Progress
This is so brilliant! Now Jane "just" has to glue some of parts together, cover with wadding and stockinette, and make the new cover. The size is great, a big improvement as is the access via the step and seat (which still needs a cushion & backrest). Going
Progress
We have dry fitted the chainplate backing plate for the starboard forward mizzen stay. We measured the deck thickness at the old diesel fuel filler at 20mm. With this backing plate of 9mm immensely dense, stiff and strong FR4 board it makes me feel that having an additional 2 layers
Progress
We now have a (temporary) step to get onto the seat and from there onto the new aft double bed. At the moment it is an experiment to check the height and size (particularly to see if we bang our shins on it or step up too high and hit
Progress
Today we have been continuing the work on the aft cabin. Jane did a whole lot of sanding under the bed. She also fitted some more insulation to the sides. Together we glued the rubber seal into the aft cabin hatch because it kept dropping out. I was working on
Safety
The UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, is introducing new dangers for anyone sailing in UK waters. The new "Nationality and Borders" legislation has publicly attracted concerns that the RNLI might be prosecuted for rescuing asylum seekers. The key is this There is a detailed article on iNews: Priti
Motor
We haven't gone to the boat this week. Jane had to work today (Covid cover) and I've got work tomorrow. However, I have been able to complete the repair of my pillar drill (satisfaction of mending tools). Having done the repair I went straight on to
Generation
On Saturday we managed a few jobs that are about as low as we can get. Water getting low in the wrong places During the heavy rain on Friday we discovered a key source of the water in the (very deep) bilge at the aft end of the keel. I&
Electric
We had a wet journey here and it continued to rain until mid evening. In fact as we parked several puddles decided to flow into the area we parked in, close to the boat. So after trying to jump to get to the boat with dry feet I simply swapped
Appliances
True to form we are going to be ripping out all the original instruments, after 44 years they are all well past their useful life. Both the speed and depth sensors used holes in the hull (and we are determined to minimise holes!). Nothing is connected to anything else and
Safety
We really enjoy the video's from Amy and Matt on Sailing Yacht Florence. Here they are preparing to cross the Indian Ocean, far from any boatyard facilities, having been trapped in Indonesia for over a year. Their rig check show some of the challenges that have led us
Progress
We took a long time to decide that we would take out the original stainless steel water tank. As with lots of jobs it was daunting. However, in fact it was relatively straightforward. Using the man overboard block and tackle I was able to get it out whole. Very glad
Safety
The past few days working on the aft cabin have been hard on my back and knees. It is a confined space, the floorboards had to be up which means you are always standing on a slope and stepping over beams while crouched over. Plus lots of ladder climbing. So
