All But Ready for SPLASH!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful that I got to work on my boat all day and tomorrow is SPLASH! Everything is all but done... dock lines, fenders, and stern light tomorrow, before and after splash.

The bad news is while I was putting her name on, a gust of wind blew the exposed vinyl letters and they stuck together...beyond repair... Oh well, back to the sign shop on Monday. (If the Coast Guard comes around, I'll write the name on a sheet and hang it over the side).

I'm exhausted, so I'm going to try to get some sleep... I'm also very excited so I'm not sure if sleeping will be easy. Tomorrow is a big day! She will go back in the water after five/six years on the hard!

(Oh yeah, mom wanted to see a picture of the Galley...down at the bottom mom...love ya!).

Fair seas and God bless!

The Crunch is On!

As of this posting I have approximately 2 days, 15 hours, and 30 minutes until splash. Needless to say, the CRUNCH is on! I still have nine items to complete on the splash punch list. STRESS!!!

Today, I completed a major time consuming item - bottom prep and paint. I got almost as much paint on me as I did the bottom of the boat, but I must say, she looks great. For some reason, some of the pictures I took did not save to my phone, but I did get a few.

Rain tomorrow, so I'll be taking care of insurances, web work, and inside work.

2 Days, 15 hours, and 30 minutes! Stress?! Who me?!

Fair seas and God bless!

Living Aboard...

Well, I did it! I moved aboard Friday, November 14th and it has been great! Of course, she's still on the hard which makes it a little more difficult due to bathroom facilities not functioning when she is out of the water, but that has been a minor thing with marina facilities nearby..

The first night, I bought a few groceries and settled down with my laptop, internet, and the first season of House, M.D.. I used my two burner non-pressured alcohol stove to make my first meal aboard, (fried egg sandwiches). The sandwiches were great and I love the way the stove cooks! I then made a cup of hot chocolate and enjoyed the beginning of a this new lifestyle.

Last night, the temperature dropped into the forties and I got a little cold since I did not bring my small space heater aboard, but cold events are a rarity in South Florida so I doubt the cold will be a frequent issue. What was new was listening to the halyards as they gently knocked up against the mast as the wind picked up... I know it's weird, but I sort of liked the sounds she made as the winds taunted her during the night.

Eight more days and she will be in the water! I ordered and dated the remaining punch list items to ensure I complete them all by splash date.

Fair seas and God bless!

Moving Aboard!

The boat is reorganized and awaiting cushions, mattress, cookware, dishware, groceries, laptop, and ME! Friday, all of those things and I will move aboard. There's exactly two weeks until splashing, so I need to be onboard as much as possible to finish the last of the splash list items. Moving aboard early will accomplish that final push.

The pattern is cut for the mattress which is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. I have a WIFI booster which will enable me to pull in the weak internet signal in the yard, which will allow me to work from the boat and will provide outside communication with the world. The stove is fueled, no refrigeration as of yet, but she is livable in a camping out sort of way.

I'm excited about moving aboard...here's how she cleaned up. I can't wait to take pics tomorrow night with my Navy-Blue recovered cushions in place and my six inch custom cut mattress in place.

Fair seas and God bless!

Ready For Engine Test...

Everything associated with the engine is now complete. The throttle/gear mechanism has been installed and is functioning perfectly, (I think...), the shaft is aligned, etc. etc. etc..

Soon, I will, (with the help of a couple of fellow sailors), hook up a water supply and we will test the engine, transmission, shaft spin, water muffler, etc.. I know the engine runs great but I still want to verify the linkage, water flow, and uncover any issues before she goes back in the water.

The splash list is now down to a few items. 

"Captain, the Engine is Back Online!"

Today, after many serious skeletal contortions a fifty-six year old man should not attempt, the engine is back online. (Thank goodness for Ibuprofen). The shaft is aligned, the propeller and zinc installed, the dripless seal is installed, all hoses, wires, harnesses, and gauges are hooked up, secured, and working... with the exception of the throttle/gear mechanism. That's next.

On a non-boat refit note; my son and his family sent me a bamboo cutting board as a boat warming present. It will perfectly fit over the sink providing more utilitarian counter space... plus it's beautiful and it matches the boat, (remember, the sole is real bamboo). Thanks Jeremy, Meg, Noah, Rowan, and Everett! It's perfect! Love you guys!

This Westsail 32 is getting close to splashing!

Fair seas and God bless!

"Blood, Sweat, and Tears"

If you come from my era, you'll remember a band called, "Blood, Sweat. and Tears".  I have now contributed all of those three things to this Westsail 32 refit. No, I haven't actually cried yet, but today when the come-along caught a piece of my finger in a gear, as it slipped a gear, and as it took out a small plug of meat, tears did fill my eyes for a couple of seconds. (Spoiler Alert: If you're squeamish, there's a little blood in a couple of pictures down below). The injury was very minor but it was very painful for a moment.

The GREAT news is the now functioning, well-running engine is back in the boat. I still have to align the shaft, hook it all up, fabricate a bracket for the throttle mechanism, install the aforementioned throttle mechanism, polish the fuel in the two tanks, but hey... The engine is back in the boat and this time we KNOW it's working.

The bow running lights are hooked up and working. I should get the stern running light in place in the next couple of days, (waiting on a friend who says he has an extra one lying around somewhere).

Barring any unforeseen problems, she will splash the day after Thanksgiving and I will move aboard the night before.

There's still a ton of things to do, but the Splash List is getting small. Starting to get excited!

Fair seas and God bless!