Wednesday, 30 January 2008

IN THE WATER




Well at last she is in the water. The last couple of weekends have been tiring.
I took all the running rigging off. Washed it, when I was putting it back all the mousing lines worked except the topping lift which snapped.... I had to devise a way of getting to the top of the mast on my own. I used the two halyards tied to me and then used a body and foot prussic knot to push down on the tail of the spinnaker halyard. The genny halyard I put through a descender. Each time I pushed up on the foot sling I moved up the body sling attached to my harness. Then I took out the slack on the descender. It was a bit hairy as the wind kept pushing me away from the mast. Job done I loosened the prussic slings and then just let the genny halyard through the descender and dropped back to the deck.
I have double clipped hoses, made a new instrument panel and bought a DSC radio.
Still trying to get the DSC to talk to the GPS but hey ho.
I have been fitting dodgers, sorting out electrics, putting on the stackpack and mainsail and fitting the refurbished tiller.
The navigation lights need to be changed as the others were very fragile from UV exposure.
It would be great if I could actually get her out on the water soon, all very well this doing up lark but want to get her out sailing!

Thursday, 3 January 2008

GAS AND SEA COCKS


The next thing to sort out is the repositioning of the gas bottle to the rear locker and also the double clipping of the sea cock piping. These were both recommended in the survey. The gas needs to be able to vent outside the boat in case of leaks, I may also fit a gas alarm.

EQUIPMENT

It is not just the purchase of the boat, you need kit too!
So here is a list of the extra things I will have to buy.
Lifejackets x 4, flares, first aid kit, DSC VHF radio, normal radio, life raft, dinghy, binoculars, EPIRB, new Man overboard kit. And I'm sure much more.
In a perfect world I would like to repaint her white under the water, navy blue on the side and white on deck, as with all these things it will have to be bought/carried out over time.
Part of the joy is tinkering and setting up the boat as you want it.