28 April Diary of a haul out – the final day

Today there's a tick against item one on the To Do list – haul out.

Twenty three days since we began this project and we are preparing to go back in the water after lunch today. It's been hard work every day, less convenient living on board on land and for the last few days mosquitos in the bedroom at night. I'm looking forward to being back in the water where it will be cooler and bug free, we can make water once again and use the sinks and heads and I can shower in my own bathroom.

Between breakfast and lunch we have the final list of jobs which includes lifting the dinghy back on deck, lifting the bikes back on board, tidying up paint tins, etc from under the boat and painting the flat surface under the keel where it was resting on wooden blocks. For this the yard bring the travel lift over at 11 o'clock and hoist us up in the air. David gives the now exposed areas a treatment with the sander, dons his Hazchem suit and sets about applying the last of the antifoul. We now have at least an hour an a half before it gets wet – sufficient time to flash off.

antifouling under the keel

With lunch break over the lift transports us across the yard to the slip where we are gracefully lowered into the water. Engine on. Engine cuts off. Engine on and cuts off again. A little scratch to the head before David remembers he's switched off the water intake when servicing the through hull. Oops! With a flick of a handle it is engine on and it stays on and we are back under power.

In the anchorage we find a nice sandy spot and drop anchor and shiny new chain. It seems such a shame to get it wet. There's no skipping on the gypsy wheel and all is good. Before we can sit back and relax we put the newly repaired cover on the dinghy and set it up with the outboard motor, switch on the automatic anchor light and a couple of things are put away. Tomorrow we'll tackle the mountain of re-stowing tools and paints under the floors and cleaning the inside of the boat.

Tonight it will be a congratulatory gin and tonic before dinner. A (hard) job successfully completed and a new and improved Jackster; topsides polished, rub rail restored, antifouled, DownVision transducer fitted and working, through hulls serviced, propeller serviced and bowthruster serviced. Everyt ime we finish a haul out Jackster is a better boat. On the downside we're a little more worn out. Me and my metal hip are looking forward to not having to climb up and down the ladders.