Spar shop is open!

Started in on the spar as well.  Cut about 5' off the bottom and 3' off the top.  It's a real hodgepodge of various bits all being cobbled together.  I have been "sort of" looking for a better mast for the last two years.  This one will do! Going to paint the top bit orange and stripping the lower to bare metal of all the old cracked paint.  

Update

Much has been done the last few weeks.  Regina has done a great job on the cushions but they are expensive!

Nets/ Give me some of your money before April 15th

So a few followers may have noticed I'm always keen for a good deal.  I have been long trying to decide how do the bow nets.  A custom made set of nets would run around $2000! more  than I have in all my sails, mast and outboards combined!!!! I had also been thinking of the bainbridge super tramps material.  The problem is only place cut lengths are available from is Sailrite. Now sailrite does a fine business, but when I last priced their products they were selling at roughly 4x cost and 3x wholesale/ marine trade price. Sound like good prices?  
Maybe I just need to get with the times and chuck a DONATE button on here?

Everyone seems eager to give away a few bucks to wayward yachties with kids these days.
Anyway, other option was dyneema either of those would have been near $400 or a bit more for dyneema netting. All for just the base material! So I found this "hockey" netting made by West coast netting. They custom made the size for me and I will wrap and lash the edges around fiberglass poles on the edges. Same as I would have done for the dyneema and perhaps the super tramp mesh as well.  This is urethane coated polyester with a break strength about 75% that of dyneema as it is thicker, easier to walk on and will stretch and give a bit more so generating less load on the attachment points.  total cost custom made and delivered: $60!!!

Fair enough

eyeballed the complete rudder profiles.   Seem pretty much the same. 

Rudders

Thought I had some more pictures of these, but here's a rudder after a days work.  I am nearly finished with them but for final fairing and priming after about 3 full days work.  Much faster than I had thought.  I also checked on pulling the storm drain grate in the street which came off pretty easily with a decent pry bar so when she's up on the trailer in a few weeks I will back each hull over the drain to be able to slide the rudders in. 

fun day

Got a bit of sailing in with the kids Sunday and home or do a bit more glass work on the rudders. In the background here is the mooring area I will be keeping the Vardo in a few months.