When we returned from Santa Marta, Fortuitous had her new topsides gelcoat. While still not perfect, we were happy enough with it after a few repairs. So, back in the boatyard and hard at it again trying to finish up the varnishing and re-install all the deckhardware, dodger etc. This is our room in Marina Manzanillo. Sadly, no closet at all so the drapes became our closet.
The boat will be heaven to live aboard after this type of camping.
It costs $3 a load for a wash or a dry, so I try to rinse out my work things in the sink...a difficult chore as it is so small. We've been without water, at the end of a long workday, on more than one occasion. We brought in our sunshowers, from the boat, and used those.
This is the sand truck going past Maicol's.
It's a very dusty place to eat.
Then came the gravel truck...must be mixing concrete somewhere down the road.
We had a yard worker sand the doors and toe rail, thankfully. Then the painter had to varnish them.
Lots of hard work, but here are some shots of the finished product. Every inch of wood below, save the insides of the cupboard doors (which I'll do later) has been varnish.
Most is in satin or matte, the trim in gloss.
These are Tuti's seat boxes all varnished up. Great storage here.
This is the new cabinet in the V Berth. Also great storage.
Here is where we had the dry rot and Tuti redid most of the bookshelf area and foot of our berth. You'd never know anything was repaired here.
The new nav station area where the doors to the cockpit used to be.
We had everything almost completed but, once we uncovered the table, I decided I couldn't live with it unfinished with the rest looking so nice.
So, we varathaned that too.
Very happy with the results.
We got some parrots on our trip to the Amazon (pages for a later blog). This was the perfect spot for them.
Voila!!! Done!!!
We had new cockpit cushions made as the configuration now is quite different. As well, the old cushions were not high density foam and very old and soft. They are supposed to be used to help someone stay afloat if, God forbid, anyone should fall off Fortuitous. The old ones would have soaked up water, like the sponges they were, and gone right to the bottom...not much help to anyone in need.
However, now that I've covered the new vinyl cushions with my nice new tropical covers, I couldn't possibly throw them overboard, so they won't be of much help either!!
So, came the day to float Fortuitous. It's always un-nerving and we're always glad when it's over. Just look at that shine, though.
Ahhh, in the water finally...but just. There's about a foot of water below the keel here.
Now comes the tricky part of getting the mizzen back aboard. Our camera died when we took it off last year, so we don't have any photos of that. But, here's the process in reverse. Ralph and the crew are contemplating the job.
Mast is carried by hand to the dock. Then, ropes are tied under the spreader and it's lifted onto the forklift forks, where Ubaldo is sitting in order to secure and guide the mast as it's put aboard.
Almost ready to haul it high enough to put aboard. Ubaldo wasn't tied on at all, so Ralph gave him a harness from our boat.
This is before he was tied on.
Up she goes and onto Fortuitous. You'd never see this in Canada or the US!!!
"A little this way...er, no, a little that way...."
Done!!
Here we are at the dock readying and provisioning.
Fortuitous floats.
We are almost ready to leave and plan to be out of here on Saturday, April 2nd. Ralph will be at sea for his birthday...but after this long haul, I'm sure he'll be happy about that!! The end of a very long refit...almost 5 months of work!!
The boat will be heaven to live aboard after this type of camping.
It costs $3 a load for a wash or a dry, so I try to rinse out my work things in the sink...a difficult chore as it is so small. We've been without water, at the end of a long workday, on more than one occasion. We brought in our sunshowers, from the boat, and used those.
This is the sand truck going past Maicol's.
It's a very dusty place to eat.
Then came the gravel truck...must be mixing concrete somewhere down the road.
We had a yard worker sand the doors and toe rail, thankfully. Then the painter had to varnish them.
Lots of hard work, but here are some shots of the finished product. Every inch of wood below, save the insides of the cupboard doors (which I'll do later) has been varnish.
Most is in satin or matte, the trim in gloss.
These are Tuti's seat boxes all varnished up. Great storage here.
This is the new cabinet in the V Berth. Also great storage.
Here is where we had the dry rot and Tuti redid most of the bookshelf area and foot of our berth. You'd never know anything was repaired here.
The new nav station area where the doors to the cockpit used to be.
We had everything almost completed but, once we uncovered the table, I decided I couldn't live with it unfinished with the rest looking so nice.
So, we varathaned that too.
Very happy with the results.
We got some parrots on our trip to the Amazon (pages for a later blog). This was the perfect spot for them.
Voila!!! Done!!!
We had new cockpit cushions made as the configuration now is quite different. As well, the old cushions were not high density foam and very old and soft. They are supposed to be used to help someone stay afloat if, God forbid, anyone should fall off Fortuitous. The old ones would have soaked up water, like the sponges they were, and gone right to the bottom...not much help to anyone in need.
However, now that I've covered the new vinyl cushions with my nice new tropical covers, I couldn't possibly throw them overboard, so they won't be of much help either!!
So, came the day to float Fortuitous. It's always un-nerving and we're always glad when it's over. Just look at that shine, though.
Ahhh, in the water finally...but just. There's about a foot of water below the keel here.
Now comes the tricky part of getting the mizzen back aboard. Our camera died when we took it off last year, so we don't have any photos of that. But, here's the process in reverse. Ralph and the crew are contemplating the job.
Mast is carried by hand to the dock. Then, ropes are tied under the spreader and it's lifted onto the forklift forks, where Ubaldo is sitting in order to secure and guide the mast as it's put aboard.
Almost ready to haul it high enough to put aboard. Ubaldo wasn't tied on at all, so Ralph gave him a harness from our boat.
This is before he was tied on.
Up she goes and onto Fortuitous. You'd never see this in Canada or the US!!!
"A little this way...er, no, a little that way...."
Done!!
Here we are at the dock readying and provisioning.
Fortuitous floats.
We are almost ready to leave and plan to be out of here on Saturday, April 2nd. Ralph will be at sea for his birthday...but after this long haul, I'm sure he'll be happy about that!! The end of a very long refit...almost 5 months of work!!
1 comment:
Looks amazing! Nice work.
Love ya
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