A spiffy new bottom (paint)

This week we made another round trip from Puerto Penasco to Tucson. The car was full again; this time with critical items like the bread maker...500' line for our stern anchor...and 30 containers of red curry...and many many more random things.

The border wall between Mexico & the US

Waiting in line to cross to Mexico, again

We've unpacked most of the stuff now to the boat, but we still have stored much of it in our 260 sq. ft. apartment. We are using it as a base to keep things cool, or hold things that we are unable to access until we bend the sails (put them out & in their proper place). Currently the sails are filling our entire forward cabin on the boat making access under and around pretty difficult.

Our cozy and cool apartment with our to do list on the fridge

We've just about completed our boat bottom painting chores which took 3 dedicated (and very hot) days. Each morning, our alarm would go off at 5. We eat a hearty breakfast as we know we'll need to work until 2 before taking a break lunch.

Okisollo after we unwrapped her, with her bare fiberglass bottom

First coat of epoxy barrier paint on the keel

In the spring, we had removed the old bottom paint with the help of a sand blaster at the boat yard. We hand-sanded it back then so that the hull would be ready to paint when the time came.

Now, we first used an etching primer on the entire hull bottom to remove any debris or wax. Second, we applied two coats of grey epoxy barrier coat to ensure that no moisture would penetrate into the fiberglass.

Half way done with the grey epoxy paint

2 layers of epoxy paint done

Finally, we applied two coats of Trinidad XSR blue for the final layers. This paint is supposed to last up to 2 years and withstand tropical waters.

Happy to be taking a paint break

Almost done, just one last touch up coat and then need to remove the tape

Each layer of paint has taken 1.5 to 2.5 hours to apply when we worked together. Unfortunately, Dan had to do one whole coat by himself, as i was unwell resulting from eating some local cuisine to which my body did not approve. It has been very exciting to see the painting finished as Okisollo went from being one of the more scraggly boats in the yard to one the prettier-looking ones!

Having the paint done is a big relief and was really the only thing standing in the way for us to get launched in the water. Everything else, we can do underway or in many cases -- preferably on the water -- where we are away from the hot, humid, dusty and dirty boat yard.

We are getting our personal things and gear organized. But with organization comes great chaos. Today we spent several hours looking for the replacement prop blades for our bow thruster. We know we bought 2 of them in May. But where on earth are they? We are sure they are on the boat. We haven't found them yet. If you know where they are...please tell us.

We attempt to not carry things back and forth between the boat and apartment with marginal success. For some reason we still seem to be schlepping things each trip. We never seem to have the right thing in the right place. Everyday we are a bit closer to that simplicity, but it is a journey.