Update - Three Weeks To Go, Whoa, a CRACK in the keel?

May be the worst job in owning a boat like this.

     

     Guess what the color of the bottom paint will be?  Well, we are still prepping for our departure, still scheduled for August 10.  Here I am prepping the bottom for a fresh coat of bottom paint.  All went well, until I noticed a crack in the keel, about 5-6 inches long, located midship.  I sanded it back and there was evidence of a pressure crack too.  Not too serious, but any crack cannot be good.  There are now three layers of Kelvar, and West System to seal the crack shut.  The area received a fairing treatment as well. 

     Vicki has been 'heat gun' removing all the coats (4-6 in some areas) of bright work from the hand rails.  Tough job, but she has been tenacious to the task.  She kinda wishes that she would have worked longer, and paid someone to do this task.

     I installed the new Radar, completed the swapping out of all hoses and heat exchangers, removed the old stereo and speakers (waiting for the new ones to arrive).

      

Five Weeks Remaining Until We Cast Off The Lines And Depart

       Well, we are getting anxious.  We are working most every day on getting the Blue Willow prepped for the trip.  The Oil, Tranny, and Engine heat exchangers and related hoses have been replaced.  We are stripping some of the bright work (rails, doors etc), and will build up the top coat so that she will shine again.  We are having the hull cleaned, polished, and waxed.  The Fly Bridge canvas will be completed in another week or so.  Other items that need attention are: Bottom Paint, Davits, Microwave Power, Radar, Bike Rack and others items.
     We have determined the first few nights  that we will anchor or stop at on the first few nights.  We planned to anchor at Hessel the first night but there is a the annual antique boat show that weekend.  We wanted to avoid the very busy area, so, we have decide to go to St Ignace or Beaver Island.  We then plan a night at the Petoskey Marina, with an invite for a few folks to stop by.