Arrival of new decks

As the trucks and crew from Maritime arrived Gary and I moved into crew support.  I also had to clean all the stainless fittings to be reembedded later.  Gary had so many jobs I can't even list them all.  

Back side of the new panels

Maritime has their own products of sealant and epoxy

Deck arrival!
Here is Freddie when the big truck brought the new decks!  Ureka! The end is in sight!

Some of the fine front joinery work 

Fitted and read to be bedded down

Beginning of the caulk process on coach

Chris adding caulk to a tricky panel

The new decks have arrived and are being installed!  The rain has been a big factor in when the crew can work, but we have had enough days to really get further along.  I hope all will be done by the end of June.  Hard to believe we started at the beginning of May to deconstruct.  We have moved 3 times to get the best working area.

Coach panels arrive!

Maritime crew installing

Freddie keeping things straight

Fitted and ready

Epoxied down and weighted

We really want to thank the Maritime crew and all the neighbors at Harbortown Marina.  We are the talk of the walk, that 's for sure!

new decks

Pattern Day

We have waited 6 years to replace our teak decks on Miss Em. I knew it would be a invasive, time consuming project. I didn't realize that we would have to rip up so much of the inside to get at the few cleats we would have to move.  Living through deconstruction is much more difficult than my wildest dreams (nightmares).  The way Gary and I get through these times is to work hard and laugh hard.  I offer up our agony.

the black tarry stuff under the old teak

the white tape covers over a thousand screw holes

Gary removed all the screws and sanded the black stuff off.  Then he countersunk the holes and filled them with epoxy.  Then he removed all the embedded teak panels on the cabin roof and filled the channels up with epoxy.

epoxied  screw holes

cabin panel dug out 

panels out epoxy done

I had a few projects also.  Our toe rail was due to be taken down to raw wood and varnished.  Last professionals took a month and I won't share the price.  So I worked around Gary and the weather.

Now the real fun started inside our living quarters.   This is when most women jump ship.  I know because I was ready.  Unfortunely, I didn't get any good offers.  And someone had to watch Gary.

Gary was in the kitchen!

Arrrgh! 

Gary was here!

Gary was here a lot!

Tomorrow  Maritime Wood products will arrive to start putting on the new teak.  KEEP YOUR HOPES UP AS WE WILL!

Ft. Pierce down time

Even on a windy day locals find a lot to do.  The beach has a beautiful walkway to the end of the jeddies. 

Wind surfers were fun to watch

Colorful kites!

Kids having fun

Manatees swimming

Great Mural of Ft. Pierce History

The great peacock Debate

Peacocks have been prolific in Downton Ft. Pierce as a flock of 20 run around in and out of traffic.  There is even a peacock crossing sign.

Strutting his stuff

We tried to enjoy some of the places that are so fun here at Ft. Pierce.  Beautiful beaches and historic homes are the perks of being here.  There are lots of great art and murels on the older buildings,

Father's Day at Manatee Beach Bar

Beautiful view of Ft. Pierce Inlet   

Dirk and Nancy meet us at Ft. Pierce

Friends we hadn't seen in years came in to the Ft. Pierce Inlet and we were able to have a great 2 days with them and their great boat Renegade.  Dirk and Nancy were buddies when we first got Divine Miss Em and were at St. Andrew Marina.  They left cruising in a ODay called Tybee Time and have never looked back.  Many miles  and now a Vagabond Later, we were able to enjoy a nice evening on their beautiful boat.

Dingying in for a visit and fun

Dirk and Nancy's Renegade
Check out thie blogspot for greater pictures

Fun ubering to Walmart and then dink loading

We loved the pictures of the Bahamas Dirk showed us.  I am looking forward to many trips in the future for Miss Em.

Boat Projects in Ft. Pierce

The removal and replacement of the teak decks is underway.  Gary has been working hard to take out the hundreds of screws and sealing them. We have waited so many years to get here, I am a little giddy.  My job is brightwork and keeping the captain fed.  Gary's is everything else.

Taping the screw holes after removal

All the way to the front

Nasty mess to be sanded off

Top panels to be dug out and re-embedded

Before

After sanding

Thanks to Whiticar for help, and to Maritime Wood Products, who will do the teak decks!  More later!