Looks a nice day again.....

Paint brush time for me. Weather has been perfect. Moved onto 'beach' Monday High pressured Tuesday, rubbed down Wednesday, undercoated yesterday, gloss tomorrow, AF on Saturday.
 
After a succesful week of after work sessions on the boat, I can say its all looking positive for launch 3rd week of May. Both Mrs FC and I are excited by the prospect of getting FC back to it's proper role in life.

This weekend looks perfect for a full hull t-cut and polish with my new whizzy machine, and to get the last of the aft cabin electrics installed.

Seriously looking forward to this afternoon, POETS day.
 
For me it's just the anti foul to apply , finish the rubbing strake , wash the decks , paint cockpit seats & floor , general tidy up and I ready to be launched then its off to Burnham for new spray hood to be fitted ready for a few days on board , man & boy at end of may (hopefully) .
 
Let's hope the weekend is good as we were lifted out this morning.
Two years since the last time.
Plenty to be getting on with.

Not too bad - before pressure washing:

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And after

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Sailing on Sunday? Sounds like a satisfying but energetic week.

No, neaped until next week: to continue Be nice to the kids - sunday; be nice to SWMBO - monday, 2nd coat AF - tuesday; varnish - Wednesday; varnish - Thursday; come off 'beach' and sail to mooring - Friday.

That's the plan. Now watch it all go wrong!
 
I think I shall go sailing :D
Only been on the boat every weekend since Easter, so better keep up the usage!
You can go off some people.
Managed a short first sail last Sunday to see if everything worked.
Pitched up at the boat at 0700 today, fully equipped to stay out until Sunday night. Got loaded up, started to feel worried about the (rather neapish) tide which had 30 mins more to run on the flood, and looked rather iffy.
And then it promptly turned and started rushing out again.
Tried in vain to shunt the boat out of its mud 'ole, to no avail..
So back home. Done some painting, washed the car, cut the grass, felt sorry for myself...
So I don't want to hear any more about your nice sailing weekend, OK?
 
So I don't want to hear any more about your nice sailing weekend, OK?

I wont mention the downwind sail from Brightlingsea to Marconi on Friday or downwind back to Bradwell on Saturday hitting 6kts with just the last 3rd of the genoa out. Was so early on the tide at Bradwell it did take best part of an hour to get in! Then another cracking sail back to B'sea on Sunday (on the wind this time) but just one tack.

Just to even the score I have only been sitting on the boat today doing some of those odd little jobs that keep getting put off.
 
It all fell apart for various reasons so I didn't get out as planned for a decent day's sail at the start of the weekend. In the end I was out at 5.30 this morning for a quick blast down the river (ha! ha! no wind so the donk got a good airing). A nice couple of hours under full sail back to Chatham with the tide. That's it for a couple of weeks as Beguine comes out on Friday for salt blasting and Coppercoating. Still, chance to finish the engine service and slap a bit more varnish on.
 
Having been lifted out on Friday morning and pressure washed, Mermaid was re-launched yesterday morning having done the following:

Sanded off under the waterline
Recoat with two coats of antifoul
Recoat boot top
Replace shaft, rudder stock and bowthruster anodes
Cut and polish the entire hull and bowsprit
Remove lower section of boarding ladder for replacement
Get prop coated with Propspeed
Check through hulls
Evidence here:


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