November 27, 2013

Work this week was cut short by plans to head north for the holiday on Thursday.  Nonetheless, progress continued on the hood over the range.  I decided to use aluminum sheet rather than stainless steel for the overhead liner because the aluminum can be cut much more easily, allowing me to cut a clean hole for the vent using an ordinary hole saw.  To prevent corrosion,  it will be painted with high temperature paint.  In addition to procuring the sheet metal, I was able to find a nice used cast chromed bronze Perko deck plate locally. That will be used to close off the stove vent when desired.  Another nice local score was a Voyager folding knife from Cold Steel.   I've wanted a good deck knife for some time, but didn't want to pay the usual high freight.  With half its blade serrated and some other nice features, it fits the bill nicely at a good price. ( I got it at their semiannual parking lot sale for $50, $15 less than the normal price.)

On Saturday, Carol and I got see my longtime friend Curt play in his band, the Barrelhouse Wailers, on Saturday.  They play 1930's jazz tunes, and it was a lot of fun.  Never been a groupie before!

The winter season has brought back the big skies.  And the air is so clear it seems like someone has moved the Channel Islands closer.  In the spirit of the season, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving holiday, and express my thanks to all those who have followed this blog, especially my most loyal follower, Salty Monkey!  Thanks for sticking with it!!!

November 21, 2013

With the threat of rain looming, I turned my focus inward and continued the work that was a necessary precursor to putting in a new overhead in the main cabin.  I completed the refinishing of the skylight frames, roughed in the wiring for the new overhead lighting, and framed in a hood over the stove.

Spent the weekend at Carol’s.  We visited the LA County Arboretum, so you’ll see a lot of botanicals in the photos this week.  I also took a few shots in Carol’s place.

November 14, 2013

Seems the week flew by!  Finally mounted the teak chocks for the big stainless Danforth.  It was a slow and challenging job mounting the chocks where they held the anchor in the right place while allowing access from below to drive screws through holes in the cabin top into the chocks.  It was a close thing and took an entire day to drive the eight screws, but I did it.  With butyl tape squeezed between the chock and cabin top and a caulk filet around the perimeter, I expect they will be leak free for a long time to come.  Thanks to another tip from shipwright John, I tried Sika Construction Sealant 1A.  He's convinced it is Sikaflex Marine 291 with a different label and has used it successfully for years.  The specs are the same, it's recommended for underwater applications and at 1/3 the price, it's definitely worth trying.  Anyway, the anchor is now securely in place and other than details around the chain, that job is done.

With winter approaching slowly but surely, it's time to shift the focus inward.  Now that all the ports have been installed in the main cabin and the anchor chocks are done, it's time to start working on putting in a new overhead.  Before I can start on the stringers and panels, the trim on the skylights and companionway needs to be refinished and the wiring done for new recessed overhead LED lighting.  I got started on those projects this week.

Carol was up for the weekend and we had a good time visiting a new local winery, trying out new eateries and watching the sunset and old episodes of MI-5 (Carol's an addict!).  I also took Carol to a yarn shop so she could get yarn and needles to make herself some long woolen mittens.  (I used the occasion to put in a request for a hand-knit woolen watch cap.  There's always hope!)