BOAT PROJECT
May 31, 2012

Wow, last day of May 2012. How the time has passed mostly fast. I would bet Bear would argue a bit about how fast time flies when recovering from back surgery. In that department, we still have some time to go. So, here we are in Solomons, MD, a place only in our dreams 28 months ago when we left Port Aransas, Texas. Since we have chosen to stay here a while, “the list” starts to show up in my alleged mind. One has to be dutiful to the ship, ya know and the list is impressive. Since Scurv is not yet able to assist in resolution of the list items, it falls on me, the bilge coolie, to get-r-done. One item on the list is the swim deck renovation, to wit, replacing the teak inserts thereon. I failed to care for the originals to the extent that they are beyond mere maintenance. One of the benefits of owing a production boat like the 411 is that parts are easy to obtain, even for our early hull number. Since Beneteau built more or less about 1,400 of this model, even items like the specialty teak inserts are available, for a price. Most other parts, if purchased through Beneteau are less expensive than through the discount supply houses. That said, I called Beneteau thinking the inserts would be “all gone” by now. Not so. They made the set for us on order. I sort of hate to take them out of the box they are so nice. Ok, so today is the day to rip up the old and install the new. It should take no more than a few hours for each of the three. Yeah, right. I am inspired today to do this since she is in company of some really spiffy looking boats in this marina. After all, she has her standards. After this task, I still have several major items on the list such as installing a new mast light (requiring some significant weight loss on the part of the writer so I can haul my chubby butt up the mast), install a new inverter, replace the forward head, wax the hull and topsides, etc. Better get on it before it gets too hot. So much for the steaming cup of coffee in the cockpit at dawn.