Back on the painting this time its the white gloss on the waterline and the stern ring, the first coat of anti fouling paint put on not the easy job crawling over the cradle but has to he done.
Another day and second coat of anti foul applied. Now the outside is complete and the visitors now come in to make their comments but its all praise a difficult thing for some to do when the mouth is full of words they had to eat, but just look at the smile on Mick’s face well worth the effort says he.
Mick escapes to the marine trust next door while we start the clean up ready for the big day going down the slipway into the Tyne once again, but Mick’s not hiding he’s preparing the sail and preparing the ropes eager to get sailing and see what she does and how she handles.
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Well the long awaited day is here the Peggy is ready for the water, it’s a good day dry and a gentle breeze with tide just after lunch.
We lower the boat down the slip nice an easy, just as we leave the boatshed bright sunshine cascades over the glossy new paint a perfect photo shot.
When we reach the half way point on the slip we stop and Mick starts work on the mast lifting and setting the ropes, we connect the bilge pump to the batteries. When a boats been out the water for some time they always take some water until the planks swell, better to be ready just in case.
The tide has come up now and all’s ready, so down with the cradle the last few yards and she’s afloat and looking great. Quite a good turn out to see her in all her glory, a proud moment of satisfaction for me. This makes it all worthwhile doing a job you love and being able to say I did that.
Saving a bit of history as well.
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