FINISHED!!!!

SHIP'S LOG:

Finished! Well, at least the fireplace. Today I installed the reflector plate below the fireplace, as a safety measure, and now the fireplace is usable and functioning . . . . .as the temperature hit 70!!! Why am I not surprised? The downside of the installation was the time that it took . . . . . . . . . .almost 3 hours! Three hours to drill 8 holes! It took 3 hours to drill 8 holes and cost 7 drill bits! All were dulled, a few were scored, and 2 got busted, but the holes were drilled. The brackets were fitted and now the fireplace is absolutely done. And I am thankful for the shop vac I bought for the boat as there were all sorts of stainless steel bits, fragments, etc. scattered in the cabin by the fireplace. . . .and stuck in my fingers. BUT IT IS DONE!!!!!

The reconstruction of the propane locker is done, the weather stripping is installed and the tanks are in place. What remains for that project is installing the regulators and wiring up the solenoid and that will be done. And next week will be dedicated to the plumbing of the water system, wiring the SAT dock(Satellite phone) and then it will be clean-up time!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

There was some type of boat show (small time) going on in the Shipyard. The Shipyard shares space will Sailing Specialties which sells ISLAND PACKETTS and BENETEAUs. There were several of the boats on the far dock all flagged-up with "For Sale" signs on them. I presume that this weekend will really be active as the weather is supposed to be nice and the time is coming to at least uncover the boats. Warm weather brings out the owners and the buyers, and since the areas devoted to parking have boats stored all over them, it will be difficult to fine a place to park . . . .at least until they drop more boats into the water.

Spring is coming fast, if it is not here already (I'm not quite sure) but it is still surprisingly chilly at the shore. The water, of course, is still very cold and would induce hypothermia quite quickly should one take a dip, and the breeze is coming off the water. As a result, the breeze is cold. Several people have asked when I will start sailing, or why haven't I gone sailing yet. Well, it is cold out on the water right now but the time is coming soon. And I can't wait. As soon as I can get the new mooring set at TYC, and the yard finishes what it is supposed to do, I am sailing!