Back on the Water! Grenada, West Indies

 Cat Tales was successfully launched in Grenada on Monday, November 24.  We had intended to go in on Friday, but we obviously were not ready.  We took the weekend to properly prepare, and while we were at it, we renewed the two front engine mounts for each engine.  It was actually a difficult weekend, but we tidied it up before lunch on Sunday, and after another meal at One Love we became the guests of Hugh and Maria of MV White Pearl.  They had their own problems getting their boat ready to splash, and had moved to Park View Apartments.  There, we had a lovely cool-down in their pool, a couple of pre-dinner drinks and a fantastic chicken dinner, complete with potatoes, carrots, peas, and gravy and yes, even cranberry sauce!  If you have read about Maria hosting us in past years, you already know she’s a respected cook amongst our little crowd down here.

A crowd of tired boatyard working friends enjoying happy hour at One Love.  Nothing like 2 for 1 rum punches after a hard day’s work!

Once in the water, we found a lovely anchoring spot, and started to knock off the chores.  We have a potential buyer, but we’re still working through the chores in a responsible manner.  If the buyer changes his mind, we’ll be ready to sail!

We had another walk to the Container Park near the University, this time just Dawn and me, and this time for Shawarma Wraps in air-conditioned comfort.  Very tasty.  We had already eaten a full Shawarma meal there, and gone for the “Buddha Bowls” as well.  The attendance at the West Indies Brewery has been done also, once again with Richard and Heather of SV Sea Pearl of Lunenburg.  It was the night of the American Thanksgiving, but we turned down the big meal as it would have left little room for the ales.

Speaking of the boat selling process, the prospective owner has hired a surveyor to do both an out of water survey and a sea trial.  Both are behind us, and with some work, we believe we satisfied the surveyor.  Indeed, we had the boat going over 6 knots with a third reef in 14 knots of wind at 60 degrees, and we hit 6.5 knots with no sails and only one engine running.  No mechanical or electronic issues, and the engines seemed happy with the new motor mounts.

Yesterday, we attended our first Grenada Hash in years.  Called “Drinkers with a running problem”, it is modelled after the Hash House Harriers, a group of British servicemen who organized running through jungle trails of Burma (I think) to get exercise and relieve boredom.  We did a 3.5 mile walking trail that included a difficult hill and a bit of mud, and took us an hour and 45 minutes of brisk walking, sweating, and chatting.  The afterwards food and drink were well enjoyed, and we saw some good friends. 

Scenery along the hike!

Susan from sv Erie Spirit involved in the ‘long walk’

Walking, walking and more walking…towards BBQ chicken and icy cold beer!

We’ll continue just living on the boat for a while, likely staying in Prickly Bay, until the ownership of the boat is worked out.  Books, socializing, eating in and out, chores, and maybe too much social media seem to be what we’re about.  The days on the boat in the bay are pleasant as ever.

TECHNICAL

Much of what the boat needed got done on the hard:  sails bent on, lines sorted, engines and bilges cleaned, props back on, new motor mounts, saildrive baffles, bottom paint, washing and waxing, new anodes, Bimini and solar setup, dinghy and outboard maintenance etc.  The new motor mounts were a surprise, but with the extra time, it seemed like the right thing to do.  Also a surprise was the need for need for two new start batteries.  The existing ones looked good, and seemed to hold the charge from the solar and wind.  However, once the power sources were removed, the voltage slowly, gently, dropped to below 12.6 Volts.

We are working through the last bits of cleaning and polishing - mostly because we spent time too close to other sanding and grinding operations in the yard.  Dawn had some sorting of foodstuffs, and two trips for provisions, and I am working through the proper cleaning and oiling of all the tools.  One mistake and a pile of rust will lay where my favourite spanner was set down.

Typical chore before lunch!

A good wipe-down of each piece with penetrating oil will keep it in good shape

Old mounts

New, shiny and stiff motor mounts!  If you think this was a simple task, just ask Dawn, as she was half of the team moving the engine sideways and lifting it to get out the old and install the new.

Another surprise repair was the outboard.  Although only purchased in 2019 and always kept in good condition, a little plastic arm broke off the shifting gear shaft, and we had to source and replace it.  The first replacement we found was actually used, and was cracked in the same place the other failed, so we got a second one just in case.  More importantly, the tradesman provided some guidance to ensure I could make the repair.  We found Matt from “Essential” by asking on the morning net for help with our engine.  The net controller quickly gave us Matt’s WhatApp phone number and we were in business!  Three hurrahs for Matt and three more for morning nets on the VHF.

Next on our list is a trip to Island Water World to pick up a new ‘Quick’ remote for the windlass.  The UP button works fine, but the DOWN button is showing some hesitation.

The broken piece and the replacement part which is on the left we got from Matt

A wee bit of swearing going on, but what else is new?  The engine runs like a charm again!!

 

Readying Cat Tales for a New Season in the Sun, presently in Grenada

Dawn and I had another normal summer in New Brunswick:  playing pool, book club, home repairs and renovations, a little camping, a little sailing, and some visitations.  Two couples who visited you would know from our past weblogs: Dawn’s sister Lorna and brother-in-law Brian from s/v Peace & Plenty, and Cindy and Dan from s/v Sittatunga.  We also hosted my brother Paul and his wife Alida, and grand-niece Emilie.  All visits were great fun.  We also suffered the death of a family member after some illness.  That has been sad and took not just a little time out of our summer.

We were able to get Dan and Cindy (s/v Sittatunga) out on our Hobie 21 while they were visiting us.

Lorna and Brian and Laurie, on a visit to The Hopewell Rocks, which didn’t disappoint!

Laurie’s sister Lolly and her cat Mister.  When Lolly died this summer, we have her kitty and he’s as cute as he looks! While we’re away, Mister is  being looked after by Lolly’s  dear friend, Marilyn who lives in her building.  Lolly will be missed for sure!  She was the funniest gal who always had everyone laughing!  Some would say she was into ‘shock humour’!

However, since November 9th, we have been back into the apartments at Cool Running, just across the street from the Spice Island Boatyard, southern Grenada where Cat Tales has been stored for the summer, hurricane season.  Much of the work is usual for each year, but the big project this year is the replacement of baffles for both saildrives.  We budgeted 3 extra days for it, but it is sucking up a lot of our time.  Still, there is a better than average chance that we will meet our scheduled launch on Friday.

Still, we are enjoying our evenings at One Love Restaurant and at the Container Park bars and restaurants near the university, all with Richard and Heather of s/v Sea Pearl of Lunenburg, and the more recently arrived Hugh and Maria of m/v White Pearl of Saint John, NB.  As well, wherever we go and whatever we do, we meet up with old friends among the boaters, workers, and service providers.  With the air conditioned apartment we seem to be able to manage the heat rather well.  Dawn has overdone it and is going to nurse her back this afternoon while putting up the weblog.  Likely she will be passing tools for me too.

TECHNICAL

Dawn has 90 % of the boat cleaned and waxed, I applied two coats of bottom paint (which was normally applied by us in the spring), and one saildrive completed but for some touch-ups.  The interior cleaning is continuing, as are many of the little checks and chores on the relaunch list and the problems found during the haul-out list.

Dawn doing her usual “Wax On, Wax Off”!!

Just look at that shine!  Bottom paint applied and a lovely sharp waterline!  Oo, la, la!

Laurie cleaning up the roller and pans from the bottom painting and then we’ll put that equipment to bed! 

Just so you know, to remove a saildrive takes 30 bolts, one clevis pin, and a few hose clamps.  Dawn cleaned each of these bolts and they are shining!  The engine has to be unbolted from the floor and slid forward to allow the saildrive to come out.  Then 8 more allen-key bolts also have to be removed.  At that point, you have to be ready, if it is an older saildrive, for serious cleaning, scraping and sanding, then coatings of Ospho, zinc phosphate primer or zinc chromate primer, outboard paint, and finally some aluminum-friendly ablative bottom paint.  Time between coatings is the big issue, but as already mentioned there are many other chores to do.  Right now, I can put on one of the folding propellers.  The props had been soaked in vinegar last April and were tucked away completely clean.

Bolts and washers for the port saildrive are looking rather pretty after a vinegar soak and soap scrub down, but Dawn’s fingernails, not so much!

This is the first saildrive (starboard side) and is undergoing reassembly after all parts and pieces were cleaned and painted and necessary parts replaced.

34 degrees and a shirt he can wring out!  This is the second of the two saildrives to be removed and serviced.