Pierless Adventures - March 31 -

It was a busy day today.  We are scheduled to launch tomorrow afternoon, and there were a number of tasks that needed to be finished before splash time.

We started with the mast.  Always cooler in the morning for this type of a workout.  I rewired the steaming light and installed a wind indicator on top of the mast, then lubed up the sail track for the jib sail on the way down.  I don't think Scott is too fond of mast work since he is the one who has to winch me up there...

Other tasks included engine fluid check, starting/running the engine, check transmission function, clean the bilge, test all bilge pumps, clean pump filters, install  the knot meter, wash the deck, etc.  Nothing difficult, but stuff you have to check to verify it is working.

The yard finished the bottom painting today.  Pierless is looking good! 

We plan to do laundry Sunday so Dave won't be too shocked by our lowered standards of cleanliness.  Washing clothes at the marina requires special tokens.  One token to wash, one to dry.  They cost about 30 Pesos ($1.50).  You either buy them from the staff in the office, or from a guy in one of the service rooms.

We watched the launching of Pandion today.  Pandion is a unique aluminum sailboat that has been here in the yard for about two years.  It is 68 feet long, so the launch attracted more than the usual amount of attention.  Pandioni is currently owned by a family who plans to cruise with their young son.  

 

After Pandion left another cruiser came in for haulout.  They had some difficulty maneuvering with the increasing wind, but eventually made it in to the lift.  The boat, Fire Water, is a traditional full keel ocean cruiser.  The owner bought it after he got out of the navy in the early 60s and has been sailing it since.  He has crossed the Pacific 31 times and recently arrived in Mazatlan from Alaska.  He plans to head west, perhaps to the south pacific.  He is 80 years old.

I bought ice this evening, so we have officially been in Mazatlan for six bags.  That is a fair amount  of time.  We are not sure how the passage of time will be measured once we have the fridge working...

I look forward to hearing the shrimp tomorrow!

From Scott:

We have heard from numerous boat people down here that they just "kind of got stuck here."  I can see how that might happen.  No one has the part you need to fix your boat so you can leave.  I lost my pocket comb and asked Brian to pick one up for me at Walmart.  Walmart didn't have a comb.  We could try Home Depot.  They don't have PVC fittings so they might carry combs.

I took this picture of the newest model for Victor's Secret.  As you can see, it's Brian geared up for an ascent to the masthead, our third, and as I ground away on the winch I kept thinking, "don't look up...don't look up..."  I know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two.

I'm looking forward to being in the water tomorrow and having the refrigerator working.  It works by tapping in to ancient elven magic, as far as I can determine, but only if the boat is in the water. There is the real possibility of cold drinks in the future and I have to say, Mexican Coca-Cola, made with cane sugar, is about the best drink there is. So good in fact that it got 3 Death Stops and a warning not to give to children from the Secretary of Salad.

I'm going to deep-fry one.