Winter Drawers On

So, the end of November is upon us (and still no offers of Pantomime).

Here is the final shot of the deck for the year. Five strakes reach from stem to stern, with more than a few yet to fit. The side decks are almost complete, two bits of teak on each side would have completed them, but the temperature is getting too low for the glue to cure quickly and the rising humidity will also cause problems.

Its time to fit the winter cover and hibernate in the workshop to finish the galley cabinetry, fit the fridge; cooker and sink and get those engines reassembled.

Every time I meet a friend, the usual first question is; "when are you launching the boat?" I usually reply, "Two more years". Looking at the To-Do list; there's the deck still to finish; the windows to refurbish and refit; the engines to rebuild and the gearboxes to check over. The wiring needs total replacement and the galley and heads compartments aren't compartments at all, they're just big areas of boat.

and then there's all the little jobs...

Who'd have thought a teak deck would have taken so long and so much hassle. Hey-ho, you live and learn.

Right - off to the shed to start clearing it out ready for carpentry operations.

[Now Playing: And Winter Came by Enya]

Laying up supper; GMT and Halowe'en

Not much blogging lately. There's been steady progress on the deck, but I guessed you'd all be bored witless by yet another picture of what looks ostensibly like the same piece of deck.

The unseasonable weather for October started with temperatures in the 80's and a trip on the P.S. Waverley from Whitstable to Tower Pier as a 21st Wedding Anniversary treat for the long suffering SWMBO. But the rest of the month meant that most days a strake or two could be glued down. I'm getting to the awkward pieces now - spiling into the cabin side and odd short lengths on the foredeck means that each strake takes about two hours to lay. Compare this with earlier in the job and four planks at a time fitted and glued in a single session of about 3 hours. Oh well.

Saturday was our club AGM and laying up supper at a sailing club on the Hamble. Most enjoyable to meet like minded nutters and remind oneself why one spends so much time restoring these old beasts.

A slight shock on Sunday as the most of the clocks in the house set themselves back an hour - the cooker and heating system didn't manage it of course, and now it's dark at five PM and time to hibernate in the workshop - which is unfortunately a total tip, filled with short ends of teak and glue boxes and... I suspect the next rainy Sunday afternoon is reserved for mucking the place out.

Time, I think, to start concentrating on the electrical drawings and finalising the circuit specifications - but first, a cup of tea...

[Now Playing: And Winter Came by Enya]