Spring Commissioning

Finally, during the past few weeks I could feel that spring is getting here and summer isn't too far behind.  In addition to the night table reading stack from back in the Fall, I added the latest ASA book... this one for ASA 104.  Someday I might actually take that course, but since it's aimed to teach me how to take care of a boat that I've been taking care of for the past year... I figured it might be a good reference to have, but for now we'll learn by doing.

Reading aside, getting the boat ready seems to be the reverse process of winterizing it.  Jim, our friend from Marine Engine Service, came by to do the mechanical commissioning.  This included changing some fuel filters, connecting the batteries, checking out the system and running the engine up to temperature.  

After Jim was finished, the guys from Hans Pedersen & Sons took over and did the bottom painting and cleaned and waxed the hull.  The area below the waterline (blue below) is painted with a special coating that's toxic to barnacles and other marine life.  This helps keep the bottom clean (Diver Dan - yes, that's his name), also helps in this regard (coming and cleaning the bottom each month while it's in the water).  Keeping the bottom clean allows us to sail faster.



(Notice the great job they did removing the rust stains from the Keyport lettering!)



Jim had left me one job of removing a cover on the shaft intake and cleaning out all the marine life living in there.  I took care of that and then my remaining chores during this time were to work on making the insides presentable.  I also put up the blue canvas covers and finally, updated the electronics to current software versions.  I still need to install up to date maps, but I can do that once Seas The Day is in the water.





John came by and we loaded up some items we were storing in our condo for the winter.  The biggest of these was the new spinnaker sail (which takes up most of the cockpit locker).  Despite the ladder, it's much easier load and store things while the ship isn't moving around too much.

Finally the boatyard seems to have some devices to keep the birds at bay.  We remembered that Seas The Day was a target of the birds when first brought to Keyport.  We need a bird solution for this year.  A few of the guys from KYC suggested simple colorful pennants loosely tied so they flap around in an unpredictable way... supposedly the birds don't like it.  Since these were only $20 at West Marine, and the $100 anti-bird solutions is still lying at the bottom of the bay (after the first storm it encountered),

So there she is... one year old and looking good.  Seas The Day is scheduled to be put in the water this coming week.  Hopefully, I've done my parts correctly and she doesn't sink when the travel lift lowers her in.