After nearly 7 months we are finally floating again, it was a long slog that's for sure but these things always take longer than expected, right??? 3 months it took the yard to paint the topsides/deck and mast. It was a long time for sure, but as with paint you never seem to get it right the first time, well in this case it was, that's for sure. Whether it's a run, overspray, dirty fingers and of course the weather but one thing is for sure Sunflower is well protected with all the paint on her! We are very happy with the end result that finally arose anyway. While they were painting it wasn't all sitting around for us either, we were flat out stripping the mast, polishing all mast and deck fittings, re bedding all fittings and windows, sorting out toe rail the list goes on. Also inside we took out the mast compression post, strengthened its base, new wood and more support for it to sit on, while we were there may as well paint the bilge, take the water tanks out, paint the floorboards oh and while the windows are out paint the ceiling the list just goes on.
The day after the 3rd and final attempt of the topsides getting painted and we were all happy I got a call from work and we had to pack up and head out the next day, perfect timing but a mad rush all the same. Julie went home to Argentina and I flew to Perth and then went to sea for 6 weeks which was a great cash injection as we had certainly been chewing it up.
The bottom was sandblasted as soon as we were hauled so when we returned after nearly 6 months sitting she was definitely dry and good to go. Sandblasting left a pretty rough surface so we got a couple of guys to sand it back a bit (very itchy job!) and then we finished the rest. Big process, doing little sections at a time, like 3sq metres. First a coat of West System epoxy resin to the taped off area, let it go tacky (about half an hour) then mix epoxy resin with a filler called colloidal silica till it's like peanut butter and then trowel it on filling the holes, then a second and sometimes 3rd go all going on wet on tacky. When you have a couple of areas going on at once you can't really stop all day, especially in the heat of the day it all dries faster and your running around like a madman covered in epoxy, not much fun at all and hats off to Julie who was a star. The end result is a super strong finish that protects the fibreglass really well. The thing that's not good though is how hard it is to sand! So we got the yard guys back for a couple of days to sand and fair that back and then we carried on bogging some more to places that needed it and then more sanding and more bogging, could go on forever really but we got it pretty good. Once finished they lifted us and moved chocking under the keel and we did that and then 4 coats of Interprotect went on. Interprotect is an epoxy paint with some additive that protects water ingress that happens over time and gets into the fibreglass and causes osmosis. Once that has dried a week and all the solvents are cured it was time for Coppercoat, Coppercoat is another type of water based epoxy that you get in a 1 litre kit plus 2kg of copper powder. You mix this kit together and roll it on doing 5 coats in 6 hours with 3 of us working flat out. Once it's dried after about 3 days you then sand it and you basically have a supper hard, smooth copper bottom that lasts for 10 years all going well. It's more expensive than traditional antifouling paint but pays for itself after a few years of not having to haul out and pay all those bills once again. You can dive on the bottom and scrub without losing all your expensive paint!
The downside of this is it's waterbased and takes so long to dry, any rain for the first 24hours and you will have big runs that will eat right through. Guatemala is anything but dry, one of the wettest countries on the planet and we are trying to do this mid wet season! We waited and waited for what looked like might be a dry night on the forecasts but it didn't happen so we built a waterproof tent and went for it. We said if it looks good in the morning let's go for it. No rain the night before and clear sky's we had the first coat on before 8am, then just before lunch the clouds rolled in and the sky's opened up 30knts of wind and lightning and thunder to boot, worst bloody day we have had, you just never know here funny things happen in just half an hour with all these mountains around. Anyway our tent held up well and we were fine, just the blood pressure well high.
Another high blood pressure moment was putting back the mast, not a great feeling but that all went well. Then a night later we had a LOT of rain and wind and we had a BIG leak inside from the mast support. I nearly cried, gut wrenching on the brink of throwing up. We had put shitloads of silicone, how did we miss that spot??! Drove me mad, re siliconed the bolts and then I saw a bit of sand out a drain hole. They sandblasted the mast, you idiot it's just full of sand! I thought we had got it all out but obviously not. So we drilled the drain holes out a little larger and then with the hose just kept flushing inside the mast out for a couple of hours and then waiting nervously for the rain. We were good, not a drop, those visions of taking the mast back off and putting a tiny dob of silicone on were gone:)
Another big job has been installing the watermaker, same old story may as well paint the back hatch then that leads to something else and the list goes on.... Anyway that is finished and seems to be working although it is hard to say for sure as we are in fresh water here but I think it's good.
So it's been a long slog for sure but now we are good to go to the Pacific and "hopefully" our maintenance bills are not so big for the next few years.
We will stay in Guatemala until probably November and then sail on to Panama or Colombia once the weather is good, that's the plan anyway.
Just like to say Julie you are a star, thanks for all your effort and patience!!xxx
