After my optimism of yesterday, fate had other ideas. My fault really, I should have remembered that Fertan when it is working produces a sooty deposit. Well last night it rained heavily and made a good job of dribbling little rivers of sooty deposit all down the side of the boat.
What made matters worse was that it wouldn't wash off by normal means. In the end, after trying plain water then soapy water then white spirit, all to no avail, I had to resort to cream cleaner and a nylon scouring pad. It took ages and left a white deposit on the paint which I will try and remove with hot water tomorrow. I suppose the saving grace is that we intend to repaint that side of the boat anyway, so as long as we get it properly clean, any damage to the paint surface won't matter. In fact it seemed to act a bit like T Cut, so it might be beneficial I suppose. Hey ho, tomorrow's another day.
Meanwhile Gerttie has been practising acting as the ship's figurehead by sitting on the prow.
STOP PRESS
Just as I was finishing this post I looked out of the boat window to see Gertie peering in from the gunnel outside, then there was a loud splash as she slipped off and into the water. We rushed out to see her swimming strongly for the bank and scrambling up over the newly cut rushes. So now we know she's a strong swimmer which I suppose makes the event worthwhile. She's bedraggled but none the worse for her first dip it seems.
4 comments:
It's a Cat Walk, not Gunnel! She'll be all nice and soft when she's dried off
Well done, Gertie! She’s a survivor! There is always something with painting jobs, isn’t there?
I had a similar Fertan incident a while back. No rain was forecast but happened anyway, and there were streaks from the handrails all down the boat. As you say, it’s a devil of a job to get off.
Adam I suppose I should be glad it's not just me who got caught out but you have my sympathy. Anyway we got it all off but it took a lot of work and time
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