Monday Moisture Check!

Winterlude has now been patiently sitting on the hard for almost three weeks -- two weeks since the bottom was sandblasted.  Keep in mind if you're curious, the moisture that we're dealing with is UNDERNEATH the barrier coat - hopefully between the gelcoat and barrier coat. 

Today's the big day -- Mike's going to check the hull for the second set of moisture readings. 

Drumroll please .....  there are a few signs of progress ... the rudder is drying, the keel is drying, random places on the hull are drying, but there are also still places where the moisture content is "pegged" on the meter -- meaning somewhere above 31 percent -- I guess it could be anywhere from 32 percent to 60 percent ... no way to know ... too high. 

Mike's going to start sanding tomorrow afternoon, hoping that all the gazillion holes we drilled in the tiny bumps will have released most of the "sap" so that his sandpaper won't immediately gum up with sap.   His rationale is if he can get some more of the bumps opened up, there are still three weeks to go before we want him to sand, prime, bottom paint and splash.  He's hoping the moisture content will drop further with the forecast dry weather, 80 degree sunny days and low humidity.  Ideal would be 15-18 percent or below ... that's probably not realistic, but some spots are showing low 20's already, so we're all keeping our fingers crossed. 

In the meantime, we're working on other projects, one of the latest is the hot water heater which hasn't worked for several years.  Who needs a hot water heater in the tropics?  But now that it's chilly at night, sometimes it might be nice.  David thinks we can replace the heating element ... now if I can just find a replacement...    :)