Pierless Adventures - March 30 - Salud to Salad...

Finished plumbing the head this morning, with the exception of one fitting which Dave will be bringing to the boat next week.  With this project mostly completed, we can put the head back together and clean up the cabin a bit.  It has taken about a bag and a half, but we got it done.

Last year, we were puzzled by the sounds in the boat after we launched.  If you imagine yourself inside a carbonated drink bottle when the top is popped off, you would be close to hearing the sounds inside the boat when it is in the water.  Sort of an effervescent, frying, bubbling/clicking noise that is constant and quite audible.  Turns out what we were listening to was the raucous sounds made by snapping shrimp.  I think the sound is made when they snap their claws to stun prey.  

More information at this link:     
https://ocr.org/sounds/snapping-shrimp/

We finished putting the head together, minus the one fitting we are missing.  Dave is bringing that, so we'll finish the last connection after he arrives.  

The yard painted the bottom of the boat today.  This is one of the last steps before launching on Friday.  They sand the bottom lightly, pressure wash it, then apply a new coat of paint.  Bottom paint is used to prevent marine growth on the hull.  Most bottom paints use copper and other materials to inhibit growth.  They are not very environmentally friendly, but new solutions are now available in the states that look promising and have no adverse environmental impacts.  I plan to switch to one of these new  products the next time I have the bottom painted.

Having the critical  projects done and the bottom  painted, we went out for lunch at one of the marina restaurants.  It was a nice afternoon with a welcome breeze.  A good day. 

Scott enjoying lunch and looking in need of a shave:

The camaraderie of sailors...

Being in the boatyard and by the marina, we get to meet other sailors at various stages of their journeys and lives.  Here we have Brits, Canadians, Americans and Argentinians among others.  One common thread among us is the willingness to share stories, advice, plans, materials and tools.  We have contributed to and benefited from this informal camaraderie of sailors.  As we pull surplus items out of the boat, we make them available to others in the boatyard.  Our British neighbor has given us both advice and materials for our projects.  The Argentinian next door provided advice and materials which allowed us to repair our rudder.  And, of course, Chester and Simba keep us safe here in the yard.  We are an eclectic lot, pursuing dreams, adventure and new horizons.

From  Scott:

The Mexican government has a Secretary of Salad.  This person's sole mission in life seems to be to add disapproving black octagons on food.  Ordinarily, one would expect the Secretary of Salad to stick with salad and not cast evil and envious glances at crackers or soda or snacks, but I think this poor soul has some condition that requires him or her to eat only salad and that is why they throw shade at all other food.  I haven't seen the Death Stop on salads.  I have on salad dressing.  That's sad.  The poor wretch's nefarious plans have come to naught, though; I have discovered that the more Death Stops on an item, the tastier it is.  It can be used as a ranking system.  My saltines got two Death Stops, my Snickers got three, ergo, Snickers taste better than saltines.  It works because it is true.  My goal now is to find something with four or more Death Stops.  Whatever it is, I'm sure it will taste phenomenal.