Holey HOTSPUR (Monday - May 03, 2010)

We’ve hired Bob from Total Yachtworks here in Mazatlan to do the bottom paint job, which requires grinding out the blisters on the hull, epoxying, sanding, applying a base coat (or two... or three) and then applying anti-fouling paint. We did this last year on WINDFALL... no biggie.

As Rich on s/v THIRD DAY said, "It looks as if HOTSPUR has sailed through a flock of woodpeckers." The blisters on the hull are very small and many... maybe 1,000... but they are in the gel coat only... thankfully. It took Martin, the boat yard employee, three full days of using the dremel tool to grind out all the baby bubbles in the gel coat. There are a few larger blisters... some that went a little further than the gel coat, but we are having those repaired as well.

HOTSPUR is a 41' Tartan TOCK or T.O.C.K. (Tartan Offshore Cruising Ketch) and there were only 30 of her kind built. There is a big *11* painted on the starboard side of the hull... we just happen to be TOCK #11. So, if any other TOCK owners need to prove what boat number they are, sanding the paint down to the gelcoat would be the way to do it!

Now that Martin is applying the epoxy, we are very careful not to let any water escape through the through hulls. Therefore, I am hauling buckets of dishes to the Singlar marina facilities and using their large basin in the restroom to wash dishes (the restrooms are 75-100 yards from the boat) . Not exactly convenient, but it could be worse. The kids are happy... this is usually their chore and I’ve taken over since it is a bit of a hassle. Anyone who might say that I am a mean mom can think again!