We were busy beavers when we returned to Trinidad.  Before departing Trinidad in July, I had removed the broken drive leg for the bow thruster, but was not able to install the new one because I couldn’t secure suitable priming paint.   (It made no sense to install the drive leg before painting it.)  But on our return the primer was available, and so one of my early tasks was to prime, paint and install the drive leg.  In our absence a new depth sounder had also arrived, but as I set about installing that item, I realized that I had ordered the wrong one.  While waiting for the correct one to arrive (which was brought from the States by friends Devi and Hunter on Arctic Tern), I faced up to the task of removing the old one.   Piece of cake to remove the transponder itself, but the cable from the transponder to the read-out up in the pilot house was another story.  Pulling the old cable through cable races that were plumb full was a challenge, topped only by the pleasure of pulling the new cable.

And then there were the usual chores.  Removing the zincs from the rudder and transom so that the former could be stripped and cleaned and the transom could be painted.  Removing, cleaning and repainting the external strainers on the thru-hulls (and re-installing after the bottom had been painted).  As usual, we asked Peake Yacht Services to strip and clean the rudder and propeller, and then, also as usual we ourselves applied Prop Speed on them both.  That chore is always a little touchy — first an etching primer is applied, and then after only 3 to 5 minutes, a second different solution is applied.  The timing is critical enough that the instructions suggest two appliers:  one to apply the etcher in relatively small areas, and the other to follow with the second solution in 3 to 5 minutes.   That is what we do.

The etcher is two-part:  one adds a catalyst to the thoroughly mixed yellow etching solution; the resulting mixture has a short life and must be applied before it sets.  The smallest kit available is too small to cover both our rudder and propeller.  The next size is too big, but the etcher and catalyst come in smaller bottles: two etchers and two catalysts, and one of each is just right for covering both our prop and rudder.  The second solution comes in just one container, half of which is just right for our combination.  Three years ago we etched with one set and used half the second solution.  Two years ago we used the second etching set and the other half of the second solution.  No problem.  But this year we had a surprise.  We had used the first half last year, and had saved the second half for use this year.   I mixed the etcher and catalyst, and then we discovered the second solution had hardened and was un-usable.  Yikes, the etcher would set soon and we have no second solution!   So Barb jumps on her bike and goes searching for another kit.  The only thing she could find was another big kit, so we now have unsyncronized kits and the danger of next year also discovering an un-usable second half of second solution.

Barb was also busy while we were on the hard.   Cleaning the interior of the boat, replenishing our larder, sewing a new cover for our kayaks and repairing the covers for our foldable bikes.  She also took some time off and attended the annual “dragon boat races”.   When she asked if I wanted to go too, I begged off, thinking it didn’t sound very interesting and that I had too much to do.  Oops!  Her photos reveal that the event would have been fun to attend.

On Oct. 17 we splashed and moved to Crews Inn.  But to learn about our adventures there, the gentle reader must see the next post.