Pressure cleaning in 4degC
As soon as the barge was in place, a lady started using a high pressure (cold) water cleaner to start cleaning off the hull. The temperature at the time was 4degC [it is unseasonably cold here at present]. Brrrrrr! Would not like to have been her- we did not stay until she was finished (it was a several hour job)- she would have been a block of ice. However the forecast for the following day (today) was worse with a maximum of 3degC. All very different from the 26deg last week!
We are hopeful that the surveyor will do his job today. It has been difficult to get much out of him in either French or English. However, we are banking on the fact that H2O will want to get their trailer and tractor back into service ASAP to keep him moved along.
We were pleased with the lack of growth under the barge (after 3 years in the water). Very different from the situation of a boat in Australia with the warmer salt water. H2O removed a chunk of rope which was wrapped around the propellor shaft. I (Dave) did a cursory check of rudder and propellor shaft bearings and all seemed okay. The anodes are very grubby aand need cleaning off.
We are having H2O clean out the water cooling tubes (for the engine) while they have her out of the water.
Regds,
Dave & Penny
