First of all, the muscles used in sailing and $working in front of a computer aren't the same ones used in sanding and grinding. My arms and shoulders are good and sore, I've been sleeping like a baby.
Heather's gotten a workout also running up and down the 15' ladder to gopher supplies, tools, lunch, laundry, etc.
Everything is coming along nicely. The Thermo Cure barrier that was done in Australia by John and Aleta seems to have done its job and assured that no blisters get through to the hull. We have a good number in the bottom paint layer but they sand off pretty easily. So technology apparently worked and is saving us a good bit of headache...still there are a good number (over 100) to sand/grind out. Speaking of the sander...
We've become well acquainted over the last 2 days. It's been upper 70's and low 80's, prefect weather...Heather has been plenty comfortable in shorts and t-shirt. I, on the other hand, am ensconsed in shorts & T with long pants and long sleeve shirt over top, full face respirator, and head covering. I keep the shorts & T on so I can slip the overclothes on and off if I need to come inside or take a break... But it gets mighty hot working for hours on end under the full-face respirator... I also found out that I don't have bad breath...I guess you'd find out real quick (and fit it, I assume) so maybe people in boatyards have better dental hygiene...
I am amazed how many people sand and grind this highly toxic paint with no protection or a flimsy mask. Ablative paint (wears off slowly as we move so that things don't grow well on the bottom) is nasty stuff, it clogs the sanding discs, and is a very fine powder when it comes off. The only thing I can't cover is my ears and they get wicked dirty. I look like a mutant Smurf by the days end.
We're getting used to not being in motion constantly. My worst time is the middle of the night when I wake up. Heather's is more random but the wind gives her the illusion of movement.
After 2 days of sanding...tomorrow we fill all of our blemishes on the hull first then below the waterline, spray paint the hull lightly black so the next day we can sand lightly...then on to the painiting. I still have to repair the holding tank for the head, re-mark our chain so we can see when we're anchoring...so no lack of things to do. Multiple repairs in the dinghy and not to mention the headstay/teak on the bowsprit...I don't even wanna think of that...
I've been getting up at 5am to $work so by 8 we can be out making good time of paying to be here...then dinner, put in dvd for Heather or send her to Happy Hour up on the porch while I get more $work done. I'm really proud of us, we've gotten a great deal of work done in a short time...and for rank amateurs I think we've done a grand job. So do others, we've gotten several compliments for thorough work. We want HP to look like new. Time for food.
ttfn | 