So fresh and so clean~

We spent most of yesterday getting dirty. And it wasn't fun. (Re)found a leak that required us to pull up the floor boards in the galley. But, before Hubs could fix it, I needed to pump out the bilges and clean up the mess). SO MUCH FUN! :-/

So, while Hubs took Coco to fill water jugs and run around for awhile (it has been super cold and rainy) I addressed the prep of fixing the leak. Then I waited for them to get back.... and waited, and waited... When I realized that it was going to be awhile before I got my galley back I decided to do something productive~ clean the head. (I know you are so jealous of this boat life... you are totally missing out I tell you...) After cleaning the head I was on a roll. Finished up the laundry, wiped down the walls and floors, and then they finally pulled up.

I was feeling really, really gross. But with no hot water and it being so cold~ how that was going to get accomplished was the problem.

Hubs had the great idea to mix kettle steamed water with cold water and viola HOT SHOWER!

There is nothing like a hot shower after doing grimy boat work. Especially when you didn't expect to get said hot shower.

Clean boat, clean me. Feeling like a brand new person!

Mast Drama

It's really awesome doing boat work when your back is busted.  But slave away I did.  Because I wanted to, but also because I really needed to.  Stuff needed to get done.  The only way that was going to happen is if we did it... so commence to the never-ending bending and lifting that is rebuilding a boat. 
We sanded and painted, painted and sanded and got Airabess all nice and shiny... at least on the hulls.  The topside is coming, or so I'm told.

Honestly, it was really hard, but kind of empowering.  I did stuff and used tools that I never thought I wanted to.  Team work at it's finest.  Hubs was mostly patient with me and it felt good to help.

Then it was time to raise the mast.  I had every intention of just staying out of the way.  I really had hurt my back.  So, I was just there for moral support....

But... then it kind of got a little crazy, and he needed help.  Thanks again adrenaline for kicking in.

And this is what I walked into...

I know you're jealous.  This boat owning thing is awesome. 
Then, for icing on the cake.  I got to run back down the rusty ladder and grab the furling and hold it for, oh, almost forever.  Hubs ran around securing the rigging all the while telling me to hold tight, as I was what was holding the mast up.  I'm still not sure if this is true... I know so much about sailing and all, needless to say  I did exactly what he said.  I am pretty dexterous though and managed to take some pics with my phone.  And, yes, Hubs was all, "Put the the phone away."  That was until later when he was grateful I documented our idiocy.

And, holy shit!  We did it.  We really did it.  It was totally stressful and painful and trying.  But we did it~ in less than an hour.  Because, well, then we would have had to fork over another $300.  I mean it- teamwork at its finest.  

I could also tell you all about the jackass crane operator. But, it doesn't matter.  Because the mast was up and that's all that mattered. 

I will never forget the relief and satisfaction we both felt when it was done.  We had worked really hard, but it was really our first test of ability... and I think we passed.  Long time cruisers might not think so ... I really don't care.  Hubs and I did it.  Together.  And that is what this whole thing is about.  Us, together, making shit happen.

By the way....

It was bothering Hubs that I wasn't posting our timeline in the correct order.  So, here's the disclaimer:

It's not all in the right order.  I'm trying, but it's still our story, in my words and pictures.


That is all.

There, I did it.

I was so excited to have my own project on Airabess.  So excited... and then I threw my back out, like slipped disc threw it out.
But damn it, I WAS going to do something on that boat if it killed me.  So, I put a heating pad on (still hot, still Summer), took something for the pain, and headed down there. 

I laid out my tarps and did another wipe down with acetone (the rest of the prep work was already done).  I got out the paint and mixed it up according to the instructions.  I set up my work station and got to work.  The port side went great.  It was early still so even though I was in the sun it wasn't THAT hot~ YET.  As I was working  I kept stirring the paint... per the instructions, but it started getting gloopy and sticky and it was hard to work with.  But.. I finished the outside of the hull and was making my way down the inside.... and bam face to face with a freaking black widow. AGAIN.  Seriously. 

I thought we had taken care of those stupid things.  Apparently not.  I must have missed it when I did my last wipe down, what with all of my enthusiasm to get started (you may insert eye roll here). 

I really didn't want to call Hubs.  I really wanted to do it myself.  So I took the drill to it and it felt so good. 

I tried finishing up the bottom, but found 2 more freaking spiders and the paint had turned to cement. And my meds wore off.  So, I broke down and called him. 
Ugh!  Why, oh why could it not have gone the way it was supposed to:

 

Hubs: Wow, love, you did a fantastic job.  It looks awesome!

Me:  Aw, thanks babe.  It was no big deal.  Piece of cake.  What's next?

Instead it was more like this...

Hubs: Uh, what happened?  What did you do to the paint.  You drilled the spider?!  While it was still on the keel?  What were you thinking?

Me: sniff, sniff... I hate this boat.  I am DONE!

 

Okay, so it wasn't that bad.  Especially now in hind sight.  And in my defense he did give me bunk paint to work with and I had a broken back.  Not to mention they were Black fricken widows. 

 

 

Either way its done and you can't see it.
 

 

That's what it looked like before.  This is actually a pic of raising the mast.  I'll tell that super fun story another time soon.

This is what it looked like after.  In this case, it was splash day (again another time)... but the bottom paint is what you should be ooohhing and aaahhhing over. 

 

Impressive, isn't it?

It begins

By late October it was finally cooling off.  Time to get the party started.




Um, yeah.  So in this case party does not = fun.
Party = boat work


Yay!  I was so excited.