Cetus is on the hard!
09 August 2020 | Marina Seca Puerto Escondido
like a fish out of water.........
Our Phase 2 of the Big Boat Bottom Job officially began on July 31st when they lifted Cetus out of the water and placed her in the boat yard at Marina Puerto Escondido.
This phase of the project is where the workers strip the old paint off the bottom first with a heavy duty paint remover and then by sanding. This will open up the blisters and prepare the surface for new paint.
They've been working hard every day and we're hoping they will be through with this phase by the end of this week.
In the meantime we are getting as much done as we can on the boat. Terry has already completed many projects: greasing thru hulls, sanding and repainting the prop and other important mechanical maintenance chores.
I am moving right along on getting all the closets, cupboards, drawers and shelves cleaned out, organized and inventoried. I've completed the V-Berth and am over halfway through the main salon on my stem to stern cleaning and purging venture.
Once the guys are done with the sanding of the hull it needs to simply sit and let the little blisters dry out for several weeks before they can move to Phase 3 which is to repair the blisters (fill with epoxy) and then paint the bottom, first with a new barrier coat and then new anti-fowling paint.
During the drying period (approximately 6 weeks) Terry and I will continue on with the other projects on our list including putting a fresh coat of Kiwi Grip on the non-skid decks, some exterior painting in the cockpit and rub-rail, waxing the hull and sanding and refinishing some inside teak. I also have several sewing projects that I will be able to work on in the little apartment: making new cushion covers and two new wind scoops.
We feel very fortunate we were able to get this comfortable living space so close to the boatyard so we can go back and forth easily maximizing our time for working on the projects as well as keeping an eye on the progress the workers are making.
Since we left our dinghy in the water it isn't all work and no play for the Cetus Crew and we got out for a nice snorkel just outside the harbor yesterday! And Hotel Tripui has a beautiful pool that we've been able to enjoy in the evenings.
So far the COVID situation is staying pretty stable here, too. There are more on the recovered list (146) with only 51 active cases and just 3 deaths reported. This could change as more tourist activities open up bringing visitors from the US and Mainland Mexico, which both are hotspots. But where we are it is pretty easy to avoid crowds and we will continue to practice distancing and disinfecting as well as wearing our masks so we still feel we are in a very safe place.
And we have also been lucky so far on the summer storm front. Very little Chubasco activity in the Sea and not much tropical storm/hurricane activity down south yet.
So we will keep on keeping on plugging away on projects and enjoying life and staying safe and sane and hope you all can do the same.