Back in Grenada

We arrived back in Grenada Wednesday evening right on schedule.  After a longer than normal wait to clear thru immigration (a Caribbean Airlines flight had arrived just before we did), we made it to and through Customs and paid duty for the vessel items that we carried back with us.  After a short ride we were back at the Yellow House and transferred the frozen meat from travel ice chest to the freezer.  Everything was still frozen again this year.

We decided to rent a car this year to make everything easier.  Thursday morning we were dropped off at LePhare Bleu Marina where we met the rental agent and she drove us in to the Grande Anse Police Station so that I could get my local drivers permit.  Headed back to LePhare Bleu, dropped of the rental agent and picked up a few items from this years shipment that we would need to recommission the boat and headed back to Grenada Marine.

The rest of Thursday was spent washing the boat to remove the UV Protectant that we had applied in the spring before leaving the boat and getting materials ready for Friday.  We checked the batteries and reinstalled DC system fuses (Battery Monitor, alternator regulator, AM/FM Radio, etc).  Last season I applied two coats of Cetol Marine Light and two clear coats to the caprail and eyebrow teak.  It still looks really good - will take a few photos and post once we get the boat back in the water and all of our gizmos loaded back aboard.

We came back to the apartment and cleaned up and then drove out to La Sagesse for dinner.  We had a nice reunion with the owner and staff and then had a wonderful beef curry, breadfruit, sauteed green beans and carrots.

I was stuffed!

Friday I did bottom paint while Lesley used Collinite cleaner on the Hull. I made quite a mess getting more paint on me and the surrounding area before getting the bottom done.  Between splashing paint out of the can while stirring it with the electric drill stirring attachment, spilling about 1/4 of the can, and sloping paint all over myself, the job is done - really glad that we had an extra gallon of paint on board!

Today we started out looking for our 110v extension cord that we use with the buffer polisher.  Tore the boat up looking for it but never did find it so we borrowed one and set about waxing the hull.  We got the Stbd side done and then took a break for lunch.   Came back and finished the Port side and then put our supplies away and did some minor work on the NAV PC installation and reefer.  I was really whipped by the time we finished so think next year we are going to break waxing up into a two day job.  We will wax the topsides once we launch and move to LePhare Bleu.

We still have some mechanical projects to complete and want to start/run the Yanmar diesel engine before launch day but the hard jobs are completed, yeah!  The next several days will be spent working inside the boat - hot but not dirty or back breaking work thank goodness.