The haul out saga

                                                                                      Nov 26 2013

Greetings,

          We are now tied to the wall by the boat yard we are going to “haul out” in. This yard was our second choice but the first choice was a small, family run operation, and we are at the top edge of what their travel lift can handle. When we got there this morning the lift operator took one look at Second Star and said he had to call the owner in, but he didn’t think we could do it. A father, son team owns/runs the yard. The younger Maurice came and talked to the lift operator. The operator showed Maurice and Capt. Johne a questionable shackle and a leak in the hydraulic pump on the lift and it was decided that it would be a bad idea to proceed. Maurice called a bigger yard and told them the problem and that they should give us a good price. He worked the deal for us for a little less than he had been going to charge us and he rode aboard Second Star to guide us to the other yard. I am very impressed with how much he put into good customer service when he lost a customer in the process and got nothing out of it, other than our appreciation and my recommendation that, if you have a boat smaller than Second Star and need a haul out in Cartagena see Maurice at Manzanillo Marina Club.

          Anyway, here we are at Todo Mar and we’ll haul out tomorrow morning. The next two weeks we’ll be working, working, working. The bottom will be sanded and repainted. The prop shaft seals will be resurfaced with fine sand paper and the props, shafts and struts polished and coated with “Lanacote”.  Hook needs a full going over including engine tune up, some fiberglass repair and paint.

          Last Sunday we picked Sharon up and had a go-have-fun-day. We took Second Star out of the harbor and around to the outside and anchored off the beach for the afternoon. It was better than our previous trip to the beach with all the pushy vendors and the constant “no gracias” but this time we were the big attraction for the Jet Ski tourists. They all had to come and make at least one close loop around us. We were the only boat anchored there and, I think we made a good obstacle as well as being something to look at. But it was really nice to be in the cleaner water and be able to go for a swim. We had a nice lunch and cocktails before heading back into the harbor. Just as we were coming in to anchor a squall came through so we motored around until it passed and the wind settled down again (maybe 30 minutes) then we got the anchor reset and had a lovely dinner on the aft deck before returning Sharon to Kokomo Kat.

                                                                             Nov 28 2013 1100 hrs

          Well, we’re still waiting to be hauled out. It’s going to happen this afternoon…no, really. It’s taken a while to get thought the red tape and bureaucracy, and the Latin American pace of doing things. But we have a signed contract with the yard and have paid the deposit, so I really believe we’ll get pulled today. And, if we do, I’ll definitely be giving thanks. Happy Thanksgiving to all from Second Star.

                                                                             Nov 29 2013 11045 hrs

          Okay, you were right. We’re still in the water. But they swear we’ll be pull today. I understand your skepticism. But I have to remain optimistic. After all, things do happen eventually in Latin America. I’m sure, at some point, we will be lifted.

          Last night we had a bit more frustration with communication. It’s my own fault for not being fluent in Spanish yet. We had the young man who is working for us (Ponciano) arrange for a taxi to take us into town for the cruiser pot luck. At 1705 when the taxi wasn’t here I called Ponciano (since I didn’t have the taxi’s phone number) to find out where he was. Ponciano called back a few minutes later to say the taxi was on the way. 15 Minutes later he called again to say the taxi was at the gate. But we were at the gate and there was no taxi. Now Ponciano doesn’t speak English so all of this is in my broken Spanish. It turned out the taxi had gone to a different “Todomar” not the yard where we were. I think Ponciano tried to get another taxi but with the sketchy communication my still not sure about that. After an hour we were going to be so late for the pot luck we just said never mind and came back aboard. I through a frozen smoked chicken in the microwave, made a quick rice pilaf and that, with the cranberry sauce and pumpkin and mince pies I’d made for the pot luck and a nice, dry white wine, was our Thanksgiving dinner. It was very tasty and we consider ourselves fortunate even when faced with such frustration.

                                                                                      1800 hrs

          Woohoo, we’re up. We’re on the blocks. We’ve scraped the THICK lair of barnacles off. Ponciano has raked them up and carted them off in the wheelbarrow, and now they are working on getting the power hocked up. We just had a beautiful sunset and I have a cold beer beside me. Now I just have to make dinner. Here’s to the end of a long stressful week. Cheers!