The weather report for Wednesday said "thunderstorms in the area". One tiny 10 minute rain precipitated (?) an early rise and sent us scurrying out to replace hatches that I had removed to install gaskets. Another 6;30 AM foray into the elements putting hatch covers on. When will we learn not to build boats outside????? Thursday was crap, too, and Friday, and Saturday. I'm so bored that I'm writing this early.
This boat building endeavor produces a multitudinous array of emotions. From euphoric psychological highs upon completion of a project, to rage generated by hot weather, hot tempers and the epoxy clock unstoppable, to the epitome of "pity me" when we fear we will not have enough heart to finish. We have to dig deep and keep our eyes on the prize. And through it all are you two guys that follow this blog. Every Saturday I sit down, beer at hand, and plow through the week's photos hoping to make sense of it all. After a couple hours of writing, re-writing, and photo selection, I produce this meagre prose bereft of the emotions generated producing it's content. If it weren't for the conjectural obligation ensconced in my head, I may not write. Writing this blog keeps me going. It is a symbiotic process. I cannot stop, lest I disappoint my two faithful fellow followers. I must work. I must write. I've become entwined in the process and cannot abandon either.
This boat building endeavor produces a multitudinous array of emotions. From euphoric psychological highs upon completion of a project, to rage generated by hot weather, hot tempers and the epoxy clock unstoppable, to the epitome of "pity me" when we fear we will not have enough heart to finish. We have to dig deep and keep our eyes on the prize. And through it all are you two guys that follow this blog. Every Saturday I sit down, beer at hand, and plow through the week's photos hoping to make sense of it all. After a couple hours of writing, re-writing, and photo selection, I produce this meagre prose bereft of the emotions generated producing it's content. If it weren't for the conjectural obligation ensconced in my head, I may not write. Writing this blog keeps me going. It is a symbiotic process. I cannot stop, lest I disappoint my two faithful fellow followers. I must work. I must write. I've become entwined in the process and cannot abandon either.
Hah! You scoff at this amateur beer brewing. Hah! I scoff at it myself. We stopped at a garage sale and this entire kit, plus bottles, plus malt extract, yeast, etc., plus a 100' extension cord, plus a 2' step ladder, plus a stool, plus a couple belts, plus a long reach power strip for a total of $13. My normal beer paraphernalia is back in Ohio. It's pretty tenuous doing this without my trusty hydrometer. but it's made for idiots' Christmas presents. This one was received by someone in 2011. It's been in storage since then.
After much consternation, I started the hatch gaskets. I experimented with the corners again. Mitered corners were a problem to cut, as the rubber deforms and the cut is not precise. Butt joints were not much better, as you can see above. I finally decided to cope the joints, which seemed to be about the same as the other two methods and you must cope with the results.
I made a jig to keep the gaskets straight while I cut them. I also shaped a piece of scrap wood to fit inside the gasket so they would distort less in the cutting process. Mostly I cut them with chisels and scissors and knives (sounds like a song - cockles and mussels, baubles, bangles and beads). I have two more coaming gaskets to make, delayed by having to paint one and by the rain.
Utilizing a vast array of implements Ben finished up the side deck blocks. There's a fine line between vast and half-vast!
Upsy downsy on the ladder a bunch of times, he leveled the notches by applying epoxy. He cleaned up the blocks. He broke the 3 step ladder (step weld). He applied coats of epoxy and finally, a coat of primer. then it rained. A dreary end to a dreary week.
Utilizing materials at hand, namely a 1" wooden curtain rod dug from someone's trash and some doug fir, I cut some handle parts for the aft hatches.
Ben finally assembled a new video. His computer was dead for nigh on to two weeks and with work, these videos have low priority and high effort. It sums up a long complex process in a couple minutes. Bravo to Ben and Budge and Budgie (Mrs. Boater). Budge and Budgie shot most of the footage. So that's it for this week. Next week: Ray Wylie Hubbard concert and a Beer Fest with music (Gogol Bordello) with maybe something about the boat..
The Music♪: Various Artists "Corrina, Corrina"
I wish I could play a musical instrument but all I can play is the radio and it's mostly crap. Eric Clapton is being sued for this song. I don't know why. Everybody's sung it and it's been around since 1929.
RSS Feed
