Progress / “Weekly update”

Pouring rain.  Progress is good regardless.  Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated for inclining.  So the measurement / rating process is on hold.  Forecast is for 3 days of 20 plus knots from WSW.

As far as the offshore work goes, all is coming together.  Bow rail is welded up, and fitted for the deck inserts.  Dave started the carpentry for these this AM before the rain.  Pulpit just needs to be polished.  Stanchions are cut, drilled, and drilled to accept base bolts.  All are back at Syd’s for welding the top hoops to the tube.  We nixed the idea of bolting them on.  Stern stanchions are pending better weather next week, and are top on Dave’s list.

Lead is in the f’ocsle.  Some permanent, some just for the incline.  Should all be permanent soon.  With the 2nd anchor and rode we are up to 500 added pounds.  Boat is sitting well.  Only about two inches of bottom paint left showing.  Greg, cause for concern?

Dave is implementing a inside / outside opening latch for the “offshore” drop board.  I had a realization that the same hardware used for the fridge and freezer lifts would work.  Really looks slick.

The Bracket for securing the mast to the step for the Bermuda race regs is complete and ready for install.  Tom patterned a nice bracket of good substance.

Tom is busy today fitting the kerosene tank inside an insulated box in the engine space.  The tank has proved to hold its pressure well, so we feel comfortable having less than immediate access to it.  Other jobs Tom has completed are a shortening of the massively long Mahogany boathook, so it will fit down the forward hitch, and a shortening of the swim ladder.  I think this ladder in it’s “half form” will actually serve us well in the Caribbean.  Nice hardware that works with the small genoa cars on the rail.  I also had him line the cap rail with short chafe strips at each belay pin where the rope turns round the bottom corner of the rail.

Dan is working on the new tiller.  He has found a piece of locust with grain that follows the curve of the tiller. The hope is to have a solid wood tiller rather than a lamination. The bronze base is complete.  The old tiller and stainless base will be our required spare.  Dan has finished the table.  It is beautiful and perfect for the boat.  My vote is to hang it in the saloon.  Easy to deploy, and well protected, nice to look at.

The bronze flush deck removable pad eyes are complete, save for polishing the eyes.  The sail slides are in the works At Don’s shop.  These are a bit labor intensive.  Our casting pattern left a lot of metal to mill out.  The genoa cars and fair leads went to Luke when he finished the pad eyes.  So they are well under way.

Other safety gear:  Flashlights and spare batteries purchased,  Ditch bag and new harnesses on the way.  Jack lines ordered through Hood Sailmakers.  Life raft stowage ready for pad eyes.  Second life ring holder complete.  Bracket for Jon Bouy TBD once lifelines are complete.  Purchased a jump pack for emergency engine start or running lights power.  First aid kit search lights and flares have been on board since launching.

The Tender is great.  I have built a lifting bridle to keep it out of the water when not in use.  It fits on deck upside down behind the mast.  I need to figure out a towing line, running light and a few other items.  I purchased a lifting strap for the outboard to get it on deck.  We are looking in to the best way to register it.  Hoping for TT DORADE.

Down below is looking good.  Lots of trim work and wire / plumbing chases done, all very nicely by Gabe.  Gabe has built the glass holder trays and is building in the removable china storage for the starboard side.  Submitted p.o for water maker.  Re working bilge pump float switches.  Sink is in and drain pump hooked up.  Galley cabinetry innards nearly done, with some very nice custom details.  Port holes are all back in and looking tight.  Fingers crossed that we have solved all the leaks in the house top.  Dave is building a proper cap for the Charlie Nobel vent hole.  The Noble will be the first thing we leave behind if room is looking scarce for the trip south.  It will look good at the IYRS dock with the original tender next summer!  Clock and Barometer are going up in the nav station as I write.

Jim is making progress.  He has ordered the WiFi extender, and is almost finished with the NEMA network configurations.  The B and G readouts at the mast have been re wired with a new robust connection.  Wondering about keeping the tough book separate and designated as a navigation computer.  My initial instinct was to load it up as a ships computer, but we may be better off using our own laptops.  I worry about viruses with the PC and am tempted to have the toughbook stripped and firewalled.  Any thoughts?  I will ask Jim.

One maintenance development:  I noticed a pronounced bit of open grain in one of the deck planks near the mast. I am a bit worried that it could develop into a crack in the Caribbean.  I could have the plank re faced 1/8″ for six feet from where it meets the spin pole chock to where it butts up to the forward hatch.  This would glue the grain and cap it so sunlight would not crack the glue.

The awning is arriving on Tuesday for a fitting.  Thoughts on a forward awning?  We have all been talking about skipping it.  But if you think it is smart, we will build it.  Other canvass work is arriving and is just stunning.  Top notch quality and inventive problem solving.  What do you think about a foam pad for the sail platform when in cruising mode.  Mer and I could sleep up there and be totally out of the way.  pad would fold in half length wise for stowage.  Sails will be hank ed on in deck bags for cruising mode.  The staysail bag makes a very nice lounger for sunbathing.

She’s coming together!  The work since sailing has been fantastic to witness.  Very impressive group who really enjoy what thy do.  It is evident in their creativeness and the quality of their output.