Day 19 - Finished

We did it!  19 days instead of 14 but all the sanding, preparing, anti-rusting, priming, masking and eventually painting has given us a result that we are very, very proud of.  Sid has done such a remarkable job with Jenny as support.

The new Hunters Moon - minus signwriting -

in the rain

The last few days were filled with finishing lots of little bits and pieces as well as a few bigger jobs that have really made all the difference to the finished makeover.  The gunwhale blacking was one of the finishing touches and the rubber trim on the windows was a tedious, slow task but made the windows look so much better.  The gas locker was also cleaned, rustproofed and treated with bilge paint.

Gunwhales blacked and curtains and cabin lace back inside

Window rubber trim in place

Gas locker cleaning by the smallest person!

The cratch cover was given a much needed good scrub, both inside and out and all the brass fittings were cleaned and replaced and the gangplank, pole and boat hook all fresshened up with a coat of paint ( Jenny was allowed to paint those!).  It is surprising how long all these little jobs take but it is all very satisfying when we saw the end result.

The garden looks good now it is positioned on the roof and on the bow.  The tomato plant has thrived in the polytunnel environment!

The whole project, although daunting at the outset, has been a huge learning curve and, it may sound strange but it was enjoyable.  It was tiring and the heat in the tunnel took it's toll at times but our spirits stayed up most of the time.

The support and friendship that we received from everyone at Springwood Haven was invaluable.  From our first day when we were viewed as a couple of pensioners who were going to paint their boat in two weeks - Ha! Ha! their respect grew as it was realised that the research had been done, the right tools were being used and we were not afraid to ask for help or to put in the work required to produce a very good result.  Sid was even offered a job!!  He declined!

New Buckby Can

Roof Garden in place

All the above said we can say catagorically that we will not be painting another boat - for a while!!

Out of the polytunel now and out of the marina and it is raining!!  poor Hunters Moon is getting wet.  we will be bimbling around the area for a couple of weeks now until John Leeson, the signwriter can give Hunters Moon her name back.