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.

Dodged the bullet

Well, the wind is blowin' harder now
Fifty knots or there about,
There's white caps on the ocean.
And I'm watching for water spouts
It's time to close the shutters
It's time to go inside.
--Trying to Reason with the Hurricane Season, Jimmy Buffett




Hemi D skated by her first hurricane with just minor winds and a good fresh water dousing.


Unfortunately, there's still a lot of friends and family members that are in harm's way.


I wish them well, and hope they be smart and stay safe.

Before/After

Before:

After:

Update after all the canvas is done!

It takes a village to raise a child....

But, it takes several childs to raise our sails.

So, here's what happens when there's no wind. You ask if anybody would like to help use get our sails up and you get a crowd.

Since I was on day 3 of heat induced trauma (muggy, muggy, muggy, no wind, no wind, no wind) I declared a total and complete strike against getting sails up.

So, I recruited help.  I would say big mistake, but entertainment-wise...priceless.

If we look up the mast enough and shake these
rope-y things around, it'll all work out.

You think I'm kidding? This is 1/2 hour later.

Headsail up. Lookeee that cool UV strip.
Oh. Yeah.

That's my boat.
BTW--sail cover and bimini will be updated soon.

Perry Lake Hurricane?

So, Patriot gets delivered, YAY.

Crap whore storm hits that night. BOO!

Actually 70 mph winds. All hell breaks loose at the marina. (There's a reason, but I shall not detail, you can figure it out)

So, I merrily go to start cleaning up the boat from the move and start 'moving in'.

That will not happen right now.  Things have gone awry, and if you take care of a sailor in need, that sailor will take care of you when you need it.

So, the great storm(s) of 2011.

Neighbor's boat that they made. Repeat, THEY BUILT THEMSELVES.
Demasted and shrouds torn from the deck.

Hunter 31 with the head all squirrelly and the main also
coming from furler.

So, it was a sad day on our dock, the Hunter we got refurled, but there was some chafing going on and it's a new boat, that sucks.

However, we had round two the next night, not as bad, but still put forth some damage.

The boat by the demasted boat had its head furler break loose.  And then another dock broke loose and proceeded to eat our friends Prius.

OUCH!

Update

Holy crap. So much going on.

S/V Serenity is finally at her home on Lake Perry.

And...she loooooooks gooooood.

However, her arrival has been ursurped by a freaking freaking crazy storm at Lake Perry, and the Grand Arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Yeah, I know WAH. You got two sailboats. Wah.

However, we have ALOT invested in these boats, and I would very much prefer not to lose them both in the same week thankyouverymuch.

So, some pics of her arrival. I didn't get splash pics (hope to get from our friend) because I had scheduled a meeting, can't call in dead for a meeting you scheduled. Doesn't look good.

Ooo, ooh, I loooook goooood.

So help me christ, if you ding that paint job.
It's go time.

The good news is, no paint jobs were marred in the delivery or masting of the boat.  The paint job is absolutely fantastic.  Totally stoked.

Sail Loft, The Sequel

So, I made it through the head sail.

Kinda.

Well, my mechanical spouse rebuilt my machine, it was impressive.

But it did get done. And while my job might not be 'perfect' it looks pretty damn good.

So, I thought I'd add a few more notes.

You get points for:

The brilliant use of clothespins to keep your hem in place.

You get bonus points for:

Not killing your pet when she decides to eat the curtain panel
that you just finished and hand sewed slugs to.

Actually, that was quite an exciting evening with attempted caninicide and assorted mayhem. (spouse was at a 'trade show' in Vegas...whatever)

However, the culprit, she totally was repentant..not so much.

YUM!

Actually, the little twit tried to take the next panel... OUT OF MY HANDS AS I WAS SEWING IT. In terms of intelligence, this girl is.....preeetttttty.

However, back to the head sail.  It's looking good. More later