Too many left turns.
Have slowed some, things happening to the meat machine.
Still wake up kicking the passion can into every morning.
Putting the mast together. Sort of figured out how to do a
red-over-green Colregs, which has a meter spread challenge,
up top there. Rather than putting all 40" on top like pbryant,
red might be 20 inches above the masthead, green 40"
below on the mast -- well, how to get all round green?
Looked into strip ribbon leds, do-able. But simpler to try
mounting two Hella "360 all round navigation lamps" on
either side of mast. They stick out a bit much, but from
2NM will it make any difference?? Red will be a single,
and mounted above the tri-color.
Yeah, know will probably have to reef mainsl. But in this
mad world: sailing at night with masthead AND deck lights
all lit up, reefing seems mandatory, so...
And how to rig the cable, ehh? Found some fabulous 'strain
relief' that actually grabs and hangs the cable inside mast,
on a hook, thru-bolt, never wired damn mast before.
So, to get ready for the mythical sparky, naturally I take out
the galley counter because the BlueSeas are going in under
the bridge. Decided the electrical box, that shares part of the
counter plywood under the bridge, should be separate from
the exposed part, which we will keep removable by using
normal butyl tape and woodscrews-- in case those buried
cubby holes under the counter ever want to be accessed.
You know, it's on and on like that. Literally discovered, when
hiring help that Ebb's weirdly eccentric when it comes to boat.
Knew I was difficult, not nuts. Like many olives think I yam.
Have a friend who's just retired, she's taking more time.
My problem solving brain is taking more time as well. The
intuitive part is beginning to ask should aye trust it?? But it
is the 'problem solving' that brings in every new day.
Eccentricity's other hand is inability.
OK, gotta get the electric panel box glued up... Get ready
for the experts. Got Hayn rigging, got to get started on that,
and I still have to glue the rudder together!!!!!
Then tent down, mast up, measure for sails... no more maybe..
and I know you are enjoying life and sailing.... and sailing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's the last octet of a four stanza poem inspired by derelicts
ebbing away on tidal flats. (from The British Merchant Navy.)
Also SailNet thread Ode To a Sailor 11/25/2013 post 10 (& #1)
THE BOAT THAT NEVER SAILED by Alban Wall
…
Somewhere there are men with snow-white hair
Who sit in life's twilight years,
And often their thoughts drift wistfully back,
And often their eyes fill with tears
As they think of the dreams that have gone astray
And the plans that have somehow failed --
God, heal the hearts of the men who have built
The boats that have never sailed.
Want draughts of strong ale to drown these rhymes of
heartbreak - rendered by an old irish tune of time forever lost
- or dirge of a lone bagpipe on the lonely cliff-shore at sunset.
'O Danny-boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling.
...The summer's gone. and all the roses falling.'
{Can't find anything on Alban Wall. Very well could be
the nom de plume of an english academic or llawyer.
Alban is a corny anagram.}