Summer Be Fading Fast! ! ! ! !

SHIP'S LOG:

Seemingly every time I complete a project, and more often during a project, I encounter another project demanding to be done. Under the port settee in the salon, there is a locker that holds all sorts of spare parts, from assorted fasteners to light bulbs to odd pieces of teak to metal coat hangers, all items that have been used or will undoubtedly be used to create or repair or undertake some needed item or repair on the ABISHAG. The metal hanger, once straightened out, was the perfect tool for snaking down a scupper drain to clean out the assorted detritus that hand clogged it. Now this particular cockpit has a two part folding lid that when opened completely forms a double berth for sleeping. The hinge between the two parts that make up the folding lid is what is know as a piano hinge and is about two feet long with 12 to 15 screws in it. Over the 33 years of ABISHAG's existence, that lid and hinge have been manipulated countless times and the the thrust and pull on the screws holding it in place has pulled then out of the wood a number of times such that now they no longer have any bite. Also now, every time I dip into that locker for a part, the lip screams "FIX ME!" It was a simple fix. Put wood putty in the holes. Let dry. Screw in the screws. FINI! The only tough part was that I had to basically stand on my head to do the screwing.

I ran a bead of caulk around the caprail where it outlines the aft deck. I am not sure that it was really needed but there is/was a gap been the caprail and the edge of the back deck and at the very least, it made it look better. The last part of the deck caulking job, the removal of the tape, was done. It really came out great. It was worth the effort though I can still feel it in my hands. I have what is known as "THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME," wherein a nerve gets compressed against a bone and eventually gives you the feeling that some limb is falling asleep. Of me it is lower three fingers of my right hand. It shows up when I play guitar for too long. I guess that all that scowering out of the old caulking and the squeezing of the caulking gun putting in the new caulk irritated the nerve enough that it decided to let me know. If I sleep on the arm the wrong way, it exacerbates the situation, though I have an exercise that will relieve it. Just a little something to keep me humble and let me know that I am not in charge.

Friend Ray was unable to get by to work on the reefer, so that will be another day.

Time to go sailing.


MASTER"S PERSONAL LOG:

With all of the little projects that have gotten done by my living on the boat all summer, it has certainly become a more livable boat. Things have slowly found their places, routines have been established, and a way of living has developed. Of course, for the most part it is still a stationary existence but an at-sea,/cruising life style will not be all that different. I am beginning to think about going south. I am not sure if it will happen. God knows, literally, that i have tried a couple times already and have not met with much success. Perhaps this is the year. We'll have to wait and see. Time to go sailing now.