What a Way to Start a Vacation!

Before launching from Power Boats Boat Yard and moving to Crews Inn for a “vacation” we took a tour with Jesse James and four other cruising couples to the Pitch Lake in southern Trinidad. There are only two other places like this: one in Venezuela and the other in Los Angeles. The one here is the only one mined commercially for pitch and asphalt. It may not seem like a great tourist spot but it is an interesting place and worth the trip. And yes, we did walk in and on the lake and you could actual swim in it but we didn’t. No, it didn’t smell like tar nor did you get stuck in it if you watched your step. For some reason I kept thinking of Br’er Rabbit. However, standing in one place for a short while left an impression of your foot in the asphalt ground. Jesse also took us to the Hindu Temple on the Sea and a Hindu school and events center. Were we in Trinidad or India? As always, Jesse’s tours and commentary while exploring Trinidad are well worth it.

Friday, October 18 was Splash Day. It is always those last minute tasks that need completing before the boat hits the water for the new voyage that creeps up on you. “Hit” is the operative word which you will read about below.

Kalunamoo had been on the hard since May 1, a long time; 4 ½ months to be exact. It has to be remembered that boat parts continually deteriorate regardless of their being actively used on the water or laying dormant in a boat yard. I think, it is a fallacy, to believe that a boat in storage will emerge in the same condition it was when it was laid up. It seems more things break when not used “in storage” than when actually being used. Therefore, it is with a certain amount of trepidation on the day of relaunching in seeing which boat part falls apart, doesn’t work, or falls overboard.

With the shrink wrap removed from the boat, we were able to lower the dinghy and get the dinghy chaps back from Sean at Superb Canvas. They needed some repair and a bag for the security chain. Also, with the shrink wrap off, it was time to see if the new hatch gaskets were water tight. They were. But other drips were found including a major leak by the power cord plugs. Not all were fixed but they don’t call these boats “Leak Teaky” for nothing. As I always say, all bleeding stops, eventually. So to, all leaks stop when the rain stops.

A week before launching, the bow thruster zinc was being replaced. Not a big deal until one of the two tiny metric flat head Allen screws dropped 4 feet onto the gravel and disappeared. Two days of searching for the 6mm long screw was to no avail. It may have gone to the center of the earth for all I knew. Just because the boat is on land does not mean when things go overboard they can be found. There must be a law that states “All things passing over the toe rail shall hence force be ceded to King Neptune for Eternity”.

Fortunately, there is a well-stocked marine hardware shop close by that had the little buggers. With quick dispatch I bought a few, King Neptune may never get them all. Upon tightening the missing screw the zinc split in half. I could almost hear King Neptune’s roaring laugh as I pondered the reality of the situation. The situation is that the Vetus zinc, made in Europe, is not an off the shelf item here. No zinc, no bow thruster. No bow thruster, more difficult to dock. Long story, short (too late?). Our cruising friend, Kevin, just happened to be in Florida and would return the night before the boat launch and could bring two down for me. First thing in the morning I mounted the zinc (after modifications) and we were good to go.

We do get the engine running a day or two before launch. This avoids the embarrassment of the dock workers standing around as you and the boat are in the slings afloat, in the well, ready to depart but either engine or batteries are dead. This never happened to us. A gushing packing gland is a story for another time.

The last touch up of the bottom paint, where the keel was blocked off was brushed on as the marina crew lifted the boat in the travel lift. It was then off to the well and into the water. All was good, the engine started, no gushing water by the shaft seal, we were safely afloat again. As we powered out of the well, we waved and thanked the dock crew and did a short run out into the bay and then returned and headed for the fuel dock. I wanted to top off the diesel tanks, get gas for the dinghy.

The new fuel dock at Power Boats was rebuilt recently. It is a very sturdy, cement deck, steel framed affair. Unfortunately, it does not (as of now) have much of a fender system. Especially at the corners. And that is where Kalunamoo met the dock. As the saying goes, “It doesn’t matter if the water pitcher fell to the floor or the floor hit the pitcher, it is never ends well for the water pitcher”.

A cross current, a light wind, and perhaps a misjudgment, but in any case, the concrete corner of the fuel dock penetrated the hull two feet above the water line. The boat is heavily built but it is also very heavy. We could have returned to Power Boats and be hauled for repairs or continue to Crews Inn for our “vacation”. After discussing with Ali, the contractor who does most of our hull repairs, we brought the boat To Crews Inn. Ali was willing to repair the hull in the water. First thing Monday, Ali came down to the boat and Quincy came aboard and went to work grinding the inside of the hull. After that, he glassed the inside and ground the outside. It actually was not a big hole, only about 8×10 inches of damage. The hole was inside the chain locker so no inside woodwork was touched. More glass and filler on the outside. Then fairing and finally priming and painting.

In two days, the job was complete. We agreed before starting to use the “off white” deck paint we had on board. It is slightly different than the hull color of “fleet white” but it will do for now. Next year in Trinidad a better match with blending and buffing will be done along with the other dings and scratches that we will accumulate. Even so, the final job looks good.

For the next week or so, we will get Kalunamoo back in cruising shape, provision and watch for a weather window to head up island. We should make Antigua by the second week of November barring any tropical storm developments. That season is winding down but November or December storms are not unheard of.  Until then, we are on vacation.