Help or Hindrance?

Help or Hindrance?

Monday March 29, 2021

Today we went with our friends Lynn and Lee to their boat at the Green Cove Springs Marina.  The theory was that we would help them out with some aspects of the work they are doing trying to get their boat ready to launch.  They spent three years living aboard ‘Serendipity’ before family issues caused them to put the boat on the hard.  All was not well with security in the yard.  The boat was broken into and the winches were stolen.  The companionway was left open to the elements.  That led to flooding of their boat and extensive damage to the woodwork. Even though they have made many trips back to Florida to work on her, there is still much to be done to restore the boat to her former glory.  

The interior of ‘Serendipity’ is largely teak woodwork.  There are many cabinets for storage, each with a louver door.  After the water damage, our friends took all the doors up to their home in Manhattan. There Lynn spent months sanding and varnishing them.  Now they are working on the frames of the cabinets—cleaning and sanding in preparation for varnishing to match the doors (that are still in NY).  I think it would be fair to say that they feel a bit overwhelmed from time to time. They have an entire excel spreadsheet of jobs that need doing on the boat.  

I’m embarrassed to report that we didn’t do all that much.  We cleaned the hull of the boat.  The wash down made ‘Serendipity’ look more like her old self—on the outside.  Then Mike worked on cleaning the foredeck.  I helped Lynn clean the dinghy.  While it’s much cleaner than it was, the dinghy is going to need some adhesive to re-attach many of the fittings.  By late afternoon, we were all flagging.  

Our friends kindly took us on a quick trip to Publix for some provisions. It’s now about eight o’clock and we’ve just finished putting away the grocery shopping.  Mike is starting to heat up some left-overs for dinner.  I think I might be a bit tired.

Gloria

29 53.955 N, 81 18.454 W

As you know I love hanging out in boatyards and taking abstract photos of boats. Here are a selection of shots from Green Cove Springs marina ...

Abstract - Metal boat prow

Boat Prow with some serious grinding

Serendipity - curves and anti-fouling

Serendipity - propellor

Serendipity - through-hulls

Serendipity - support stand

Serendipity - curves and through-hulls 

Sheila - the next two are for you! Grey cat hanging around the marina

Black and white cat