Yeah, get used to it. We’ll likely be here another two weeks. After six days on the hard we are progressing on some of our projects and not so well on others. Specifically, Ann is kicking on the boat polishing project. She is now applying the final carnuba wax coat on the hull and will likely finish tomorrow. Good progress. On the other hand, Bob has been working for days on a project that was not even on the project list, so he’s not progressing so well on that.
Major corrosion that would have resulted in a sudden catastrophic failure, resulting in dismasting. Glad we found it, but it's taking time and effort we hadn't planned for. Oh well, welcome to boating.
These are about 1/3 of the tools I "burned up" trying to excavate the bolts for the bobstay fitting. At about $20/tool.
We couldn't get to the heads inside the hull, so finally resorted to having the metal shop guy cut them off with a cut-off wheel. Took about 30 seconds!
Here's one of the bolts showing the head that was cut off. If you click on the picture and look closely, you can also see the bolt had some crevice corrosion going on the left side (which was the outside closest to the water).
I set up a scaffold and am inspecting the entire bowsprit (which is about 12 feet in the air)
OK, so the bobstay wasn’t on the project list, but we’re really glad we found this. I don’t think the fitting was a lot longer for this world and if this part breaks-so long mast! I already have a quote for the machine shop to make the new fitting. About $280 for the fitting and $28/bolt. However, there is also still some fiberglass work that we need to do which I am looking to the shop to do that will add to the overall cost. I found some ‘voids’ inside the bolt-holes and underneath the backing plate. I’m having the fiberglass guys inject epoxy resin inside the holes to strengthen the whole thing. It’s a bit more complex than that, but suffice to say I want to make sure it’s solid given the work I’ve put in so far to get this right.
So…now that this project is more or less on a path to a solution, I’m moving on to other projects that are actually on the list. Next up-the lazarette locker hatches. When Charisma was originally surveyed (for purchase) the hatches were pointed out as needing reinforcement. They are finally to the point where I have to agree. I’ll be removing them, grinding out the plywood backing which has some rot in it and then either/or (I’m not sure yet) epoxying a new plywood backing, or just fiberglassing the inside of the doors. More to come on this once I get the doors off and have a look.
Ann will be spending tomorrow polishing the rest of Charisma and then will move on to the cabin and cockpit sides. She is building some fierce muscles. We both are very impressed with how beautiful Charisma is looking from all the effort. She’s shining-and I must say, I think I can see her smile from all the attention.
What a pain that sucker was! High speed cutting tools have always been my favorite. Just fired up mine, driven by the air compressor, to cut some bolts shorter. Love watching the sparks fly!
I think it’s a misnomer to say you are doing boat maintenance. Seems to me you are rebuilding the damn thing. That’s quite a little hobby y’all got there. Maybe it is true that you have to be a little crazy to be a sailor. 🙂
Good luck with the rest of the little “touch up” work.