Portlights all out, pintle out, bushing out, pulpit off. The kid and I seem to still know what we're doing, even though it's about 20 degrees in the boatshed. And that included getting the below deck autopilot out of the way. Less than four hours. If I wasn't thinking it might go offshore some, I'd re-use the pintle and re-weld the pin. The bushing cotter pin sheared at some point, so the bushing and the pintle pin (with a broken weld) were turning with the rudderpost. Seems like this is something that might oughta be part of regular maintenance somehow. But I guess once the skeg is on, you're outta luck. Have to order a skeg.
Those (Beckson?) portlights all leaked, loaded with silicone only. I was afraid something on the deck, the traveler, deck hardware, etc., was leaking behind the overhead liner, but I now think it was just the portlights wicking water up and down. We'll get the Newfounds all lined up next weekend so I can get Richard his jig back. No installations, using butyl tape or caulking or bedding anything in these temps.
The teak is 7/32" thick around the ports, so where I have to - at least the salon lights - I'm going to put 2' new pieces of teak where each new port will go and just batten the cuts. The multitool cuts far enough behind the trim so I think we can get the new wood down behind the trim and will only have to take the top trim piece off. This shit is ALL put to the coach fiberglass with friggin' resin. It ain't poppin' off. There was pooled resin in the voids behind the plywood. God bless the inventor of the multitool.
Started taking down the overhead in the salon. Dying to see the backing for the traveler. Might re-invent that and have my rigger in St. Thomas have a new Garhauer drop shipped. I think I still have a credit with him for getting him out of trouble, so maybe I'll get it at cost. Hmm. I wonder what he can do about a Lewmar V1 windlass? Saw those for $799 for a minute at Defender WITH 20' of chain & 200' of rode awhile back. Then $899. Then back to almost $1200.
Decided to pull all the deck hardware and re-mount with at LEAST fender washers if not aluminum backing plates. Just washers sized to the bolts seems a little silly.
I think this is overall a better boat than my Pearson or Bristol, but both of those were built with an eye toward not coming apart. Tartan seems to have been a little lax in those areas. Much nicer spar and that area with the tartan, but all the deck hardware mountings seem flimsy. Fiberglass tabbing is O.K., but kind of a messy hull/deck joint.
I'm too old for that goddamn chain locker. That and Nana got us pumping iron as of 3 days ago daily, so this old bastard aches all over.
Off to Harbor Freight for clamps and throwaway tools as soon as I finish this bowl of leaves and twigs. I miss being in the boatyard in St. Thomas where I could just walk over to Budget Marine for what I needed.
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