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| On the trailer all ready to hit water |
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| Hendo and I excited after the final coat |
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| Captain Spec |
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| *Notice the CAT tractor!! |
The day after we arrived back in La Paz we applied the final coat of paint that was needed and we made plans with the yard to put the boat back in the water. First smoothly run, simple task complete for the trip.
The boat going into the water however proved nervous times for everyone as Hendo had replaced the prop seal aswell as changed some thru hulls so he was hoping that they had sealed properly and I was just nervous about the fact these guys were putting my boat on a trailer hauled by an old cat logging skidder and driving it into the water.
As they were about to hit water they pulled back up the ramp a little and realised it wasn't straight. They hadn't set it on the trailer right so had to get the stands back out and straighten the boat up properly and re-set it. Not something you particularly want to watch when your already nervous.
Hendo was already on the boat when it hit water checking the hull for leaks. Some water was expected to leak as the prop seal has to swell from the water, which was happening, but it wasn't more than the bilge pump could keep up with, which was perfect.
Pulling out of the Marina we had our first hairy moment - we were expecting many as new sailors, but not quite so soon.
We knew that in reverse the boat would walk to starboard but not quite to the point that it did. As it was put into reverse, it instantly became like a magnetic force attracted to the rocks just past the dock.
We knew that in reverse the boat would walk to starboard but not quite to the point that it did. As it was put into reverse, it instantly became like a magnetic force attracted to the rocks just past the dock.
We were inches from smashing into them. I thought we were done. Apparently time is meant to feel like it stops at points like that, it definitely didn't feel like it, but maybe it actually did stop because somehow with Hendo yelling directions and me being somewhat responsive on the helm we fluked our way into not hitting them.
After several attempts, we managed to get it off the ramp and into open water, celebrations were in order, we hadn't shipwrecked it.
We were close enough to the rocks though, that we even did a bit of a dive on the hull to see if it had contacted. At this point, she was still pristine!
We were ready for our next obstacle... Anchoring!
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