Just another high…… yacHteq

Mast was set up on sunday. The mast step I installed on thrusday with 10mm x 100mm bronze screws so it should stay on it’s place:

The mast got to it’s palce without problems. Windex and wind instrument sensor was installed afterwards. I went up to 15m with the help of the crane and Ballerina’s bosun chair. Now the main thing which doesn’t allow taking Johanna to her home harbour is the engine control. I should be able to install it within few days…

All the cables are now in the mast. To the top goes VHF, wind instrument, anchor and windex light cables. One bolt on the mast caused some problems because it went thru the cable hole and cables did not want to go thru it. The mast got it sixth varnish layer yesterday and it should be on it’s correct place on friday or saturday.

Wind and rain…rain and wind….wind and rain. The wather could settle so that I could finish the deck work. At least doghouse would need few layers of varnish but rain prohibits it.

The new exhaust system works as it should. There was only a little water in the waterlock after approx. 20 min of engine time. Engine installation lacks the engine controls and the fuel tank.

Mast will be raised on friday or saturday and then …. heading home?

Engine was installed today. Helped quit a bit to have three men helping and a tractor with a hoisting bar. Engine mount holes matched with the holes on the engine bed, also the measurement between the thrust bearing ant the engine was what it should be.

Exhaust system will be installed next since I removed the old one which had asbestos insulation.

Optimistically thinking the leak is settling…..

The mast is waiting the fifth layer of varnish. Mast up during the coming week and course to the home harbour?

Mast was varnished the fourth time, still few layers to be added.

Engine should go in on friday, will it fit?

One of the new plank seam is leaking after water pushed the goo from it. Situation should be brighter on coming weekend?

Now it starts, rescheduling the launch date…..

At least a partly reason was the fact that 3 or 4 keelplanks or parts of them and two pair of frames  has to be changed. Frames are already installed and also two plank ends on the starboard side. One or two remains to be done during this week. One of those may change to just fitting a dutchman.

Mast is out and ready to be worked on. Maybe already next week?

Work definitely disturbs this hobby.

Now there is no excuse to stop working with the mast since it is not moved to spend the winter in a tight spot. It turned out to be quite tricky to get the new part of the top to the right shape. Luckily there is still excessive wood on the mast. It is always easier to plane some material off than put it back. New cables will be drawn to the top, but first I need to drill a new exit hole. Cables include at least VHF and wind instrument.

Although new engine should be on not-to-do list, found a new possible candidate… I’ve also checked some feathering props for it although we are not talking about a racer.

Took most of the extra material from the second half of the top. Epoxy had cured as it should. Next weekend I will finish the shaping and after that there is the sanding of the whole 14,5 m mast. How long will it take?

Hopefully the mast can stay were it is now so I could work on it even during Christmas.

Slowly it starts to look like mast again…

The other part of the new mast top is now glued. Outside was REALLY dark. Luckily the mast is inside. I made the scarf joint yesterday and did the final fitting today. – twice since the first fit did not satisfy me after all. I might have time to do the shaping on sunday after which the mast should look like whole once again.

After that there remains some heavy sanding on the mast and impregnation before varnish. Let’s see which year we are in when those happen.

Started to look around for a new engine, wonder if I find one.

Something visible for a change. Managed to glue the first half of new mast top today. Took some time to get it to fit properly, but finally with the help of japanese saw I made it.

Scarf is approx 1:16 which is adequate since they recommend between 1:8 to 1:12.

After the SP epoxy cures I will shape the new half and after that take the remaining old half away. I only removed only one half since I wanted it to be easier to shape the new piece to be exactly like the original.