Back in Black!

In early December Thursday's Child was hauled for some much needed paint work to the bottom, as well as a replacement of the sealed gland through which the propeller shaft passes which had started to fail. Our original plan was to haul at Shelter Island Marina, but the weather and sea conditions meant that the 6 or so hour trip would be fraught with risks and the time of year combined with a busy work schedule meant that we would have to do most of the trip in the dark. I opted to divert to Granville Island Boatyard and upon the recommendation of some trusted friends I commissioned the ever incomparable Robbie of RRYachtServices. Robbie agreed to:

• Remove the old paint
• Smooth out blisters
  
• prime with 5 layers of epoxy primer
• paint with 3 layers of a hard racing paint
• Polish the paint
• Polish the propeller

I was really nervous getting someone to do work to my boat. I'm fastidious when it comes to my boat, and the shape of the foils. The bottom on Thursday's Child was already an awesome shape and an overly aggressive bottom job could easily do more damage than good. Robbie and his crew were brilliant! They are true craftsmen. I kept showing up expecting to have to do something or to hear that we were over budget or behind schedule, instead I just ended up eating nachos in bridges with my fellow skippers.

While the boat was out we also did a bunch of other work including:

• Replace the shaft gland (giggle giggle giggle)

• Replace all of the engine zincs
• Align the engine
• Bleed the fuel system
• Take all of the spare gear off of the boat. 
• Clean the bilge
  

Robbie and his crew completed the job on time and on budget, we splashed back in to the water at 3pm on Friday Dec 19th. XS Skipper Benoit and I delivered Thursday's Child back to VRC without indecent! The engine ran brilliantly and we didn't hit anything - It was a welcomed, albeit surreal, experience.

Launching on time meant I didn't have to miss the VRC Poar Bear race on the December 21st and launching on budget meant I didn't have to live on the boat over the winter whilst waiting for my ever-loving wife to forgive me for spending her tropical vacation fund on the boat.

WOOT - Off to the races we go!

Last year - Crew helping me with the bottom.

This year - Crew helping me with Nachos FTW...