While it's been a bit different this morning with all the usual changes that daylight savings brings with it, we are thriled it's finally here! Besides the initial few days of getting our bodies accustomed to the earlier starts, it's also a welcome change to gain more daylight hours and the general feeling and motivation that Spring brings with it!

Since removing the shed the main priority was to finish the stainless work on the aft rail and bow rail so we can mount those and finish the lifelines. We also had to make a plan getting on and off the boat having 'lost' our scaffold steps so Pete found a solution so we can use the steps that usually go on the toe rail to also be used for our steps up the transom - he's a smart man alright!

As our last blog suggested we have been busy prepping the boat in order for the scaffolding to be removed. Last week the last of the plumbing for the cockpit drains was fitted, a massive clean up on and around the boat and scaffold and all these other last minute jobs one has to do! One of these jobs included getting the sign writing organised and we are absolutely trilled with the job Vitalsigns has done - we love it and it is great to see her new name :-)

Yesterday we used the last day of the scaffolding up to do anything on the topsides that needed to be done and Pete even went around and polished the odd spot that required it and I surprisingly found enough energy to wash down all the topsides after running the Whangarei Half Marathon in the morning. The end result was a shiny and tidy looking boat and we both admired her from various angles yesterday afternoon. This is what she looks like with clear and clean deck and topsides.

Let us know what you think but we are pretty wrapped with how she looks! With all the prep done the big day has arrived and today Palmer Scaffolding has returned, 16 months since putting the scaffolding up to remove it. With them the rain came as well which didn't make their job any easier or faster but the shrink wrap is off and so is the roof structure and as you can tell in the last pic we can actually see out the sky and hear the rain drops falling on our hatches - a very unusual sight and sound after 16 long months...I'll be updating the blog soon again once the scaffold has been fully removed and the sunshine has returned so as always - watch this space!

With the last of the tracks down, chain plates back in and general waterproofing nearing completion we are getting ready to have the scaffolding removed. That means besides the waterproofing jobs we needed to have lifelines installed again and move our workshop and materials below deck and into the next area inside. Here are a few pics of the tracks and newly serviced cars, chainplates, new forward cockpit entrance hatch and washboard, repaired stanchions and new lifelines.

The odd caulking seam, new filler caps (diesel, water, waste) and no doubt a few other little jobs to complete but we can't wait to see her 'unveiled' even though we will be missing the shed and the protection from the elements - no doubt about that! But it also makes it feel like we are getting closer to launch date which we all can't wait for (especially with all the winter colds and flu getting hold of everyone). We definitely can't wait for summer to arrive and the trip back to the tropics next year!!!