All I can say is WOW, I feel like I’m floating on happiness!
Splendid’s refit is at the point of making her pretty.
Carla and I have been discussing various painting configurations for hours on end and we FINALLY found the right way to paint, not to mention the right paint itself (Sikkens two-part polyurethane). Carla did a quick mock-up of color schemes. Please give an opinion on paint jobs, and I know the dark colors are 
hotter.
Rolling & tipping is the way to go. However we don’t have to do much tipping as the balance of primer, paint, hardener, reducer, and the right rollers are perfect. The paint flows on like glass, and it’s time to whip Splendid into Bristol fashion. Remember you can click on pictures to make them bigger.
The weeks ahead are fraught with sanding the painting surface with 80 grit paper, priming, sanding with 220, and finishing with 3 coats of paint, the last being a thin & shiny coat. Even though aesthetics have nothing to do with the performance or seaworthiness of Splendid, it is still a very important aspect of captaining my boat, as it conveys the real love I have for my sailing-craft and is as important as a sound rig.
I have a vision of my retirement and is based around being able to keep my white, long-sleeve shirts clean.
My daily uniform is no shoes, cut-off khaki shorts, and a white long-sleeve shirt to keep me protected from the sun. I really enjoy a nice/clean white linen shirt but haven’t bought one for many years. I buy cheap (all cotton) shirts because they don’t last a week without getting epoxy, paint, primer, blood, 5200, or engine oil on them, and I always look a disaster. I’ll know Splendid will be done when I buy my first white linen shirt.
The little nuances in life like this are good indicators as to our path. Seeing the subtle shadows, or being awake enough to feel the stiffness of hair on the back of your neck brings us closer to freedom (consciousness). I also know Carla and I will be leaving this place soon as I’m starting to feel home-sick.
Out of all the places I’ve sailed in the world Isla Linton kind of feels like home. It doesn’t have the prettiest beaches or the best spear-fishing, nor is it the easiest place to live. Frankly, having to chicken-bus 3 hours to get to the city blows! Linton just has that certain je ne sais quoi. Something beyond my understanding makes this place feel like home.
There is one more little nuance that defines “home”for me. It’s the place I wish to be buried. Linton isn’t it. When my time comes I want it to be in the Pacific. Anywhere between the Marquesas and Fiji will do as long as it isn’t on soil, especially French. Nothing against the French people but the French government has as high of a PIMFA rating (pain in my f’n ass) as the United States.
The PIMFA level can be attained by a simple mathematical equation. P+P+P+P= the PIMFA score, 40 being the highest (worst). The four Ps being Price, Paperwork, Policies and Police. Each category can be rated between 0 and 10, and both the United States and France score perfect 40s.
Not to be too morbid but when my time does come I want to be
buried in the Pacific (at sea & whole), so I can give life back to the sea as it has nourished my body & soul throughout my life. I’ve sworn Carla to the task if she can manage, not a nice one!
So between the stiffness of the hair on the back of my neck, the feeling in my heart, and the level of motivation in my and Carla’s backs, we are gearing up to leave this place soon. And we’ll be able to do it on a stout sailing-craft with the 9999 boat projects in our wake. And I’ll do it all in a clean long-sleeve white linen shirt 
Carla (my wife) just wrote a new blog, and after reading it I smiled as I knew I married the right woman and have the right first mate.
Well I’m off to conquer (paint) the rest of the cockpit. The good news is I’ve been sleeping like a baby out of sheer exhaustion each night.
Don’t forget to give your opinion on a paint job and check out Carla’s journal under the members tab above.
Peace
Sail far and live slowly.
– alex