It’s hard to believe but we’ve already been on the pier at Reynolds for 11 days. We only have 11 more to go before we’re heading back to Canada. It’s super great to have all this time to get the boat ready for storage. We definitely are not rushed. Mark has been doing some jobs that he says are either for this upcoming November or things that didn’t get done last November. Either way, some very important projects are getting completed.
On our last morning at anchor, the deck wash connection broke. The deck wash is used to spray the chain and anchor as they’re hauled back aboard so it’s important to have it working. That was Mark’s first job which turned out to be more challenging then expected. The inside attachment point for the deck wash was in the anchor chain locker in the v-berth, which is incredibly difficult to get inside. After much struggle (and many bruises) Mark got the new connector secured and working. While he was in that compartment, he took out the electric motor for the windlass (the machine that hoists the anchor) because it was making some not so funny noises that need to be addressed. The motor will come home with us!
The next big job Mark has been tackling is replacing all the 120v electrical cables in the boat. These cables are 43 years old and their age is showing. There has been lots of pushing and pulling to remove the old cables plus parts of the main cabin had to be taken apart to get access to the old stuff and put in the new. It’s another job that really need to be done!
We are getting some storage jobs completed too. The v-berth has been washed and the mattresses have been wrapped so now I can start vacuum sealing stuff and storing it up there. We vacuum seal all fabrics, clothing items, electronics and any other items that stay on the boat. I’ve spent a few days washing all the interior surfaces with both Pinesol and vinegar. After our “Covid” storage mold disaster, I do extra cleaning to remove salt and dirt and then use vinegar and a mold spray to keep the mold from returning while the boat is on the hard. The last 2 days I’ve worked on the exterior wood (this is called brightwork), giving it a new coat of Semco (a teak sealant). The wood was in rough shape by the end of this season so it really needed a good coating of Semco. Looks great now!
We have had some time to relax and enjoy ourselves. On Saturday, April 15 we drove to St. Augustine to have dinner with Julia and Brad and Sharon and Rick. Both couples arrived at Reynolds on the following Tuesday and we’ve had a happy hour to celebrate the end of the sailing season. We’ll plan a few more get togethers before we all head home.
Crimson Kathryn and her crew 