Winter is a good time to work on things you didn't get done last summer. My list is always long and I never get everything done but it keeps me out of the "Pool Halls". Last year I built a bimini top, canvas and support structure. This winter I was not quite so ambitious. In the last log entry I mentioned taking the coach top or cabin top rails off the boat to refinish them. This project had two purposes. First, the wood needed refinishing and second, the companionway (hatch from the cockpit to the cabin) is hard to open and I was thinking I could clean the area and make it work better. At home, I cleaned sanded and refinished the wood with an extremely expensive concoction called Bristol Finish. It makes the wood look great, like it is still wet and is very durable. The finish I put on last year still looks great and the plan is that the job will be done less often. I did several small projects this winter. The list includes a helm seat so the helmsman can see over the cabin top without standing, a propane locker to hold propane tanks outside the cabin. I sewed a cover for the coach roof so I won't have to refinish the wood as often. I also rebuilt two sheaves (pulleys) on the traveler.
Winter Project Pictures
Winter Projects - Movie
Saturday March 11, 2006
The Very First Mate and I left on Friday night because I would need all of Saturday to get the coach top rails, and traveler back on the boat. The weather was simply spectacular which was somewhat unexpected if you look at a calendar. I wished the boat had not been torn apart because the absence of a traveler would have made sailing impossible. I proceeded to replace the missing parts and with the some help I got finished by mid afternoon. There was a lot of "boat work" going on around the dock. Several vessels got their spring bath and there was lots of activity. In the last few weeks, "Wind Dance" got a new engine and "Motivation" got a complete deck rebuild, which looks very nice.
After the week I had had at work and the long drive and the day's work on the boat, by mid afternoon, I was exhausted. I got a shower and we enjoyed socializing with our good friends and dock mates. We had a nice dinner with Richard and Francis and the newest member of their family, Nikki the dog. Francis rescued Nikki from an abusive owner. This situation gives new meaning to the term "Lucky Dog". We turned in very early.
Sunday March 12, 2006
We hated to leave but we are still working for a living. We left mid morning because we had to make a detour into town. I needed a few parts from the Provision Company. Unfortunately most of the items we need simply cannot be purchased at Home Depot. I still have at least a day's work on spring maintenance projects but hopefully we will be sailing by mid April.
Winter Project Pictures
Winter Projects - Movie