Aug. 10, 2022 Boat Maintenace and Renaming Ceremony

Aug. 10

Been awhile since the blog was updated. Pretty good amount of work done on the boat to make sure it was all "ship-shape" as we look to start regular cruising. We decided while the engines and generator were being serviced at Marine Propulsion we might as well have a bottom job. At haulout we were astounded by the heavy growth on the running gear, I knew we certainly had some based on the poor performance we had moving the boat to their docks when I couldn't achieve a WOT run and fuel consumption was more than double the normal levels. All the barnacles got chiseled off and the rest pressure washed.

Time to scrape some barnacles!!

Then blocked up, sanded, and 2 coats of ablative paint and new zincs. While on the hard we decided to wax the hull ourselves. Nothing like sweating up a storm in Charleston's 95-degree heat and humidity with sun reflecting back at you off a glistening hull. Lots of tiring work but we were satisfied with the results after applying 2 coats. But goodness sake - 51' is A LOT of boat to wax!!! We'll leave the upper deck for professionals to wax at a later date.

Wash and wax all done. WHEW!!!

Mechanically, we gave both the engines as well as the generator the full preventive maintenance routine. Rydlime flushed through the systems to remove any buildups, then tear down all the aftercoolers and heat exchanger. Clean, test reinstall. New hoses, impellers, belts, zincs. New filters, oil changes, and coolant flush and fills. Remove and test the injectors and check and adjust the valves. That will hopefully keep the engines healthy and trouble-free for a few years.

Boat ran outstanding on our return trip to SJYH. Smooth and quiet and easily hit 2900RPM at WOT per the specs and topped out over 20mph.

We had our friends Shane, Sandy, Gene and Paula join us for a formal boat renaming ceremony on Sat afternoon. Libations poured overboard for Neptune as we implored him to expunge the old name from his records and them more libations for him and us as we asked for safe passage with As You Wish. Then of course more libations to the gods of the winds - North, East, West and South. Shane and Sandy - who were the only overnight guests we ever had on the previous As You Wish - became the first of hopefully many overnight guests on the new As You Wish.

Shane preps the champagne to go with Paula's amazing charcutiers board

Sunday we all got together for a cruise around the Stono River. Pop up rain showers were forming around us with more serious rain and waterspouts over the ocean, so we headed to the lower helm and a return to the marina. Luckily the storms either dissipated or moved off as we traveled back. It was mid-tide upon our return with the current ripping, so dockage was on an outer T head until slack tide. Then Gene and Paula acted a dockhands as we flawlessly backed into the slip like a couple of seasoned pros!