Progress on the Winter Repairwork

As many of you know, just before we left Guam, we noticed a leak above the port side quarterberth.  Digging around literally a week before our departure, we found some dry rot.  We quickly got at it and dug out a bunch of rotten wood from the coach roof wall.  Then puttied and glassed it back before departing to Japan.

During the crossing to Japan, the leaks got worse so during the winter in Japan, we went at it a little harder. But alas, we still had leaks.  This winter we had the cover over Sari Timur, so Mark decided he was going to attack the problem from the outside.  What he found was that the glass coating on the outside of the coach had split away from the deck.  Over time (31 years ago was when we replaced the deck) water had seeped in and started to rot the bottom of the coach.  So he began cutting the glass off from three inches above the deck in ten inch sections, starting from just behind the liferaft and working aft.  Digging out the rot until he reached good wood and then using epoxies and epoxy glass to replace it all and build it back.  We now have no more leaks.  We are not sure if it will stay that way once we begin cruising again or not.  Mark says in order to fix it permanently we should remove part of the deck and do a glass job direct deck to coach roof.  But maybe doing just what we have done, the bond may be strong enough to hold.  Time will only tell us that.

We have completed the whole port side now.  Only need to fine sand and some paint.  We finished rough sanding on Saturday.  Now just looking for a weather window to be warm enough for paint to cure.  We noticed we have the same problem on the starboard side but no leaks there yet.  However we now have a project for next winter.  The good news is we thought we were going to be replacing the whole coach when we got down to Mexico or Southern California where there is a dry climate.  Now we realize that the coach is in pretty good shape, we just have to repair the bottom couple of inches.  We probably will still lift a portion of the deck when we get down there and glass it properly but not having to replace the whole coachroof is a relief.

Back in Alaska

We are back in Alaska.  As we predicted, our time there was too rushed and we didn't get to see everyone.  For those who made the effort to fit in with our schedule, we appreciate it to no end.  It was great seeing as many people as we did.  And we loved meeting Aspen Sky.

For those wondering, Mark passed his courses and is submitting the paperwork to the Coast Guard tomorrow.  This should give him the full international endorsement.

When we get back, it will be time to start turning Sari Timur back into a cruising boat.  Lots to do there.

Happy Easter

We Are Off to Florida

Well not quite yet.  But we leave Friday night.  Mark has to do two more courses to go along with his OIC check list that he has finally had a captain qualified to sign off.  This will give him the full international endorsement for his US Coast Guard License.  The courses are short and simple but he is looking forward to them.  The plus side is that he is bringing Pauline and we will have a mini spring break and visit relatives.

Looking forward to some warm weather, although since returning from Fairbanks we have had some amazing weather for March with day time temps in the high 40's to mid 50's.  We have been able to get a jump on a lot of work we hoped to achieve before we begin cruising again this summer.