I leave 1/4th from Ft Pierce to the Keys

Last week I took my last bike rides around town getting ready to sail south.

June 2019

They still have not finished the new marina restaurant.  When I returned from the Bahamas back in June they had torn down the old Tiki Hut and leveled the dirt.  Since then I have watched lots of concrete and steel replace the old single story open air structure. Maybe it will be open when I return next year?

 A big crane unloads steel for 2nd flr beams

Beams installed

 pouring concrete on second floor deck

raising pallets of block on second floor

Dec 29th, 2019

$15,159. my boating COSTS for December

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had some boating chores to handle...  Stuff that needs to be finished before I depart south to the Keys.  I need New Sails, a bottom paint job, and new house batteries.  Oh, and yesterday I took my two outboard motors to a guy for having them serviced.  I figured some non-boater types might be interested in what all this stuff costs.  Are you curious?

___________________________

A set of New Sails: $6,599

Main $3,300
Mizzen $1,400
Jib/Genoa $825

Bottom Job: $5,560

Hotel $350
Paint, 5gal. $1,250
Yard fees. $1,800 (haul, launch, block, storage)
Robert my helper $160
Whitacker. Labor, parts $2,000

Batteries:$2,500

4 - 4D agm house
2 - 31 agm start

Outboard service: $500
M & M outboard repairs
(impeller and a new carburetor)

Out on the town with my bucket helmet and friends.  Happy Winter Solstice and a very Merry Xmas.

- Captain Skip

Prodigal is home at the marina

 Two coats of paint on the bottom.

 My mysterious empty hotel and me in rm1

Christmas tree lights in Fort Pierce

Two Coats all over and a third at the waterline.

Finally paint under the floor lumber

where the bottom rested on posts

 Sanded prop ready for painting

new zincs being installed

2 coats of metal prop paint

Finally launching Prodigal back into the water

LYNN the question sister asked:  I was hoping the video would show the boat plopping into the water! Who drives it? When did you climb on?  *So i added this video and photo.  

(you can see on the right side a guy attaching a 'plank' for us to walk across onto Prodigal.)

The driver is up on the lift.

_______________________

Finally, it's snow bird season

with the cooler weather up north, the snow birds arrive and so do the Manatee. 

They BOTH come here for the warm weather and warmer waters.

A Manatee back at my marina

I'm getting a new bottom

 Mr. John on a break

One Coat done.

I'm now back OFF the boat - Painting

I'm living large at the Relax Inn...

While Prodigal is hauled and on land, it's not legal to stay on the boat while its in the yard.  So I got a room at the cheapest place i could imagine myself staying.  (there are other spots but they look too scary even for me.)  This empty parking lot made me think of a recent Jack Reacher novel, where a Canadian couple were held kidnapped in their room by the crazy hotel guy.  So far it's just me who is crazy!

#23 in the series, circa 2018.

What your bathroom door looks like for $45 per night.  You cant 'see' it, but a little known fact: they dont have any heaters at the Relax Inn.  Normally it's never cold here, but with the cold front passing through, it got down into the 40's last night.  Truly a Relaxing Inn!

 I'm in the little lift

 a few small barnacles growing

Today John, from Whitaker Marine, is sanding the bottom to prep for paint. John says he's working tomorrow and expects to be finished in less than a week.  I'll tell you how much it all costs when i find out.  For now I'm out $1,250 for 5 gallons of bottom paint.  It's gonna add up quickly.

"My what a nice bottom you have."    -Skip