Summer is in full swing

It has been a while but I've decided to continue with the blog. We enjoyed a nice 4th of July weekend with a cruise to Blake Island followed by a trip to Poulsbo. We spent three days hiking and relaxing on the island spent with the many racoons. We hiked halfway around the island on the trail then worked our way down to the beach. We saw a beautiful bald eagle perched a few feet from the trail. We spent one night on a boy then ventured off to Poulsbo for a firework show on the third. The show was great rafted up to our friends on Thunderbaby. What a great time building memories.

Galley installed

The new galley is finally installed. The countertop is carbon fiber twill over balsa core and glass made with epoxy and the clear coated and baked. The bulkhead is glass over divynicell with vinyl Ester resin taped into the boat. The sink and two burned propane stove have been installed into the counter top making the most with the space. We have a small prep space/ chart table. The counter can be removed by taking out six screws from the underside.

We are off to Everett today for a small race called the Milltown invitational. Should be fun the forecast is for a little breeze with some rain. Pictures to come.

Galley Countertop

This is the underside of the galley counter. The cutouts will hold the sink and two burner propane stove. It looks a little rough in this state but I'm hoping it'll turn out. We also secured our slip for this upcoming spring and summer. I can't wait and am rushing around a bit to get ready for a great season. March is here.

The Galley

The galley has been laid out in cardboard. I have located the stove and the sink. The cardboard will be used as a template for the sandwich panel I'm making in the garage. I'm setting the stove toward the back near the bulkhead maintaining the necessary clearances. The goal of the galley is full use of space with a minimal weight.

I picked up a large mirror for ten bucks from habitat for humanity. No scratches and it will make a nice mold surface. I will detail the panel process in the next post.

Blizzard's Cubby

A week later and Blizzard's cubby is complete. This corner of the garage is all for boating. I spent way to much effort last summer bringing gear in and out of the garage. We can now grab totes and load all of the essentials. Some gear will live on the boat and some of the gear will now have a home. I'm cleaning up the garage to make more space for projects.

With many of my projects my loyal sweetheart golden, Dory is nice company. She likes to hang out and poke her cold nose in to remind me she is there.

A New Year and a Beer

Well its January 2016 and raining outside. I know it doesn't look like it but work progresses on S/V Blizzard. As a New Years resolution there will be more blog posts with more pictures and a bit less dialog. The below picture is a bit deceiving, the foreground is a freshly waxed mirror I picked up from Habitat for Humanity, the background will be Blizzards new garage cubby for all of the gear. I learned from last year that loading the boat consumed a lot of time and running a trailer boat in a state of progress I inadvertently leave some critical piece of gear at home. I remember last summer we turned around I think three times to get that critical mus. So now all of the sailing gear will exist in this 70" by 8 foot space. I'm mudding the wall, a bit OCD but fairing gel coat will only change you forever.

Sailboat Gear Cubby....wall, a light sand coat of primer, then top coat. Next buy a rack (Costco I have my eye on one), totes, load with gear.... and then all must haves for a sailing adventure lives is in one location equals more time on the water when it is nice out with less effort.

On to the mirror, this is the perfect mold surface which will become the mold in which the galley counter top will be laid up on and bagged to. Multiple coats of mold release wax and etc... Follow the next couple of posts and I'll document the process. I'm aiming for a layup this weekend by the latest. In parallel I'm making the cardboard galley which will form the templates of the galley.

All the best and happy New Year. Its a blessing the hawks lost last weekend, thanks for the ride. I now have another month this year with less time spent watching football.

Great Summer

It's time but I'm not really ready, putting Blizzard away for the winter. With mixed feelings the summer has come to an end and Blizzard is back on the trailer and in the driveway. In one sense I'm sad the summer is over on the other hand I'm looking forward to working on the galley so I can make a nice cup of coffee in the spring time without messing with a Coleman stove and worrying about lighting the main on fire while trying to boil water for a half hour. This summer was great.