: So glad you are on the adventure of a lifetime. I read one of the blogs about relying on downloaded charts. I did have an experience in the Carribean when we chartered a Beneteau 50. One of my fellow charterers had a new portable GPS plotter, and insisted we make a turn into another group of islands. I consulted our paper charts, looked at the route he was suggesting, and over-ruled his course (I was the qualifying charterer). As it turned out, we would have been hard on a below-surface reef. You have to always use your instincts, obvious objective info, and avoid sub-coming to the lure of short-cuts. Have a safe voyage. We miss you guys on the dock back here in Sausalito, but look forward to following your adventure!
Rod