Decommissioning, Day Six

Arranged for haulout next Tuesday morning (April Fool's Day). 

Met with the local boatyard's Volvo Penta Engine certified repair guy – he found the fluid leak in the saildrive, in just a few minutes. Easy, inexpensive repair.  He will do it before we return in the fall, including appropriate engine and transmission oils.  This guy knew which fluid to use in our V-P saildrive, the same info we found on-line, and different from the clown from the last storage place we were at, who both didn't know which fluid he was supposed to put in, and didn't know what he actually put in. Nice to have found a professional who knows his stuff, and will actually get the work done.

Removed bimini and connector; still have to do the dodger (a 10 minute job).

Still waiting for the local boatyard's mechanic to show up and test our water leak; don't have much hope he will show up while the boat is still in the water and has fresh (hose) water available.  And I don't care any more about them doing the work. We know where the leak is now, and especially where it is not (it's the main tank if there really is a leak), and can deal with it as soon as we get back in the fall. Either they have it fixed here (unlikely), or we go someplace that will do it. 

Delayed checking service batteries for capacity; would not replace them until fall anyway.

Refrigerator / freezer / battery killer – turned off, emptied, defrosted, prepared for several months of abandoned boat. More food and stuff removal & cleaning – Ilona washed and bleached or vinegared, and dried all dishes, utensils, cooking gear, etc. Extra food taken to food shelf (stuff we don't want to store for the summer). Boat is now about ready to be left for the spring and summer.

Bought augurs at Home Depot, to strap the boat down for hurricane season.

We plan to get out of here tomorrow. Road trip for the weekend, to visit brother and SIL, in Naples.  Nice to get away from the boat and all that work. 

Only a few things left to do when we get back here to the boat on Monday (or Tuesday AM before haulout).  Then, after haulout: boat cover on, 2" trucker straps on, fasten to the ground with big augurs.  And we will be done!