Further Preps, Storage Unit Surprises, BCC Tidbits Installed
Twas another sweaty, dusty day in Port Isabel…
The morning began with the continuation and conclusion of the mast derig. I borrowed the yard’s portable fuel pump and emptied my diesel tank. Evidently the fuel was left over from the last decade… I wonder what they paid per gallon. It was about 10 gallons… $45 worth in todays market.
I had been over to see “the storage unit” when I first came down to see Crystal Swan II back In February. We examined the pile and although didn’t dig into it at all, I could tell it was alot of stuff. But I had no idea that it’d be so much stuff that it might not fit on the boat! We filled the yard pickup once today, and I’ll go back for a second load tomorrow.
Let’s see if I can recall some of the highlights so far:
- Full size charts of the entire East Coast
- A brand new unused sextant
- ELECTRICAL! Every type of wire/connectors/cable clamps/heatshrink/fuses…
- FASTENERS! Stainless, bronze… any size and shape!
- 2 sets of unused (with tags still) foul weather gear in my size!
- Brand new Self tending Bosun’s Chair (6 part purchase!)
- Complete Bosun’s Stores (paint, varnish, sandpaper, brushes, solvents etc)
- Some new running rigging, blocks and docklines
- Brand new lifelines
- Brand new harnesses and jackline
And of course some of the standard BCC tidbits that had been removed from the boat… the table, engine compartment cover/drawer, the flatware tray. I cleaned them up a bit and installed them. Felt good to see her coming together a little bit, she’s a real BCC that’s for sure.
In an effort to keep chafe to a minimum during the trucking, I’ve padded most compartments with various lines, carpet or cardboard I had laying around. The lazarette is layered with line and chain and other goodies such that only soft line touches the hull. Finding the right place for all this stuff has been challenging, and will only get more so tomorrow. I don’t expect the interior of the boat to be accessible at all when I am finished. I envision standing at the companionway with the last remaining sail to pack, and trying to stuff it in with my feet to get the hatch to close…
