thar she blows

a virgin BCC off to storage, I really like the lines.

The cocoon opens and a beautiful butterfly emerges

There are a few items to fit after its trip to storage for the winter, and of course the rigging in the spring.

"The time has come" the walrus said

"to think of many things, of sailing ships and sealing wax, and cabbages and kings"

Lewis Carol I think.

So Bill has informed me that the boat leaves the workshop early next week and will make its way into storage. Its hard to believe the time has come. I have been advised that there still are a few things to tidy up here and there, likely there will always be.

Of course the whole project has been a marvellous roller coaster, closely matched by the ride on the back of the Canadian dollar, which has recovered from a 30 cent margin. It sits about 95 cents to the US now and I can live with that.

I have had ever so much assistance from so many folks during the build, and its been a lot of work. I told the shipwright Bill Bucholtz of Apache boatworks that I don't think I could have done this without him. I toyed with the idea, however the climate and the logistics to build a boat here in Newfoundland is just not favourable. Whats more, whilst I am broke, I am still married! When Joshua Slocum was asked how much money it took to build a boat he replied "as much as you have"

A good friend of mine told me it would take two years at which I scoffed, I have had to eat my words. Mercifully Bill is a patient man and has managed to occupy himself when the money ran out.

Just reading a book right now about this curious love affair that some people have about boats, it is quite irrational and even rational folks get bitten by the bug, the far away look in their eyes and the compulsion to proceed despite many good sense reasons to cut and run.

Given a few years I am sure the psychiatrists will have a name for it, no doubt medication will arrive shortly after to treat the condition. May I suggest "the banana boat syndrome", hows your husband " oh he's gone bananas on his boat". People will knowingly nod their head and ask whether he has been taking his meds, and then wonder about the prognosis. My suspicion is that the condition is likely uncurable...............

Well the boat will be stored until late spring, at which time, if all the stars align, we shall get the boat commissioned, and then hopefully sail into the sunset so stay tuned.....

I have asked Bill to send me a last lot of photographs, before it settles in Camden for the winter, I shall be delighted to share these with everyone as they become available.

We need some wind now

The folks at Caphorn, are the most agreeable folks you could ever expect to do business with. They are good to their word and the product appears to be just great. Heard so much about how well it functions however never used one so anxious to test it out I hope the learning curve is not too steep.

Jaws

I think that having the scuttle open like this is great, I hope to spend many a night feeling a cool breeze blow thru.

Pulpit falls into its rightful place

I was really pleased with the metal work and the fit was just splendid.

Main Hatch

The main hatch is completed.

The compass is a Suunto, and is lit by an LED.

Raymarine tridata to starboard and the ST 60 wind gauge.

Bill built some nice coamings to break any water coming across the Salon roof, they will also serve to locate the dodger. I plan having the ability to stretch the dodger roof to the boom gallows and then later when all the bills settle down maybe go to a full enclosure.

Winch handle is tucked nicely in for easy access.

Lifelines and gate come together

Before and afters of the head locker

It looks pretty rough at this point, and then
rather than a drawer which would be a poor use of space, a cupboard works better

The work is just drop dead beautiful, this is one of the Alpenglow lights we fitted, expensive but takes about .33 of an amp to run and it even looks good. The light is not that piercing white that gives you a headaches but more of a color corrected light.

Bulwark sheet bracket is movable

This bracket holds the block for the jib sheet and we have yet to fully settle on its position. Once we have the boat sailing it can be secured finally such that it forms the optimum angle for the sail shape. Can't wait!

Galley Nears Completion

All the little jobs are now coming together, the to do list is melting away, it all takes a lot of time. The detail is very good and Bill uses these little brass tubes to access the catch for the drawers. I feel that using drawers here was a great idea, and allows access to the back of these difficult spaces. A hatch would have been another way to go, but bending over to reach the inner aspects next to hot stove would certainy be courting disaster.
The drawers can be segmented for separation and another added bonus is that the counter is waterproof.



The fold up shelf fits beautifully and is held in place with a spring catch cleverly placed at one end.



Drawers under fabrication.

Now at least I can get on board

It is always useful to have a more dignified way of getting on board, climbing up the rudder and thru the windvane may be possible for the young 'uns, however the ladder seems like a better alternative. It collapse nicely for storage and can be moved as needed. I think that some kind of rescue equipment will be likely to facilitate rescues, man overboard and the like.