Boat Projects In A Boatyard & New Year's Eve

When we arrived at our boat in the boatyard on Oct 20, we figured we'd be in the yard for a couple of months. Mainly because of the holidays and the number of projects we needed to do, we weren't on a strict time frame of having to get in and out of the boatyard. But here we are,  on New Year's Eve, and we're still here and are planning on being here one more month. You see, when you own a boat, you don't really own IT. IT owns you. But we went in knowing that, and luckily, Tom and I are spontaneous people. We know that we have to "go with the flow", and we're both good with that.

We had 3 main projects that we wanted to accomplish while in the boat yard, and A LOT of little projects on the "TO DO" list that could be done at any time. The 3 projects are: get the generator head rebuilt, have AC (air conditioning) installed, and do a bottom job. And here are the issues we've been up against, trying to get them done:

• The generator head - We have the head at a machine shop, and they gave us a quote on the head gasket kit. It was pretty high, so they told Tom that if he can find it cheaper, he can get that on his own separately. He did find a substantial saving online (like a $200 saving), so he bought it online. The machine shop needs to rebuild the head, but they are waiting on parts, at the same time that we are waiting for the head gasket kit. I noticed the online charge go through the bank, and then a few days later, it wasn't showing up on the account. Tom called the company, and the head gasket kit is on back order from the manufacturer. About a month later, we received the head gasket kit, but the machine shop is still waiting on their parts from the manufacturer. That's where we are now.
• The AC installed - When we bought the boat, we knew that the owner had taken out the old AC because it didn't work. And they only cruised in SW Florida in the winter so they never needed to replace it. Since we're liveaboards though, we need AC, and we negotiated the purchase of the boat with knowing that we will add AC. They are pretty expensive, so Tom searched around, both online and at brick & mortar stores. When we first arrived to the boatyard, we met a mechanic who was working on the sailboat next to us. Tom asked him if he could help him install an AC. Tom wants to try to do a lot of boat maintenance himself since he is mechanically & technically inclined. But he doesn't know AC and wanted some guidance with the installation. The mechanic, Capt Mike's Yacht Service,  said he would assist and to not buy a new AC. He has a used one that was taken out of a repossessed boat.  This AC was about one quarter of the cost of a new one! We just had to wait for him to get done working on the boat next to us. After a few weeks here, we noticed that he hadn't been working on the boat for a few days. We found out that he had been in the hospital for 3 days with pneumonia. And the sailboat neighbor said he thinks he was working on another boat now. Well, at this time, it was about late November and we decided that we would buy the AC from him, and put it in at a later date, since we didn't need it right now. So early December, Tom called Capt Mike and found out that not only had he been in the hospital 3 days, he relapsed and went back in the hospital for 8 more days. He was back home but trying to take it easy. He was working some, but short day,s and was looking for the work. Our sailboat neighbors went back home, out of state, and was having other work done. So we negotiated a few projects Tom wanted some other help on that he had found over the last few weeks. Cap't Mike helped Tom replace 2 sea cocks and 3 through hulls, along with an exhaust hose and water intake hose. That was done in December, so now we're starting the new year with the AC installation.
• The bottom job - We only need to prep the bottom and paint it. The previous owner suggested using a Sherwin Williams ablative marine brand paint to do the bottom job, which required special ordering. We needed 5 gallons and the local store had to order it from Tampa (just a few hours north of us). After a week and a half, Tom called to see if it was in and they said they had to reorder it. Tampa only had 3 gallons, so they had to order it from Atlanta, which would be a few more weeks. Well, during that time, as we worked on some other small projects, we did get about 3/4 of one side of the hull sanded for prepping to paint. About that time is when Tom's back went out. We have the paint now, but are contemplating on having another young worker of Cap't Mike's to assist or do the rest of the sanding before the paint.

 

 

Here's the rest of the "TO DO" list that we have been working on:

1. Generator
2. Bottom job - scuff & paint
3. Seacocks & through hulls & hoses
4. AC
5. Check water in batteries (distilled water)
6. Helm soft spot
7. Sand & paint wet bar
8. Helm canvas (put up & roll up)
9. Clean & sort helm storage
10. Check fire extinguishers (recalls) & verify number needed for size of boat
11. Life jacket check
12. Mark anchor chain
13. Clean out V-berth
14. Go thru galley
15. Reglue pealing veneer
16. Replace ruined veneer
17. Repair starboard side wall (white panel)
18. Go thru dinghy
19. Add registration #s to both boat & dinghy
20. Rug for sundeck 5x7
21. Paint washer/dryer
22. Paint side expansions
23. Wash outside of boat
24. Repair port side soft spot
25. Galley & V-berth soft sports
26. New furniture in salon (later, after working)
27. New curtains (later, after working)
28. New bedspread
29. GlowMex - set up internet/Wifi 4G network
30. Install VHF radio
31. Buy & install zincs (& dinghy zincs)
32. Check fuel & water level in tanks
33. Clean heads
34. Clean wood floors in salon & galley
35. Clean aft room carpet, chairs & dinette
36. Wipe down & oil all wood inside
37. Remove sundeck port panel to clean
38. Clean sundeck & side woods
39. Buy bungie cords & zip ties
40. Buy rope hangers for lines
41. Change plugs in stateroom & salon
42. Check GoPro camera
43. Clean leather couch
44. Paint crane pole
45. Get insurance for boat
46. Replace waste hose
47. Clean bumpers
48. Put up dog safety netting
49. Buy drone
50. Buy tablet & Navionics
51. Reread drone class info
52. Study for 107 license
53. Take 107 test
54. Start drone business
55. Write in blog (continuous)

So these are the things we've been working on, as we get use to living on the boat. We are unable to use the bathroom and shower on board, but we are close to The Hut which have those facilities. We are anxious to get on the water, but we also want to make sure we get all the work done that has to be done in the yard. 

Today we're getting ready for a New Year's Eve party tonight at The Hut. We hope everybody has a safe and Happy New Year! Don't forget to subscribe if you want to follow our adventures.