Cool crisp air, clear blue skies, great sailing breezes… and boats begginning to get hauled for the season… it’s September in Danvers, MA. And I’m just about ready to launch! Better late then never I keep telling myself. I can’t justify the expense of stepping & unstepping the mast for just a few weeks of sailing, when the boat isn’t really even “ready” in the grands scheme of things.

She’ll Float
The gap thru which the old bobstay chainplate protruded from the stem has been filled with epoxy, a thick mixture of 406 & 404 in West System. On the inside, I will back that with a few layers of cloth for good measure. On the outisde, the gelcoat will be a learning experience.

Engine Oil, Fuel Filter & Starting Battery
Got the oil sucked out of the pan with some handy vacuum pump contraption that came with the boat. Seemed like a sweet idea until my friend Brian reminded me that I really should drain the oil pan to get out all the bits and pieces that collect at the bottom there. Next time. I pulled apart the Racor, and cleaned it out, but determined the filter was fine, looked clean to me. The  Group 31 battery that Stephen had purchased a few years back for the starting battery didn’t fit in the existing batt. box designed for a Group 27. I pulled/hacked apart the box with screwdriver and hammer to make it fit. Works fine. I’m not a huge fan of this single battery located in the nether regions of the engine room, but it works for now.

Bowsprit
Pulling the bowsprit off the boat, painting and varnishing it seemed like a simple and sensible endeavor. It’s been a royal pain. But, it has provided a small, isolated chalkboard for me to learn, relearn, and mess up the application of my various coatings. After probably 12 coats of varnish, I think I figured out the best techniques. The Sterling paint took me 4 coats of primer and 4 attempts at top coat to figure it out. It’s finiky stuff. Mixtures, temperatures, timing etc… it’s like having your very own chemistry lab. I “think” it’s finally ready for mounting!

Bronze Bling
I got my chainplates back from Ramsay Welding & Fabrication, and they look great… most of them! I mounted one whisker and both boomkin plates. I used Life Caulk for all. The bobstay plates aren’t the best fit. The angles are a little off to the curve of the hull. Rosie is coming up to check it out and discuss fitting. I might have to bail, and go back to the casting idea. The wallet says “ouch!” when I mention that.

Fully Covered Bottoms
Had the yard move the jackstands to paint the last remaining spots of bottom paint. I found a small spot of abrasion that needed some epoxy filler, and a few more barnacles to scrape off. But shes got a good base coat for now, and I’ll put on two more coats before launching next spring. I also have to remove the old name!