I hate the time change.  Err, it gets dark at 6pm and I have no power for lights…  Had some friends come out to the storage shed this weekend.  Danielle and Kevin plugged blocks for a few hours.  Thanks guys, it was fun.  I got the crate built for the hatches.  I am supposed to send them up to YachtSmiths, but the crate is much bigger than I had expected.    8 of the double blocks are all glued up, and 4 are fully screwed (positively, in that the screws are fully in) and 3 of the singles are ready to dunk in the vat of linseed oil.

 

New photos from YachtSmiths.  The cabintops are done, with the final welding of the rudder being the last major part of the hull.  The shaft log still needs to be installed and a few hawsers and cleats put on, but the hull itself appears to be done.  I drilled out all the screws I stripped on Thursday and plugged all the holes.  Been re-varnishing the hatches where I had to enlarge the lips and I cut all the axels for the double blocks.�
  

Worked on the double blocks today.  Got half of each block screwed together. However, I keep stripping the screws even with larger pilot holes so I can’t plug them all well.  Shit, it was been a lot of work to leave some screws exposed.  May have to figure something out here.    Got some new photos from YachtSmiths.  Mostly of the guys working on the cabin tops, which look like they are coming along nicely.   The rudder is tacked together and in place.  And the chain plates are on!  Thanks Bryan!

     

All the singles are now together and yesterday I worked on shaping a few of the single blocks with a belt sander (thanks Hop).  Then today I went over to Ross’ and we drilled all the axel holes for the double blocks.  I also dremeled the skylight hatches so that they now open and close with the hinges attached.  I’ve also included a picture one of the table clothes and will be cut into a curtain.

 

Got most of the singles screwed together, but ran out of 2″ screws for the last couple.  And the one that got screwed have now also been plugged.  Sounds worse than it is.   Finished the boarding ladder, and I will say, it looks awesome.  Got the hitches put on the skylight hatches and have just received the remaining T-Bar fasteners.   The hatch lids are still too tight so I’ll have to take the dremel back to them.  And I cut all the axels for the singles.  Whew.

Today was a big day in Hop’s garage.  I cut the side pieces for the double blocks, so now those are ready to glue up.  Then Amy came over and together we dremeled and dremeled the strop groves and swallows.  5 hours later and the singles almost ready for the final sanding.

    

It has been a few days since I was last able to update the page. I crashed a hard drive and have been trying to rebuild my system. Been working on the blocks quite a bit. Have the edges and strop groves routed with my new made (threw together)  plywood, clampable router board.  And then Ross and I drilled the axel holes drilled for all the 21 singles. I’m waiting for some 2″ screws before I shape them up with the orbital sander. The 17 doubles I’m making are half assembled but not worked at all. Also started attaching the  T-Bar fasteners and hatch adjusters to the skylight hatches.
   

Been a busy couple of days.  Finished the touch up varnish on the hatch lids, but still have to insert the hatch lift/adjuster mounts.   Ordered the ABI 14″ hatch lifts from Hamilton Marine, they have good prices for such things.  Picked up the ash and took it over to Hop’s pad on Friday night to cut it up.  Saturday, Amy and I glued up the ash and today we cut them into individual blocks.  Amy shaped a test block I made a few days ago, so now we have a feel for what they will look like.  Amy and I also finished the short boarding ladder and have almost completed the boson’s chair.  Amy wants to put a back brace on it, so she is sewing one up by hand.  The last thing we started today was the bottom piece for a crate to send the hatches up to YachtSmiths.  Talked to Bryan at YachtSmiths the other day as well, they are working cabin tops and finishing up the rudder.   We decided that it is time for me to come up again, so it looks like I will be spending Thanksgiving in Halifax, hopefully, installing my hatches.

  

Started to assembly the boarding ladders.  Yes, ladders, one small and one large.   I think they are going to look really nice.  I also ordered 18 board feet of 7/8th inch ash from Hogan’s down in South Austin for my blocks.  Should be ready on Thursday.