Finally spent the time to really learn to use SketchUp and designed both the fore and aft companionway ladders this
week. I bought the mahogony for the forward ladder on Friday and Amy and I cut the steps and the sides yesterday at
Hops. We were only a 16th off on our cuts and found the ‘dimensions’ off the drawing we printed out to be a real bonus.

Went over to Rob & Jays pad this weekend as well and we sanded down the 10ft dingy that Rob and I made a few years ago. It needs a new paint and varnish job, but first it will get a good washing. Thanks guys. I’ll drive it up to Halifax with all the other parts I’ve made in July.

This is going to be a long post. Partly because we did a lot of work and have taken a few pictures, but also I have a few people I’d like to thank.

First I’d like to thank Brian for putting us up in his house for a week, and next I’d like to thank Tesha and Lynn who shuttled us to and from the Houston airport. Thanks a lot guys, it saved us a few bucks.

The main task of the week was to put lead into the keel well. So, a real cradle was built under the boat and the temporary supports were cut off and ground flat. Yeah! Of the 8,000lbs of ballast, Amy and I managed to hand carry 4,090lbs into the boat over a few days. Each lead pig had to weighed (~23lbs apiece) and some cut down with a bandsaw to fit into smaller areas. We filled up the forward wells, and but will have to get creative where we put the rest since it all has to go in.

Putting the bowsprit chains was another task we worked on. We had to make quite a few trips to the rigging supply, but Jeremy at Hercules was a big help and I appreciate his patience with us. Thanks Jeremy. The chainplates had to be redrilled for 1/2″ shackles, but aside from that it was just a matter of cutting the chains to size and hoisting them into place. We got to use the blocks Amy and I made to hoist the heavy chain up to the end of the bowsprit. And yes, the blocks worked great.

The last thing we worked on was putting some rub rails onto the sides of the bowsprit steps. Amy crawled out on the steps to pass me tools and I stood on the top rung of a ladder just to each them. Thankfully, the newly installed chain gave us both something to hold onto.

In all it was a really good week. Despite the cold, we got a lot done and had a ton of fun. Thanks to everyone who help the week happen!

Spent some time this last week working on the small blocks. 5 are ready for sanding. 5 more are waiting to be shaped via the dremel.

The big news is that Amy and I are in Halifax this week working on the boat. We brought the bowsprit steps, some handles and 12 of the big blocks. The steps went on the bowsprit on Monday. They look really nice, but I think they’ll need to be cut down so that the anchor rode does not rub on them.

We also started putting lead in the keel. We had to first line the bottom of the wells with rubber and place wood battens around the sides. Amy and I made this agreement that every time we climbed up to the boat we’d bring 2 pigs (~44lbs). Amy weighed each pig and I placed them in the keel well. It didn’t take too much effort and we did 1,000lbs today. 1/8 of the total ballast.

Had the good fortune to run into Angelo on my way to go run around Town Lake on Saturday. He later met me at my storage shed and cut the pins and axles for the small blocks. Thanks.

Got a large part of the way done with assembling and shaping the small blocks on Sunday at Hops. Had borrowed the 4″ belt sander from work to help me. The 1/4″ router bit did a decent job of rounding all the edges and I used the table saw to cut a 3/8″ grove in the cheeks. The 3/8″ rat tail file will give the groves a little be of rounding.

Finished using up Tesha and Lynn’s Lowes gift card. Got a couple of long drill bits, a bigger bag to put my tools in and 1/4″ router bit. Errr! Thanks a ton guys!!!

And lastly, the last coat of varnish went on the bowspit steps. Now I have to figure out a way to pack them for my trip to Halifax next week.