SHIP'S LOG:
It is very interesting that the Coast Guard continues to issue a notice to mariners about the current water temps. This past week, while the air temp has been in the mid to high 60's, the water temperature is somewhere in the mid to low 40's! That's almost instantaneous hypothermia and the danger will continue until the water warms . . . and I am not too sure when exactly that will happen.
ABISHAG is my first multi-masted boat. It means a bit of change in Flag etiquette. The be proper and "BRISTOL", the national ensign ( the flag of the country of registry) needs to be flow from the leech of the furthest aft most sail, which means in my case, the leech of the Mizzen sail. I could technically have the flag on a staff on the tariff rail, but with the wind steering vane, the boarding ladder, the dingy and davits it would get lost and probably wouldn't stream worth a damn. So I decided to attach a small block on the topping lift for the mizzen boom( a line that holds the mizzen boon off the deck and horizontal) 2/3's of the way up. It requires stitching and whipping the block to the topping life and running a flag halyard through it. It actually went off with out a hitch. True, I almost got to experience hypothermia first hand when a leg of the workbench upon which I was standing gave way, but I was able to say myself the dip by grabbing the running backstay. The project took an hour. Why?
Well, first of all I had to lay out all of the tools necessary to complete the project. Secondly, I had to find someway to hold up the boom when I disconnected the topping life which was holding it up. Thirdly I had to lower the boom on the support ( the work bench) extend the topping lift, measure off the proper length, and sew the block to the line. All this in a wind honking about 25knots. Fourthly, standing on the work bench doing the stitching and whipping, the leg gave way. I knew I should have tended to that 25 year old rusted leg and after about 5 minutes of scared, heavy breathing and cussing, reverse the whole process and the job was done. 1 hour! Time flies when you are having fun!
I also took the time to create some waterproof tags for the thru-hulls. There are some 10 plus holes through the hull of ABISHAG that are fixed with seacocks and even after I learn what each one is and does without thinking about it, to have them marked is a good safety matter. I was able to get my hands on a few of those plastic pieces you see on wall plaques and office doors. They have two layers of different color plastic and you carve whatever you want through the top layer and let the different color below show through. Let's hear it for the dremmel tool. It does a wonderful job and while it took a while, it went successfully. Of course the writing was a bit dull, "HEAD IN," "HEAD OUT," BILGE OUT," "SINK DRAIN," etc. Even though I am dyslexic, I didn't get one of them wrong. . . . .and there is no spell check!
Hopefully, one of the MARIO BROTHERS will be by to help me plumb the water maker. I just don't have the confidence to do it by myself and it will be good to have an actually plumber there, someone who knows which way to turn a wrench.
The list is getting shorter. The three items for the yard remain: fixing the mizzen halyard, which worked before they dropped the mast but doesn't work now; re-fitting the Genoa - I could do it myself but want them to do do it. If it gets screwed up they're responsible; changing the engine lubricating oil. After that, while there will be a never ending list of things to do, none will prevent departure. Of course, departure awaits a place to go which means a mooring back on TYC in New London. After that, it becomes a "bring me that horizon" moment.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It is amazing how things are working out. If I had actually be able to rush ABISHAG to completion back in the Fall, I am not sure how good a thing it would have been. The weather in the South was really crappy this past winter and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to really learn and understand the boat. Now, I will have the summer to cruise and get comfortable with the boat. I will have the resources to fix anything that needs fix and correct what ever problems arise. I will also have a ready supply of crew and I know these waters pretty well. I will be able to practice all the things I need to practice and get comfortable "living" on ABISHAG. It is working out very well. Amazingly so. I should feel really well prepared when I do at last head South in the Fall and I can't wait for this learned and experience to start.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
HELLO?!?
SHIP'S LOG:
I spent the afternoon installing the Satellite Phone docking system. This is a dock into which you place the SAT phone which charges the battery and allows the use of external antenna. Without it, I would have to be outside so that the antenna on the SAT Phone can "see" a satellite so I can make a phone call. This also allows me to hook up my computer when I am out of sight of a WIFI not spot. So it is an important piece of equipment.
To install it, I had to set the antenna on the aft rail so that the antenna has a clear and unobstructed view of the sky. Once located, I had to run the antenna cables (yes two 2 cables) from the antenna to the dock's location at the navigation station in the center of the boat. It sounds simple, and in truth it was, but while the process was simple, the execution was not. It required drilling a hole into the deck and feed the cables through it , between the bottom of the deck and the ceiling and through two bulkheads. The pain-in-the-ass part was feeding the cable through the hole in the deck and then going into the aft cabin, taking down the ceiling tiles and stringing the cable to the first bulk head. Then drill a hole through the bulkhead into the cockpit locker, first crawling into the locker to make sure that I wouldn't drill into any of the electrical equipment attached to that bulkhead in the locker. Then out of the locker, down into the boat and back to the aft cabin. Feed the wire through the new hole and tie up the cables. Then reinstalling the ceiling tiles. Then it is back outside and down into the locker and running the cables across the ceiling of the cockpit locker, attaching them to other cables in the locker. Then it is up out of the locker and down into the boat and to the Nav station to position the SAT Phone dock on the bulkhead above the Nav desk. with measuring over the Nav station, it was back into the locker to apply the measurements to the opposite of the bulkhead. This was done twice(It is a boating thing) and then the pilot hole was drilled. Then I enlarged it to allow the cable to pass through. Of course, antenna cables, like all wires, come in two sizes only, too short or way too long. You always take the "way-too-long" size as you can always make it shorter . . . if necessary. The cables had to be coiled up and fixed in place with wire ties. That being done, the cables were connected to the dock and the dock screwed to the bulkhead. And it was done!!!! Well, 99% done as there is still the need to run power to the dock for it to work. Another 99% done project.
I am sure that it doesn't sound like it should have taken the entire afternoon and it probably would not have done so had there been more room in the cockpit locker. Trying to position myself in the locker; to drill the holes; to string the cable (which was stiff and inflexible, with a mind and will of its own); tie the cables off to others in the locker by imagination (having to tie them off without being able to see them while doing it); getting poked all over by various items in the locker (like the handles to the thru-hulls). It was not a great deal of fun and the contorted positions I was in did a real job on my bad hip..... and there was no rum on the boat! But, it all got done, well 99% of it anyway.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I really felt great today after the day was done. Another major project done. A great sense of satisfaction and the feeling that the seasons is getting closer and closer. Two 43 foot sailboats that had been stored in the yard for the winter, got splashed and headed off to their summer homes, one to Guilford and one to Stonington. I wanted to do the same and will soon, but not right now. It is cold out there as indicated by the fact that the crews on the two boats we dressed like they were planning an assault on Mount Everest! Still . . . . . . . . O well, it will happen.
I spent the afternoon installing the Satellite Phone docking system. This is a dock into which you place the SAT phone which charges the battery and allows the use of external antenna. Without it, I would have to be outside so that the antenna on the SAT Phone can "see" a satellite so I can make a phone call. This also allows me to hook up my computer when I am out of sight of a WIFI not spot. So it is an important piece of equipment.
To install it, I had to set the antenna on the aft rail so that the antenna has a clear and unobstructed view of the sky. Once located, I had to run the antenna cables (yes two 2 cables) from the antenna to the dock's location at the navigation station in the center of the boat. It sounds simple, and in truth it was, but while the process was simple, the execution was not. It required drilling a hole into the deck and feed the cables through it , between the bottom of the deck and the ceiling and through two bulkheads. The pain-in-the-ass part was feeding the cable through the hole in the deck and then going into the aft cabin, taking down the ceiling tiles and stringing the cable to the first bulk head. Then drill a hole through the bulkhead into the cockpit locker, first crawling into the locker to make sure that I wouldn't drill into any of the electrical equipment attached to that bulkhead in the locker. Then out of the locker, down into the boat and back to the aft cabin. Feed the wire through the new hole and tie up the cables. Then reinstalling the ceiling tiles. Then it is back outside and down into the locker and running the cables across the ceiling of the cockpit locker, attaching them to other cables in the locker. Then it is up out of the locker and down into the boat and to the Nav station to position the SAT Phone dock on the bulkhead above the Nav desk. with measuring over the Nav station, it was back into the locker to apply the measurements to the opposite of the bulkhead. This was done twice(It is a boating thing) and then the pilot hole was drilled. Then I enlarged it to allow the cable to pass through. Of course, antenna cables, like all wires, come in two sizes only, too short or way too long. You always take the "way-too-long" size as you can always make it shorter . . . if necessary. The cables had to be coiled up and fixed in place with wire ties. That being done, the cables were connected to the dock and the dock screwed to the bulkhead. And it was done!!!! Well, 99% done as there is still the need to run power to the dock for it to work. Another 99% done project.
I am sure that it doesn't sound like it should have taken the entire afternoon and it probably would not have done so had there been more room in the cockpit locker. Trying to position myself in the locker; to drill the holes; to string the cable (which was stiff and inflexible, with a mind and will of its own); tie the cables off to others in the locker by imagination (having to tie them off without being able to see them while doing it); getting poked all over by various items in the locker (like the handles to the thru-hulls). It was not a great deal of fun and the contorted positions I was in did a real job on my bad hip..... and there was no rum on the boat! But, it all got done, well 99% of it anyway.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I really felt great today after the day was done. Another major project done. A great sense of satisfaction and the feeling that the seasons is getting closer and closer. Two 43 foot sailboats that had been stored in the yard for the winter, got splashed and headed off to their summer homes, one to Guilford and one to Stonington. I wanted to do the same and will soon, but not right now. It is cold out there as indicated by the fact that the crews on the two boats we dressed like they were planning an assault on Mount Everest! Still . . . . . . . . O well, it will happen.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
PRO-PAIN DONE! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Though it took most of the afternoon, the propane locker is all finished off. . . . . well, 99% done. The regulator and solenoid ( they control and regulate the flow of propane safely) were installed, bolted to the side of the propane locker. It is a tight fit getting the tanks in afterwards but the placement was dictated also by a strut inside the boat where the blots come through. Half an inch further and the bolts would exit straight into the strut and would not be able to be anchored properly. So it becomes a question of compromise - a half an inch here and a half an inch there - and it all fits and better yet, works! The hoses from the tanks to the regulator and from there to the solenoid and from there to the stove were run and again, while a bit tight, they work. The 1% that remains to be done is to put in place a means for securing the tanks. It really shouldn't be a problem, but typically, I have another project done, 99% done.
One really good thing about this project being done is that a box of parts is now gone. It is great to be able to see the cushions in the forepeak. Basically, all that remains in the forepeak are the Genoa and sheets, the mainsail, a trash bag fill with trash bags, several rolls of paper towels, the kit bag for the dingy and two shroud rollers. In the main salon, there are three boxes eating up space. The first contains all of the items needed to finish off getting the watermaker system up and running. The next two contain all of the accouterments for installing the dock for the Satellite phone. I should be able to make those boxes disappear today. However, as some guy working on his brightwork on Sunday noted, everything you do on a boat always takes longer that anticipated. So, I'll settle for making at least one of the boxes disappear!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
As nice as the weather has been the last week, it is still surprisingly cold, or cool, down at the shore. The wind is coming off the water and the water is still quite cold. The wind is also rather strong which can be helpful in finding out which of the lines on the boat I haven't secured properly. The energy to tackle the projects is increasing and, while there are still bunches to goes, they are getting done. And it feels great. Then again, all it is going to take is a real rainy day to bring back the blahs. Hopefully before that happens, I'll be out of Mystic and back to TYC and be living aboard.
Though it took most of the afternoon, the propane locker is all finished off. . . . . well, 99% done. The regulator and solenoid ( they control and regulate the flow of propane safely) were installed, bolted to the side of the propane locker. It is a tight fit getting the tanks in afterwards but the placement was dictated also by a strut inside the boat where the blots come through. Half an inch further and the bolts would exit straight into the strut and would not be able to be anchored properly. So it becomes a question of compromise - a half an inch here and a half an inch there - and it all fits and better yet, works! The hoses from the tanks to the regulator and from there to the solenoid and from there to the stove were run and again, while a bit tight, they work. The 1% that remains to be done is to put in place a means for securing the tanks. It really shouldn't be a problem, but typically, I have another project done, 99% done.
One really good thing about this project being done is that a box of parts is now gone. It is great to be able to see the cushions in the forepeak. Basically, all that remains in the forepeak are the Genoa and sheets, the mainsail, a trash bag fill with trash bags, several rolls of paper towels, the kit bag for the dingy and two shroud rollers. In the main salon, there are three boxes eating up space. The first contains all of the items needed to finish off getting the watermaker system up and running. The next two contain all of the accouterments for installing the dock for the Satellite phone. I should be able to make those boxes disappear today. However, as some guy working on his brightwork on Sunday noted, everything you do on a boat always takes longer that anticipated. So, I'll settle for making at least one of the boxes disappear!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
As nice as the weather has been the last week, it is still surprisingly cold, or cool, down at the shore. The wind is coming off the water and the water is still quite cold. The wind is also rather strong which can be helpful in finding out which of the lines on the boat I haven't secured properly. The energy to tackle the projects is increasing and, while there are still bunches to goes, they are getting done. And it feels great. Then again, all it is going to take is a real rainy day to bring back the blahs. Hopefully before that happens, I'll be out of Mystic and back to TYC and be living aboard.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
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!
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!
Friday, April 18, 2008
WELL, IT'S A GOOD DAY . . . . . .
SHIP'S LOG:
Yes, it's a good day for singin' a song,
And it's a good day for movin' a - long;
Yes, it's a good day, how could anything go wrong,
A good day from mornin' till night.
Well, it was a good day, just like yesterday, but even warmer. This Spring type weather does things to one's mind and not many are good. That became clear when I had to rip out the recently installed weather stripping ( put it in yesterday) and replace it. Rather than installing as few pieces as possible, I used about as many as I could . . . unintentionally, of course, but, like I said, that Spring weather will do crazy things to your mind. This time, it took a lot more cutting and trimming of the weather stripping but the job should be a lot more effective. This will keep the water, rain water of seawater, out of the propane locker. Now I will be able to install the solenoid and the two tanks and the stove will be up and running. Huzzah! It's a good day . . . well, except for the rather awkward position I had to get in to do the job. Not the most comfortable position, especially for my right hip, and it let me know about it all night!
I installed the last of the Hypervent - the plastic system that goes under cushions to keep them dry. It is an inch thick plastic wire mess that is a beast to cut but it really does the job. I put it in or under, the cushions in the aft cabin and forepeak and it really works very well. It is just enough to allow the air to circulate under the cushions and keeps the moisture from building up. Thus, no mildew and no mildew smell. Huzzah! It's a good day. . . . . .
I still can't get the mainsail halyard winch to work. It will spin if the halyard is pulled but it will not turn if you use the winch handle . . . . .. which doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I have taken it apart as much as I can. I have cleaned it, greased it, cajoled it, threatened it and still can't seem to get it to work. It looks as though I will have to remove it from the mast and take it to a shop. YEAH!!!! It is not that good a day.
When I was leaving the boat, I turned of the battery switch and heard something like someone hitting the hull with a hammer. It caught me by surprise and, to overcome my boating paranoia, I turn the switch on and off to show that the sound had nothing to do with the switch. BANG! It happened again. The sound seemed to come from the aft part of the boat but I couldn't tell for sure. And trying to isolate it from sure, would require turning it on an doff several time and even then, it wouldn't necessarily isolate it. I got a hold of Don the electrician for his help. It only took him a bout five minutes to discover that it was the autopilot jerking the steering gear as it cycled on and off. Evidently one of the yard guys must have accidental flicked the switch for the auto pilot on the "voyage" the other day. Huzzah! It is a good day ! ! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Actually, it was a good day. Just getting out in the great weather and working on the boat was a great way to spend the day. Someone asked me recently what I was doing with my time and I said "Working on my boat." The response came ," You can't work on your boat all the time." Obviously the guy has a clue about boats. Maybe I can get him to come and help out. Probably do him a world of good. May I can get him to work on installing a new holding tank!
Yes, it's a good day for singin' a song,
And it's a good day for movin' a - long;
Yes, it's a good day, how could anything go wrong,
A good day from mornin' till night.
Well, it was a good day, just like yesterday, but even warmer. This Spring type weather does things to one's mind and not many are good. That became clear when I had to rip out the recently installed weather stripping ( put it in yesterday) and replace it. Rather than installing as few pieces as possible, I used about as many as I could . . . unintentionally, of course, but, like I said, that Spring weather will do crazy things to your mind. This time, it took a lot more cutting and trimming of the weather stripping but the job should be a lot more effective. This will keep the water, rain water of seawater, out of the propane locker. Now I will be able to install the solenoid and the two tanks and the stove will be up and running. Huzzah! It's a good day . . . well, except for the rather awkward position I had to get in to do the job. Not the most comfortable position, especially for my right hip, and it let me know about it all night!
I installed the last of the Hypervent - the plastic system that goes under cushions to keep them dry. It is an inch thick plastic wire mess that is a beast to cut but it really does the job. I put it in or under, the cushions in the aft cabin and forepeak and it really works very well. It is just enough to allow the air to circulate under the cushions and keeps the moisture from building up. Thus, no mildew and no mildew smell. Huzzah! It's a good day. . . . . .
I still can't get the mainsail halyard winch to work. It will spin if the halyard is pulled but it will not turn if you use the winch handle . . . . .. which doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I have taken it apart as much as I can. I have cleaned it, greased it, cajoled it, threatened it and still can't seem to get it to work. It looks as though I will have to remove it from the mast and take it to a shop. YEAH!!!! It is not that good a day.
When I was leaving the boat, I turned of the battery switch and heard something like someone hitting the hull with a hammer. It caught me by surprise and, to overcome my boating paranoia, I turn the switch on and off to show that the sound had nothing to do with the switch. BANG! It happened again. The sound seemed to come from the aft part of the boat but I couldn't tell for sure. And trying to isolate it from sure, would require turning it on an doff several time and even then, it wouldn't necessarily isolate it. I got a hold of Don the electrician for his help. It only took him a bout five minutes to discover that it was the autopilot jerking the steering gear as it cycled on and off. Evidently one of the yard guys must have accidental flicked the switch for the auto pilot on the "voyage" the other day. Huzzah! It is a good day ! ! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Actually, it was a good day. Just getting out in the great weather and working on the boat was a great way to spend the day. Someone asked me recently what I was doing with my time and I said "Working on my boat." The response came ," You can't work on your boat all the time." Obviously the guy has a clue about boats. Maybe I can get him to come and help out. Probably do him a world of good. May I can get him to work on installing a new holding tank!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF THE SEASON! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Today I took the first voyage of the season! With 2 yard guys, I backed out of the slip on "C" Dock, turned right into the Mystic River and headed toward the Sound. The wind was blowing and the temp was in the low 60's. We passed "B" Dock and then . . . .turned into slip # 12 and tied up again. A short trip engendered by the fact that the guy whose boat goes into the slip I've been in since November, got his boat splashed and need it. So it was that I had to move again. The good thing was that the engine ran fine and the boat didn't sink, and even though I only "voyaged" about 200 yards, it was great to be underway.
Back on the boat and back to work again. I fabricated a doohickie to hold the aluminum tube in the main mast around which the main sail furls. Seems to work just fine and when the wind dies a bit, I will re-install the mainsail and see if it actually works.
I also took the time to install weather stripping around the inside lip of the propane locker hatch. The water had been getting in to the locker and that is just rain and melting snow. Seawater rushing along the rail might really pour in, though if the boat is heeled that much, water in the propane locker will be the least of my problems.
I also took the time to begin the actual clean up of the boat. Stuff either had to be stowed or removed. It is tough to do for a "packratter" like me. I always save stuff on the off chance that I might need it sometime someday. That's fine when you have a house and a garage, but a little difficult when all you have is a 39' X 12' boat. I now have more than one place to sit in the main cabin which is a good thing.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I can't quite begin to express what is was like to be "underway!" To be able to look out over the bow and see Fisher's Island Sound . . . .well it just sent chills of excitement up and down my spine. It won't be long now, not long at all.
Today I took the first voyage of the season! With 2 yard guys, I backed out of the slip on "C" Dock, turned right into the Mystic River and headed toward the Sound. The wind was blowing and the temp was in the low 60's. We passed "B" Dock and then . . . .turned into slip # 12 and tied up again. A short trip engendered by the fact that the guy whose boat goes into the slip I've been in since November, got his boat splashed and need it. So it was that I had to move again. The good thing was that the engine ran fine and the boat didn't sink, and even though I only "voyaged" about 200 yards, it was great to be underway.
Back on the boat and back to work again. I fabricated a doohickie to hold the aluminum tube in the main mast around which the main sail furls. Seems to work just fine and when the wind dies a bit, I will re-install the mainsail and see if it actually works.
I also took the time to install weather stripping around the inside lip of the propane locker hatch. The water had been getting in to the locker and that is just rain and melting snow. Seawater rushing along the rail might really pour in, though if the boat is heeled that much, water in the propane locker will be the least of my problems.
I also took the time to begin the actual clean up of the boat. Stuff either had to be stowed or removed. It is tough to do for a "packratter" like me. I always save stuff on the off chance that I might need it sometime someday. That's fine when you have a house and a garage, but a little difficult when all you have is a 39' X 12' boat. I now have more than one place to sit in the main cabin which is a good thing.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I can't quite begin to express what is was like to be "underway!" To be able to look out over the bow and see Fisher's Island Sound . . . .well it just sent chills of excitement up and down my spine. It won't be long now, not long at all.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
WORK, WORK, WORK!!!!!!!!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
Here was yesterday's "Things To Do " list:
1.) Trim the flu;[]
2.) Install the bottom reflector plate;[]
3.) Install weather stripping around the deck hatch for the Propane locker;[]
4.) Install the solenoid in the propane locker;[]
5.) Rig the flag halyards on the mizzen mast;[]
6.) Re-rig the mainsail clew;[]
7.) Re-install the boarding ladder on the transom;[]
Here is what actually got done: #1, #7, and some part of #6.
Installing trim around the flu is just to make it look better, more finished. The project itself was also something akin to trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. What I had decided to use to trim this hole for the flu exiting the cabin was a leftover piece of trim from the installation of the ports in the aft head. However, the piece of trim was a 6" X 15" rectangle and the hole was a 5" diameter hole through which exited a 4" octagonal flu. It took a lot of measuring, cutting, fitting, trimming, screwing and cussing before everything was in place. It even came out pretty decent if I do say so myself. . . . and I better for no one else will.
Ken came by to help with the re-installation of the boarding ladder. This ladder on the transom was removed last fall so I could install the wind vane steering system. I do not recall why I did not re-install the ladder at that time but the delay meant that while the ladder was removed while ABISHAG was out of the water, it would be reinstalled when she was in the water, making everything exponentially harder. True, it only require the drilling of 4, count'em 4, holes but there ain't no such thing as a simple, get-it-right-the-first-time, no snafus boat project.
The first two hole along the cap rail on the transom were easy to do. The bracket on the ladder was place on the rail, spots were marked, holes were drilled . . VOILA!!! The last two were just a bit more tricky. The screws were a part of the lower bracket itself and you couldn't simply lay the bracket against the transom, mark it and drill. Nope, you had to lay the bracket "gently) against the hull, mark where the screws touched, and then guestimate how much further to extend the mark so that the bracket would lay flush to the transom. No a particularly difficult task for someone with a good eye and Ken has a good eye. True, he had to hang over the transom in a safety harness two feet above the water, but he has a good eye. I went below to the aft cabin to remove the large upholstered cushion that is set against the transom inside the boat so Ken wouldn't drill into it. And there we ran into our second difficulty. It was not really a difficulty so much as a bit of a challenge.
Originally the the bottom screws of the ladder bracket were drilled through an aluminum bar that was fiberglassed into the transom. This acted like a backing plate spreading the pressure of the ladder loads. Now with the ladder off-set, only on of the screws would penetrate this bar and we either had to hit it square or miss it completely. It took a bit of measuring but we ran the hole for the screw straight through the bar. Both holes were drill and the ladder was lower over the transom to be fitted and screwed in place.
Challenge number three: the bottom screws would not fit through the holes. Swinging the ladder into place meant that the screws came in at an acute angle and they just wouldn't fit through the hole. The ladder had to be swung out of he way and the holes drilled out with the next largest bit. Back went the ladder and it still didn't quite fit. Move the ladder again and work at the hole with the drill bit to enlarge them just a bit more. (You don't want them too big as it will make the ladder wobble.) We had to do this 3 or 4 time before the crews went in as they should.
Challenge four: While enough of one screw came through to fit it with a washer and nut to hold it in place against the transom, the one that passed through the aluminum bar came through flush, with no way to fit washer and nut to it. Remove the ladder again, and grind down the fiberglass covering the aluminum bar. Refit the ladder. Better but no good enough. Remove the ladder and grind down the aluminum bar. It took two or three more shots before there was sufficient threads exposed on the screw to fit it with a washer and nut. Finally the just was finished . . .well, almost. The ladder is has an extension that swings to the level of the ladder to use in getting on and off the boat and which swings up out of the way the rest of the time. The extension is held in place by a little piece of line but now it makes contact with a lifeline stanchion and it bangs! SO I will have to find and fit a little block of wood to fix it in place. A I said, most jobs never quite get 100% finished no matter what you do.
The mainsail furls into a housing behind the mainmast. For some reason it would not furl, retract completely, leaving too much of the clew of the sail exposed. In the heavy wind of a week ago, it unshackled the shackle and I had to tie it too the mast to keep it from destroying itself. It was in trying to reattach it that Ken and I found that the reason the furling system wasn't retracting the sail completely was that the rod, around which the mail wound itself, was detached at the bottom. We had to unfurl the mainsail and take it off completely. It appears that a small doohickey which connects the rod to the thing-a-ma-bob is absent without leave. We are going to have to come up with a brilliant fix and get the system working again.
And that was as far done with the list as I got. It doesn't seem like a great deal but it was about 6 hours work all told. But the weather was beautiful and sailing is getting closer all the time.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Now that it is almost tax day and the weather is getting warmer, the boats are getting unwrapped and some are even getting afloat. It is old a matter of time until I am asked to "vacate " the dock and head off. Un-winterizing the boat is a rather simple thing . It just takes doing. I am getting twitchy about the prospect of getting underway at last. I just want to make sure that the surprise, freaky, unexpected-but-anticipated Spring snow storms it off the books before I do so.
Here was yesterday's "Things To Do " list:
1.) Trim the flu;[]
2.) Install the bottom reflector plate;[]
3.) Install weather stripping around the deck hatch for the Propane locker;[]
4.) Install the solenoid in the propane locker;[]
5.) Rig the flag halyards on the mizzen mast;[]
6.) Re-rig the mainsail clew;[]
7.) Re-install the boarding ladder on the transom;[]
Here is what actually got done: #1, #7, and some part of #6.
Installing trim around the flu is just to make it look better, more finished. The project itself was also something akin to trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. What I had decided to use to trim this hole for the flu exiting the cabin was a leftover piece of trim from the installation of the ports in the aft head. However, the piece of trim was a 6" X 15" rectangle and the hole was a 5" diameter hole through which exited a 4" octagonal flu. It took a lot of measuring, cutting, fitting, trimming, screwing and cussing before everything was in place. It even came out pretty decent if I do say so myself. . . . and I better for no one else will.
Ken came by to help with the re-installation of the boarding ladder. This ladder on the transom was removed last fall so I could install the wind vane steering system. I do not recall why I did not re-install the ladder at that time but the delay meant that while the ladder was removed while ABISHAG was out of the water, it would be reinstalled when she was in the water, making everything exponentially harder. True, it only require the drilling of 4, count'em 4, holes but there ain't no such thing as a simple, get-it-right-the-first-time, no snafus boat project.
The first two hole along the cap rail on the transom were easy to do. The bracket on the ladder was place on the rail, spots were marked, holes were drilled . . VOILA!!! The last two were just a bit more tricky. The screws were a part of the lower bracket itself and you couldn't simply lay the bracket against the transom, mark it and drill. Nope, you had to lay the bracket "gently) against the hull, mark where the screws touched, and then guestimate how much further to extend the mark so that the bracket would lay flush to the transom. No a particularly difficult task for someone with a good eye and Ken has a good eye. True, he had to hang over the transom in a safety harness two feet above the water, but he has a good eye. I went below to the aft cabin to remove the large upholstered cushion that is set against the transom inside the boat so Ken wouldn't drill into it. And there we ran into our second difficulty. It was not really a difficulty so much as a bit of a challenge.
Originally the the bottom screws of the ladder bracket were drilled through an aluminum bar that was fiberglassed into the transom. This acted like a backing plate spreading the pressure of the ladder loads. Now with the ladder off-set, only on of the screws would penetrate this bar and we either had to hit it square or miss it completely. It took a bit of measuring but we ran the hole for the screw straight through the bar. Both holes were drill and the ladder was lower over the transom to be fitted and screwed in place.
Challenge number three: the bottom screws would not fit through the holes. Swinging the ladder into place meant that the screws came in at an acute angle and they just wouldn't fit through the hole. The ladder had to be swung out of he way and the holes drilled out with the next largest bit. Back went the ladder and it still didn't quite fit. Move the ladder again and work at the hole with the drill bit to enlarge them just a bit more. (You don't want them too big as it will make the ladder wobble.) We had to do this 3 or 4 time before the crews went in as they should.
Challenge four: While enough of one screw came through to fit it with a washer and nut to hold it in place against the transom, the one that passed through the aluminum bar came through flush, with no way to fit washer and nut to it. Remove the ladder again, and grind down the fiberglass covering the aluminum bar. Refit the ladder. Better but no good enough. Remove the ladder and grind down the aluminum bar. It took two or three more shots before there was sufficient threads exposed on the screw to fit it with a washer and nut. Finally the just was finished . . .well, almost. The ladder is has an extension that swings to the level of the ladder to use in getting on and off the boat and which swings up out of the way the rest of the time. The extension is held in place by a little piece of line but now it makes contact with a lifeline stanchion and it bangs! SO I will have to find and fit a little block of wood to fix it in place. A I said, most jobs never quite get 100% finished no matter what you do.
The mainsail furls into a housing behind the mainmast. For some reason it would not furl, retract completely, leaving too much of the clew of the sail exposed. In the heavy wind of a week ago, it unshackled the shackle and I had to tie it too the mast to keep it from destroying itself. It was in trying to reattach it that Ken and I found that the reason the furling system wasn't retracting the sail completely was that the rod, around which the mail wound itself, was detached at the bottom. We had to unfurl the mainsail and take it off completely. It appears that a small doohickey which connects the rod to the thing-a-ma-bob is absent without leave. We are going to have to come up with a brilliant fix and get the system working again.
And that was as far done with the list as I got. It doesn't seem like a great deal but it was about 6 hours work all told. But the weather was beautiful and sailing is getting closer all the time.
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Now that it is almost tax day and the weather is getting warmer, the boats are getting unwrapped and some are even getting afloat. It is old a matter of time until I am asked to "vacate " the dock and head off. Un-winterizing the boat is a rather simple thing . It just takes doing. I am getting twitchy about the prospect of getting underway at last. I just want to make sure that the surprise, freaky, unexpected-but-anticipated Spring snow storms it off the books before I do so.
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