Well, I have got most of the chock like things for the new anchor on the foredeck now though it has taken an inordinate number of M6 bolts to get there.
I have also got the tubes on the Aries drilled and in their holes. Investigation of the issues with fitting the thing fully have revealed a fair bit, not least that I am going to need a proper power drill to achieve it. Also, it will not be possible to drill through the cockpit coaming so that will have to be done with stud bolts. On the positive side, there are already holes drilled in the aft rail. All, we have to hope is the original holes are in the right place.
On a completely other topic. I tried to copy the photos off the camera but found that the ubuntu I have installed on this netbook cannot recognise SD cards when they are put in the slot. Those others of you who have had to fight with linux device drivers will know what I am talking about.
Still, the weather is changing with the wind now in the south west and a spot or two of rain. Audrey arrives later and I will be able to get into the B&B shortly as well.
Friday, 26 November 2010
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Still Freezing but with Aries Parts Now
Well, it is, if anything, even colder now and is forecast to drop below freezing tonight. I am huddled below with the Bengco going full pelt and gobbling charcoal at a rate of knots. It isn't too bad except that I still manage to get cold feet. Sitting still is not good for them and that is what I have been doing a lot of today.
The good news is that I now have the mounting tubes and brackets to enable us to install the Aries. An abortive trip to Falmouth was a bit frustrating but then I got an email from Helen Franklin/Bell and drove down today to pick them up. Now, all I have to do is work out how to drill the holes I need. I will start looking at that tomorrow once the sun is over the hill and has melted off the inevitable frost. The docks were decidedly slippery this morning.
Other progress: I bought sixty meters of nylon multiplait, a couple of thimbles and a single Barton block to make up some lazyjacks. I will need another block of course as well as the bosun's chair to get to the spreaders. Then we should have a much easier time of lowering the main.
Well, now is probably the best point to get eyes out and head for bed. It is too cold for anything else really. We will be in a Bed and Breakfast tomorrow as it is not very likely that Audrey will enjoy sleeping aboard at the moment.
The good news is that I now have the mounting tubes and brackets to enable us to install the Aries. An abortive trip to Falmouth was a bit frustrating but then I got an email from Helen Franklin/Bell and drove down today to pick them up. Now, all I have to do is work out how to drill the holes I need. I will start looking at that tomorrow once the sun is over the hill and has melted off the inevitable frost. The docks were decidedly slippery this morning.
Other progress: I bought sixty meters of nylon multiplait, a couple of thimbles and a single Barton block to make up some lazyjacks. I will need another block of course as well as the bosun's chair to get to the spreaders. Then we should have a much easier time of lowering the main.
Well, now is probably the best point to get eyes out and head for bed. It is too cold for anything else really. We will be in a Bed and Breakfast tomorrow as it is not very likely that Audrey will enjoy sleeping aboard at the moment.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Freezing cold on the boat
Well, I am down here now and am huddling up to the charcoal heater which is now going nicely though it did take some serious starting. I am going to have to work on my technique on that one.
There are a few plans for this week which I have down here in Kingswear. The main one is to get the Aries fitted and, to that end, I am off down to Falmouth tomorrow to pick up the parts we need to get it fitted.
Experimentation with the VHF suggests that it might well be the VHF cable rather than the box itself so we are likely to have to make a trip up the mast.
Looking ahead, I have got agreement from work to take an extended break next year so we will be off to Southern Spain or Gibraltar next August to October. This is great news but of course will require quite a lot of work done to get the boat ready for that.
There are a few plans for this week which I have down here in Kingswear. The main one is to get the Aries fitted and, to that end, I am off down to Falmouth tomorrow to pick up the parts we need to get it fitted.
Experimentation with the VHF suggests that it might well be the VHF cable rather than the box itself so we are likely to have to make a trip up the mast.
Looking ahead, I have got agreement from work to take an extended break next year so we will be off to Southern Spain or Gibraltar next August to October. This is great news but of course will require quite a lot of work done to get the boat ready for that.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Finally got some news
Well, the account of our cruise hasn't yet materialised and now all sorts of things have happened in a boaty way.
The plan to winter her in Emsworth fell foul of the atumnal weather and we wound up being stuck in Torquay for rather longer than we would have chosen. We also started hunting round for somewhere to keep her in South Devon and are now happily esconced at Darthaven Marina in Kingswear. It feels a bit odd to be based in the Dart having visited it so often.
The other item only came in today. My workplace have agreed to me taking a two month extended leave next August to October so we will be able to cruise Sarah G down to Gibraltar or somewhere in southern Spain.
Details will of course have to be worked out but it is a lot of fun to be able to definitely plan an extended cruise. We are looking on it as a way of dipping our toes in the long term cruising malarky while still having an easy route out if it isn't for us.
I will be down there working on her all next week so will try to do some updates and perhaps some photos.
The plan to winter her in Emsworth fell foul of the atumnal weather and we wound up being stuck in Torquay for rather longer than we would have chosen. We also started hunting round for somewhere to keep her in South Devon and are now happily esconced at Darthaven Marina in Kingswear. It feels a bit odd to be based in the Dart having visited it so often.
The other item only came in today. My workplace have agreed to me taking a two month extended leave next August to October so we will be able to cruise Sarah G down to Gibraltar or somewhere in southern Spain.
Details will of course have to be worked out but it is a lot of fun to be able to definitely plan an extended cruise. We are looking on it as a way of dipping our toes in the long term cruising malarky while still having an easy route out if it isn't for us.
I will be down there working on her all next week so will try to do some updates and perhaps some photos.
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