February 26, 2015

It was a week filled with mishap.  A visit to the Magic Castle, while fun, was hampered by such a big crowd the night before the Oscars that we had to wait to get in and weren’t able to see our magician friend perform. When we got back to Carol’s place at midnight with the rain starting, her Prius would not shut off.  After an hour of online research and trying a few things, we eventually got it shut down so we could go to bed.  Turns out it needs (of all things) an entire new dashboard!  Then, Carol trips on the stairs and severely sprains her ankle.  When she finally can get in to see a doctor, she is given a brace, but cannot walk for several days.  My return to Ventura was delayed a bit so I could help her out.  When I did get back, I was greeted by a wet berth.  One of the few portlights I haven’t rebuilt must have leaked in the rain.  Of course the water migrated to right over my berth before dripping down.  So, instead of doing what I had planned for the week, I removed, disassembled and resealed a port.  Sigh.  Some days the bear gets you.

On a brighter note, the subwoofer for my mini home theater arrived and I hooked it up.  It sounds every bit as good as I had hoped.  Just about as good a movie theater (but with a small screen).  Unfortunately, it’s pretty tacky looking with the blue-light glittery guts showing.  Looks like something that belongs in a disco or a brothel.  While you don’t see it in its spot under the berth when watching a movie, you do see it from the main cabin at other times.  Throwing a small towel over it was a quick interim fix.

The new double turning/footblocks from Garhauer arrived as well.  They were expensive, but they are gorgeous.  Definitely a nice piece of boat jewelry.  I doubt the nicely polished bolts will be long enough though, which will present some installation challenges.

Hopefully I’ll be able to continue with the winch and footblock installation next week.  That is, if the bear don’t get me again!

  

February 19,2014

Interesting week.  As much “head-scratching” as actual project work.  I think I have solved the problem of the dinghy sliding back and forth on the davits when the boat is rolling.  While I had the principle right on my first attempt to fix it last September, the execution method failed.  I think what I did this week will work:  bolts sticking up through the gunnels and covered with vinyl tubing will wedge the boat between the davits as well as on either side of the Hydrovane support bracket.  I also spent quite a bit of time trying to work out the best way to rig up the sheets for the storm staysail.  It was clear I would need to get new double turning/foot blocks to replace the existing single ones, but not so clear whether it would be better to use double rope clutches and the existing winches or to add two more winches and cleats.  Turned out that adding winches was the only feasible way.  Fortunately, I’ve got a great pair already.  Now that I know what’s needed, I can start ordering the needed hardware.  Then the real work will begin!

On a more hedonistic note, while researching self-powered 12 volt subwoofers for my mini “home theater,” I found a Fry’s deal that was so good I couldn’t pass it up.  They had an online special for the Dual SBP8A for half price.  It has gotten almost universally great reviews (Just won’t shatter windows at 50 feet, but who wants that?), and was already a bargain at the normal street price.  So, I decided to connect and run the wiring so that when it arrives it will be close to “plug-and-play.”   By the time I dealt with all the little glitches along the way, it took the better part of two days!  Hopefully all the work and expense will be worth it!  We’ll know by next week!

February 12, 2015

Santa Ana winds brought warm weather this week.  Much of the work was in the categories of "last details" and "loose ends."  The big accomplishment was finally getting two new winches installed on the mast, a step toward getting the staysail rigged.