WAHOO ALMOST DONE April 27, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
All cap rails are done, main hatch done, back done. That is my back, the one with bones and does not move well. I have to varnish the bow sprit, but that is not bad, just messy, there is a good bit of varnishing upside down. I will probably put a second coat of paint on the oars and stuff. I will do those projects sometime next week. I conceder the bright work done when the cap rails and taft rails are done.
The boat has this cuddy cabin over the galley and chart table area. I Algriped it about 9 years ago and it has lost most of its gloss. It needs done again. That may be the late spring projects. The cockpit was done at the same time, but because it is under the Bimmini, does not show as much ware.
In a little while I will go to storage and get the poles, awning and blankets we store the enclosure in. Then I know spring is really here. Time to sail and chill.
MOSTLY DONE April 24, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
This morning I was on deck tacking my cap rail. I finished the taft rail last week and sanded the cap rail Saturday. I also sanded and put the clear coat on my rub rails. It was suppose to rain Saturday night and I was afraid to put the Bristol on. I have had it get rained on before and that makes for a real miserable time scraping it off. It never dries. This morning was cool and dry with about a 10 knot wind out of the north. It does not get much better than that.
At this point, a couple hours after it was applied, it looks good. I will go looking for dry spots tomorrow morning. There is always a couple. All I have to do now is the cockpit combing. Because of all the rain we have been having, we still have the enclosure up. It is getting warn enough to take it down and will probably do that next week.
We have a race at Homestead this weekend and that will slow down my boat work. Besides the rest of the bright work, I have to put a coat of paint on the dingy oars, rudder and centerboard. Then we will be ready for another year.
I DID IT April 20, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
I am now a ham.., almost. I passed the Tech test and am now waiting for the FCC to post my call sign on their web site. I also got to take the General exam to get a feel for what is on it. That was a disaster. I will have to study a lot harder then for the Tech exam. There were terms on the test I had never seen in all my years. Oh well, at least I have a feel for the test.
The reason for moving onto the General license is that the SSB radio does not have the VHF and UHF frequencies that the Tech license allows you to broadcast on. You are also restricted to the amount of power you can use to transmit. That can restrict you coverage area. I feel that the restrictions are so as a newby you will only make a fool of yourself locally and not throughout the world. Good thought. Therefore, on to bigger and better.
I got it officially. KJ4LEI
April 13, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
April 13, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
MORE BUSY April 13, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
Working, varnish work and Easter company. So much to do so little time. Oh and did I mention the HAM test. My son and his beautiful wife came for the weekend. They got here about 4 PM Friday. We spent Saturday sailing, It started with a good breeze out of the north on a cloudless day. About noon, just like two weeks ago, the wind died as it was overcome by the sea breeze. That finally filled in from the SW and we continued to sail to the pass. My son was very desirous at sailing out in the Gulf. I was a little reluctant, knowing his wife is really a land person and we have gotten her very uncomfortable before. She did not say anything, so with a strong out flowing tide, we went out into 3-4 foot seas. We went about 5 miles out to where the water got clear. We have had a lot of rain lately and the bay is a dirty brown from the rivers that drain into the bay.
She was a real trooper, I could tell she was chocking back to keep from throwing up. The only thing she said was to her husband acknowledging that this trip into the Gulf was his idea. I think he got his, he came down with a cold Saturday night and did not look very well at sunrise services.
My son spent most of the day figuring out how the radar works. It is always nice to spend time with family.
VARNISH April 8, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
Been busy. On the days off or when I only work afternoons I have been spotting and building up the varnish on my cap rails. I do the same for the rub rails, but do not use varnish. Almost all of the joints in the cap rail cracked during the winter and got some yellow starting to spread. I sanded them down and as of today I have 2 coats of varnish on those cracks and other wear spots that have developed the past year. The first coat is cut so as to be a good seal coat. The second coat has more varnish and the third coat is about 90% varnish. I only do a light sand between coats. After 3 coats of varnish I will start building up the Bristol. The rub rails I use the same technique but with Cetrol. Time to get back to it.
SPRING TIME April 4, 2009
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
Well the varnish and the Bristol have arrived. It must be spring. Yesterday after a very pleasant day sail, I made some careful observations of my bright work. There are several feet where the cap rail turns to the hull that need a few coats of varnish and then a
coat or two of Bristol. The rub rails look very good. I will probably get started on the cap rail this week. It is suppose to rain later in the week, and that may cause me to delay for a week. I have a tendency to do that every year and then one day it is hot and miserable while I sand away. It is time to start.
