Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Baby Steps

This week has been frustrating to say the least. Between daily rain, work, and a twisted knee, not much has been accomplished in boatwork. At best, this week can be described as a "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny" Baby Steps week.

I managed to get the instrument panel reinstalled and hooked up... that's all... period. Like I said, a Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Baby Steps week. ACTUALLY ONE BABY STEP!

If the knee will stop hurting and the rain will stop falling, next week will be better.

Thanks for stopping by.

Fair seas and God bless!

Lightning Dissipator

The lightning dissipator is installed and the mast is ready to be stepped, (unless I decide to install mast steps...debating...). I tested the wiring with the new LED bulbs installed and everything works great. Of course, it being a bright day the LED's did not boast their brightness as well as they do in the dark.

Still waiting on advice from WOA and WOA FB concerning the whisker stays. I posted the following on both sites:

Are the whisker stays only 3/16" SS wire? I have to replace mine and have that size SS wire available, but it is definitely smaller than what I'm replacing.

Also, if 3/16" is ok, (I'm guessing it is since WS Parts list the whisker stays as 3/16"), what size turnbuckle should be used?

Any help with this question(s) would be appreciated.
Pics below... thanks for stopping by.

Fair seas and God bless!

Inch by Inch...It's a Cinch...

From the first moment he walked into the classroom and for the entire duration of my enrollment at Harding University, Joe Jones would constantly say, "Inch by inch - it's a cinch; yard by yard - it's too hard." As cliche as that might sound, it was that simple saying that helped me NOT to become overwhelmed with the workload placed upon me while in such an intense program.

Ironically, I have found myself lately quoting that cliche over and over in regard to the refit of Domina Mari. If I look at everything that has to be accomplished for the refit to be successful and complete, IT'S TOO HARD! [see the Punch List] So, "Inch by inch..." [Thanks Joe].

Today, I managed to inch toward the goal line...

The rudder is prepped, ready for paint, and then, reinstall.

Because the marina I'm moving her to would probably not appreciate my sanding the caprails and tons of sawdust polluting their pretty blue water there, I am doing the sanding here on the hard now and will complete the wood repairs at the marina later.

Thanks for stopping by.

...and of course, my buddy helped!

Fair seas and God bless!

Standing Rigging... Check!

After about two to three weeks of piecing together the standing rigging like a jigsaw puzzle, the mast's standing rigging is finished... I think. (Don't worry, I'll have a Westsail friend check everything out before the mast is stepped). 

Tomorrow, I'm going to check out two Westsails in the yard and take pics of their boom setup and then try to finish the boom. I've asked for help on FB Westsail and have got very little response, so I'll have to go take some pics myself. Guess everyone is busy.

The new running rigging is in from California, (thanks Bud Talpin), and a Westsail friend is going to help me install the new running rigging. Hopefully, in the next two weeks, a crane will arrive to step the mast. That will be a big day, I'll timelapse the job.

Thanks for stopping by...

Fair seas and God bless!

"Anchor's Away!"

Domina Mari came with a 35 lb. hinged plow anchor, 200 ft. of rode and 100 ft. 3/8" galvanized anchor chain. It is now in its place waiting to taste salt water again. Mind you, my shoulders are a little sore but everything is done as to the first anchor. The 2nd anchor is a 30 lb. fluke and another 300 ft of rode. Another job on the list.

I also did some work on the standing rigging, namely, the boom. I'm waiting on my RG8 VHF cable to come and the standing rigging will be done. (If anyone has good pics of their W32 boom and how they're rigged, it would be appreciated).

Here's a few pics from today...

Fair seas and God bless!

Stopping to "Smell the Roses"

Almost every evening I'm free or can finagle the time, I'm working on the boat. Tonight, I decided to take a night off and "Smell the Roses".  

There's a dog beach nearby and I decided since my best friend, Fuji, has been so patient with the boat refit, (he suffers the heat while I refit the boat... actually, he lays in front of a fan and sleeps... but... he goes and waits), I decided to take him to the beach.

The word, "Ride" always gets him excited, but when he saw me get the leash, he knew there was something special about this ride. 

When we arrived at the beach, it was completely deserted. I took him off the leash and he immediately ceased to be ten years old and became a young puppy again. When I first met Fuji, he was very young, (maybe a year or two), he was very strong, and he was running enthusiastically through mud a foot deep toward the river on Tybee Island, GA. I couldn't help but like him from that day on... he was so happy and full of life - he still is, though age is starting to catch up with him, (10 years old this past week). Tonight, he became that enthusiastic-happy-full of life puppy again! He made me laugh out loud!

The refit of the boat is very important to me but I have to say, it was nice to stop and "Smell the Roses".

[To the die-hard boat re-fitters and sailors that follow this blog, forgive my departure from the theme...back to work tomorrow night. But isn't the whole point of cruising to stop, slow down, and smell the roses?]

"First things first...I claim this beach in the name of Fuji"

"My Beach! My Beach!"

"Wow, MY beach is big!"

"...and wet!"

"...and big!"

"Look dad, I'm running on water"

"The water taste funny...YUCK!"

Attacking the waves

"Whoops! BIG Wave...I meant to do that."

"Pulling out my Snoopy dance"

"Hope I can stay like this... IT'S COOL!"

"Because I'm Happy..." (riding home)

[Also, forgive my dog commentary but I know him well enough to know that I'm close to what he's thinking if dogs could think in words - lol].

Fair seas and God bless!