Day 15
The beginning of our third week of being on the hard and we've finished working on the topsides and ask the yard to remove the trestles and boards we've been using. We are keeping one set for cosmetic repair work on the sugar scoop. We picked up a dent from the rescue boat in Hout Bay (see https://sv-jackster.blogspot.com/2018/02/19-january-arrival-hout-bay.html) and general wear from being a sailing boat. The order of work is epoxy fill, sand and paint.
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| removing masking tape |
Jobs today
Measured and inserted the length markers on the new anchor chain
Trestles and planks removed
Initial siting of the sonar depth sounder
Day 16
At the Annapolis boat show in October 2019 we invested in a new digital chartplotter, radar and a Raymarine DownVision transducer. The chartplotter and radar were fitted at the time. The transducer needed to be fitted through the hull and has had to wait until we are hauled out. That means now.
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| the through hull outside forward bathroom |
The sonar transducer looks downwards and through a series of sonar waves reads the contour of the seabed and converts this into an image on the chartplotter. There is the transducer fitted inside and outside the hull which needs a hole cut in the bottom of the boat and a cable which leads back to the chartplotter at the helm.
It was while David had his nose under the floor looking for the best place for the transducer that he decided now was the perfect opportunity to service all our through hulls. Amels have limited through hulls. In our case we have three; one for the forward head and one AC unit, one for the aft head and one for the engine, generator, two AC units and the watermaker. Each stop cock was serviced and new hose clamps fitted.
One very important job today
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| cleaned and serviced |
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| through hull fitting pre cleaning |
Servicing the through hulls
Day 17
A
week ago we had our first Covid vaccine shots but the clinic had run
out of certificates and were waiting for a new shipment. I went back
today and to collect them. Our second shot is scheduled for 24 June.
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| painted blades drying in the sun |
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| fitting new oil seals |
Boat jobs
Yet more hull sanding
propeller removed for servicing
Day 18
Today is the day David finally fitted the DownVision transducer. The fairing block comes as a solid piece and has to be cut precisely at the correct dead rise angle to fit our sloping hull in order to lie parallel to the waterline with half of the block on the outside and half on the inside of the hull. They are connected by the threaded bronze transducer. Accuracy is key. Measure. Measure. Measure. And then drill the hole. Voluntarily putting a hole in your hull is a scary moment, but David's calculations were millimetre accurate.
It fitted. I helped with holding stuff while David applied 3M 4200 sealant which will keep all water outside the hull.
Jobs
Fitted the DownVision transducer in the hull
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| first drill |
Applied Jotun Vinyguard undercoat to 'skinny' patches on hull and covered with one coat of antifoul
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| 32mm hole |
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| transducer fitted |
Day 19
Saturday today and we asked the yard staff to re-site the chocks supporting the hull in preparation for applying the antifoul tomorrow.
We began the process of feeding the electric wire from the new transducer fitted under the floor outside the forward head through internal conduits to eventually hook into the back of the chartplotter. It took two minutes to find the route under the forward head to the port hull side and two hours to get a line through a 50cm conduit which passes through a bulk head under the deck from head into salon. We used a WiFi endoscope linked to the tablet to see into the places our eyes couldn't reach, a length of strong wire and brute force to push through the wiring already in the conduit and my tiny hand to reach into the smallest space to pull the wire through. Teamwork and sheer bloody determination and we still have a further 5m to go which we'll save for another day.
By end of day we had
Applied Vinyguard and first coat of antifoul to patches
Begun routing the transducer cable
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| rebuilt bowthruster blades |
Painted propeller blades with antifoul
Rebuilt bow thruster blade and spare
Day 20
We were up at 6am and painting antifoul thirty minutes later in an effort to apply two coats of antifoul same day with the required 7 hours drying time between coats. We finished applying the first coat by 8am and broke for breakfast.
While waiting we rebuilt our Brunton self pitching prop. This involved removing the races and ball bearings, cleaning the build up of calcium growth and putting it all back together, fitting three new seals on the shaft and slipping the prop back on. Having removed the prop underwater a couple of times we feel confident in the luxury of being out of the water to do the job.
Then it was back to painting the second coat of antifoul. For those who may be interested we've used Jotun Seaforce 90, one US gallon on the skinny areas, two gallons on the first full coat and two gallons on the second coat. There is a 6th gallon to be used for the areas under the chock blocks and the areas under the keel which are currently resting on wood blocks. They will have to wait until we are in the lift ready to launch.
We earned a pre-dinner gin and tonic today, but I was too tired to create much for dinner – simple omelette and salad.
Pats on the back for
Two coats of antifoul
Servicing and refitting the propeller
Servicing and refitting the bow thruster
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