HAUL OUT AT SPICE ISLAND MARINE

DECEMBER 19, 2013


UP ANCHOR IN MT HARTMAN BAY

OUT IN BIG WATER AGAIN

Sunday we moved It's Perfect from Mt Hartman Bay over to Prickly Bay for the night.  We have an appointment for a haul out on Monday at 1:30.



HEADING INTO THE PIT

Right on time she came out of the water and put on the hard for a much needed bottom job.  Her last bottom paint was in September 2011, just after we moved aboard.  There was little growth on the bottom and little paint left, certainly time for more bottom paint.  We were quite impressed in the condition she was in.  It took most of the afternoon to get her situated and then it was our turn.  It is quite a strange feeling to see her out of the water, alone on the land.

HIGH AND DRY

We are not staying on the boat in the yard.  We gave ourselves a break, we are at the Cool Running Hotel just one street over from the boat.  Now this is not what you get in the US for the same money, don't get me wrong it is inexpensive, clean and air conditioned.  For 4 nights it has been a good change.  Since they have to import everything on the island the furniture and cabinets are made of lumber and the mattress is about 4 inches thick.  The chairs at the homemade table are plastic porch chairs.  Not very attractive but quite usable.  We will be happy to return to It's Perfect.



IT'S PERFECT FLYING THE TEXAS FLAG

On Tuesday Rod was in the yard early checking on the progress of It's Perfect.  After a little prodding he had a full crew wet sanding the hull, preparing for paint.  By 4 they were finished and had done a excellent job.  Rod bought the beer & they all sat down for  chat. 

Wednesday was the day for the first coat of bottom paint while Rod worked on stripping the propeller and prepping it for paint. Today the final coat of bottom paint goes on, new zincs will be installed and the propeller painted.  Rod has met many people who are here to take their boats out of dry storage and into the water.  It seems there is a large group of sailors that leave their boat in Grenada from June to Dec. and live on them here in the West Indies for the next 6 months year after year.  These boats are from all over the world.

I am taking this window of opportunity to stay in and finish the book on our first year of cruising.  With any luck it will go to print sometime next week.  I also have been taking full advantage of the free laundry to wash everything I can get off the boat. 

This room does come with a stove and fridge so last night I fried chicken, baked potatoes, made salad and homemade gravy.  It is the first fried chicken I have made in a very long time.  It was very tasty. 
We go back in the water tomorrow after lunch and will take ourselves back to Mt Hartman Bay to await weather to cross to Trinidad.  It will be great to be home.