The "Docker" Gets a Facelift

After spending the months of June through September plus the Christmas/New Years holidays as landlubbers in the Carolinas, we are now back aboard the “Docker” in Vero Beach, Florida taking care of yet another round of maintenance and repairs issues in preparation for some anticipated cruising in the spring. We had planned a cruise in November after having the wood on our bowsprit refinished with a few coats of fresh varnish.

These plans were thwarted, however, when the 7-year-old vinyl enclosure on our flying bridge finally gave up the ghost after being buffeted in a fall windstorm.

Luckily, Jim Michos of Indian River Marine Canvas was available to help us out in between local boat show appearances.

Now the “Docker” sports a totally new Bimini top and enclosure with beautifully clear vinyl roll-up windows.

The old one leaked terribly every time it rained, causing problems below, as the accumulated rain water ran down a drain into a rotting hose behind the small under-counter fridge in our wet bar area, which had to be pulled out to replace the hose.

And of course there was another domino in the chain to fall as the water had leaked into the cabin below, where the ceiling had to be ripped out to replace some rotting wood before installing a new ceiling there.

Next on our agenda when these repairs are completed will be to drive back up to South Carolina for scheduled dentist appointments in early March. Hopefully, by then all of this nasty winter weather will be a thing of the past. Then we need to tackle our taxes, both federal and state (since we are officially SC residents once again), before heading back here to Vero Beach to complete preparations for an anticipated Bahamas cruise in May.