Except maybe that nothing has happened with Jenny so there was nothing to blog about.
The week after the last blog post we had a storm come through and winter hasn't stopped since.
You are not missing much. As I have found I spend more days building a winter cover that I can work in than I actually spend using it I haven't found it productive to make a workable winter cover.
This new yard also has some added complications.
Just getting access to the boat is difficult enough. Add a little cold and snow and I find it is just better to concentrate on something else and not burn out trying to fight a losing battle. With no boat work in recent memory I am finding myself refreshed and very anxious to get back to it which is something good to say about a "one year boat project" that is going on eight years now...
So, I have decided to take a suggestion given to me by a friend which is to make my own running rigging instead of having it made. I am slightly scared of braided line but I think if I own a boat with braided line I should know how to do basic stuff like make a halyard and sheet.
When looking for braided lines I was surprised at how much the prices varied. I found 7/16 sta set x going anywhere from $1.15 a foot to 2.40 a foot. In case you can't guess Worst Marine sells it for $2.40... I could probably continue shopping around and maybe even get a better price but I like Hamilton Marine and find they are good to work with and have generally good pricing so rather than "waste" a week humming and hawing I ordered some line and fids. I also went on Youtube and found some videos on splicing braided line (and a few more about cats but that is another story). Funny, even after watching the videos I still can't quite picture how to splice braided line. I think I just have to do it. It can't be that difficult can it?
So, finalizing the rigging has always been part of this year's goals. That should be do-able. Standing rigging is almost new. Running rigging while functioning is old old old so that will be replaced. I will finish installing the wind vane maybe leaving the final details of rigging it up until after the boat launch. Varnish, as always will be a challenge. I have little hope of getting enough good weather and time to do all of it befoe launch which should happen around the end of May. I still need heated indoor storage so I can start varnishing in February.
And speaking of varnish, I am going to add to my list of stuff that needs varnish and I ordered some handrails. Having guests on Jenny really showed me that I need these basic things even though I have become used to not having them. I like sailing with friends, I do not like fishing friends out of the water.
Otherwise, I hope to finish the freshwater system that was almost finished last fall. Running water inside the boat is going to be SO much fun I can hardly wait. The stove is ready for install after some varnish on the stove cabinet so that might happen. Who are we kidding? That might get done on the mooring this summer. By the way, I will be back in Salem harbor on a rented mooring again.
And most important, I need to replace the engine exhaust. I think I mentioned that I found a weak spot and in my investigating managed to rip the iron piping in half so I plan on looking for someone this week that can make me a nice stainless steel replacement. Really, the exhaust is the only thing that can hold up my launch. The rest is just a bunch of nice-to-haves but after so many years I really want to see those nice-to-haves become what-took-me-so-longs.
Fingers crossed. Technically boat launch is eight days away which means one dasy of productivity a week over eight weeks. One week... I have one week.
Oh boy...
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