Marina work yard
11 December 2013 | Shelter Bay
Randy
I’m back in Panama again. I like to fly here on Copa Air because the flight leaves Toronto at 8:30 Am, not too early, and gets into Panama at 2:30. As the flight is nonstop my luggage has made it here too. I have time to get to the hotel, buy a box of beer and relax by the roof top pool before supper. I could fly for fifty dollars less, spend twice as long, dash, or wait to transfer planes and arrive late without my luggage. But why?
When I’m in Panama City I stay at the Costa Inn, not just for the rooftop pool but because it is in a district with lots on local flair. At night there is about a five block section forward of the hotel that is safe if you keep your eyes open. I like to wander the streets with the locals after dark and stop at the various stands selling food. Barbeque chicken, empanadas, burgers, and a ball of diced potato mixed with chicken and fried, I think they call a roalla. It’s the size of a large meatball and very filling. There are several cafeteria style restaurants as well. As with the stands I follow local knowledge and chose the cleanest one that I had seen busy.
At Shelter Bay Marina NIRVANA NOW has been moved to the work area for me. Luckily the bow is into the wind the wind to allow it to blow through. I am between SEA CYCLE and LIONS PAW, ISLAND DREAMS is across the yard, ACKA, ELESIUM and GYMOPOLIE are in the water. Full table at happy hour with old friends and new.
It is light at 6:00 and the Marina stats to get busy. Workers arrive and the boaters start getting their projects organized. I am a morning person with lots to organize so the early start works well for me. I have replaced the sail drive unit on the back of the engine and changed the 16” fixed 3 blade propeller for a new 18” three blade folding propeller which I hope will give me a little more push motoring and a little more speed under sail.
An insurance surveyor is coming to evaluate NIRVANA NOW so I have installed the new stove Dawn wanted. It cooks faster and looks better than the old one. I varnished the galley area around the sink and installed the new cockpit table that our friend Brad made for us. Looks great!
I am painting above the water line this year and have wet sanded with 100 grit paper by hand and faired the hull, filling in the scrapes we got when a boat dragged down on us one windy night in the Bahamas. Now I can start the final wet sanding by hand with 240 grit paper. With days of hand sanding the shoulder I dislocated in the spring kite skiing complained at first, and the bones in my thumb I crushed started to poke through the skin the first day. I’m wearing gloves now and am doing well.