Monday, 2 August 2010

Fibreglass Itch

The boat stripping still seems to be an endless task, now with the added enjoyment of having bits of fibreglass finding ways into ones underclothing making life a little itchy!

Although I wear a full disposable coverall, still enough of the fibres get to places... already a number of clothing items have been consigned to the rubbish as being too uncomfortable to wear.

This week the engine will be removed for a full service/overhaul as the aged Volvo probably hasn't had anything done to it for 24 years..

As I go through the boat deciding what needs doing, I have come to the conclusion that the past owners were very lucky people making it from Trinidad through Panama and across the Pacific to NZ.

The front hatch was only a simple day sale type with 2 small catches not suitable for ocean sailing in it's new home of the Wellington Cook Strait area.
Glass boats can flex quite a bit in heavy weather and it's easy to pop the wrong sort of hatch, plus the boat had only one very small electric bilge pump which in test moved a cup of water every 2 seconds!, which could make entertaining sailing.

These of course are going to be fixed as I tend to be a bit of a belt and braces person.

Although the boat has been built to Lloyd's specs I will be glassing in some extra beams under the deck as we can get some big seas around this part of the island.

The new panelling for the bulkheads has arrived, so fitting of that should start by early next week.

I will post some pics as soon as this stage is reached, maybe next week.

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