S.V.Wildflower: March 2009

Mar 18, 2009

End of Hard Work in Guaymas

Has it been half a month already? The past 2.5 weeks have been filled with work - cleaning, prepping for paint, painting, then more cleaning.

Doesn't this look like fun?

Finn power washes the hull in preparation for new paint.

All the new steel gets 2 coats of yellow zinc stromate epoxy.

Next, two coats of anti-corrosion barrier paint for steel.

Cochetti comes to inspect our painting of his welded steel!

The white is a high-build barrier epoxy primer.
We used the same paint inside the boat.
First, we repeatedly syringed paint into about 2 dozen holes
to block water from getting in between the old and new steel.
Then, we applied a coat to all exposed steel throughout the interior.

Finally, the new steel received the good stuff -
(and the most toxic!) - copper-based anti-fouling paint.

There's still more painting! In preparation, Stephan and I power wash
and scrub the rest of the bottom of the hull for one more coat
of the good stuff. We are filthy!

The bottom is done!!! The final coat is dark blue

copper-based anti-fouling paint.

Can you see the welds? Good, neither can we!

She is finally ready to go in the water.
A giant sling picks her up off her stands,

last minute paint is applied and transport begins.

This is a scary moment for any boat owner.

The Travel Lift

The Ways

After careful driving, Wildflower is positioned in the ways!

She is in the water! Will the engine start?

Will we make it through the shallow, narrow channel?

Did the Captain remember to plug the remaining hole?

Yes, Yes and Yes!

Wildflower pulls safely away -

happy again in the water!

We say good-bye to our yard-mates, Ted and Richard.

Thanks for all your help, advise and humour!

A well-earned day off! The boys get hair cuts.

They all approve of their new looks and

the barber takes a sigh of relief!

Where's her margarita?

Finn and Millie have learned to play together, tug o' war and hide 'n seek.

They are evenly matched!

Finn and his new "abuela", our angelic landlady, Tina!

Thanks for renting your beautiful space to us.

The scorpion Mom caught on the bathroom wall - yikes!

We are at a dock with a gutted boat to clean and put back together.

Copious amounts of soap and water make a dent on the yard

dust and grime. Mom stocks the boat and feathers the nest inside;

Dad prepares the boat for sea. It is good to be home again!

This is what six weeks in the yard has done to my husband!

Wildflower is ready for cast off....

AND SO ARE WE!!!

We are headed south about 530 nautical miles to Bandaras Bay!

There are fish to catch, warmer waters to dive in, waiting surf,

friends to see and rest to be had! More in a few weeks!

Mar 1, 2009

Progress in Guaymas

It has been a couple of weeks since we have been able to keep you updated and a lot has happened! My 35th birthday brought me dinner out with my boys, a cake from Tina (our landlady) and a hand-made bracelet from my new friend and neighbor, Helen. Stephan arrived about ten days ago and will be joining us for the rest of our time in Mexico.

In Mexico, you place your wedding ring around a candle before you make a wish!

Stephan is 19 years old and 6'7"!

Mostly, the last few weeks have been about WORK! Joe has spent quality time with his mega grinder, cutting out the holes in the transom, trimming the plates for the keel, and preparing 40 feet in patches to double weak steel in other parts of the hull. I learned how to use a wire wheel to grind through bottom paint to get to bare steel for the welds. Our welder, Conchetti, has spent 60 hours tacking, fitting and then welding on all the new steel. We completely used up a 20x6 ft sheet of 3/16in steel and 20 kilos of welding rods. Conchetti was exact and thorough, a master welder, who outworked all of us on any given day.

Trimming a plate

Grinding the hole in the transom

The Hole!

The full face mask

Cochetti on the ground welding on the bottom of the keel.

Our neighbor and fellow steel boater, Richard, has been invaluable in letting us use his welding machine, as well as sharing materials and work space.

Since the welds have been completed, Joe and Stephan have spent too many hours grinding down the welds and preparing the steel for paint. The inside of the boat has needed lots of work as well. The welding on the outside stripped epoxy barrier paint on the inside. The yard was treated to the sound of repetitive banging on steel for many days as Joe pounded out burnt paint and years of accumulated rust. I have spent time pounding and scraping to get to clean steel throughout the interior in preparation for a holding coat of paint. Finn has been a big help doing the glamorous jobs of vacuuming and picking up trash, including spent welding rods! The good news is that we are over the hump! Next is painting and then we can splash the boat!

The Boys!

We won't sink!

The welding is done!

Nice tan, huh? But look at the Teva lines. That's my real color. The rest is from one day in the yard!

Finn and I have also been working at home. My oboe reed orders are high so I am preparing a big batch to mail to the States. Finn has been learning pre-algebra (Do YOU remember the Communtative Property of Addition?), reading Robinson Crusoe, studying the Ancient Egyptians and learning about cells in school. He has also been collecting pets: hermit crabs, a locust, a cricket and a baby coral snake. The crabs died and the rest have since been released but we have enjoyed examining them. Guaymas has a five day Carnaval right before Lent, complete with a parade (floats, a band and dancers), loud music, treats, trinkets and festival rides. We took a break on Fat Tuesday to enjoy the sights and sounds.