Wednesday 17 Nov, re-launch 2021, HHN day 49: Sealed screws on forehatch. Installed wear bars on aft gunnel, sealed leak in Oana’s cupboard. And … food provisioning has started!
Today could have been possible to launch but Matt, the yard manager, didn’t think so. Looks like it will be tomorrow now. Ho-hum.
Our day starts with an email from FedEx claims department. First line says “We received you claims for shipments listed below and we are issuing a check in settlement of these claims”.
My heart instantly jumps up a notch, and I read the line for a second time. Cannot be, surely not? They haven’t even asked me any questions yet! Then further down the email, in smaller print, it says: “after further investigation we are unable to settle either of your claims. Reason: Any claim must be filed by the shipper, not receiver.” Talk about giving the good-news then the bad news! Thankyou FedEx, that was emotionally not amusing ☹. So it looks like we are at the mercy of the claim filed by Hallberg Rassy in Sweden. Let us see what transpires.
With the launch delayed, I get straight into jobs. First one is to finalise my new method of holding up the deck hatches in the saloon and the aft cabin. Currently these large Lewmar size 70 hatches have friction hinges which you tighten such that the hatch will stay open at any angle. But this means there is also a lot of friction to open and close the hatch, along with a loud “squeaking” sound. Not nice. And not to mention the torque this friction puts on the frame.
So, my new method is to have Ray weld a stud onto the end of each friction screw, then I add knurled knobs to those studs. Now we can open and close the hatch with very little resistance and no squeaking noises. And when it is at the angle we want, it’s just a matter of hand-tightening the new knobs to increase the friction. The knobs look the part and work perfectly. I think I will apply to Lewmar for a patent!
Next jobs all involve the use of 3M-4200 sealant. I hate using the stuff. Sealant and me always seem to get upset with each other, usually ending with my hands, my clothes and my tools covered in the stuff!
First job is to remove, one by one, the hold-down screws that I put into the new bow deck hatch yesterday. Yesterday was all about getting the frame sealed into place. Today is about sealing the screws in. Each screw gets a small dab of sealant on the counter-sync section of the screw, then screwed back in. The 3M-4200 squeezes out making a good seal around the screw head and the countersunk hole in the aluminium hatch frame. This sealant will also stave-off any dissimilar-metal corrosion in the future.
Next sealant job is on the aft gunnel, where I want to put 2 stainless steel wear bars where we step up from the swim platform to the deck. Previously the teak was protected by varnish. But we have now removed that, leaving all the teak au-naturel. I use the sealant to again get a seal around the screw holes and screw heads.
Final sealant job is to fix a leak into one of Oana’s clothes cupboards. By traces of salt, there were signs that the aft mooring cleat bolts have been letting some sea water in. So each bolt is removed a few centimeters, sealant applied, then screwed back down. Can’t have salt water in the Commodore’s tee-shirt cupboard now can we? 😊
Inside the boat, Oana has continued all day tackling her provisioning list. And at 6pm we head out to Dunkirk to start the physical provisioning. She knows all the deals and even which aisles we need to visit to find a particular product and deal. She really has done her homework this year. I’m impressed. And it’s amazing the amount of money she has saved looking online across 4 supermarket chains to find the cheapest. Tonight, we tackled Walmart and Harris Teeter and we are already 20-30% saving compared to just walking into the nearest supermarket and doing all the shopping there. Top marks to the commodore. But on the other hand, I think I can see a few extra grey hairs appearing due to the process!
Normally we don’t start the provisioning exercise until the boat is in the water. And as we drive home we dread the thought of lugging the car full of shopping up the ladder. So we conclude that we will leave all the non-perishables in the car (which is most of the shopping) until we have launched. It’s so much easier to trolly the food down the pontoon and then directly onto the boat, with no ladder to climb. The other factor is the sails which are still taking up most of the saloon. Once we get launched, I can lift them onto the deck, leaving Oana more room for sorting and stowing, which is another big part of provisioning. It seems no matter how many shopping trolly of food we buy, she always manages to get it all stowed away, and, most importantly, know where everything is.
Oh, she does so love provisioning… NOT! Tonight she will probably be dreaming of her favorite Mega Image minimarket, which is just 50m walk from our apartment in Bucharest. It’s always well stocked with all that wonderful European food and easy to access on a daily basis. No provisioning required 😊
Remind me, why do we live on a boat?!