Sunday 20 May 2018

A clean bottom at last!


Following her Atlantic adventures, Arctic Smoke has been out of commission and still is and will be until at least this time next year. The poor old girl is in need of a lot of TLC!

Today, after which I estimate must be the equivalent of 15 days hard scraping and sanding since early January, I finally finished perhaps the worst job any boat owner has to face - scraping off the old anti-fouling! It's actually the second time I've done that in 6 years. I bought AS at the end of 2011 and between then and 2013 I did the usual annual job of sanding off the old loose stuff and then anti-fouled over the remains of the previous coat. In 2013 I stripped the bottom back to the epoxy coat. That was relatively painless - it came off quite easily! I then applied a copper based anti-fouling at considerable expense. The following year when I had her hauled out she very badly fouled and the copper around the hull anode had leached out. I fired off a letter of complaint to the manufactures and they sent me another consignment. After getting all the growth off and sanding down I repainted another coat. This worked better - not great but acceptable. Before pushing off in the spring of 2015 I patched up the suspect bits. When I hauled her out again in Gran Canaria in 2016 she was badly fouled again. I patched the bottom up with normal cheap ablating anti-fouling before pushing off for Cape Verde. By the time we got to the Caribbean she was clearly fouling quite badly once again and I was over the side almost every week to keep the growth at bay. It's surprising how cold you get after 30 minutes or so even in those warm waters!

Back in the UK after hauling her out, it was clear that the copper anti-fouling was not working effectively - indeed the cheap stuff applied in Gran Canaria was more effective.

 Since we got back in August last year the furthest AS has travelled was from the marina berth to the lift out crane - twice - a voyage of perhaps 500 meters. The first of  these two voyages was to get her bottom pressure washed so with the intention of making her fit for local sailing over the summer. However, on the way over I noticed the water pump was leaking and so on our return to the berth I took it off. Off it remained for many weeks. Family life, job hunting and goodness knows what got in the way of any more boating activities. Eventually in the late summer I got it repaired and re-installed it, but spare weekends and good favourable Autumn weather never coincided and the poor old girl sat in her berth rather neglected until 5th of January when I got her lifted out once more - this time in preparation for a long programme of maintenance. I have a very, very long list.......

Timing Job Status
Before re-launch Chainplate attachments - check Not started
Before re-launch ‎Fuel tank - drain/clean Not started
Before re-launch Re-paint deck with non-slip Not started
Before re-launch Engine refurb/replace Not started
Before re-launch Keel bolts check/replace Done
Before re-launch Propeller shaft & cuttless bearing Not started
Before re-launch Stern gland Not started
Before re-launch Rudder shaft/bearings check/replace Done
Before re-launch Remove rudder stand-pipe & grease bearing Not started
Before re-launch Osmosis? Done
Before re-launch Remove old copper anti-foul 99%
Before re-launch Paint bottom with Epoxy treatment Not started
Before re-launch Antifoul Not started
Before re-launch Clean/polish gel coat Not started
Before re-launch Windless – seized-up Not started
Before re-launch Finish off saloon windows properly Not started
Before re-launch Re-fit windows in heads (Starboard one now leaks) Not started
Before re-launch Refurb cabin sole Not started
Before re-launch Refurb cabin woodwork Not started
Before re-launch Remove locker doors and take home Not started
Before re-launch Remove sliding doors and take home  Not started
Before re-launch Refurb locker doors Not started
Before re-launch Refurb sliding doors (tracks & wood)  Not started
Before re-launch Refurb galley work surfaces Not started
Before re-launch New cabin table (Tony) Not started
Before re-launch New upholstery Not started
Before re-launch ‎Renovate/replace cooker Not started
Before re-launch Various chips in gelcoat in cockpit area Not started
Before re-launch ‎Chips in gelcoat around stern Not started
Before re-launch ‎Gelcoat behind tiller Not started
Before re-launch ‎Mast Boot Not started
Before re-launch ‎Lightening conductor ground to keel Not started
Before re-launch HF Ground to keel Not started
Before re-launch Rudder stock fitting Not started
Before re-launch Repair tiller (Awlood varnis) Not started
Before re-launch Overhaul Angus Not started
Before re-launch Annode replace Not started
Before re-launch Rudder heal bolts Not started
Before re-launch Smaller prop (Rob) 20 Not started
Before re-launch Refurb Front bulkhead in anchor locker Not started
Before re-launch Nav light wiring Not started
Before re-launch Hatches remove and re-fit bed on a soft mastic Not started
Before re-launch Stanchions sleeve with thin rubber. Re bed fittings Not started
Before re-launch Windows - rake then bead with Arbomast sealant from marine scene. Try cutting off tape around window frame with sharp knife first. Not started
Before re-launch Mast section in Bilge acf50 after clean and dry out Not started
Before re-launch Keel rake out and sikaflex 291i Clean up fully. No need to replace keel bolts. Then fair keel to hull. Not started
Before re-launch Fuel lines Not started
Before re-launch Replace noise insulation with foil backed engine insulation from ASAP Not started
Before re-launch Replace Gas pipe and hose- armoured and re-site to bottom of cooker Not started
Before re-launch Hatch runners sister Not started
Before re-launch Refurb cockpit sole  Not started
Before re-launch Anchor locker bulkhead Not started
Before local sailing Replace Batteries Not started
Before local sailing Stern light Not started
Before local sailing Deck light Not started
Before local sailing Winches refurb Not started
Before local sailing Fresh water system/tap Not started
Before local sailing Radar reflector (falling off) Not started
Before local sailing ‎Spray Hood - repair Not started
Before local sailing ‎Cockpit chairs (like Chris) Not started
Before local sailing ‎Longer spinnaker pole Not started
Before local sailing ‎Repair/replace Dinghy Not started
Before local sailing Anchor shackle Not started
Before local sailing Gooseneck nylon washer Not started
Before local sailing Replace fire extinguisher and relocate to Not started
Before local sailing Fire hole in companion steps Not started
Before local sailing Fire extinguisher in engine bay Not started
Before local sailing Name on life bouy Not started
Before local sailing Boom end fitting change position  Not started
Before significant passage Weld cracked Pullpit leg  Not started
Before significant passage Anchor roller (plastic)/Stowage  Not started
Before significant passage Electrics - various re-furb Not started
Before significant passage Mast/rigging check Not started
Before significant passage Wash boards & companion way hatch runners/security (rough weather) Not started
Before significant passage Imrove Solar panel mountings Not started
Before significant passage Re-mount various antenna Not started
Before significant passage Cabin heater Not started
Before significant passage ‎Granny Bars? Not started
Before significant passage Single Line reefing? Not started
Before significant passage Trysail? Not started
Before significant passage ‎Fit Angus remote control Not started
Before significant passage Check mast partners Not started
TBC Toerail? Not started
TBC Other deck fittings Not started
TBC ‎Extra Winches Not started
TBC Gantry for panels & antennas etc /cum bimini Not started
TBC Upgrade instruments Not started
TBC Convert to cutter Not started
TBC Fit cleats amidships Not started
TBC Make Dodgers? Not started
TBC Fit ‎Dodgers? Not started
TBC Radar? Not started
TBC ‎Tow charger and/or wind generator? Not started
TBC ‎Cup-holders in cockpit Not started
TBC Cockpit table – re-design – get new one made Not started
TBC Fit ‎HF Radio Not started
TBC ‎Rigid spray-hood with water capture system (see photos from boat show 2018) Not started
TBC Starboard side deck two areas - drill and inject epoxy cap starboard shroud and stanchion aft of it Not started
I wasn't kidding was I?

So now at the end of May, one job on that list is almost finished. Things should speed up now especially as it looks like I will be working part-time over the summer. But there is as you can see, an awful lot still to do. And I've got two, 2 week holidays to fit in!