Opua: triumph of ibuprofen
Opua: triumph of ibuprofen
I am a sequential rather than a parallel machine. I like to do one thing, concentrate on it, and then do another. But this, perhaps the most complicated haul-out ever, compells multi-tasking. And progress has been made.
The above photo taken late this afternoon, shows the first coat of anti-fouling paint on the bottom; the rudder removed--the bearing, which does not need to be replaced, is 130 miles south in Auckland, being repaired. It does not show that half the hull--the port side--has been sanded; the Yanmar diesel has a new water pump impeller and fan belts; its alternator is in a shop being checked out; the propeller shaft cutlass bearing has been replaced; a new zinc installed; the frozen Monitor gear has been removed; and the rigger has gone up the mast and the steaming light is now working. Also topside paint has been decided upon and ordered. THE HAWKE OF TUONELA was originally the same yellow as EGREGIOUS; but she was a green boat when I bought her, and she is going to remain a green boat. New Zealand is green. Carol has just been to a conference in Denver about green, environmentally friendly architecture. Green it is. A different shade than the teal I painted her or the ‘Jade Mist Green’ she was when I bought her. She is going to be ‘sea green.’
I will put a second coat of anti-fouling on tomorrow morning. It takes about two hours; then check on the alternator; then sand as much of the starboard side of the hull as my back and hands can endure.
It is amazing that I had excruciating, immobilizing pain from just straightening up after brushing my teeth, but have only a routine ache from bending, lifting, climbing up and down ladders fifty times a day, often carrying weights in one hand, and sanding and painting for several hours in contorted positions. Next week when I’m ready to paint the topsides I’ll rent scaffolding, but am now working from ladders.
The boat yard has a ‘green’ rule that permits dry sanding only with vacuum equipped sanders, one of which I bought on Monday. It is splendid, and also doubles as a vacuum cleaner. The sander is shaped like an iron and is on the end of a two meter long flexible tube. I feel as thought I am ironing the entire hull. In fact I will be ironing it at least twice. A slow tedious process, but the vacuum sanding creates no dust, which can be toxic, and I don’t even have to wear a face mask which is hot and causes my glasses to fog up. I wouldn’t ever again do major sanding any other way.
At least two other jobs have not been initiated: taking the mainsail to the sailmaker to have new battens made and a third reef put in; and getting new batteries. The boat has three.
Neither of these needs to be done while the boat is out of the water, but both would be easier. I may get to them and I may not.
At present my back does not welcome not essential walking.
I am feeding it ibuprofen, and, tonight, gin.
Weather permitting, I might be back in the water by the end of next week.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006