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Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2023 00:54:00 GMT
FLOATING!
We're back in the water!
Today was our launch. In the morning The final buffing was being done and
Sam and I cleaned up the boat and got it ready for launch. We also put on
a layer of bottom paint on the parts of the hull that were blocked up on
wood. Then we lifted the boat up and drove to the launch bay. As we
approached the water there was a loud pop and the boat shook dramatically.
It really scared us. Nothing seemed broken but then we saw that the
saddle/strap had slipped about 2 feet. It's good that they were tied
together. Then we lowered the boat in the water and started checking the
through hulls and the stuffing box/stern tube. We found a couple small
leaks that were just seacock adjustments. Sam tightened the stuffing box
just a little bit so that it was dripping instead of running and in doing
so found out that the stuffing box hose was a little loose. So he
tightened that up a little bit. Then Hank dropped by to say hello! It
was wonderful to see him. It's so wonderful that he still takes interest
and are of the boats he built. Anyway we moved the boat to the dock and
started putting things back together. After 3 weeks in a hotel/airbnb it
was like coming home from a vacation. Hannah is still putting things away
and getting some kind of dinner ready.
I'm so glad we are back in the water and so is Lilah! We got a lot
accomplished this time and I'm very pleased with the condition of Grace
right now. The final work on the paint/algrip was done wonderfully.
Tomorrow we hope to finishing up the new echo locator /fish finder and an
ethernet connection between the chart plotters. We also need to clean up
a little wiring around the stern tube. Additionally we are going to rig
up a more permanant boom vang / jibe preventer combination. I'm going to
set it up a little like a horse. From the middle of the boom I'm going to
run two lines down to the deck cleats midship to a couple snatch blocks
and back to the secondary winches.
Before bed I'm going to update the work list spreadsheet. Good night!