March 12, 2015

After a rough week last week, I decided to take it easy this week.  A little rain provided a bit of an excuse.  I still accomplished a few little things.  I replaced the overhead battens in the aft cabin that had to be removed to install the new winches and cleat, and I tested the new gear and leads for the staysail with the genoa out as well.  Everything works about as well as it could given the inherent constraints on hardware placement.  Since I have a pretty good supply of spare line in good shape, I figured I could find some double braid that would work for the staysail sheets.  I did, but it wasn't my first choice.  I had wanted to be able to use a single line for both port and starboard so I could avoid bulky knots at the clew.  No luck:  the best prospect was about 10 feet too short.  So I had to use two lines of different colors.  Ah well
I also started on a small project in the forward cabin.  The teak trim around the forward hatch was discolored and in bad shape from a hatch that had leaked prior to my buying the boat.  So, I removed it and began refinishing it.
I still want to do some sailing and loafing over at the islands, but I can't until I get some new stearsmen/women trained for the novice team in my outrigger canoe club.  Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

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!

March 14, 2012

I took care of several small projects this week.  The most important was probably the revamping of the trash  bin because Carol had gotten irritated by the heavy and awkward lid.  A bit of socializing balanced the work nicely.  Carol came up Saturday evening just in time for Conrad's (a dockmate) birthday party.  Sunday we got some fresh Ahi straight from the boat in the morning and then went up to Santa Barbara for lunch at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club.  Lunch was followed by a walk along State Street and a visit to the Santa Barbara Art Museum.  

Finally, since the flower photos are inexplicably much more popular than pictures of greasy and corroded engine parts, and since some nearby wildflowers are in bloom, I've taken and posted a few more flower pictures.