11/11/2008 13:52:52

Been pretty busy and haven't had time to add anything here, so just some quick updates.

We pulled all the old cushions out and checked them, washed the covers and will put them back together sometime soon.

Picked up a small, leather-bound note book to keep records and notes for myself. Called it "Captain's Log" however presumptive that might be.

I have repaired the deck where the mounting for the mast goes.  Had to remove the hardware and then sanded it down to remove the surface paint, then reglassed the upper part under the mast housing. 

The problem there was leaking from one of the bolts, which had rotted the inside overhead, the wood on the overhead and carpet.  The bracing beam was fine so I added a heavy piece of ply wood, pounded the beam back in place and remounted all the hardware.

We tried to step the mast this weekend but could not due to the boat being too far back in the back and the mast being long enough to prevent raising it.  The other problem was we couldn't get the bottom of the mast raised enough and at the right angle to push the pin bolt through, so gave up for now.

All of the hardware on the rigging is in good shape.

Things I really need to do soon are:

1) Remove the motor and check it out and make sure it is prepared for winter.

2) Remove the flotation material and crawl back into the stern, remove the bolts and the wooden brace from the rudder area, measure and make a new wooden brace.

3) I need to look at replacing the overhead wood - but that's not a big rush - if I don't, I need to fill the bolt holes temporarily though.

4) Build a gin pole

5) and the list goes on.

I want to have the boat prepared by the end of March to put her in the water.  We're going to probably have a sign shop make a name for her - but we're also considering whether to register her with the Coast Guard because we want to sail her in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers sometime in the next two years.

I think that is all for the time being. I'll post more when I have more time.