The Final Touches at the Boatyard

Even a few night times were spent grinding and sanding delaminated fiberglass...

Each of the three transoms (back part of the hulls) took a whole day to apply new fiberglass... and the big panel on the side.

Then applying filler to smooth it out took another few days... not a trivial amount of work.

After arduous sanding sessions (where every square foot of the boat sides and bottom were lightly sanded) we were finally we were ready to paint it.  We were really realizing -- this is a big boat.

Thanks to our friends from ePaint for providing environmentally friendly bottom paint (the blue paint).  Looks great! Bottom paint usually has a biocide like lead (not legal in California, still in use around the world) and copper.  The biocide kills marine algae that likes to attach on the bottom of the boat, slowing you down and possibly compromising the hull, by leaching out into the water. This accumulates a great amount of metals in the water over time, particularly in an enclosed body of water such as a harbor. ePaint uses a zinc oxide and that behaves like hydrogen peroxide and is biodegradable and driven by the sun.  Very cool.


It was with great happiness that the boat was placed back in the water. The next day we sailed back to Santa Barbara.

Below Water Work

We weren't quite done with our Ventura Boatyard work!!  A few more posts to go...

We got rid of the second toilet in the aft cabin. By doing so were able to plug two thru-hulls (holes that take-in or remove water from the boat, and could sink us if they fail). Two fewer holes in the boat is a good thing - we can live with just one toilet!

And more: the propeller and rudder - yet more "invisible" things below the waterline - had to be tackled.

Naturally this hit the end of our ability level and we hired the boatyard staff to help in exchange for 1 free layday. This opened up all kinds of doors - the yard guys were then much more willing to assist with all types of advice, gear loans, etc.

The propeller was tuned; cutlass bearing replaced; shaft aligned; prop key and nut squared up perfectly. Rudder bearing tightened, and all packing glands (prop and rudder shafts) redone to prevent leaking. Solid accomplishments!