Sail Loft projects.

After a lot of input (from the actual owners of the boat and contributors from others), sailing with bimini, sailing without bimini, cursing bimini.

We finally put forth a bimini plan.  I once again, had a full revolt and simply said, talk to me when you have the bimini design how you wants it.

And with much re-engineering and design, Compy Comp pulled together a good plan.  Sometimes the: "As long as you are happy, honey, I'm happy" line really does work!

So, now. It's time to do the canvas.  I finally got a 3 hour window in which the wind had truly died on the lake.  It got to be insane how I would touch the patterning material and all of a sudden the wind would appear.

But I digress..

The start of any project, clothing, canvas, upholstery is very intimidating.  I will actually try to do some real time descriptions of the work this time.  There's some good books/videos/advice out there, but every bimini is different.  I got lucky because I have the old canvas to sheet off of and refer to.

Now this pile of crap will somehow become a bimini.

What you see above:

1. patterning material, actually still taped together. marked for zippers, window, hems, backstay slots.

Still needs to be shortened to fit new frame (already marked) and the hems taken up a bit so that they don't block our view like the old one did.

2. sunbrella fabric (marine grade), dacron for reinforcement in places and chafe guard.

3. window material so that we can see our windex from the helm

4. zippers galore.

5. thread, velcro for window cover, assorted crap. I also have webbing for straps but the re-design might not need it.

More later on how this pans out.

Describe this picture

Every once in awhile I will just click a random picture.  Later on, it will ensue hilarity.  Mainly, it's the look on folks faces.

Below is case in point, I know what's going on, but can you figger it out?  Very. Intense. Thinking.

3 men, a binnacle and a screwdriver

Pimp My Ride--Sailor edition

Well, projects are getting knocked out one by one on the boat.

Done:

1. Awl grip/bottom paint
2. Unexpected rudder replacement
3. Unexpected head replacement
4. New stainless trim on vents/scupper drains
5. New lifelines (gotta get the before/after of those)
6. Water pump for motor replaced
7. Gear linkage replaced
8. Shift/gear handles replaced to stainless steel
9. Replace water/diesel/holding tank deck caps
10. Covered white veneer on salon table with stained wood veneer
11. Air conditioner ALMOST done (this resulted in a hilarious moment when our friend almost got dunked in the water by my spouse after asking 'you're not done yet!')
12. New stereo (previous worked on shore power only--WTF?) with new stereos and cockpit speakers and remote
13. Curtains---getting there
14. Stack pack
15. U/V cover for headsail
16. Various other things

Need to do:

1. Finish installing ductwork for a/c
2. Make final decision on bimini and reframe, make canvas
3. make companionway canvas cover
4. Make binnacle cover
5. Final adjustments to stack pack
6. Install wine fridge, er I mean, beer fridge, er I mean ....  ah screw it, the beverage fridge. Man got no bizness being on a boat without a cold beverage.

So all in all, except for a few major things like the hull/rudder work, we've tried to do most of the labor ourselves, and we've done a pretty good job.  I'm going to try to interview the spouse for a 'lessons learned' on his installation projects.

Thanks to the friends that helped, and those who just acted as cheerleaders.  To everybody who enjoyed the impromptu sailboat swap meet that happened on our dock, glad you had fun.  (Well, except for poor Point Jude who had need of some fenders and life jackets--not for the guys, for the boat--yes)

And on a final note about the spouse.  I have praised and extolled the virtues of this man's ability to dinker with almost anything...

But at the end of the day, he's 2/3 Professor and 1/3 Gilligan, good to have around to problem solve, but a little hilarious in the process.