Aframe

Mast raising figured out. Works really easy and well. I worried way too much over this issue.

Getting a bit farther along and realized I have been neglecting to post.   Have just started on some of the cosmetics - she really is starting to look better and is a lot of fun to sail.  Have done some painting, but instead of working I generally end up sailing instead - so pace has really slowed down..

Still A lot of work to do - but she is in the water at last!Light Air Performance

I am done fiberglassing!!!!

Conquered major delays:
- I messed up my knee fooling with a tarp tore my PCL (sort of the opposite of a ACL)
- Working in 90 to 100 degree weather with rain almost every day

I have learned that:
- Working with fiberglass cloth is why cuss words were invented. Fiberglass cloth will NEVER lay down the same way twice.
- CSM is a breeze if you dont mess with it too much once down. Rolling heavy CSM too much at the wrong time causes it to break up on your roller and make an awful mess.
- And today I discovered that Love Bugs are attracted to the smell of Polyester resin. Arrggg!!!

I would do it again- but never ever ever ever ever again in the summer time!!!!

P.S. (I did not reuse the old skin - it just didn't look like it would fit right. I laid all new material)

Short post and I am still picture deficient...  But all the balsa work is done (yay).  The old deck skins are all stripped of old core.   Now to decide if I am going to use the old skins or replace it all with new layup.  The angle grinder with a wire wheel made cleaning the skins super easy.  Nothing can resist this tool.  It is also good for surface prep when you want to rough things up a bit.

I did a lot of work on the windows with the rest of my time yesterday - I think they are turning out pretty good too.

Engine is still in the shop - parts are very slow in getting here, but hopefully engine ready in time too.

I have fully recovered from the water damage from the tarp failure.   I only have about 1 more hour of work to complete the laying in of the new balsa.  Wow what a hot and messy job, but I am getting pretty good with the resin now.   No more chemical burns after making sure I work form the farthest point in to the closest point making sure I don't reach over the wet resin.   Common sense right?  When you are hot and sweaty and things aren't going right while the resin clock is running you forget these things :)    Preparation before mixing the resin is very important.   I now only use a pint at a time.   It slows the pace down to where there is less panic factor and I do a much better job.

No pictures - I didn't want to ruin my phone with resin.  I will try to get a shot before next session while my hands are clean.

Tarp failure/ Disaster:  I see I neglected to post here about that.   A few weeks ago a storm damaged my tarp and it rained on the exposed wood!  I was cutting all of the wood first with plans to do all the glassing in a single step.  Totally destroyed all that work and I was almost done too.  Had to buy new wood and do it all over again.  I  now complete a section before moving to the next.  I also triple-tarped the thing now.  Nothing short of a tornado is going to get in there and I will be waterproof in a few days - finally!

Got my outboard - a little Suzuki 5hp.  So I can cross auxiliary propulsion off the list (still need a gas tank and fuel line though).  It is a 1979 that was built in Japan - so it will match my 1975 boat.

Update: I ran the motor in a water barrel a few weeks ago and saw no water coming out :(   Miller Boating Center has it now - I have ordered parts for them twice, but hopefully it will done this week.  The water pump was destroyed from running dry.  I might be getting wet this weekend, but I am  not telling anyone this time until I am actually in the water.   Too much that can still go wrong and probably will!