Followup...

An apology is in order. I've already apologized to the owners, Mike
and Sharon, but those who saw my original comments under this title
should have additional information:

A week ago, we were still sleep deprived, and in full panic mode.
From all appearances, we would not only lose our home, we'd have huge
bills to settle outside of our insurance coverage.

Today, we're optimistic, somewhat more rested, and looking forward to
the future.

Nothing has changed, really, other than the insurance specification
which has allowed us to keep our home - but pay for everything out of
pocket. Yet, as the huge majority of costs, as expected, would have
been labor, if we do all but the particularly skilled work (which we'd
have to engage professionals to do) ourselves, the costs can be
manageable.

The salvage company will still have to be paid, but, after all, they
did successfully retrieve our home, with minimal damage in the
process.

The yard will have to be paid, and at rates which are different than
those to which we're accustomed - and yet, the costs of literally
everything in the keys are radically higher than most places we've
been. So, those are just the costs of doing business in the middle
keys. As the owners were candid to say, part of the pricing model is
to encourage decisions. Quite possibly, had it not been for our
conversation a few days after we arrived, we'd still be trying to
figure out what to do.

Instead, we quickly came to a decision to make 'emergency repairs' -
work which would allow us to get back in the water as quickly as
possible - and limp back to St. Petersburg where we could do more
thorough repairs.

So, we talked to the contractor on the premises who specializes in
Fiberglass work, Bob Hardy. We told him what we had in mind, and
indicated that we could do the work ourselves, if he'd be willing to
consult. He readily agreed, and pointed out what we'd have to do in
the way of grinding, and said he'd be back in a day or two.

We did, and he did. Except he came loaded for bear. If you ever need
fiberglass work, I can heartily recommend this man. Singlehandedly
(well, except for the time he was doing a rudder frame, when he had a
drill in one hand and a jigsaw in the other), in less than a week,
he's got Flying Pig not just emergency repaired, but ready for bottom
paint. If I can get a good connection, I'll have the last pictures up
later tonight. Many are already there.

The best we could do was stay out of his way. So, aside from handing
him stuff occasionally, we did just that. What he's done I doubt we
could do (to the same level of quality, let alone have the right
materials available), but to even try would have taken us months. In
the end, we won't have to do anything further at all on a structural
level to the outside of the boat - it's ready to put bottom paint on,
make cosmetic paint adjustments to the topsides, and that's it!

So, for the ground price here of a few months of storage up north, but
at a massive reduction in costs had we tried to hire the work in St.
Petersburg, using our prior talented folks, we're going to be leaving
very soon. In the end, a bargain, indeed, both financially and
psychically, as to have our 8-year dream and three-year refit come to
an apparent violent end really did a number on our minds.

A week ago, I tried to find the owners to apologize for my calumny,
and in particular the fallout from those of you who emailed Keys Boat
Works, feeling we needed protection, but they'd already left on a trip
to see grandkids. I managed to find them as soon as they returned,
and, ever gracious, they accepted my apology and we moved on. I
suspect they see a fair share of folks in similar situations - about
to lose their only home, and fully traumatized by the experience,
sleep deprived, and otherwise, perhaps, not presenting their normal
selves. In any case, I was appropriately appalled at my prior
behavior, and they were inappropriately much more than gracious - I'm
not sure that in the same situation, I would have been as kind...

So, the adventure continues. We'll lick our wounds, be undyingly
grateful for the outpouring of assistance and support received from
the cruising community, and, we hope, emerge better seamen/women for
it all.

Thanks again, to all.

L8R

Skip and Lydia

Morgan 461 #2 Disaster link: http://ipphotos.com/FlyingPig.asp
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things
you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore.
Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain