[Pblais]

I would agree with Sunspot Baby. If you know you'll need it - do it now and under circumstances that are yours to choose. The money saved getting the work done in what you think will be cheaper may cost a few days on land with no place to stay.

Always better to take on the hard stuff you know about before you venture off. There will always be enough surprises to fill the adventure schedule without asking for more rolls of the dice. Around here I can get it painted for less than the cost of paint and know it will be done right or I can could do it myself at a yard I know the folks that work there. Either way that sure trumps a cheaper labor rate from an unknown vendor in a place I've never been with no place to live.