42 56.90 N 074 12.73 W
For the first time ever, we've started thinking about an overhaul. By that we mean putting Tarwathie upon the hard for an extended period (3-4 months) of repair and refit. Actually, it is quite normal for sailing vessels to undergo overhaul after 5-6 years of continuous sailing.
The most apparent need is that the hull is starting to show some blisters. That is a sign that water is penetrating the barrier coats into the fiberglass. To fix that means stripping the paint off down to bare glass, then allowing 2 months for it to dry before repainting with a new waterproof barrier coat, plus new antifouling paint.
We also recently learned that our 14 inch propeller is too small. We should have a 16 inch one. If we did, we could cruise at 6 knots under motor rather than 5. If we changed props I think we also need a new propeller shaft. All that fits into the category of an overhaul project.
I'm sure as we think it through more, that our to-do list of jobs to accomplish during an overhaul would grow.
The problem is that we have no allowance for an overhaul in our life style.
There are several ways to do it.
Method 1 is to find some other place to live during the overhaul. We would also no doubt need a car to go back and forth between the housing and the boat yard.
Method 2 is to find a place where we could continue living on board Tarwathie up on the hard. That can be expensive but perhaps not as expensive as alternate living and transportation costs.
Method 3 is to open up our imaginations to non-boat-centric solutions. For example if we ever wanted to do land cruising or touring the country in an RV, this would be the ideal time to do so.
We are at the stage where we just have just seeds of thinking about the overhaul problem. Our needs are not urgent; we could wait another year or more before doing it.
In the past when I've asked for advice from blog readers, we have received some extremely good suggestions; things that hadn't even occurred to us. I'll do it again. What do you suggest?
Posts
Outside the box.
ReplyDeleteFirst I would consider living aboard if possible.
Second (here's where it gets weird), since you are already used to living a 'fringe' lifestyle, why not pick a place you enjoy, midway through the season, park the boat and put up a tent somewhere nearby. A really nice tent with cots and some baskets could be comparable to life aboard, cost much less than an apartment, and you'd be surprised at the similarities between cruisers and RV folk (say, at a KOA). Justa thought.
R
The problem, as always, is transportation - food and water and the stuff you need to fix the boat. That would mean a place with a DIY yard that is relatively close to a bus line that runs relatively close to the shopping you need. I Googled "DIY boat yard" and found this thread for a boat yard near the Annapolis area. There's a phone number, so you could at least ask some questions.
ReplyDeleteSorry not to be of more help...let us know what you come up with. I liked that tent idea!
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Post:
Bert Jabin's on Back Creek would have the room. However, you'll pay for a haul-out, for the time spent on the hard "in storage," and for launching the boat. I have a slip there, so my winter storage when I am on the hard is slightly discounted. I am paying just a bit under $5 a foot per month this winter. Haul-out and launch in the neighborhood of $80 for each (just a guess based on last year; I am not at home, so I don't have access to my files). Summer rates (which start on April 1) for storage are higher than winter rates. Local phone number is 410-268-9667; DC phone number is 301-261-1788.
I suppose it is possible that for a haul-out just to paint the bottom, they might have some type of package "deal."