Adrift at Sea —Dan’s blog on dankim.com

The 2007 Sailing Season has finally arrived. It really seemed that winter would be hanging on for a few more weeks, but it has gone out with a bang. My friends Norm and Elizabeth delivered their new boat, Averisera from Connecticut up to Boston, with only a short delay due to the Nor’Easter than was winter’s last gasp two weeks ago. Charles and Hilary have splashed their Corsair F31, after having some repairs done to her over the winter—mainly a rudder rebuild. Mike is working on Next Year, and should be splashing her fairly shortly. Don and Diane are doing a bit more work on Aja, but should have her in the water sooner than they did last year.

I’ve almost finished the ground tackle installation on the Pretty Gee. It’s overkill, at least according to Will over at PCI, since the Corsair folks think that the cleats on the Telstar 28 are already too big. I’ve gone up another size and used two 10″ cleats for the bow. I’ve also upgraded the chocks to handle much heavier line than the old ones could fit. I’ve added a manual windlass and bow roller, and plan to leave the Rocna mounted on the bow roller most of the time. The only things I have left to do on the ground tackle system are add the chainpipe, the chain tensioner, and possibly add the mooring bitt. I don’t know if the mooring bit is really necessary, given the new 10″ bow cleats.

I’ve also finished adding the second solar ventilator to the boat. This one will be setup as an input fan, and is located just aft of the mast, over the table in the main cabin. Originally, I was planning on installing the Nicro before the mast, but realized that it would need to be removed each time I needed to lower or raise the mast. It would also be underfoot when working at the mast. The new location places it under the boom, and out of the way of foot traffic for the most part.

I’ve also started on the stereo system installation. The installation of the speakers is really the only major thing I have left to do for that. It’s not a perfect installation, but it should get the job done.

I only have three remaining major projects left before I’m ready to leave.

The solar panel mounts have to be sorted out and fixed. Since the marina has installed two new moorings this year, I may try to sit out on one of them while I work on the the solar panel mounting system. One of the modifications I wanted to make was to change the panel mounting rails from using two tiny set screws to using a large 1/4″ fast pin to hold them in place. The new drill and cobalt drill bits I picked up this week should help with that.

The bridgedeck/storage locker has to be built. I don’t know if I will do this as a permanent thing or make it a removable locker. Right now, I’m leaning towards doing this as a removable piece initially, and then possibly changing it over, once I see how it works out. This will help make the Pretty Gee more seaworthy by reducing the cockpit volume and by preventing water from downflooding into the cabin as easily.

I also need to install chainplates to attach the Jordan Series Drogue bridle with. I have to talk to Tony about what the best way to do this would be. Ideally, I want to attach the chainplates for the drogue to the ama folding system’s main supports on the main hull, as I think that is the strongest and simplest way to do this. We’ll have to see what Tony thinks.