Opua: hauled
Opua: hauled
THE HAWKE OF TUONELA was shivering like a nervous horse, and I was ten feet in the air. Actually she was vibrating in the wind last night in her cradle at Ashby’s Boat Yard.
When I powered over yesterday morning to be pulled from the water for a power wash, I was told that unexpectedly they had a free cradle and I could move into the yard, which I did.
It has taken some mental rearranging to start projects now that I had expected to do in February, and I have an added repair which I did not know about. It is raining today, so I have time to re-plan.
The bottom itself was in better condition than expected, considering that I last anti-fouled in March of last year, have sailed three thousand miles since then, and the boat had been sitting on her mooring for the past five months. But it was mostly slime and not hard growth.
Replacing the cutlass bearing on my list, but it turns out that I am also going to have to replace the lower rudder bearing, which is an expensive one made by Harken that was new in 1999 or 2000 and should have lasted longer.
The rudder bearing repair creates problems with other work, because I can’t anti-foul while the men are doing it.
There are also a number of other jobs to coordinate: new batteries; have the alternator checked; other routine engine maintenance; have the rigger go up the mast to try to find the problem with the non-functioning steaming light; in addition to antifouling the bottom and, probably, repainting the topsides. Antifouling in itself is easy and will take two days to get on three coats.
The topsides will take longer and are more weather dependent. Still I’m out and it needs to be done.
Color choice has yet to be decided. The present paint is International’s Brightside teal, but they dropped that colar. My favorite is burgundy, which was I had on RESURGAM. A New Zealand firm used have burgundy, but no longer does. I am going to check on Monday to see if I can get some. If not THE HAWKE OF TUONELA is going to be a different shade of green, or midnight blue, or black.
Two nights ago I watched a movie, BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT, made somewhere in Eastern Europe about Gypsies living beside the Danube. It made me laugh extravagantly and causes me to smile now just to think about it. The logo showed that I copied it from the Sundance Channel. Criminals, young love, star-crossed love, and a giant hog contentedly eating a wrecked car. Highly recommended.
Last night I watched the first GODFATHER movie. I admired the direction even more this time through.
Going to stop and clean up the cabin, which, as always when living in a boat yard, is becoming chaotic.
Saturday, November 18, 2006