In the past few weeks Dave and I switched places - I started to gain momentum and check some things off the lists and after being away from boat projects for a week and a half while he worked shutdown at the mill, Dave realized he only has one month of project time before we go (the rest of the time we will be sailing on our Shakedown cruise and visiting kids and grandkids in Alberta) and started getting a bit stressed out. I told him it isn't a race, but I need to heed my own advice sometimes too!
It's funny how you tend to approach things the same way no matter what you do. Instead of carrying my swipe card for work in my purse, I now carry my boat keys. Instead of having my travel bag ready packed with the basics for my one night a week away from home, I now I have my backpack with a fleece, raincoat and life jacket always at the ready for when I head off in the dinghy to the boat.
Some things really are different though. Spending so much time working with my hands over the past few weeks has made me realize how little of that I did when I was working at my job. Although I am not particularly good at it, working on wood - sanding, varnishing, staining - is very satisfying. I am finding the same with sewing. I am delighted in the finished product, even if it is just a prototype, like the over the hatch screen I made to try out before I make more. Although it took me a little while, I am re-discovering the little knacky tricks that make things easier and I am discovering new things too.
After a particularly long day, I realized that if I am going to be spending a significant amount of time sanding it probably isn't necessary to do a workout including lots of arm work that morning, because I will regret it later. Taking the cockpit table apart and re-installing some doors on the boat after varnishing, I cursed whoever decided to use slotted screws when Robertson and Philips are readily available. Those people should be made to screw and unscrew slotted screws for a day and they might make a different decision next time!
We have made lots of progress on boat projects between the two of us. The aft head holding tank is all plumbed in and checked for leaks. Dave fitted up the new electric windlass and got the (very large) cables run (with a lot of help from our friend Al - thank goodness he was able to help instead of me having to do it). Once we get the new anchor chain, Dave can do the final install and we can try it out. Dave also got the new propane stove installed, again with a lot of help from Al. They spent an entire afternoon getting the old stove out, and then Dave spent the next day putting the new stove in. I must say I really love the new stove so far, so hopefully it was worth the agony (thanks Al!).
All of the varnishing and staining is now finished except for the rails on the bow and stern, which I am still in the midst of sanding before staining. New fender covers, hatch curtains and screens and new aft cabin cushions are well under way, and I've already spent countless hours talking to insurance companies, phone and internet providers and trying to sort out what to do about the house while we're away.
Our new VHF radio is in and working, complete with the remote mike in the cockpit - what a luxury - no more running up and down the companionway to talk on the radio! So many of these projects are things that we have been contemplating since we took our last big trip in 2002/2003. We kept saying “on our next trip we should…” and now the time has come. Not that we couldn't have set off with none of these projects done, but the boat should be much more comfortable and easy to use with all of the upgrades.
Now it is time to take a bit of a break from all these projects and go sailing…
It's funny how you tend to approach things the same way no matter what you do. Instead of carrying my swipe card for work in my purse, I now carry my boat keys. Instead of having my travel bag ready packed with the basics for my one night a week away from home, I now I have my backpack with a fleece, raincoat and life jacket always at the ready for when I head off in the dinghy to the boat.
Some things really are different though. Spending so much time working with my hands over the past few weeks has made me realize how little of that I did when I was working at my job. Although I am not particularly good at it, working on wood - sanding, varnishing, staining - is very satisfying. I am finding the same with sewing. I am delighted in the finished product, even if it is just a prototype, like the over the hatch screen I made to try out before I make more. Although it took me a little while, I am re-discovering the little knacky tricks that make things easier and I am discovering new things too.
After a particularly long day, I realized that if I am going to be spending a significant amount of time sanding it probably isn't necessary to do a workout including lots of arm work that morning, because I will regret it later. Taking the cockpit table apart and re-installing some doors on the boat after varnishing, I cursed whoever decided to use slotted screws when Robertson and Philips are readily available. Those people should be made to screw and unscrew slotted screws for a day and they might make a different decision next time!
We have made lots of progress on boat projects between the two of us. The aft head holding tank is all plumbed in and checked for leaks. Dave fitted up the new electric windlass and got the (very large) cables run (with a lot of help from our friend Al - thank goodness he was able to help instead of me having to do it). Once we get the new anchor chain, Dave can do the final install and we can try it out. Dave also got the new propane stove installed, again with a lot of help from Al. They spent an entire afternoon getting the old stove out, and then Dave spent the next day putting the new stove in. I must say I really love the new stove so far, so hopefully it was worth the agony (thanks Al!).
All of the varnishing and staining is now finished except for the rails on the bow and stern, which I am still in the midst of sanding before staining. New fender covers, hatch curtains and screens and new aft cabin cushions are well under way, and I've already spent countless hours talking to insurance companies, phone and internet providers and trying to sort out what to do about the house while we're away.
Our new VHF radio is in and working, complete with the remote mike in the cockpit - what a luxury - no more running up and down the companionway to talk on the radio! So many of these projects are things that we have been contemplating since we took our last big trip in 2002/2003. We kept saying “on our next trip we should…” and now the time has come. Not that we couldn't have set off with none of these projects done, but the boat should be much more comfortable and easy to use with all of the upgrades.
Now it is time to take a bit of a break from all these projects and go sailing…