| Circe
| Thursday, April 1, 2010 I began the day with the anchor platform, and completed the final installation. I drilled boltholes through the epoxy plugs in the foredeck, and drilled and, for the forwardmost bolt in the anchor roller, tapped one hole in the raised stem portion of the toerail next to the headstay fitting, where there was no access from beneath. Then, I installed the platform in a heavy bed of sealant with 5, 3/8" bolts, backing plate, and large washers. I cleaned up the excess sealant, completing the installation. |
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Next, I completed a milling step on the two halves of the head door, to create the rabbetted overlap between the two. After checking the fit in the boat, I sanded the doors through 220 grit to prepare for varnish, which I'd apply later in the day. (Photos show the doors before sanding.) |
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Next, I sanded the mahogany rudderpost cover smooth, and created a rounded edge at the top corners. The cover was a bit bulky, but cleaning it up and sanding helped a bit; still, it was a prominent feature in the cockpit, though it was not any larger than it needed to be in order to perform its assigned duty. |
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With all the sanding and milling complete, I applied a sealer coat of varnish to the head doors and rudderpost cover. |
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I installed a single handrail loop to the companionway hatch, to make it easier to open and close, and then installed the tongue and slotted hardware in the top swashboard, completing the companionway installation. |
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Some strap hardware I'd been awaiting arrived in early afternoon, and I seized the opportunity to install the batteries in their new space beneath the cabin sole. I housed the engine starting battery in a covered box, at the aft end of the space, with a pair of Trojan T105 6-volt batteries for the ship's service forward, secured with the new straps. I made up the battery connections and tested the electrical system satisfactorily. |
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At the end of the day, while awaiting Seth from Mobile Marine Canvas, I gathered wiring, rigging, and other materials for some upcoming mast work, anticipating that with good weather forecast I might start on the mast rewiring tomorrow, though I had some other shop commitments as well. Once Seth arrived, this time bearing the completed dodger and interior cushions, all beautifully stitched and finalized by his behind-the-scenes team of Bonnie and Sheryl--who did all or most of the actual construction of the project--we installed the dodger one more time to check the new struts and other features; the handrail, newly wrapped in leather, was covered with protective plastic, as seen in these photos. Afterwards, we packed the dodger and frame away for safekeeping. Wings on: |
 
 
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Wings off: |
 
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The interior cushions, made from the same material as the dodger, looked great and pulled the cabin together, finally offering a taste of the completed space. The convertible athwartships double berth appeared to work well. |
 
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