Port Louis

As we entered the St George's area we could see the Carenage

Then the Port Louis Marina

We plan to take a local bus to the Spicelands Mall later this morning and try and finish provisioning - Jello, applesauce, sweet pickles, etc.

Also hoping that the dinghy valve and tool arrives today!

Moving to St George's

We've gotten the boat ready to go and will move around to St George's later this morning.  While I was working on the inflatable dink realized that one of the air valves was bad.  No spare parts or tools for the dink on board so I ordered two valves and a valve tool from Budget Marine yesterday.  Parts should arrive by Friday.

In the meantime here are a few photos of the boat sitting in LePhare Bleu marina - teak survived the summer and is looking good and the topsides were only washed to remove the UV protector that we applied last spring - still need to wax but the boat looks very good.  People stopping by comment on how good she looks and they are shocked when they find out that she is 14 years old!

A few pictures

Another one bites the dust!

We are now doing our last prep and are in a slip a Le Phare Bleu Marina.  Just behind us is a larger boat and laying on the dock is a bunch of dead Glacier Bay holding plate refrigeration equipment.  Just beside it is the empty boxes of replacement Frigoboat equipment!  I'll take a few pictures tomorrow and post.  Just did not get the photos today.

Update on the IP 420 - Stern tube/cutlass bearing issues remain - boat has still not been launched!

The boxes are gone but the dead plates are still on the dock!

In the water and loving it!

We moved over to LePhare Bleu yesterday morning and starting working on recommissioning.  The AC raw water pump was not working right (HPF Error) so picked up a new pump and installed it this morning and we are now cool and relaxed.

We unpacked both of our barrels and have thing mostly stowed at this point.  Did a reprovision trip into town this morning and picked up most of the things that we need for the next several days.  Bumped into the IP-420 owner and found out that the boat is still on the hard - issues locating a replacement cutlass bearing - can I say I TOLD YOU SO!

Anyway, we had a nice dinner aboard and will continue refitting over the next several days as we prepare to start North for another winter season in the Caribbean.

Sure feels good to be back aboard Gra'inne.  
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Launch Day

We informed the Yard folks that we were ready to launch and were scheduled to be first up this morning for a launch (0900).  We always worry about anything scheduled here.  This morning we arrived at the yard at 0800 and our worst fears seemed to be materializing.  There was an IP420 hanging in the slings from the Travellift at the lift well.  I parked the rental car and went up to the 420 and knocked on the hull.  The owner came out and we chatted for a moment.  The boat is a 2001 and was purchased by the current owner in 2007.

After talking awhile the owner indicated that when he launched late yesterday afternoon that the packing gland was leaking heavily and that the yard people were going to install a Dripless seal - that he was told it would only take AN HOUR!  I spoke to the Owner of the yard, I spoke to the Office Manager, I spoke to anyone who would listen - apparently it helped as about 8:45 the Travellift picked the boat up and moved it right next to us where it was put back on the hard on jack stands.

We went over and spoke with the owner again and I explained to him that the repair was not going to take AN HOUR but perhaps several days.  Looked at the prop shaft and prop and asked him if he had checked the cutlass bearing recently and got an unusual look.  Went over and moved the shaft - probably 1/2" side to side and told him that the bearing was shot and that it should also be replaced.

Long story short - we launched and moved the boat on over to LePhare Bleu and started doing some of our recommissioning.  Late this afternoon we hitched a ride back to the yard to pick up our rental car.  We arrived back at the yard around 4:30 and I walked over to see how the work was progressing on the 420.  The Dripless seal had been installed and they were working with a hydraulic press to remove the old cutlass bearing.  The stern tube was on the ground and the yard guys were working to get everything apart and back together.

Expect that there will be yet another full day in the yard after the bearing is replaced, stern tube reattached, engine alignment rechecked/set, bedding compound cures partially etc.

Our comments to each other - The owner indicated that the packing gland had been leaking for over a year and no attempt was made to repack or resolve the issue earlier.  Not until the boat was in the lift well and was leaking profusely did the owner see a need for maintenance.  We really like to fix things before they break or at least make an effort to resolve a problem ahead of a scheduled launch.

Anyway, we are situated now while we continue prepping the boat for another season in the Caribbean and this afternoon our AC raw water pump failed!  Overheating - new pump being held for us in town at Budget Marine, will pick it up first thing in the morning.

Cruising (or is that cursing) - repairing a boat in exotic places while paying exorbitant prices for parts if you can find them!  Gotta love this life - thank god we own an IP!

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.

Closing out another Summer in Florida

We are headed up to St Petersburg tomorrow to meet Devin (IP-45 Moosetracks) and his wife for lunch.  We plan to give Devin a send off toast as he plans to cast off on 12/12/2012!  Should be fun.

I finished cleaning up the garage this afternoon and putting tools away so now it's time to focus on the last few things before we leave.  Packing - the suitcase, the meat freezer, and the carry on.

We are having Thanksgiving dinner today and Lesley made a pumpkin pie.  Will make Thanksgiving subs with the left overs for dinner on our flight Wednesday.

Had a nice chat with John  (ex IP-40 Larking About) last night about a nasty email I got from my buddy.  He called me and said that he would try to intervene.................

Looking forward to another great season in the Caribbean this winter/spring.  Will try and post a few pictures tomorrow on our return from St Pete.

   

Turkey in the Sping

I'm excited - just confirmed that I will be flying to Turkey in the Spring and will be helping a fellow IP owner with some boat tasks.  Haven't been to Turkey since 1994 so this will be a great return trip.

Miller Time?

Not quite but close - 27 beers/sodas etc., became part of the test.  Loaded up the fridge with warm beer and turned it on a 5pm yesterday.  At 8:00 am this morning the box was stabilized at 40, the compressor (speed controller) had ramped down to the lowest current setting and the compressor slowly cycled on and off.  I've been offered a cold one from the boat owner and I'm going to take him up on it.  A Kalik for me, thanks!