An appropriate quote:
“You don’t get something for nothing. You cant have freedom for free, you wont get wise with the sleep still in your eyes no matter what your dreams might be”.
– Neil Peart
I forget who said it but another quote is “ Don’t pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs”.
Well as you can see from the photo my facial hair is going totally gray. I’m frustrated, yet focused. I really, REALLY want to cross an ocean and start voyaging again next March’ish!
I want to get out of the Caribbean and most likely cross the Pacific for Asia, or if money is tight and I can’t get through the canal I might cross the Atlantic. not so much for Europe (too expensive) but I have been talking to some cruising friends from S. Africa. I think the trip to Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Azores, Portugal, Canery islands, Western Africa, Cape Verde Islands, then back across the Atlantic on to Patagonia would be a blast and affordable. At some point I’ll have to move my diesel heater into my aft cabin or get another one.
My chain plate project got a little bigger and I decided to redo / fair / pull up all of the stanchions and pulpits. I want to do it once, and do it right! This is the port aft quarter, I’m trying to knock this project out in quarters. I’m starting with the stern to ensure my cabin is as watertight as a frogs bumb for the onset of the rainy season. This will look a hell of a lot better with a coat of paint :)
As you can see from the photo I have removed the stern pulpit & stanchions and ground off all of the bases for the stansions & chain plates. The blue tape is covering the hole where the other chain plate for my mizzen goes. I tried out some of Gliddens green primer (its okay but not thick enough for me) and now I’m fairing with epoxy & cabosil. I HATE fairing with epoxy as it is a real bitch to sand. I’m going to go broke buying sandpaper for my new makita (love it) orbital sander.
If I stay focused I think I can knock out a quarter of the deck (Stanchions, chain plates, fairing, non-skid, priming & painting) in about 12 to 15 days each. So I’m looking at 6 – 8 weeks of really busting my ass on this. This schedule is taking good weather into account ???? I’m thinking to quit drinking for a while, not that its a problem, but it certainty decreases my performance & focus. It’s really hard to work hard in 90+ degree heat :(
After all this I need to sand & paint the hull. All other projects (refrigeration, water maker, yadda, yadda, yadda) are going on hold till Splendid looks Splendid and is ready for the sea once again.
After this project I need to re-fabricate the stainless piece that connects the boat to the forestay and I will feel 100% comfortable with my rig. At that point with the addition of a drifter I’ll go anywhere in the world with Splendid as everything else is just fluff.
If anyone is interested I came across a really cool boat for sale in Panama, it’s a Whitby 42. I haven’t seen the boat but they are really well made cruising boats.
www.yachtworld.com/boats/1975/Whitby-Ketch-2302713/Panama
That’s it for today, I have a hell of a lot of sanding to do!
Cheers
Peace, Love, and Sandpaper
– alex