Ready

Been quite some time since my last blog update. The blog really kept me focused during the build process,must it seems less important now that I am spending my time on the water and the primary mission is accomplished! We plan to shove off for the Bahamas within the next week, weather depending.

A new mainsail

Here is a pic of the mainsail I bought from Bacon sails. This pic was taken before the recent work was done including all new batten pockets and various reinforcements.  I had basically just hoisted it here to check the fit and shape and make sure I wanted to spend the money on the repairs.  Overall, it will be a good sail for many years at a cost of about 1/4 a custom new sail.  Still slightly smaller than drawn by Richard in area, but over 100 sq feet bigger than the other sail.  

Time on the water.

Still managed a dozen or so family days on the water. New mainsail should be back from sail loft tomorrow.

A busy summer!

So many projects, so little sailing!

First Sail

Hard to get pics of the actual sailing, but I believe the Maine Cat out on charter may have gotten some.  Light winds and using an old very small staysail as a jib as the furler is not yet cobbled together. Mainsail just fits the boom with out haul maxed, old S2 9.2 sail cover fits ok. Just need some cutouts for the diamond stays. 

Time for a rest...

Floats!

Easy As.....

Launching tonight.

Wheels

Much of this week was spent getting the bot onto to the trailer, but I did get the rudders fitted. This involved turning the boat round in the street and pulling the iron grate on the storm drains. The rudders were then lowered below street level and the sterns backed over the stocks. Abby managed to get a few pictures while helping to hold the rudders up, make sure the keel didn't hit the curbs and making sure Lily stayed in the yard. I will have to figure out how to get them off of her phone. Then,we safely returned things to the driveway for a few more week of work at home. The upside is the not is quite easy to handle on the trailer, just VERY Wide!

Safety First

So, I had bought all this orange paint. I had thought about doing a strip on the cabin side in typical Woods fashion, but there was some concern that the paint would not be color fast enough.  It turned out to be an ideal paint for working overhead, quite thick.  

At the same time I did certainly beat the boat with the homebuilt stick a bit here. You'd never see a production cat stock with orange on the underwing! Can you imagine the wifies questions of the salesman?  Why is that painted orange again? Reflects the UV radiation better?  If you follow one of the other cat build blogs, you'll note another builder recently painted 2 tiny orange stips on his 44' cats underwing.  Might as well just go for it. 

We also have noticed many of the higher latitude cruisers paint the top bit of the mast orange as well and it really increased your daytime visibility. And there was still plenty of paint. Anyone need a gallon of orange paint?

Front Porch

the nets have proved a bit difficult to setup, but successful with some careful work.  I certainly would not recommend this route for someone that is not good with knot work.  Starboard is strung and port is about 1/2 done at this stage.

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.

Going up

The boat proved a bit difficult to move, but slowly after about a full day I got it done.  Had to jack it up to make clearance for the keels. 
dry fitted the port keel today. Looks like good weather to epoxy it on and glass the joint tomorrow.

spring cleaning

Took these the 2nd day of spring. Now what to do with all this space? Anyone need a place to build a boat?

Even keeled

Rest assured quite a bit has been happening the last several weeks. We did have some family in town for a bit which throw things off some. I have painted the cabin sides and fitted the ports as well. The trees are really making painting a nitemare. I really have to have a low wind day to keep the cedar needles off. I'll try to get pic of that and the mostly finished icebox on soon.