SHIP'S LOG:
Work & Weather have combined to make Wednesday D-Day, the day that work on ABISHAG finally gets underway. The unwrapping and uncovering will take place and I will get to see how kind this rather mild winter has been to her. Hopefully, very kind, which will mean that it is only repair work that needs doing.
Kevin, the owner of the sail loft, will be coming up next week to look at the rigging and determine what needs doing. He should be able to handle all of the "serious rigging work" and procure all of the needs parts, of which there shouldn't be too many. A couple of the foils need to be replaced, as do the "legs" which hold the furling drum in a straddling position over the fore stay turn buckle. Kevin will be bale to determine whether or not the stay itself needs to be changed as well. Everything else should be salvageable. Friend Fred will tackle the dismantling of the furling drum to get the last broken foil extracted. If that is because of the technical jargon it all sound a bit confusing. It just ain't nautical to call things "doohickies" and "whatsit" and "thingamabobs."
I will also get a pricing on the bow pulpit. Its legs got a little - OK a lot - bent out of shape when the tree hit, but they while structure should be salvageable, along with three or four "bothered" stanchions for the lifelines. Truth be told, aside from those repair items, the painting of the bottom is the only thing the absolutely needs to be done. That will leave lots of time for varnishing and polishing and hull painting and a whole host of little jobs that get put off for a lack of time each year. It would be great to get the potable water system function again. It would be great to get all the gauges working again. There are a ton of little pain-in-the-butt items that I would love to cross off the "Ever Growing To-Do-Projects" list and this might be the spring when I can really put a dent in them.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Black & Blue & Red Sail Work
SHIP'S LOG:
You would not believe how dangerous it can be working in a sail loft! Just in the past week, I got a "cloth cut." Most sail cloth is very stiff and if you are not careful handling it, it can cut you. It is something like a paper cut but you will bleed! I was unlucky enough to do a good job on the side of my left hand and boy did it bleed.
And that is not the only "danger!" Removing and replacing hardware on a sail, things like metal headboards, snaps, clips, rings with wire cutters, hammers, drills, hacksaws, hand presses can be just a bit dangerous. I whacked one finger tip and now have a blood blister under the nail. I shoved an awl under the cuticle on my thumb. I scored the back of my hand with a hot knife (think soldering iron). I have also stuck myself with sail maker's needles, tacks, seam rippers, and the list goes on and on! I even dropped three pound sail weight on my foot. And this was a good week.
You would not believe how dangerous it can be working in a sail loft! Just in the past week, I got a "cloth cut." Most sail cloth is very stiff and if you are not careful handling it, it can cut you. It is something like a paper cut but you will bleed! I was unlucky enough to do a good job on the side of my left hand and boy did it bleed.
And that is not the only "danger!" Removing and replacing hardware on a sail, things like metal headboards, snaps, clips, rings with wire cutters, hammers, drills, hacksaws, hand presses can be just a bit dangerous. I whacked one finger tip and now have a blood blister under the nail. I shoved an awl under the cuticle on my thumb. I scored the back of my hand with a hot knife (think soldering iron). I have also stuck myself with sail maker's needles, tacks, seam rippers, and the list goes on and on! I even dropped three pound sail weight on my foot. And this was a good week.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
It's April For Crying Out Loud! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Now that it is Post-Easter and into April, work should be underway on ABISHAG. And it wold be except for one little problem - the weather. The past few days we have been "blessed" with torrential rains, temperatures in the high 20's-to-low 30's, snow, freezing rain coating everything. Where was this in January or February when it would not have been such a big deal? The next few days promise ore snow and cold temperatures. I am hoping that it will all clear by the weekend so I can get started. work was underway last year at this time when we had been hit with mega amounts of snow, though that was in February. Maybe I should move to Florida!
Now that it is Post-Easter and into April, work should be underway on ABISHAG. And it wold be except for one little problem - the weather. The past few days we have been "blessed" with torrential rains, temperatures in the high 20's-to-low 30's, snow, freezing rain coating everything. Where was this in January or February when it would not have been such a big deal? The next few days promise ore snow and cold temperatures. I am hoping that it will all clear by the weekend so I can get started. work was underway last year at this time when we had been hit with mega amounts of snow, though that was in February. Maybe I should move to Florida!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Spring?
SHIP'S LOG:
The weather has not been particularly conducive to work on ABISHAG. First it is cold, then warm, then rainy, then snowy - no of which are very helpful for maintenance and spring work unless one has one's boat in a heated shed. Sadly, such is not the case with ABISHAG and me. No way I could afford it unless the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol finds me and so far, they have have not.
My ankle is coming along quiet well. I am out of the brace most of the time, depending on the orthotics and the stiffness of the shoes. The re-aligning and re-stretching of the muscles and ligaments and tendons continues apace and at times that is a bit painful as they "do not like" their new configuration and their strength in it is not all that great.Try lifting yourself on one foot or balancing yourself on one. Pretty easy, right? I can do the lift maybe 10 times on a good day and the balancing, well maintaining it is difficult and all I hear is the cracking of the arthritis in the joint. But as PT guys says, last week I couldn't do it at all.
I am aiming to start the work on ABISHAG in three weeks, count'em, 3! And that'll be the week before 85 year old Jim Avery splashes "LUFF AFFAIR." O the pain!
The weather has not been particularly conducive to work on ABISHAG. First it is cold, then warm, then rainy, then snowy - no of which are very helpful for maintenance and spring work unless one has one's boat in a heated shed. Sadly, such is not the case with ABISHAG and me. No way I could afford it unless the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol finds me and so far, they have have not.
My ankle is coming along quiet well. I am out of the brace most of the time, depending on the orthotics and the stiffness of the shoes. The re-aligning and re-stretching of the muscles and ligaments and tendons continues apace and at times that is a bit painful as they "do not like" their new configuration and their strength in it is not all that great.Try lifting yourself on one foot or balancing yourself on one. Pretty easy, right? I can do the lift maybe 10 times on a good day and the balancing, well maintaining it is difficult and all I hear is the cracking of the arthritis in the joint. But as PT guys says, last week I couldn't do it at all.
I am aiming to start the work on ABISHAG in three weeks, count'em, 3! And that'll be the week before 85 year old Jim Avery splashes "LUFF AFFAIR." O the pain!
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Hey, It Was A Good Week!
SHIP'S LOG:
As these things go, it was a good week. I got a "pay check" from the sail loft, I didn't sew any fingers together (a first), and my ankle actually does seem to be getting better. My knees, however, hurt worse than ever and I am giving serious consideration of going to ortho-guy #1 and get a getting a cortisone shot with a little pain killer mixed in. It is good for a couple of weeks and it would be great to walk around pain free for a little while.
This coming week boast a visit to "ankle-ortho-guy" on Tuesday and a visit with the Coast Guard in East Haven on Wednesday. I will be "Co- Launch" Chairman at TYC this coming season and I have little idea what the job actually entails. Alex, the other Co-Chairman, will handle the mechanical side which leaves me with the administrative side, ie. dealing with the Coast Guard and keeping the launch and skiff up to regulation. The Coasties have been very interested in our little launch, stopping by at least once a season for an inspection. I know of no season where we got away clean. There is always some little thing they nail us on. Last year, of all things, they got us for not having kid-sized PDF's and not have the TYC name on all of the PDF's. Such annoying failures are easily remedied and we always pass the inspection the second time, but some gremlins always seem to sneak in over the winter and fool with something that gets us in hack again. The meeting Wednesday is an updating on rules and regulations and we get to see what new things they will try and get us on. Ah, safety first!
As these things go, it was a good week. I got a "pay check" from the sail loft, I didn't sew any fingers together (a first), and my ankle actually does seem to be getting better. My knees, however, hurt worse than ever and I am giving serious consideration of going to ortho-guy #1 and get a getting a cortisone shot with a little pain killer mixed in. It is good for a couple of weeks and it would be great to walk around pain free for a little while.
This coming week boast a visit to "ankle-ortho-guy" on Tuesday and a visit with the Coast Guard in East Haven on Wednesday. I will be "Co- Launch" Chairman at TYC this coming season and I have little idea what the job actually entails. Alex, the other Co-Chairman, will handle the mechanical side which leaves me with the administrative side, ie. dealing with the Coast Guard and keeping the launch and skiff up to regulation. The Coasties have been very interested in our little launch, stopping by at least once a season for an inspection. I know of no season where we got away clean. There is always some little thing they nail us on. Last year, of all things, they got us for not having kid-sized PDF's and not have the TYC name on all of the PDF's. Such annoying failures are easily remedied and we always pass the inspection the second time, but some gremlins always seem to sneak in over the winter and fool with something that gets us in hack again. The meeting Wednesday is an updating on rules and regulations and we get to see what new things they will try and get us on. Ah, safety first!
Friday, February 12, 2016
Winter Has Arrived!
SHIP'S LOG:
Winter has decided to put in an appearance. After weeks, nay months, of above average temperatures and no precipitation, we have gotten cold weather and snow, both of which I hate! Evidently this weekend, the temperature is to slip down into the single numbers if not lower, and where am i headed? Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, the heart of sky country. Actually, this in an annual event where several college buddies get together to reminisce, play pinochle and drink ourselves insensate. We shan't be venturing outside except to leave which we shall do on Monday.
I am back at work in the sail loft. If I do a lot of sitting, I can work almost a whole day. Sitting means being in " the pit' - a hole build into the floor with a sewing machine added which makes it easier to sew sails and do repairs. The loft has a couple of new, air driven sewing machines which take a bit of getting use to. So far I have shot a needle through my two index fingers. Doesn't hurt all that much but they do bleed like crazy.
The Coasties dropped off 27 sails to be worked on and we have 19 sets of sails for Rhodes 19 to be built, so there will be plenty of work for next week and the week after. Hopefully, a lot will be the sitting down kind as the ankle still doesn't tolerate a lot of standing on it. It screams and cries and gets cranky and then shows its upset by swelling up. PT says it is normal. Spending a lot of time on my feet means I might be able to do 4 hours in the loft. In such a case there is less of a chance of sewing my fingers together!
Winter has decided to put in an appearance. After weeks, nay months, of above average temperatures and no precipitation, we have gotten cold weather and snow, both of which I hate! Evidently this weekend, the temperature is to slip down into the single numbers if not lower, and where am i headed? Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, the heart of sky country. Actually, this in an annual event where several college buddies get together to reminisce, play pinochle and drink ourselves insensate. We shan't be venturing outside except to leave which we shall do on Monday.
I am back at work in the sail loft. If I do a lot of sitting, I can work almost a whole day. Sitting means being in " the pit' - a hole build into the floor with a sewing machine added which makes it easier to sew sails and do repairs. The loft has a couple of new, air driven sewing machines which take a bit of getting use to. So far I have shot a needle through my two index fingers. Doesn't hurt all that much but they do bleed like crazy.
The Coasties dropped off 27 sails to be worked on and we have 19 sets of sails for Rhodes 19 to be built, so there will be plenty of work for next week and the week after. Hopefully, a lot will be the sitting down kind as the ankle still doesn't tolerate a lot of standing on it. It screams and cries and gets cranky and then shows its upset by swelling up. PT says it is normal. Spending a lot of time on my feet means I might be able to do 4 hours in the loft. In such a case there is less of a chance of sewing my fingers together!
Thursday, January 21, 2016
SHIP'S LOG:
Unfortunately, there isn't a great deal to write about sailing in the winter time. I will not be going to Key West Race Week nor will I be participating in the Force Five Nationals in Key Largo in February, though several from TYC will be there racing. Unless one is in a heated shed, there is very little one can do aboard because of the temperature.It doesn't have to be "brutally cold"it just has to be cold enough for paints, varnishes , caulks and adhesives do do their thing.That's where we happen to be right now . . .not in a heated shed!
There is a real possibility that we will get some serious snow this weekend which will put a further damper on maintenance activities in the days and weeks ahead. This snow will probably not go away as the temperature is expected to drop sufficiently to keep it around for awhile. But the end of February will see the beginning of maintenance come whatever.
Speaking of maintenance, my ankle continues to improve. I should be out of the "boot cast" by week's end and into a smaller brace. This will allow me to work in the sail loft for Kevin and make a few bucks on the side. This recovery seems to be taking forever and the real downside is that it is pointing out just how much I have to get the right knee worked on.Walking correctly on the left leg after years makes it clear how damaged the cartilage is in the right . Ah such is life!
Unfortunately, there isn't a great deal to write about sailing in the winter time. I will not be going to Key West Race Week nor will I be participating in the Force Five Nationals in Key Largo in February, though several from TYC will be there racing. Unless one is in a heated shed, there is very little one can do aboard because of the temperature.It doesn't have to be "brutally cold"it just has to be cold enough for paints, varnishes , caulks and adhesives do do their thing.That's where we happen to be right now . . .not in a heated shed!
There is a real possibility that we will get some serious snow this weekend which will put a further damper on maintenance activities in the days and weeks ahead. This snow will probably not go away as the temperature is expected to drop sufficiently to keep it around for awhile. But the end of February will see the beginning of maintenance come whatever.
Speaking of maintenance, my ankle continues to improve. I should be out of the "boot cast" by week's end and into a smaller brace. This will allow me to work in the sail loft for Kevin and make a few bucks on the side. This recovery seems to be taking forever and the real downside is that it is pointing out just how much I have to get the right knee worked on.Walking correctly on the left leg after years makes it clear how damaged the cartilage is in the right . Ah such is life!
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