Tennessee River and Plans Change

Plans Change

Update on boat refit 1 September 2017.  We had planned on having the bottom job completed at Pensacola, FL in October, but with hurricane season (Harvey and Irma) we decided to have the bottom job done in Iuka, MS (Yellow Creek, just off Pickwick Lake) before heading down the Tenn-Tom Waterway at Lee Spry Marine.  We needed to slow down before reaching the Gulf of Mexico before 1 November; so, inquiring into places we could get bottom job completed and Lee Spry Marine came up.  I talked with two gentlemen while at Green Turtle Marina who had their work completed there and were impressed with the Lee Spry’s work.  I also went on Active Captain and found 14 reviews on Lee Spry Marine.  All reviews were very favorable.  Of the 14 reviews, which is rated 1 through 5, 5 being the best, 1 being the least; Lee Spry received 4.6.  Invariably, all the reviews stated Lee Spry was honest, soft spoken, and fair on prices.  They were right.  I found Lee and Jo, his wife, very welcoming, forthcoming, and just wonderful folks to talk to.

Well getting back to the work being completed.  We are having Lee take the bottom back to gelcoat, fiber glassing over the centerboard whole (we have never used the centerboard and did not want to deal with cable maintenance annually by hauling out the boat; secondly the entire centerboard will remain in place for future use); also, applying Interlux 2000E barrier coat, Petti’s Trinidad SR antifouling paint, and raise the waterline to accommodate increased weight when provisioning boat for extended curising.

Finally, work we plan to complete before continuing our river travels:

•  Reseal forward chain plates
• Install new seacock and backing plate at galley sink
• Re-plumb cockpit scupper drains to allow easy draining
• Clean, sand, coat propeller with Rust-Oleum High Performance V2100 System Galvanizing Compound Spray (93% zinc)
• Wash and polish topsides and hull
• Tung oil bright work
• Clean and organize interior boat
• Provision boat with supplies

Bruce...