Where do I begin?

Since the last blog was on Sunday, I guess Monday makes sense. We began the day with a visit from our auditor. The final dividend cheques are being written from Larsen Sails and the company is effectively closed. A few more government hoops to jump through though. I cannot believe it has taken nearly 2 years.

We decided that it was time to re-evaluate and put some order into our project lists. We stayed at Christina’s and worked out which projects had to be completed in order to get us sailing and which ones were just nice to have. I am sure everyone’s take on this is different. I can hear my in-laws going – “Just go sailing!”

We are fortunate that all of the companies that Larsen Sails used as suppliers are allowing us to continue to use our corporate account as we finish up the boat. Not only does this save us some money but it allows us to order from knowledgeable sales people and have it shipped the next day, saving lots of time.

 

Finish installing the prop is a must have now that it is started.

Unfortunately the insurance company is requiring that we replace the standing rigging that is 25 years old so we will have to arrange to pull the mast. We are having our old friend Evert Bastett do the work in addition to new lifelines that are showing signs of cracking and rust. Before we pull the mast we have to arrange a survey so we are insured at least for liability when the mast comes off.

The galley is in pieces so it must be completed. Fridge, countertop, new raw water pump, gorgeous sink (it should be). Alan says by the end of next week.

Finish replacing lighting for LEDs.

swap out stereo for cool new one – I know this is a nice to have. We bought a 700 series from Fusion Electronics.

Sea berths that work. Our trial last year was less that successful.

Install life raft – it has not yet arrived.

Install new head. Last year it seemed like we were servicing it more than using it.the list goes on but you get the point.

On Monday we were just making sure we had all the supplies and equipment to complete our tasks. It will also allow us to switch from one to another if the weather gets in the way or we have to wait for glue/paint/varnish to dry.

Tuesday went well. We put the steering pedestal back and managed not to cover the boat or me (we won’t mention Alan) in black caulking.

The weather has been truly hot over the last couple of days. 30C yesterday and even warmer in the shelter on the boat. We decided to treat ourselves to a late lunch. This one is Alan’s. He says it is his first banana split in 15 years or more.

We had been waiting for steering cables to finish the installation and several packages had shown up at Catherine’s house. We headed to pick up Christina, then pick up Benny BBQ chicken. Dinner at Catherine’s out on the deck was great. No steering cables though.

.That brings us to yesterday…. Alan began the day by looking for a place to have our thru-hull fittings rethreaded. For those who don’t know these are fittings that allow controlled access to the water/ ocean we are floating it. They allow water in to cool the engine, toilet and refrigeration. They let water out from waves and rain in the cockpit. I guess with good intentions, new ones were installed just before we bought the boat. What we discovered was that they were hanging on by sometimes less than one thread because the size and type of thread did not match. We cannot just replace because the hose and fittings all the way back are a strange size that is not available – at least here.As Alan undid one it fell apart in his hands. Anyway – Alan was hoping that the equipment at the local rental place would allow him to rethread it. After visiting 3 – no such luck. Time to move on.

Next task was to install the throttle pedestal. After a dry fit – almost, we taped up all the exposed surfaces and squirted lots of black caulking where the joint would be. We gently reassembled them a fed the huge bolt through the hole in the floor. Alan reached underneath to attach the nut

Alan: “Oh S%*t!, the bolt is too short.”

Me quietly “Why”

Alan “because I am an idiot!”

Me quietly “Why”

Alan “Because I cut the bolt”

Apparently when he was removing the assembly it was being mangled, so, thinking there was lots of extra he cut a small amount off the bottom of a 1” diameter SS bolt. I guess there wasn’t as much as he thought.

At that point I encouraged him to remove the pedestal and take it off the boat. Remember it was covered in black caulking. I was able to clean up the caulking in the boat. At that point it was only noon but it was time to call it a day. Back at Christina’s with lunch and some navigation work in the back yard, we were able to refocus enough to go out a look for a solution. We found a stainless shop that could fix the bolt and make some cover plates for us. Another shop can address two of the three through hulls. We think we can make that work.

While doing errands, our daughter called to say the steering cables had arrived after a detour to Granby due to an error on the postal code.

All in all it was a positive end to what started out to be a bad day.