Week 8 (12/20-12/24)

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
-Lao Tzu

Although we have only been working since November, it feels like we have already undertaken “a journey.”

This week was short due to Christmas, but on the eve of the biggest holiday of the year, we took the biggest steps thus far on the boat. 

This week’s projects:

·     Baked some special Christmas cookies for the marina guys to say thanks for all the hard work…and for turning a blind eye to all the DIY projects

 Yummy cookies!

They were a big hit, and didn’t last the day  ^_^

·     Finished painting rust stop enamel in water tank, it’s now ready for the water bladder

Finally, the job that wouldn’t end is O-V-E-R

·     The guys started prepping the bottom hull for painting

Areas where the paint was chipped or cracked were

sanded down and covered with epoxy

Primed for paint

·     Painted rust stop enamel in aft cabin and engine room

Aft cabin after painting…I still need to get the very back

·     STEPPED THE MAST!!!!!  Stuart and Gerard came out to help.  It took two attempts to get the mast up, but we eventually had success!

Spreaders, stays, and shrouds attached

Getting ready to hoist her up!

Up she goes!

And up…

…and up…

…and up as high as the lift will take her. 

Too bad it’s not high enough

We took it down, adjusted the fulcrum,

and added chain to keep her steady

I think she’s going to make it this time!

Over to the mast step

Lining it up…

…is it going to fit?

The added rubber makes the mast too tall...

Easily remedied with a saw

Round two…

LIKE A GLOVE!!

I can’t wait to see this under a starry sky

anchored in some distant tropical sea

She’s a real boat!  Just look at those lines!

Tightening the turnbuckles

·     Rick delivered our brand new Yanmar and helped drop it into the engine compartment

Shiny and new

Lining up the lift

Strapping her in

And up she goes!

yummy

Fits perfectly!

(and check out that awesome paint job)