Our 38-ft. Silverton

No, we didn't buy a bigger boat but about half way through applying barrier coat to the bottom today, it seemed like the boat had grown by at least four feet.

Nothing like getting to know your bottom really well.

An office problem kept us from putting in a full day on Saturday but we did get half of the cockpit sole vacuumed and scrubbed in preparation for painting and moved all the stuff that had accumulated in the cockpit over the winter into the salon. We also removed some wood trim pieces and took them home where Frances thoroughly sanded them and began applying varnish.

On Sunday, we started early and donned our Tyvek suit in preparation for applying a coat of Marpro Hard Modified Epoxy barrier coat to our newly stripped bottom.

Painting the bottom of any boat isn't fun but the Marpro was easy to apply with a small foam roller. "Easy" is a relative term.  It took 2-1/2 hours but the result was about as good as it gets.

This barrier coat will be covered by one coat of black ablative bottom paint. Next year (and we hope the year after) where the ablative paint has worn off, we'll see the green barrier coat showing through and touch up with bottom paint accordingly.

While that was going on, Frances began masking the cockpit so that it could also be painted. Attention to detail is important here and Frances masks perfectly.

Then we painted the starboard side of the cockpit. Silverton painted the deck 30+ years ago and we followed the original factory lines.  Once finished, it looked very good. "Boat shoes only" next summer on Act Three, please.

One afternoon this week, we'll apply a second coat and then next weekend start the process again with the port side. At that time, the Tyvek man will also put on that coat of bottom paint.

We've listed ourselves for a launch date of Thursday, May 6.  That will give us a day or two to erect the newly repaired canvas on the bridge enclosure, start the engines, haul all the winter stuff off the boat and make it presentable in case anyone wants to join us for the slow cruise to Norwich on Sunday or Monday.

We've both had fun this winter doing all these renovations but we think it's time to quit and begin enjoying summer.