Boat Salvage

Oh shit! What time is it? I grabbed the remote control for my air conditioner. 6:47, cool. Shower, dress, grab a cup of java and head down to Stephen's. An unknown worker killed time on a handheld game device. Pablo showed up right on time, 7:30. WTF?

We boarded the pirate boat and headed out to salvage the hull we saw three weeks ago. The hull probably originally sold for $40k, the owner was asking $2k. Stephen offered $600, take it or leave it. The glass was all in very good shape, the hatches and hinges were worthless. The glascine needed to be replaced, but it was a fine hull, A 26 foot ??? center console, walk around with a cuddy cabin. I told Stephen yesterday that there was no way in hell two people were going to unstick that boat even at high tide. The boat must weigh at least 3,000 pounds.

Twenty minutes later, or so we arrived at the boat, situated at the opening of a teak farm atop a trailer not so slowly yielding its oxidizing frame to the sea. The stern was at least a foot above the water and the boat was bow down.

I suggested we elevate the tongue of the trailer on which the boat was resting using the long planks of teak as fulcrums and moment arms of a lever. The idea was nixed and various approaches applied for an hour using such things as ropes and trying to lift the boat. Finally the man who ran the property came over. He had a proven technique that he had used.

He supervised the creation of a lever to lift the tongue of the trailer.

Huh. In any event Stephen got a hell of a hull for $600.

Monday, just another day in the life.

All the smooothie shops were closed, it is the slow season so we settled for bagels.

As we walked in Casa Verde it look like a battalion of blondes had come to storm the town.

Internet research for a friend.

Three musketeers go to Shelley and crack each other up for an hour. Various citizens are hailed as they walk or drive buy. "Don't call Rambo! He'll come over here." The funky little red van with the windscreen now made of that plastic material used to make clear flexible boat screens swerves and proceeds to backup, near hitting a couple of people in the process. No wonder a bicyclist went through the front.

You know where I can find a tailor. I need some pants mended. "Yes, you need to call... there he is." The tailor is called over, we exchange phone numbers, he lives behind my neighbor the bicycle repair person. He'll call me at 9 tomorrow morning. Sure, we'll see.

Back to Panama (City)

I'll give it shot. But I think I'm going to need a five point harness and a sturdy helmet.

God save the Queen.