I said I would never paint a boat bottom again (Ok, I fibbed!)

I know I said I would never paint a boat bottom again, but it seems this retirement has it out for me. We (Elden) decided to paint the bottom with an anti-fouling (anti-barnacle & slime) paint just to get us through this year. If I ever see blue paint again it is TOO SOON! At least we can launch Soteria tomorrow and really get her cleaned out.The photos below show before and after. The boat lift couldn't lift her as high as we needed to paint the centerboard, so Elden had to dig a ditch.

It has been challenging to say the least, with having to climb an 10 ft. ladder(see finished paint photo) every time we had to get rid of trash, take a shower or even go to the restroom. (Try doing dishes up and down that ladder) We have muscles that we didn't know we had.  There is still stuff in the car as we haven't been able to clean as we want to. No water and now we have a bad ground which drains the batteries, and we found out that we don't have a battery charger on board.  Can you say OUCH!$$$!  At least we found out now and not later. The marina guys are doing their best, but we are in the South and they take their good old time doing things. Maybe that's the Yankee in me, but we are on a schedule here. Hopefully we can get the electrical figured out and the boat cleaned out by the weekend. I am looking forward to at least one day of rest.

We meet the nicest couple at the waterfront. Dennis & Denise (s/v Polaris). They have been sailing since they were younger, and shared some great advice with us.

I almost forgot! We went to a place called Backwater Jack's Tiki Bar & Grill. Fantastic food, cool name and I found a pearl in my oyster sandwich! Ok. it looks like a mini-bb, but it still is a pearl. At least I didn't break a tooth on it. I'll try and take a photo later. Anyone got a good close up lens?

That's all for now. More hopefully by the weekend.  Have a great night.