9 May 13

Finally checked out of A&B Marina and headed over to the boatyard on Stock Island, about 7.5 Nm away from A&B. We motored and motor-sailed with no problem, arriving at 11:45. We were on the travel-lift by 12:15. Met with Jason Gold, who will do a bottom job while we are up on the blocks and will assist Brent with the mast inspections and any other work. No apparent damage to the thru-hulls or anything else below the waterline, although the shaft collar zinc is completely missing - I know it was there on the day before the lightning strike, as I dived all round the boat and particularly looked at the zinc and it’s condition. Coincidence? Jason started prepping the keel, which has a lot of exposed steel on the leading edge, presumably the result of our numerous groundings on the way over from Texas to Florida. We then picked up a rental car and checked into the Quality Inn, until the boat is back in the water (it is too hot to stay on board with no A/C, not to mention that it is somewhat inconvenient to have to climb up a 12 ft ladder and duck under the dinghy to get on board). After we checked into the hotel, we grabbed a bite to eat and then drove up to Marathon to the UPS shop to collect the parts I ordered 2 weeks ago from Jamestown Distributors (engine hour meter and amp-hour meter). We had had a late lunch and were exhausted by the day’s events, so just ordered pizza in the hotel room and watched a baseball game on TV.

10 May 13

The surveyor, Dave Ghidoni, showed up and confirmed that the underwater portion of the boat is fine. He will finish the above water survey after we go back in the water. Jason continued work on the bottom job. I spent most of the day trying (finally successfully) to find shaft and prop zincs; they were off the shelf in Houston, but nobody in the Keys has them. Finally had to order them from West Marine’s Miami warehouse, but they will not be here until Tuesday, so I will probably have to keep the boat on the hard for one extra day. Raul has approved the equipment replacement expense but thinks the labor cost estimate is too high. I don’t want to take the time to find another electrician and think Brent’s estimate is not unreasonable; which probably means that we will have to eat the labor expense that exceeds Raul’s estimate. I just want to get on with it and get this chapter of the cruising life behind us. We are burning dollars in hotels and restaurants. We had dinner at the Outback Steakhouse.

11 May 13

Checked in with Jason to see how the bottom job is going. Brent confirmed that he has ordered the bulk of the electronic equipment. We had lunch at the Hogfish Bar and Grill, next door to the Safe Harbor Marina, where we are likely to spend the next week or two during the refit, then had a lazy afternoon back at the hotel, reading and swimming. Later, we went to see “The Great Gatsby”, in 3D no less.  

12 May 13

Jason finished the second coat of the bottom job. We went to see Tom Cruise’s new sci-fi movie “Oblivion”. It ripped off Star Wars, Avatar and two or three other space/sci-fi adventure movies, but it was pretty good in spite of that.

13 May 13

Ashley went parasailing (our birthday present to her) and had a great time. Jason started on polishing and waxing the topsides. Terri, Ashley and I had dinner at Cafe Marquesa; very expensive but very nice.

14 May 13

Finally got the insurance check from Progressive and deposited it immediately. Brent came round and I gave him a deposit check to cover the purchase of the electrical instruments. Jason finished polishing the topsides; it shines like a mirror. Got a lot of compliments from the folks around the boatyard. Dinner at “El Siboney”, Cuban restaurant in Key West - very nice.

15 May 13

Made a quick trip to the boat then back to pick up Ashley and Terri to take Ashley to the airport for her flight home. After she got away, Terri went back to the hotel and I went back to the boat. Brent and I removed pretty much all of the old instruments, VHF and radio. Jason started prepping the blue and red boot stripes on the starboard side, which was damaged by barnacle growths.

16 May 13

Full day at the boat; Brent and I spent all day trouble-shooting the electrical cables. It looks like all the cables are sound (have not yet checked the mast cables) and it was just the instruments and light bulbs that got fried. We worked out that the engine oil pressure sender also supplies an analog signal that will drive an oil pressure gauge (as well as the low oil pressure audible alarm); similarly, the engine temperature sender will also drive a temperature gauge (in addition to the existing high temp audible alarm). Both these gauges will be installed adjacent to the engine control panel. Jason got the first 3 coats of red boot stripe painted. 

17 May 13

I put the forward berth back together and moved everything out of the stern cabin (to the forepeak) in anticipation of pulling cables and installing the shunt for the new amp-hr meter. Received my wheel post (so I can remove the steering wheel from the pedestal and hang it up out of the way of the cockpit while at anchor or the dock) and got it installed. Also, received the spare bowl and screen for the A/C raw water strainer. But the big news is that all of the new electronics have arrived and we started the installation process. At last!! I got the hinges installed on the forward instrument panel. The new instrument panel and pedestal are going to look great. We have room for the new amp-hr meter and engine-hour meter. The VHF had to be relocated to a spot above the stereo. Jason got three more coats on the red boot stripe. It looks pretty good, too.

18 May 13

Brent showed up about 11:30 and we worked on the boat until nearly 19:00; then he and his dad hung around for another hour and a half drinking beer and chatting with us while I tidied up the boat a bit. It is complete chaos inside. Too tired to eat after we finally got back to the hotel, so we just cleaned up and crashed.

19 May 13

Brent decided to take the day off. Jason came by and did the prep work for the blue boot stripe, but then went off to work on another boat; he says he can complete all three coats of blue tomorrow and we can splash in the afternoon if Brent is ready. Frustrating not to make any real progress, but I guess everybody deserves a day off once in a while. Terri and I spent the day tracking down the cable races (routes) for the old depth/speed transducers and other cables associated with navigation system. Then, we knocked off about 15:00, went back to the hotel to clean up and went into town for dinner at B.O.’s Fishwagon. Back to the hotel in time for the PBS Sunday evening BBC shows.

20 May 13

Jason got right on the blue boot stripe and finished it just after noon; it looks great - way better than the damaged state anyway. Brent showed up about 9:30 and we started pulling cables. Still waiting on the alternator to be delivered so we put the splash back until Tuesday. I got the replacement LED bulbs for the navigation lights installed, so we are at least mostly legal to go to sea.