As our work here comes to a close, we are finally getting the boat ready to sail again for the summer…I’m so excited!! It feels like we have been at the dock forever and it is time to go. We are starting on our prep work to get ready to sail, working down our to-do list every day.
First on the order of business is spring cleaning. I always worry about mold and mildew in the boat, especially in the winter months when we have the heat on inside. The hatches and portholes get condensation on the inside when we run the heat and that moisture can create mildew. Lucky for me that is the only place I found any dampness or issues. Everything inside drawers and closets was dry and mildew-free.
I used a mild bleach solution to clean the ceilings, walls, inside of cupboards, drawers and even scrubbed out the bilges. If I could get my hand into the nook or cranny, it got scrubbed! I took my time and did one cabin or area each day. The benefits of doing this massive cleaning was multi-fold. I reorganized storage areas to make space for stocking the boat and moved anything that didn’t get used frequently from our easy-to-access drawers and cupboards. I inspected all the wires and plumbing as I went along for any potential leaks or issues. We made repairs as we went along:
- Replacing caulking in the heads and shower
- Flushing the water intake into the heads with vinegar to dissolve hard water build-up
- Cleaning the grime out of the bilge pump and checking the manual pump
- Replacing a cabin light with an LED version so I can sit at the table and read at night 😊
- Tightening any loose screws and latches
- Securing all stored items for sailing (we get negligent about this when we are at the dock for long periods!)
The weather has turned awful the past 2 days, so it is a good time to get the interior work done before we go. Today I will work on planning our route and potential anchorages along the way. I love planning travel…I think the best part of a trip is imagining what we will do over the next couple of months! The anticipation gets me excited every time. The ocean is calling…it’s almost time to go!
