Splashing!

After 6 days of work on the boat, we're ready to put her in the water. We are scheduled to splash at 8am, which could mean noon Mexican time.

When we got to the boat on Tuesday one of the first things we had to deal with was 6 months of sandy dust covering everything, inside and out. We had to remove and wash everything, clean every nook and cranny and scrub the out side. Two days. 

Then we had to paint the bottom. The paint we put on 3 years ago still looked pretty good. We wanted to add a couple more layers so we won't have to do it again for another 3, or more, years. 

First we had to use paint thinner to clean off the dirt and loose paint. We also wanted to raise the water line because we have added so much stuff that the boat sets about 3 inches lower then when we bought her. So Dominga taped a beautifully straight line 6 inches above the current water line.

We used 120 grit sand to give "bite" to the old paint so the new will stick. Washed off the dust and painted two layers of blue paint. Three days. 

Then we put the sails and boom back together and packed gear from the van onboard. One day.

This may seem like a long time to some of you, but many other cruisers here are amazed we got her ready so fast. We're motivated. 

After we're in the water we still have a few days of tidying the interior and adding additional rigging, then off to the islands.

Dude, I'm working and you're taking pictures.....of me working.

They aren't working.......

And you're taking more pictures.