Rosie Called It! “June 09″ For The Win
Last spring when the boat was delivered I thought I’d be in for about a month’s worth of work, then I’d launch and go sailing! Little did I know… things take 3x as long, and cost 5x as much as anticipated. All in the name of fun… or is it obsession, or is it addiction?
As I kept pushing the launch date back another week, then two, then three – the running gag became “June 09″ which at the time seemed so far away and rediculuous. But oh how true it was! June 1st to be exact. Although, I am launched… I’m far from ready to go sailing.
The launch went smoothly, except for no water flowing from the exhaust on startup. I had to tie up to the dock for a few minutes while I primed the pump… filled the raw water strainer with water. I guess when I winterized it, the strainer drained. I would have thought the pump would overcome that, but I suppose that is a large volume of air.
Living aboard on the mooring gets me in the mood. I’m pirating wifi from ashore, somones unsecured network. I use a Linksys router flashed with an application called DD-wrt, and a 15dbi omni directional antenna. Works OK. It’s still not 100% reliable, but I can usually find signal and get some work done after dinner. The boat has put a severe leak in my wallet, and the pumps are barely keeping up. Solar panels, wind generator, and a new dodger will have to wait. But I did order a Simrad TP32, a necessity. I was so excited to see the brand new lifelines (purchased by previous owner) in place, first time they’ve been rigged since I’ve known the boat. Too bad the gorgeaous quick releases he ordered don’t fit in the D-rings on the stantions.
After having spliced my entire rig WRONG last summer, I’m back to re-rigging my boat with Sta-loks. Splicing was yet another expensive and time sucking mistake I’ve made. I am happy that I learned to splice, and enjoyed the process (agony). But mechanical terminals are the way to go. I have much appreciation for them now that I know the alternative. I understand Hi-Mods are even easier than Sta-Loks, and are perhaps more appealing to the eye (still undecided on that), but since I had the bottom Sta-Lok studs already, I opted to re-use those and just buy new Sta-Lok tops, saving myself $700 or so. I’m reusing the wire from the splices where I can, but that still left me buying almost 200′ of new wire. The only tricky thing with Sta-Loks is keeping the strands out of the gap in the wedge. Here’s a pic of how they line up to avoid the gap.
Show me what I’ve won!
I think maybe you can get the wires a little closer to the gap? Which goop are you using?
Elizabeth looks great!
She looks gorgeous! Congratulations. I’m sure it’s worth the time and money just to feel her floating instead of on the hard.
Looks great! Congrats!
No go sail the #^$#$ out of her!!
Thanks all!
Dan I’m using Life Caulk right now, have tons of it laying around. When I removed the old Staloks, most had silicone in them, and were a bit rust stained. One of them had a white goop that looked like Life Caulk, and it was the cleanest and best protected one of them all… for wutever that’s worth.
Golly Gee ,,,, photos ! At last ! ,,,,, why is it we all learn the hard way,,, are sailors just stuborne, or something ?
At least you follow the usual pattern,,,, under-estimating on time and expence,,,, well me too ,,,,, is this what is called , “paying your dues” ?
Everything that you have learned is of benifit,,, not only to you , but to everyone else who reads your blog, me included.
T Y , for being our R&D developer, and sharing most of what you have learned.
It is said that 2/3 rds is in prep, and only 1/3 rd in doing it,,, if that is true,,,, and it is,,,, then you have got a heap of 1/3 in doing it still to come,,, enjoy !
Congratulations , what a struggle it has been !
Looks great you old wifi wardriver … I mean warsailor … http://is.gd/1503V
It’s hard to ‘unplug’ even on a classic sailboat, ehh?