Will Platero float?

Platero primavera 2010

The trailer had not been moved in more than ten years!! So in order to make sure that the boat got home in one piece I decided to leave the boat floating in the pier and go work in the trailer for a week.

While on the crane we took a good look at the underside for cracks or surprises as I bought it in the spot and had not really taken a close look for any problems of the hull.

Here the original name Amanda is still on the hull. I did the correct process of burning the name in a log and float it in the water to give it back to Poseidon. Once he accepted the old name the boat was ready for the new name of Platero.

I took advantage of the lift to take a look at the centreboard. It is made out of steel and although pitted from heavy rust it looks like it could be worked on and maybe will give more years of service. That we will tackle some time in the future. It seems it weighs about 150# since most of the ballast is inside bilge of Platero

The hull needs heavy TLC!!!

Orza primaver 2010

The cable connecting to the centreboard looks in good shape. I am glad it was out int he water and in the trailer all these years.

Vista Orza promavera 2010

once Platero was in the water we tied it to the floating dock and it really showed all the work it needed. Years of neglect showed specially in the wood.

Platero bañera primavera 2010

Hopefully one day it will look much better than this

But the boat is well constructed and it shows for lots of teak and bronze fittings it was built with. Nowadays few small boats would bring such expensive materials.

Platero Washington Sailing Marina Primavera 2010

 So we left it floating for a week. The boat was well in its lines all week long and the bilge was nice and dry on my return.