Wednesday, March 31, 2010 -- 184 days until departure.  The tedious task of washing and waxing the freeboard has begun. We rented scaffolding so that we could really do a good job of washing and waxing.  This job will have to last more than a year.  Normally our work barely gets us through the summer.  It is much easier and faster this year and we are afforded more time to do a better job.  Until now because of our work schedules, we could only work on Saturdays and Sundays when the weather cooperated.  With Ken fully retired and with Linda reducing her work schedule, we can get out during the week.  This week, we intend to spend 5 days working on Escapade, which would have taken three weeks in prior years.

The batteries were fully discharged.  One of the trades was on the boat and left the batteries on.  They were weak to begin with, but we’d hoped that they’d last until mid-summer.  Ken is trying to charge them.  They appear to be taking and holding a charge.  This is surprisingly good news.

Friday, April 9 Through Sunday, April 11, 2010 -- 172 days until departure.  During the prior week, Ken spoke to Ryan of MTS and they agreed that MTS would install four new house batteries.  We also came to an agreement with Brian and Jennifer on the sale or our house.  This weekend we finished washing, polishing, and waxing the freeboard (it looks better than it ever has before), and we begin bottom painting the hull.  We are almost there.  We need to finish the bottom paint, change the zincs, and a few other minor chores, and we’ll be ready to launch. 

Linda is headed to Sarasota for the week to visit her mom (105 years old).  Ken plans to work on the bow thruster (there seems to be a little oil leak), and possibly change the zincs and finish the bottom.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 -- 169 days until departure.  Linda is in Sarasota visiting her (105 ½ year old) mom. 

Last year and two years ago, when we tried to purchase zincs for Escapade’s Side Power bow thruster from IMTRA (the manufacturer), we were told that, since IMTRA had a distributer in the area (Port Annapolis Marina), they couldn’t sell them to us directly.  Ken went to Port Annapolis Marina to purchase the zincs and was told, that while they were the IMTRA distributer, they didn’t stock those zincs and would have to order them from IMTRA.  Does this sound like a inefficient bureaucracy to anyone other them me?

The zincs that Fernstrum supplies for our keel cooler last about 2 ½ months.  Last year, Ken found a replacement (ZHC 3) with the same hole pattern which is about 4 times larger, and will last an entire season.  He purchased and installed these.  He also purchased the main electrical system zincs (ZHC 5), but did not install these because we need to bottom paint beneath.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 -- 164 days until departure.   MTS had installed the new batteries.  Ryan said that they did not find any rogue loads.  Ken moved the stuff (removed from the lazarette to facilitate the installation of the new batteries) back from the solon to the lazarette.  He painted the bow thruster tunnel and the blades, and installed the zincs. !!Escapade is ready to Launch!! Ken told the office that Escapade was ready.  They predicted that if the weather was good, they might be able to splash her toward the end of next week.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Through Friday, April 30, 2010 -- 153 days until departure.   While Escapade is ready to launch, the HHN launch schedule is crowed this time of year, so she remains on the hard.  Our work was confined to moving stuff from home to Escapade.  We also begin to install drawer glides on two drawers in the master stateroom, and a radar reflector.  Linda washed and polish the upper portion of the mast.  This job is much easier when the mast is down.