I dried out my fin keeler

[HenryEDM]

I have just spent the day drying out my boat against a wall and giving it a new coat of antifouling as it has spent the winter afloat. I decided to save the cost of a lift out and nervously dried her out for the first time. It all went very well and was actually really easy in the end. I would definitely do this again and actually feel quite chuffed about the whole experience. My girlfriend did most of the pressure washing as she found it quite satisfying and my dad painted himself.

 

[MoodySabre]

Well done. Do you rent them out?

 

[HenryEDM]

Well done. Do you rent them out?

Would you want to hire a man that gets more paint on himself than on your boat?

 

[J Neeves]

I have just spent the day drying out my boat against a wall and giving it a new coat of antifouling as it has spent the winter afloat. I decided to save the cost of a lift out and nervously dried her out for the first time. It all went very well and was actually really easy in the end. I would definitely do this again and actually feel quite chuffed about the whole experience. My girlfriend did most of the pressure washing as she found it quite satisfying and my dad painted himself.

View attachment 51004 View attachment 51005

So, what exactly did you do?



Jonathan

 

[HenryEDM]

So, what exactly did you do?



Jonathan

Tied her off fore and aft with line that I could extend from the boat then kept a tight spring on so that she wouldn't move too far away from the wall. I put the liferaft and anchor chain on the wall side of the boat and this gave her a small lean then I put a line loosely round the mast that i could tension to add a bit more lean if i thought it needed it. It didn't though and I was very wary of her leaning too much and the keel slipping sideways. I had my fenders tied sideways and they sorted themselves out. I thought they might ride up but they didn't. Then it was just a case of watching her down. Wasn't sure whether she would try and fall bow down since the keel is not flat bottomed but she settled fine as you can see without any real tension on the fore or aft lines.

The scrub down and repaint was done with a good 3 hours til the tide touched the keel again and the nice weather and fresh breeze helped with the drying process.

 

[prv]

So, what exactly did you do?

Tied her off fore and aft with line that I could extend from the boat then ...

I think he meant "what did you do while your girlfriend and dad were doing all the work?"

And the answer is obvious - take the photos!

Pete

 

[HenryEDM]

Yes I see now. It's been a long day coordinating, barking orders and taking photos.

 

[J Neeves]

Sorry, my fault! I was just being facetious and fell flat on my face.

However your answer in the post #5 was educational and worth the effort.

Jonathan

 

[Kelpie]

Well done, sounds like a plan well executed. Is she an Ecume de Mer, by the way?

I found working on the side nearest the wall was pretty awkward since, with a shallow keel, the space was very cramped. Probably less of a problem with a fin keel.

I no longer have a handy wall to lean on, so now have to use legs...

 

[HenryEDM]

Well done, sounds like a plan well executed. Is she an Ecume de Mer, by the way?

Yes she is and she's the deep fin version so plenty of room on wall side. Nice legs by the way.

 

[HenryEDM]

Well done, sounds like a plan well executed. Is she an Ecume de Mer, by the way?

Yes she is and she's the deep fin version so plenty of room on wall side. Nice legs by the way.

 

[LadyInBed]

Yes she is and she's the deep fin version so plenty of room on wall side.

With my bilge keels, I tie three fenders in a triangle to get some working room from the wall, not an option for a fin.
The trouble I have is getting down underneath between the keels, old creeking bones don't help!

 

[HenryEDM]

With my bilge keels, I tie three fenders in a triangle to get some working room from the wall, not an option for a fin.
The trouble I have is getting down underneath between the keels, old creeking bones don't help!

Surely with a bilge keeler you don't even need the wall? I remember being made to paint in between the keels when we had an Alacrity 19 when I was a youth because I could fit in there easily. Horrible job that was and the concentration of solvents in there surely can't be good for you.

 

[savageseadog]

I've used the same spot as the OP successfully

 

[LadyInBed]

Surely with a bilge keeler you don't even need the wall?

it just happens that the wall has the power and water supply

 

[Lakesailor]

Surely with a bilge keeler you don't even need the wall? I remember being made to paint in between the keels when we had an Alacrity 19 when I was a youth because I could fit in there easily. Horrible job that was and the concentration of solvents in there surely can't be good for you.

Long handled radiator roller with 4" sleeves. Job done in a trice.

 

[J Neeves]

Might work in the UK but in many parts of the world we do not need radiators and unsurprisingly they do not sell the brushes (we bought ours in the UK).

Jonathan

 

[TSB240]

Henry

You cant do anything about the paternal hired help!

However your gorgeous Girlfriend must be a definite keeper now.

Very good looking and prepared to get down and dirty antifouling that is a sailing mans dream partner. :encouragement:

Nice to meet you guys again at the weekend.

See you out there!

Steve

 

[Lakesailor]

Might work in the UK but in many parts of the world we do not need radiators and unsurprisingly they do not sell the brushes (we bought ours in the UK).

Jonathan

yet another reason not to live in Oz....

 

[HenryEDM]

Henry

You cant do anything about the paternal hired help!

However your gorgeous Girlfriend must be a definite keeper now.

Very good looking and prepared to get down and dirty antifouling that is a sailing mans dream partner. :encouragement:

Nice to meet you guys again at the weekend.

See you out there!

Steve

I know she's a good one, I'd better get an anchor on her before she sails away Nice to meet you again Steve, i'm sure we'll see you next time you're down