Position Report April 27, 2010
Back to the boat, Back to the BOAT!
Mazatlan Mexico
We would like to report that we made it
back to Guenevere on March 28. It sure does feel good to be back
aboard and floating once more. Sleeping is SO MUCH better when you
are gently rocked to sleep with an evening breeze blowing through the
hatch and the forward port open over your head so you can see the
stars.
The BIG drawback was seeing how bad
Guenevere looked after not having us to attend to her for a year. We
did have a service watch her and make sure she was safe, and some
good friends (that we hope to meet soon) washed her for us, but the
teak sure NEEDS us.
We immediately started waking up all
systems on Guen. Each system is getting a going over to make sure
it's still working, or noting what will be required to fix it.
Greg went up the mast to inspect and
change out the LED Spreader lights,
We did a rebuild on the winches.
and a hundred other small things.
Even before we arrived back, we were in
contact with Total Yacht Works and arranged for a haul out date. We
managed to make sure the engine was up and running in time to make
the short trip to the yard. Singlar (the lift management) actually
does the haul, then Total Yacht Works takes care of the rest.
We were VERY pleasantly surprised by
this haul. The guys at Total Yacht Works are artisans, not just
workers!
As some of you might remember, a long
time ago we put CopperPoxy on Guen as an anti fouling. It lasted us
10 years. Not bad for a bottom coat as most last only 2 years. When
it did stop working we were in La Paz and we could not get that
product any longer. We understand that it is now sold only to
certified applicators. As we were so happy with it, we went out
looking for a suitable replacement. We were in luck! We found an
epoxy company in Florida that sold something very similar. So, we now
are back to a nice clean shinny bottom, Guen that is, not us... ;-)
For more info on this we are posting a separate report. You can read
about it (with photos) and our new copper bottom job at:
http://www.svguenevere.com/2010/haul
But here are a couple of photos......
We found that MOST of the gear is still
in good working order. The items that did go bad, looked like we got
our money's worth out of them. Life aboard a boat that is moving and
anchoring a lot is hard on gear. And the heat down here is brutal.
So far the items that have given up are
our small 12 volt shop vac (no big loss), the deck wash down pump (we
can get another with no problem) and the worst of the batch is our
GPS chart plotter. It makes things so easy. We can go without it, but
we have decided to get one shipped in.
One high point for us took place the
other night. We were invited (by the owner of a local restaurant) to
a fund raiser for a small boy, Nicolas, in town here. He has been
diagnosed with MD. He needs a very expensive blood test and his
family does not have the cash. Many people gathered for a meal and
party (Fiesta) to help out. One of the local music artists in town
was selling some of his CDs at the event with all proceeds donated to
Nicolas. We had a very good seat, close to the stage and the front of
the restaurant . One thing that we noticed was something that I
don't think we have EVER seen in the US. Often, a local person
walking along the street would stop and ask about the event (it did
have live music). When they were told of the problem, inevitably each
would reach into their wallet and donate bills into the kitty,
without even staying for any of the music or food.. This took place
over and over. It was heart warming!
PHOTO Nicolas and party goers........
By the way, we have a new crew member
aboard Guenevere. Our Dogette Chica. Here she is during our
pre-cruise muster station drill in her PFD.
And this photo adds new meaning to “dog
the hatch”!
As soon as we deem Guen seaworthy, we
will head out. The first trip out of here is a two day crossing of
the southern part of the Sea of Cortez. We will up date as we go.
Greg & Jill
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