Back to the Grindstone

After an extended Christmas holiday and some bitterly cold weather, it is once again time to get back to Alana and her long list of needs. In addition to scheduled maintenance on both the engine and generator, there are a number of other items that need attention:

The varnish has taken a beating, both from the sun and mechanical impact/abrasion by anchor chains, blocks, etc.; The helm pedestal needs to be completely refinished; the lifelines could stand to be replaced; two reef lines are nearing the end of their useful life (according to the halyard death panel), and of course there is the autopilot. I am in the process of completely disassembling the hydraulic ram, cleaning it and reassembling it with fresh fluid and a new solenoid valve. Jessica has generously agreed to let me do this project on her kitchen counter where I'll not have to worry about cold fingers dropping tiny parts and o-rings into the bilge.

I think I'll hold off on renewing the bottom paint and zincs until Alana reaches Georgia this spring. Hopefully I can find a yard receptive to the idea of me doing the work myself, something that was proving difficult around the Pensacola area.