Never-ending repairs in Fort PIerce!

 Here I am in Fort Pierce, five weeks later, STILL working on the boat. I COULD sail now, but little things keep coming up.

To start with, I knew when I bought the boat that the samson posts needed to be replaced, but figured I could get along for a while without repercussions. That was mostly correct, although unexpected repairs DO add a certain something to cruising adventures. I had put off the job because there were so many surrounding jobs that would make it take longer. For example, the deck needed to be re-cored and this alone would add ten days simply to do the bow area. Also, I would need lots of materials.... and wasn't sure how much.... and would need to have it shipped to most places I might work. 

That brings us to Fort Pierce. Here I know of local suppliers and anchorages where I can get the materials and do the work I need... and any more materials are just a mile away. So I tackled the repairs...

1) remove the fore-stay, jib, and furler and set them aside (tie to a stay so it will not sway much)

2) remove the bowsprit and set it aside on the deck.

3) remove decking and coring and samson posts and haul to shore.

4) remove old samson posts below-deck and clean the area where they attach to the hull 

Here are the old and new samson posts....

5) Grind the remaining thin skin of fiberglass to make it adhere better to the new core

6) Install new foam core and stronger Coosa core (dark section) in a bed of thickened epoxy

7) Glue foam spacers where the new posts will go through the Coosa

8) Install about a dozen layers of very strong glass (1708 in vinyl resin) 

9) smooth the deck with grinding, sanding, and fairing compound

10) Install the samson posts after cutting the holes. 

Attach them to the hull in the anchor locker (I later added the filler pieces of wood between these)

Fiberglass them in place and apply finish to them.

11) prime and paint and add non-skid

12) Install bowsprit, new pin, new whisker stay chainplate

13) Install fore-stay, furler, and jib

14) Discover that the furler will not function and narrow it down to a frozen top bearing.

Order and install new bearing.

While doing these things, Cynthia and I re-cored most of the rest of the deck. After she left, I re-cored the final bit and painted the starboard deck (in process for about fifteen months, so "yay!").

All my deck is now DONE! I think I may actually be done with the itchy work! YES!

Once, while rowing to shore, something big shook my rowboat.... probably a startled manatee. A couple days ago, I actually saw a trio of them only ten feet from the boat! And, of course, there are loads of dolphins and frequent nice sunrises... 

and sunsets....

Stay well, my friends.