Sails and Sand!

The moment of truth has arrived, I finally opened the sail bags to check on the condition of the sails that were on board when I bought the boat at auction over a year ago. The sails had been perfectly packed, a good start...
I had been putting off the moment, I didn't want anymore nasty surprises, the MPS (multiple purpose spinnaker) didn't look too bad, only a couple of small patches.

The Genoa was in good condition but on the other hand the Main looked very baggy and had lost it's battens, but it will do in the meantime.
The one thing that was a bit stange was that there was no sail identification numbers.
I will get one of the local sail-makers to make some replacement battens plus give us a price for a new sail.
All that was left was to re-flake the sail collection and put them back in their bags, the family suddenly decided to go shopping and I was left with the refolding 1 handed, the dog wasn't much help, not such a perfect job this time, so the sail-bags looked very full!

Sanding seems to be a never ending job - I think in retrospect it has been the worst, dirtiest and most uncomfortable job I have ever had to do.
This was made doubly bad, by finding that the hull was in great condition and didn't need such a radical clean, still with the paint system I'm using, this will not need to be re-done for at least another 20 years with the exception of the annual anti fouling and water blast cleans.

Another Step on the Way

The offending bearing is now out, I had to revert to using a hacksaw to ease the removal, now all I need to do is install a new one...

The new grab rails have been fitted and look quite good, when you do these apparently simple little jobs you understand why boat-building is so expensive. (lucky I no one told me that I couldn't do this stuff, probably wouldn't have listened anyway)

Cutless Bearing!!!!

I have been battling with the cutless bearing which refuses to move, I've tried, heat, hitting with hammer and made a puller out of pipe and steel rod but it's still stuck.
It has been left under pressure for 12 hours so 'maybe' it may have moved - I believe in father Christmas as well.
My next option is to start cutting the bearing out of the stern leg.

The work on the inside has almost come to an end with the new upholstery being made and fitted by Mrs DIY, it's all starting to look really good, only 2 more squabs to go.
I have had quotes for moving the boat over the hill to Seaview Marina for the fitting of the new engine and re-stepping the mast, then it's the "Grand Relaunch" of Thursdays Child, back into the water...This is planed for about mid January 2012.
One thing that we need to think about is the name, I believe it's time for a name change.

The Galley

The galley is now completed with only the oven to be installed, the next thing is to fit the grab rails to the cabin ceiling, a job that I will need the help of Mrs DIY.

Dumb & Dummer Footnote

Now the NZ elections are over John Banks (ACT) has been offered a ministerial post by John Key in the "new" National Government and Don Brash has resigned. (See 16/11/11 post)

The Weather!!!!!

Today

Monday 21

Rain about the western ranges, with heavy falls until evening, and periods of rain elsewhere. Northwest gales, gusting 130 km/h in exposed places, changing to cooler south-westerlies early evening with showers. Showers clearing tonight.

(a copy of the current weather-report)

Porthole Replacement

The replacement porthole solution that caused a bit of discussion on how to replace the damaged units plus get a reasonable finish to the inside of the cabin.
I bolted new Plexiglas directly through the fibreglass cabin roof and used the damage units which I had powder-coated on the inside.

I had planed to use only the original ones but the chances of leaks was too much of a risk

Back to the Real World

The boat - I needed to replace the through hull fittings in the forward head (toilet) which were made of bronze and designed not to be removed - ever!, unfortunately the valves had been 'lost' so they needed to be replaced.

This meant cutting them out bit by bit then repairing the holes ready for making new openings for the new plastic/glass units.
This job took about 4 hours of cutting and grinding in a space that I could just get my head, one arm  and the angle grinder, lots of dust and very sharp bits that fired off the grinder into my face.
Another tick off on the list, were almost there.

The TeaPot Tape or Dumb and Dumber

"The fallout from the secretly recorded conversation widened yesterday as New Zealand First leader Winston Peters attacked Mr Key, suggesting he had made comments offensive to NZ First's elderly supporters.
Mr Key refused to discuss details of last Friday's private conversation and has laid a complaint with police because it was recorded without consent from him or Mr Banks. (Source Ref NZ Herald - Derek Cheng)"


This is my take on the madness over the silly discussion by 2 NZ politician's
(section of discussion during the meeting of John Key 'PM' with John Banks 'JB' to endorse that National and Act Parties can 'work' together after the elections in the 9 days)

 PM   "Hi John found the place alright?"
JB  Couldn't miss it, those Fxzxy media were all over the place"
PM  How's is your boss"
JB    Don't talk to me about him, I have to talk to him every day." "What a control freak"
PM  "Lucky old you"
JB    "Not too much of the old please".
PM  " You mean to say you are being lobbied by the grey brigade
JB  " Yes, Don seems to have stirred up the grey brigade this time"
PM  "That man couldn't even get elected in East-coast Bays  when he was up against Social Credit's Gary Knap"." He really needs you to do the business this time"."Thanks for taking him off our plate".
JB  "Does that mean a ministerial spot for me?"
PM  "We'll see". "As long as he's gone by lunchtime".
JB  "Ha  Ha" "I think we should get back to you doing your smiling and waving thing for the media, we want them to write some nice things and take happy pics of us"
PM "Write! I don't think any of them can read"
JB  "John you are such a hoot"
JB "Hey John don't stand in front of me, I want my Photo taken too"
Exit stage left...

Rolling Stone's

When time stands still, and every move is in slow motion.


Yesterday, struggling with a very heavy roll of netting I was moving down to the fence being constructed to stop small children and balls falling down a steep bank/cliff at our daughters house in Wellington.(see Friday 25 March 2011 'What I've Been Doing')

I positioned the roll of wire ready to slide edge-ways, down one level, to the next flat area, carefully making sure it would not roll, when Mrs DIY said "let me help you", great, "just hold it don't let it go..."

The words of "don't let g...", hardly left my lips, tipped and started to move, slowly, then, faster and faster down the slope to the next level, building speed, finally colliding with a fence post, stopped.(whew) Then before anyone could reach it, tilted and tipped over the edge, down towards the next neighbours house 15m below.

Luckily it finally stopped, caught in the undergrowth at the bottom before it could do any damage.

The vision's that flashed thought my mind was a roll of wire rampaging through a family birthday party squashing everything in its path  (there was no one there), and the neighbour didn't even look up from his paper, even when I put a ladder down to retrieve the offending netting.

I had to have a 'sit down and a cup of tea' to settle my nerves