Wednesday 3-Nov, re-launch 2021, HHN day 35: Prop anodes on, SSB antenna connected, hull polishing started.
Bright but cold outside this morning. Almost cold enough for a ground frost. Without the heating on during the night, the inside temperature dropped to just 11 degC by morning. Oana had a good giggle at me last night because I insisted to wear a thin wooly hat in bed! Well, I know from this time last year that cold air around my head at night is a sure way to catch a head cold. If we can get south to the warmer climate without contracting colds and flus I’ll be very happy.
Outside the boat is still very wet from the rain yesterday. I cannot start the hull polishing until everything is dry. So I start by re-installing the electrical cable that connects the backstay antenna for the SSB (Single Side Band radio) into the boat. It means getting a step ladder on deck and even then, I can only just reach up to where the cable is clamped on. But in the process, I manage to break 2 of the 6 insulators which stand-off the cable from the lower part of the backstay. They are getting old and pretty UV affected. They will get glued back together this evening, but I must research where I can get replacements. Having HF radio equipment on board yachts is a rare thing these days. And so is getting replacement equipment for it.
Next, I secure the shaft and main Gori anodes back on, following painting PropSpeed 2 days ago. This final act concludes what has been quite the marathon of activity on on the boat’s drive train. From engine to propeller: CV joint and Aquadrive sent for rebuild, new PSS shaft seal, bilge area around these beautified with grey bilge paint, new Cutlass bearing in the P-Bracket, Gori Propeller sent for its 10yr checkup, PropSpeed paint applied, anodes and Gori rubbers renewed. Yes, many hours of work and quite a tidy sum of money too: $3,500.
Now, at long last, the hull is dry and I set about polishing the hull. I start at the stern which is the most difficult area because most of the buffering is directly over head. I tape plastic sheeting to the hull from waterline downward to stop polish going on the antifoul paint. Very annoying trying to get it to stick to the hull as the wind is blowing it.
For the next few hours I get very frustrated. I can buff the compound onto the hull OK, but I really struggle get it cleaned off again and shined up. Oana comes out to see progress mid afternoon, just when I’m at the lowest point, about to give up and employ someone to do this. The annoying part is that I know it should be a simple task – it can’t be rocket science. Yet every time I try, I find it takes me ages to get it right. Oana suggests a break. So we have a cuppa tea and visit the local hardware store. Here I buy some microfiber cloths for the task.
Back at the boat, I try to forget that I’ve only done 2m of hull in 4 hours and aim to start afresh. This time, miraculously, it all comes together, and I feel like I have finally nailed the technique. I was clearly putting it on too wet last time, plus the new microfiber buffing cloths make a world of difference.
While doing this, the yard guys come along to move the stands that are holding up the boat. They move them one at a time, revealing square patches of hull that now need to have antifoul applied.
As dusk approaches and it is getting too damp to continue the polishing, I give these patches on the hull a quick sand with grade 60 paper. Tomorrow I will paint them. Then I can say the antifoul painting is done!