 In
short order, Eddie prepped Jule III for the nasty job of spaying
gel coat on the cabin top. Bob had removed the port lights, hand
rails and other do-dads from the top. Buster removed the teak
strips surrounding the top so that cabin could be properly
sprayed and faired. We couldn't do much to re-install the
hardware without disturbing the tape and plastic wrap. It would
be another week before any work would start.
 Bob
had another 'great' idea. We could have the boat trucked to
Florida and then cruise to the Bahamas. Ann reminded him that he
had to work to pay for all of this work. Back to reality. Marco
was the gel coat guru. He had previously patched the hull from
the Charleston and Fernandina Beach boo-boos. It took him nearly
a week to complete the job. He suggested that the final buffing
be completed in the spring. We agreed as we were anxious to have
the boat under cover before Christmas.
 Working
at Osprey was much more difficult than at Buster's place. We
shared the bay with a Pacific Seacraft. Her hull was being
re-laminated with vinyl ester resin. The smell was unbearable. We
could not spend more than a few minutes at a time. Bob busied
himself by rebuilding the wind gernerator. We had the Fourwinds
III for nearly 5 years so it was probably due. When the smell
subsided, we would board the Jule III and re-install the
hardware. Bob's time estimates were way off. Took days longer
than he thought. Hmmm..
 Time
to leave Osprey. It was December 21st. The yard has
this really kewl trailer for moving boats up to 20 tons (Jule III
is 13 tons). As fortune (and a bit of negotiating) would have it,
the boat was placed in the same place she was 5 months
before. Steve and Pat from Alpha Rigging re-stepped the masts.
The mizzen staysail halyard was installed. Bob wants a mizzen
staysail. Ann doesn't. At least he got the halyard!
 December
22nd sees the Jule III almost ready for the cover. Bob
had to install the 2/0 AWG wire for his new windlass. Toby was
the power in our windlass last year. Bob is getting old and lazy
so he bought a LoFrans Tigres windlass. Bought new chain also as
our chain was approaching the end of its useful life. At 1930,
Bob finished putting the cover on the Jule III. Bob estimates a
week more work before she is ready to be splashed. We have three
months to complete.
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