A MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP

SHIP'S LOG:

I suppose that I should have taken the hint, but typically I didn't. I went to the boat to install the two(2) mooring bits/ Sampson Posts at the bow of the ship to take the strain off the windlass when anchoring. (Stainless steel can take a lot more punishment than bronze!) As I was driving to TYC, I kept reminding myself that I had to stop at WEST MArine to pick up a couple items I need, so naturally i forgot and drove straight to the club. I got out to the boat, set up all the items needed and set to work.

I lined up the bits and measured and drilled 8 more holes (count'em 8!) in the foredeck. It always makes me a little ill drilling holes on my boat, indeed on any boat. The process seems to oxymoronic some how. But the holes were drill and I reached for the sealant that I bought at West Mar . . . .$##@@^! O well, maybe I have some on the boat. I actually found a half-used cartridge! . . . . . . which had curred in the tube. Off to West Marine.

It only took about 20 minutes and I was back on ABISHAG putting sealant around the new holes, on the shafts of the bolts, sliding everything home and crawling into the forepeak to tighten down the nuts to hold the bits in place. I reached for my wrench with ratchet at both ends which would allow me to tighten the nuts with out the laborious process of removing the wrench and refitting it for each turn. Unfortunately, the wrench, so carefully laid out on the foredeck with the other tools was no where to be found. Despite a very diligent search, the wrench had been "raptured" into that place where all loose items on boats tend to go every once in a while. (I thought of the bungee cords that had disappeared from a cabinet only to reappear months later in that very same cabinet!) No ratchet wrench! No easier tightening of nuts! No, it was get myself into a contorted position and crank away, dropping the "spanner" every few turns, creating a loud ringing that could jar one's fillings. And doing this 8 times! Of course, what makes it even more fun is the sealant. "Just try", it challenges, "just try not get me on your hands and then on every surface you touch. Just try!" I suppose that I should be happy it comes only in black or white and not Day-Glo Orange and Green! Truth be told, I did pretty well keeping the stuff where it belongs. SO the bits are in and look spiffy! Will they work? Well, that be a whole 'nuther question.

The repair of the cockpit grating is holding up though I had to re-glue three pieces. Still looks weird though. No more weird than the epoxy repair on the engine cooling system, but then who sees the engine?

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

The work is done for the week. Time to go sailing.