Not In Agreement Today!

April 20 - 22, 2012

Tube Dude goes on a voyage!

Brian came back from running errands with a new addition to the boat.   We now have a tube dude on our bow.   I thought that we had enough "Smillie" faces.   But, what do I know?  We have agreed to a moratorium on exterior boat "Smillie" faces -- unless they are the living breathing human kind.

Our plan to leave Longboat on Friday has been delayed for who knows how long.  Storms with high winds are predicted through Monday.  Long ago we made a rule to never push our travel in bad weather.  There are plenty of opportunities to get in trouble on the water without purposely putting ourselves at risk. 

These are nasty barnacles.  They grow on
anything that is submerged and are very
sharp.  They will cut through the side of an
inflatable dingy.

Delay number two --- On Friday we had a diver look at our bottom....that's the boat's bottom!  We have barnacles.  Don't worry, its not an STD.  A diver has to go under the boat and scrape off the build-up.  Barnacles have grown on the bow thruster, the rudder, prop, hull.....  Once these crustaceans attach, they begin to multiply.  They can reduce speed (not good on an already slow boat), decrease fuel mileage and interrupt the ability of moving parts to do their work.

 We also need our zincs replaced.  Zincs are sacrificial pieces of metal (zinc) that are attached to the boat's underside.  They save the important parts from being attacked by electrolysis.  Without the zincs all metal parts could be weakened or dissolved.  Brian said most noble metal, least noble metal -- I said too much information.  I don't really get it, but zincs are all over the boat's under water exterior. They are even inside the engine, water heater and generator.  Ours are almost dissolved....it's time to replace them or we'll be replacing expensive parts...easy decision!       

An assortment of zincs that need to be
attached below the waterline.

Gotta smile -- We're lovin the ride!