Blisters, Blisters, Blisters

March 10, 2014

After a week of living in our motor home at the OYCM parking lot, it is time to move on.  So, today we packed up and moved to Hanna Park, my favorite campground in Jacksonville.  During the week we were parked at OYCM parking lot, we had five days of heavy rain.  The walk to the bathrooms in the rain and dampness were just too uncomfortable for our old bones.  (How quickly we become spoiled) When we had our 34’ Sea Ray we had to walk from the end of dock C every night to use the bathrooms.  We also had very limited internet service and only a few volts of electricity. I could not run our microwave or air conditioner, (praise God the heater works on propane) because with all the dampness we did use that every day.  The OYCM has wonderful people living and working there, Thank you Fred, and Roger for helping me get internet access. I love you and value your friendship.

Originally we thought the Morningstar would only be out of the water on the hard for two weeks, so parking lot living seemed doable. However, that is no longer the case.  The Morningstar is going to have a complete bottom job.  That means it will be on the hard for at least two months to give the bottom a change to dry out completely. When the Morningstar was in the water we could only image the many blisters that were lurking on her deep unseen bottom. 

OYCM Parking lot

Setting up at Hanna Park 

Once the Morningstar was hauled out, pressure washed and blocked up, we got a bird’s eye view of the blisters on her hull and it was heart retching.   

Rich spoke to Brian Brockhaus from “Yachtbottoms”.  He is an independent contractor from Jacksonville and he does all the severe bottom repair work for Hutckins.  Rich asked Brian to give Hutckins a written estimate for the work needed to have the Morningstar’s bottom repaired.  The repair would include a complete osmotic blister repair (gel coat removal, drying management, and moisture reading/pressure wash, four step fairing process using all epoxy products, with four coats epoxy barrier coating applied and two coats antifouling applied. Brian said he would guarantee his work. This task is just too much for Rich to try to do on his own, so  we decided to hire him for the job.  The estimate came to $5836.25 plus sales tax and environmental charges bringing it to $6,353.16.  There will also be a $272 charge from Hutckins for the haul, pressure wash, block, and launch added to that cost.  The Morningstar will be out of the water for awhile since we have to wait for Brian to finished pealing a 52’ Sea Ray he is presently working on.  Then he will start on ours.  Once the work begins it will be at least two months for the hull to completely dry out.  During the time  the Morningstar is out of the water, there are many things Rich wants to do on her.  Rich wants to add a second electric head (toilet,) refinish the sundeck floor, repair the rub rails, and the list goes on and on and on.

We also hired Hutckins to do work for us.  Rich asked them to remove and replace the cutlass bearings, and replace the log tubes and hose.  That doesn't sounds like a lot of work but actually it will involve many hours of labor as the area to work in is very compact and may require more time depending on the condition of couplers and bolts.  They are removing original parts installed in  1987.  Example (replaces shaft log tubes, disconnect couplers, remove from shaft, remove and replace hose, reinstall coupler, reconnect to transmission port and starboard.)  Hutckins sent our props out for repairs and I have no idea what that will cost yet. 

Props off and work started on the shaft

So, as the Morningstar sits blocked up waiting for her transformation, I will be recording the experience on my blog for everyone to enjoy along with us.  For now though I am going to pour myself another cup of coffee and go outside to enjoy this beautiful sunny day here at the Hanna Park camp ground.   Be Blessed!