After 11 days on the hard stand, we said goodbye to the Boat Works and to a few cruising mates: Splash back was first thing on Thursday morning.
The last of the maintenance was finished earlier in the week, but with specialists medical appointments clashing with our original Sea Lift time to get back in the water, we were delayed. We always have to go back in at high tide, which means it is not just a matter of changing the time of day, you have to go when the tide is right. Bengie did not mind staying on a little longer: more trotting around the yard and chewing on the palm fronds!
Anui is looking sharp and shiny, the new solar panels are powering in, the engines are serviced, everything is sparkling clean. The panels will be a game changer since we have just about doubled our production, without destroying the aesthetic of our Anui which was a big point of contention between us.
And we even have new shade cloth at the back of the cockpit and refreshed side clears. A little accident happened while the cabin top was getting painted. The wind picked up the lining sheet in the paint tray and flicked white two-pack paint onto the original black shade cloth! Poor Ryan, our shipwright, was very sorry and pick up the cost of Bevan from Marine Canvas & Trimming replacing the screen… While we were at it, we also got the side cockpit clears re-stitched as we realised the thread was all rotten and coming undone. Bevan got the entire job done in half a day, an amazing turnaround! And he got all the gunk and mould trapped inside the edges cleaned up. We could not be happier with the result.
This is our pride and joy getting put back into its element.
Although we are back in the water, we haven’t gone very far because of on-going medicals issues. The body maintenance has been progressing: clear skin, dental and cancer checks. The one problem is Chris’s severe osteoarthritis in her back and neck which makes her feel like a cripple. Further tests are required and we will be staying on the Gold Coast for another week! We also now know we will be back in Queensland in late April for multiple specialists appointments. Fingers crossed we will get to Tasmania before Christmas but there will be no turning left after our lap of the Apple Isle!
Sv-Anui 
Yay for splash back! That was a speedy haul out and glad it all went smoothly, apart from the paint accident.
Hopefully the specialists can help ease the discomfort in Chris’s back and neck. Boat life is a whole lot less fun when pain is involved…
Still hoping to see you in Tassie! Much love from us.
Hiya Helene & Graham, the shortest haulout for a few years. No Hotel California this time, at least not at Boat Works!
Tassie is still very much the plan and now thinking we’ll likely go back to the Swains with our favourite buddies next winter! 😘
Yay! I’m glad that Anui is back in her element! She looks even bigger in dry dock. I hope that Chris’ back will improve and soon. I think that Arthur is liking my right hand fingers which hurts a bit. Oh, do you have a spare prop for the dinghy engine? I see that it and the fin have dragged the bottom a lot.
Hi John, Gee you are checking the photos closely to spot the dinghy prop! Yes it has scraped the bottom a few times and no we don’t have a spare.
Arthur as you call the unwanted guest is giving me a lot of grief… not a lot of fun!
I hope you can find relief, Chris. Yes, I do look at photos closely including my own! I would carry a spar prop, they don’t cost that much for a small one like that. When I used to have a 20 foot powerboat years ago, I always had a spare prop on board and it payed off at least once.
Mostly, I was playing around with the different pitched and adding a “cup” at the trailing edge of the blades. That was back home in Michigan, there aren’t small lakes around here, just Lake Mead which is many miles east of Las Vegas. Link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mead
Good suggestion, John. Thanks for that!
You’re welcome, Chris. Be well! 😊
Comment received from Sue Marlin
Big job done on Anui, she looks great. Good news on the medical front as well, yippee. Loved the pics of Bengie chewing palm fronds. Enjoy your final week in Qld. Safe travelling south. All ok here.
Patience required and a good dose of pain killers but we will be on our way soon, Sue!
Tassie before xmas is a good aim and hopefully fair winds assist your passage
Fingers and toes crossed!
Thanks Maree… the joys of OA and getting old!
Sorry to hear about your back and neck pain Chris, that sounds like a lot to endure while sailing. Can be challenging for us codgers eh?
Boat looks amazing and shiny, like a new one!
Enjoy your next voyage chaps!
Hi Elgar, still hanging in there but might be time to make some changes… we’ll see how the next voyage goes and what the meds do!
Anui is looking good and the extra power is impressive… less compromises!
Wow that was a quick turnaround without any major extra tasks. The annual haul out & addressing issues over the past few years is starting to pay off.
Medina has been good therapy for my back & hips & plenty of Voltaren. 🤣 I agree it can be quite uncomfortable. Hope all goes well.
Cheers
Mick & Lyn
Hi guys, one of our shorter stays at Boat Works! What is slowing us down is me but Wade is thankfully patient!
Hope you are progressing well with Medina. We will be back up your way next year, so get that cat of yours to Mackay so we can play together!
Thinking of you. Good luck with everything. Hope we cross paths around Tassie early 2025.
Chris & Suzanne
Discovery II
Thanks guys!