Another Step Forward

   The top is practically finished, on one side. All the pockets that have been sewn on are great. The chances of the poles wearing through, are pretty darn nonexistent.
  It has been raining here almost non~stop for 3 days, and the cover is awesome, the top stayed pretty much dry. 
  Captain Carey has put alot of time in his research. He has been watching videos, looking up canvas work done by other boaters and tent makers. They both have great ideas on covers, and just sewing techniques. How to put the zippers in, going around corners, installing velcro, where to put the snaps, etc, etc, etc.
  When the whole top of the cover is done, we start doing panels. The panels will come down from under the flap. The panels will zip on, and together. They will clip to the life line stantions, and when all is said and done, we will be able to walk all the way around the boat, standing up. When it rains, the whole topside will be dry, and when the wind blows, we will just synch the top down with a strap that goes all the way around the whole top. And the amount of shade this will give us while in the hot tropics of Mexico, is priceless.
  Now the big project, to see if we can get the heater up and rolling. It is a pretty trick unit. It will be a good addition to these brisk, and damp mornings we have had lately. The rain is here, and I doubt it is going to be stopping anytime soon. I hope, because we need the water, everywhere.
bunkmate

Got It Covered

  Sometimes we forget to remember what was it that drew us back down river to the ocean. There is never just one thing, there where tons of pros and cons that were thrown into the cauldron all mixed up, and it ultimately came down to our sanity.

 We have restored our girl quite a bit, but we have also been ‘Shinalizing’ our way throughout.
  The next big weekend project is sewing the cover for the entire topside. The Cap'n took friday off, so we had a 3day weekend to try and bust out the cover.  We sewed all day, and into the evening. The first day we sewed the panels together, up to the mast, then the Cap'n spent most of the rest of the weekend getting the boot for the mast done, boy is that tricky. 

 

  1st weekend done

bunkmate

Need A Spare?

  When we bought SVCerridwen she came with alot of spare everything. There is something to be said about organization on a sailing vessel. The amount of things that you need to carry in case of an emergency, or something breaking while at sea, or something leaking while at sea, there are a number of reasons why you need to carry so much stuff.

The amount of screws, nuts, bolts, different caulking, washers, bungees, hoses, clamps, brass nails, stainless steel nails, hooks, rivets, latches, spark plugs, oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, hinges, snaps, bungs, cleats, tape, do you have any idea how many different kinds of tape there are?
 As we go along we have been stratigizing on some type of organization system. We have come to realize, the best way to go about it is to put stuff together with like items, put them in see thru containers, and label them. In order to that we had to go to the beginning, pull it all out, sort as you go, spend the whole day down below. This is also including everything from under the aft cabin mattress. The shop is so 'Shinalized' now. All the stuff under the V~berth is now sanding stuff, and painting stuff.
  All the new room in the cabinets, with the new shelves, and all the organizing, things are settling in place. Just in time to start working on sewing the top on the cockpit, getting the heater all hooked up, seal all the teak up top, and get a good coat on it before it starts raining. You know, boat stuff.
  Organization is a key roll for keeping things neat and tidy on the boat. There is no room for messes. No matter how hard I try, The messes have to be dealt with as soon as you get done making it. And everything has a home.
  bunkmate

Getting Sewing

The next big weekend project is sewing the cover for the entire sailboat. Which will be done in weekends, plural, I am not sure how long it will take, but the Cap'n is all over it. We made a template for the 'Bimini' part, and the connector panels. He went straight to work putting all of his know hows, and researched information together, and we now have the beginning of the cover. The Cap'n has a plan to make a cover that will be held up by the halyards, you will be able to walk all the way around the deck, standing up, and if its raining, you won't get wet. Most of the canopy will come down while we are under way, and some will stay up and protect us from the elements. So the template was made, then the Cap'n cut it all out, then made the flaps, and cut them out, then made the zipper sections, and cut them out. He then went below and sewed, and cut and sewed. With it all together, he matched it up, and it fit, it needs some adjustments, but it comes together like it's supposed to. 

 Mind you he has never sewn before, or worked with patterns. But that is the way the Cap'n learns, he just does it. He researches it, finds out how it works, and makes it work. Just like that. 

We will be working on this project for a while. Change it, and make it the way he wants it. It will be useful to be going up on deck when it's raining, or the sun is super hot, either way we can do it, anytime. We chose an almost white for the shade canvas. The covers will be the Heather Beige. both will work with the blue that is currently covering all the winches, and the dregs, the hatches have already been done in the Beige. The Cap'n put the order in for the Oyster Sunbrella today, through Sailrite, which means in two weeks it will be here, and we will be right on it. The weather is going to change to foggy and cold, and I want to be able to be sure that I will not get that drop of water right on my temple in the middle of the night. It all should be sealed now.

  The next weekend will be getting the heater up and running. I am not sure what my project will be, as long as I get to be working with my best friend/Cap'n/chef/husband.

  bunkmate