Rigging

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

About all we have left now is finish rigging. We've stepped the mast yeserday, installed the chainplates and crimped the ends of the cables for the forestay and the shrouds. We've also finalized the bowsprit installation. Now she really looks like a sailboat. We've still got to install the boom and gaff, make the sails, rig up the running rigging and hook up the steering cable to the components. Doesn't seem like a lot to do, but I'll bet it'll take a long time. I don't think I'll enjoy making the sails, not my kind of thing.

Cheers

Florin

[Jan Williamson]

Are you making the polysails? I am thinking of making the polysails for my weekender till I see how the boat sails. Once I get to the dacron ones this winter I'll know more about any adjustments I may need. The only thing I am not looking forward to is finding a nice big flat spot to work. I am finishing the spar varnishing and giving the topside one more light coat of paint, then I'll be ready for rigging. I made some wood blocks but I think I'll have to start over because the woodgrain is running the wrong way. I am getting some chunks chipping out already. I rolled the boat out of the garage today, and after 1/2 hr in the sun (78 degrees), the compaanionway trim and the grab rails (painted dark blue) got pretty hot to the touch. So since they only have two coats of paint, I may sand them down and paint them the same off white as the topside.

[Stump]

As far as a large flat space to work in, try a school playground, out in the land of liquid sun you find that some of them are even covered...err, umm, probably best not to do that during a school day :roll:

Or a park, or a cul-da-sac, or a parking lot, or a new housing development, or the flight deck of an aircraft carrier :twisted:

[Barry Pyeatt]

I went to an apartment community with a Rec center. Paid them $25 to use their indoor basketball court for a half day one time. They generally are not busy in the early mornings. They were happy to do it. I swept off the floor area I needed which was already pretty darned clean and laid it all out and cut it. After taping things down and getting it all cut up, it was simple matter to clean up the tape marks and leave it clean. Then took it home in rolls and cleared a space in the living room to set up the sewing machine. It wasn't at all practical so I moved outside to the patio and it worked out fine to sew them up. Had to stretch them out and used the fence and the side of the house as places to hook my lines.

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

It turns out we have enough space in the boatshed to make the sails, so fortunately we don't have to go anywhere else. We've cut the sails out of the poly tarp last night. Couldn't really do anything else because it was my daughter's B.day and we went out for dinner.

Now we can finish the sails today and hopefully have the entire rigging setup.

Thanks

Florin

[Tim Diebert]

...and still in time for Christina Lake....been some awesome sailing out here this year.

Today was 36 C, a nice 5 knot breeze for a coupla hours and swimming when the breeze died.

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

You're a tease Tim... We'd love to go there this season (Although I'm not quite sure we'll make it there). Chances are next summer we will. We sort-of want to get used to sailing this battleship before we get onto the larger more distant lakes. I'm sure there'll be some things which will need fixing or improving after or during the first few outings.

My aunt and uncle just called yeserday, they just returned from a two week long vacation on Mara Lake. That was another tease, they said it was awesome, the weather was excellent with the exception of a couple days when it was a bit soggy.

Glad to hear you've had a good time on the lake and wish you at least the same for the rest of the season. You guys do any fishing out there?

Cheers

Florin