Boat maintenance in action - Photo by author
We are nearing a life of freedom once more and so the time has come to start to prepare Sandpiper for the season ahead. The 5th of April, the scheduled date for our lift out soon came around and even though the winds seemed high the very competent boatyard team informed us that the lift would go ahead as planned. It was strange seeing 3 men board Sandpiper at her berth and motor away towards the hoist. We were used to taking her into the lifting slings ourselves so this in some way felt like a 5 star service, a bit like a valet parking your car!
Video of our valet service
Sandpiper was last out of the water in early June last year so we were anticipating needing to do very little in the way of hull maintenance and we hoped to be back in the water within a week. We stood in the freezing northerly winds and watched Sandpiper slowly being raised from the water and to our delight she appeared very clean underneath and in good condition. The marina guys moved her to the high-pressure wash bay to remove a thin coat of slime before placing her in the cradle within the boat yard. It was lunch time as they handed the boat back to us so we boarded and thawed out with hot coffee and pie n pies. Did I say it was baltic?
Video of Sandpiper in the slings - sorry about the wind noise
With six layers of clothing under my paint overalls I made my way down the ladder to commence day one of our life in a boat yard. I was a dwarfed version of Michelin Man and a sight to be laughed at. Gary thinks I do all in my power to look ridiculous, he does have a point! Warm and ready to get started Gary and I inspected the antifoul condition, gelcoat, keel, prop and anodes, in fact, lets just say the entire hull was inspected for damage or corrosion.
The hull was so clean that we decided that we did not need to apply antifoul paint this year. The Sea-jet Shogun 033 had lived up to the reviews and surpassed the annual boat maintenance cycle. However on closer inspection we decided that it would be a good idea to raise the water line as since we had become full-time cruisers Sandpiper sat an inch and a half lower in the water. Not bad considering all our worldly goods are on board and Gary does have many necessary tools, nothing to do with the amount of cushions, shoes and jackets which I have on board, haha! For those non sailors reading our blog, antifoul stops barnacles, algae, slime, and other organisms attaching to our hull and our gelcoat did have a scum line which indicated the need to raise the waterline and apply more antifoul. Raising the waterline was not a nice job and one that required a better eye than mine. Compound curves require precision and the finest of detailing was certainly required for this task, most definitely a blue job! Gary set to work and boy did he do a fabulous job.
Prep for the new waterline, sanding complete and ready for the frog tape. Photo by author
I took the pink job and choose a colour for the antifoul paint and promptly placed the order. Dark Grey would co-ordinate with our accent colour on the topside and I am a girl who likes even the under water paint to blend with the overall colour scheme. I also ordered the anodes and whilst feeling like I had once again emptied the bank account I knew quite simply, prevention is better than the cure.
Gary polished and waxed the topside, which is an arm breaking task but one that visually gives you a huge pat on the back when complete. I applied the antifoul and helped polish the prop and hey presto we were done!! Three long days and we were ready to launch again, we could not wait.
Ready to launch - Photo by author
Living on the hard is not our favorite environment as it is very strange being fixed in a cradle and constantly sensing the vibration through the hull as the wind blows. We much prefer the gentle swaying to and fro and the squeak of the lines when tied to the dock on the water. When on land, the floors inside the boat have a very rigid feeling with no give at all. I know for those who do not sail that this last statement will sound odd, as rigidity does imply secure but in this instance it just feels wrong.
There are a few other inconveniences when you live onboard in a boat yard:-
SINKS - Our sinks drain straight into the sea and therefore our dish washing was all done by wet wipes. Gary thinks i must have bought shares in them. Haha!!
LADDERS - Getting on and off the boat when she is resting in a cradle some 3 metres in the air was a challenge for me last year. This year we chained the ladder to the swim platform at the stern and this provided me with a much greater sense of a secure egress. A massive improvement on previous years as I could navigate up and down the ladder without having to straddle the life lines. Mind you, it was still a ladder and at a scary height but i did managed to take coffee and paint down the ladder all in one journey - Achievement Mrs Moxon!
TRAVELLING DIRT - We like to keep our home presentable inside and out and living in the yard generally means you are frequently trampling wet hard core and dust from the yard onto the boat. Clyde Marina has the great advantage of a tarmac surface in the yard and this did make a big difference, as did our organised approach of donning paint suits and taking all we needed for the day to the base of the boat. Obviously each day we needed something which was not in the tool bag and this meant some additional journeys up the ladder but all in all less dirt was deposited onboard this year. Good job really, as we now have a white upholstered saloon!
FACILITIES - The toilets, showers and laundry are super here in Clyde Marina but when living on the hard the walk to and fro is not my favourite evening stroll. The last walk of the day has its challenges especially when you forget your torch! This yard is kept very tidy and the electricity pods are well placed so thankfully there was few trailing wires, paint trays or old rags to send me flying. Although if its possible to go arse over tit I usually do.
Living in the yard has some good things going for it too. The banter and camaraderie is top of the list, where fellow sailors constantly pass comment, share information, tools and tell their slightly embellished stories of the sea. This was a welcome experience as the winter had been long and quiet.
Admiring the hard work
I love the smell in the yard, it reminds me of when I use to bob around at my dads garage all those years ago. The smell of oil and paint, me getting dirty, asking questions and constantly saying what can I do? Quite simply just been a pest and getting in the way but i felt part of a mans world and that is important to me. I didn't identify with being a girly girl but more a chick with attitude for all things practical. I remember when I first met Gary and he asked what I wanted for my birthday and I said wellies and a wheelbarrow. I had a horse then not a boat!
Thankfully the weather was kind when we were in the yard, as a few wet days can really scupper your boat maintenance plans. However, this year the sun shone, the winds blew and the sunset views were very rewarding.
Gallery of our yard view - Photos by author
Once back in the water we finally got to put the sails back on and.... hell I just have to say that is the icing on the cake for us and it feels so good to have our wings back. I really enjoyed the opportunity to exercise my arm muscles several times in a one day, what with winching Gary 15 metres in the air to spray some PTF lube, then messing about with storm sails, before the raising the freshly laundered main and head sail. Now that was a work out especially as we have manual winches.
GARY! Our sails have shrank in the wash! Only kidding just messing with our storm sails
Engine service and electric checks next and then we are off!!!!
More soon, take care xxx
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