Bottom Paint, 2020

Make sure everybody in your boat is rowing and not drilling holes when you are not looking - unknown

Thanksgiving is over and we are back in Florida to get Journey back on the water at least to move her to Fort Pierce.  But after setting for almost 8 months we need to be sure that all systems are go!  River Forest was gracious enough to give us two night on their  wall to check her out before heading back through the lock and up to Cracker Boys in Fort Pierce.


It is a relief to get her back in the water safely, but now that River Forest work is done ours begins.  Cleaning her some, checking all systems to be sure they are working properly and some organization.  Although we are going to be pulling her back out of the water for another week to paint the bottom so we know there is even more cleaning and work to be done after that week.  Right now the real focus is on checking out all our systems.  Checking out all our systems also meant making coffee with our new electric percolator that our girls gave us for Christmas (which we celebrated at Thanksgiving)  and our new coffee mugs.  All systems go after a morning cup of coffee.


Two days on the wall and the day to arrive at Fort Pierce is here.  We are off early for our trip as we have to get through the St. Lucie Lock.  Do you remember that from an earlier video.  I was already worried about going back through.  Well we are here - going back through!  Survived!  Now to Cracker Boys to watch the whole process of lifting her out of the water take place again!  Be still my heart.  A note of interest.  This is December in Fort Pierce, Florida and it is COLD!  I know I am in shorts.  I brought clothes to dispose of and did not prepare for the cold.  Thank goodness for the disposable coveralls.  I wore mine everyday whether needed or not after that first day.


First, we must sand the entire bottom and specifically the area where we are raising the water line.  We made this decision because when full of fuel, provisions, and water she sits right on the line especially at the stern.  We chose to raise the line and used the width of our painters tape which is an inch and a quarter.  If you have any questions about this just ask! This area needs some extra love and that was my job.  Dee just got after it with the sander.  After his first day we realized we needed to coveralls.  He was a mess.  Thank goodness for a hotel room with a hot shower!
  
Then the for me the endless rolling of paint. This is the easy part.  Just imagine what I looked like doing the Botton of the hulls.  Yes, I was laying on my back rolling on paint!  Dee continued sanding, sanding the running gear, painting the running gear, replacing the zincs, and helping me with the bottom.  We worked from 7 am until dark and many nights even after dark with lights…. Three days later the paint job is complete.  


Now it is time to wash, wax, and buff which was another exhausting job.  Just ask DEE!  And of course, Shelby needed some love.  After 8 mostly summer months in Florida. The weather was taking its toll on her.  She is looking good now!  The day before we were suppose to go back in the water.  I happened to notice that lens was missing from one of our underwater lights.  After we investigated all the lights there seemed to be some issues with water.  I started digging through receipts.  Found the company and our installation from Turner marine in Alabama.  Amazingly, this company was an hour from us.  We found someone to help us install the next day and drove down and picked up the new lights which were under warranty!  Cracker Boys pushed our splash down back a day and we were able to get new underwater lights installed.


Finally, all the hard work is done and we are back on the water and heading south.  AS you can see from the guys working the yard it is still cold!  WE want to find the warmer weather.  While we were in Fort Pierce, Dee heard from a high school friend who also taught him to fly.  He had landed in the area for work so we wanted to get him on board before we headed south.  So look for Scott in the next video.  Key West here we come!