June came and went…

After a week (felt like eternity) tending to non-boat stuff (like taking my Dad on a mini-vacay) I’m back in Danvers, making headway on my projects, with a launch goal of August 7th. This will get me in the water with a few days to spare before heading to Maine for Rosie & Darrahs wedding. A shakedown sail indeed!

Bowsprit Glue Joint Repair
While I was splicing with Myles, I grabbed a scrap piece of Doug Fir, and had it cut down to fit into my Dremel tooled bowsprit trench. The Dremel tool is NOT the right tool, but I’m making due with what I have. I think I have earned the right to call myself an official Wood Butcher. The Piece cut didn’t fit, so I had to widen my already sloppy trench a 1/16″ or so. Won’t be a beautiful job, but it should be strong enough I reckon. Good thing I plan to paint the inner half!

The Bobstay Chainplate Saga
I finally decided to definitely replace the glassed in stainless steel bobstay chainplate with an external bronze piece. But I’m still not sure if I should go with a machined plate design, or a cast design. Here I have mocked up quickly, a cardboard version of the machined bronze plate design. I’m not sure I like the idea of the gap between the stem and where the two plates would meet. Structurally, I don’t think it would matter. But visually and in preparation for “hitting things”, I’m not sure it would be the best design. So, I also am working on a pattern for a cast bronze chainplate. I tried my hand at a wood pattern, but with my lack of skills and tools, it was a disaster. So, I thought, why not try a fiberglass version. I gave it a shot, seems to be working so far. Still more fairing and building up to do here of course… Bondo time!

Stripping The Bulwarks
What a task this is! I didn’t have any clue about how time consuming this process would be. I’ve been using a paint stripper and a scraper to get the majority of the paint off. It’s not hard work, but is very time consuming, and I haven’t really gotten too detailed with it yet; the corners and grooves etc. The Sterling 2 part Linear Polyurethane paint has been ordered, and will be here next Thursday. Thank god for Port Supply discounts, that paint is not cheap.

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