May 30, 2013

Major milestone this week:  the aft cabin is DONE!  Had a nice dock party to celebrate and show off my work to friends and neighbors.  I got a lot of compliments and a good time was had by all.  Spent my first night sleeping in the aft cabin too.  As a result, I found a few minor lighting issues that I corrected this week.  Still need to move clothes and gear to really settle in.

After cleaning up from the festivities, it was back to sanding and varnishing in the doghouse. I sanded all the new Epifanes Woodfinish after the third coat had dried thoroughly and laid on three more.  I also ground off all the old finish from the chart table lid and the little locker lid and laid on the first three of coats of Woodfinish.  I'll use the remainder of the Woodfinish on the lids and accessories, and then sand everything again and lay on a couple of coats of Epifanes Clear.   A lot of work, but it looks a LOT better!

May 23, 2013

Most of the work this week was in sanding and varnishing the teak in the cockpit/doghouse.  Managed to get on three coats of Epifanes Woodfinish on top of the penetrating epoxy.  It's looking a lot better, but many more coats to go....I also started the process for mounting the new stainless cleats for the jib sheets now that the finish work on the cockpit coaming is done.  Ran out of time before I could finish the job, though.  Hector finished the canvas work, including covers for all the clear vinyl windows and a combination windscoop/bug screen for the forward hatch.
Outrigger race last Saturday in Santa Barbara.  Got a ride in a new Mercedes, so no car trouble worries!  Now cleaning things up in preparation for a little party this coming Saturday to celebrate the official completion of the aft cabin.  Finally!  Definitely calls for champagne!

April 18, 2013

It was a very busy week, but a lot got done.  I made a bit more progress on the last bits of trim for the aft cabin, Hector finished the cockpit enclosure, Ron made the patterns for the new aft cabin berth cushions, I finished the new cockpit tabletop, and Jordan and I did the first round of sanding all the teak in the cockpit/doghouse.

With the first outrigger race fast approaching, I’ve also been paddling hard five days a week.  No wonder I’m beat!  I guess part two of the varnishing discourse can wait....

March 8, 2013

I was at a First Aid class the last two evenings, so I'm a day late in posting this week.  In addition, several days of rain or risk of rain jumbled my plans a bit.  I did manage to contact someone to make new berth cushions for the aft cabin, but they haven't come out to make patterns yet.  I was able to finish the hanging locker and make some progress on the last bits of trim needed, but the bulk of the work was sanding the remaining original woodwork on bulkheads etc.  While I only completed the first coarse (80 grit) sanding, that is the most labor-intensive as it takes a lot of sanding to remove stains and remnants of the old finish.  Hopefully I'll complete the sanding and get a couple of coats of the new finish applied next week....