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We’re Floating

Posted on: October 27, 2009

Always a stressful day, to see your 35 tonne home lifted 15 feet into the air and then dropped into the water.  And that is only the beginning, what if it doesn’t float? Or what about the mechanical systems? Both engines working are a big plus. What about the generators? They are pretty important. What about the watermaker? Potable water can be an asset when working in 100 degree weather.  Running through the  list….   Floating- check.   Port engine – check.   Starboard engine – ah, one sec… no.  Watermaker – um, no.  Yes Dear had Ian back to work immediately, stressing and mucking about with batteries, multi-meters, wrenches and grease.   There are always little problems when a boat has been left for any period of time.  You know its coming and all you can do is cross your fingers hoping that it is not too bad.  Yes Dear wasn’t too bad, just bad enough to remind us that we were back to work — on a boat.

Although we have hurircanized boats 2 times and winterized boats several times in Canada this was the first time we had unpacked a boat that has been sitting on the hard in 100 degree plus weather for 2 months. I was sooooo worried about mildew. I had visions of black from floor to headliner, but I guess the countless hours in August of water and vinegar and Lysol paid off. She’s pretty darn perfect after her hot lay-up. There is likely less to do than I think.

Our back-to-Yes Dear suitcases contained not only our personal items for 10 months, but lots of new toys for the galley.  A whole new set of Calphalon pots and pans. (Um, those were heavy!) A set of dishes which were held up at TSA in the States as I think the 20 pound cardboard box wrapped in all of our clothing seemed a little suspicious.  Shot glasses, utensils, cake plate and so on.  We had hoped to ship this $1000 bag of tricks to the BVI but found it would cost an additional $1000 to do so. The only solution was to mule it here ourselves.

My mom — the third mule —  arrived a few days ago.   She ran into the same issue when she attempted to ship the 12 original oil paintings she had done of the BVI for the cabins and hallways. The best solution? -A holiday for Mom. So today is the unveiling. Ian and I spent quite a lot of time squinting, standing back, tilting our heads and providing our “expert opinions” on the art while we were home, however we have not seen the paintings since they were about 90% done. Today, with trips to North Sound, The Baths and Jost Van Dyke and sunburns out of our systems, these three mules have to get down to some hard core work.  Ian has been busy, but my mom and I truly have been vacationing (aside from some work being done in the test kitchen each night). I cannot wait to see the cabins all done up with their new bedding and art.

Yes Dear is almost ship-shape, we are anchored comfortably in Brewer’s Bay wrapping up loose ends, doing deep cleaning and polishing.  Tilting our heads at my mother’s artwork,  deciding which piece looks best with which bedding etc…

Oh.  Ian just told my mom and I that we are late for work (it’s 8:30am) and that he might fire us,  so I suppose I had best sign off and get to work before ‘The Admiral’ makes us walk the plank.