Of time, sailboats, and projects.

Hello again everybody,

On this adventure learning about sailboats and sailing I am learning a lot about time! There is so much that I am learning about that never entered my mind! There is so much to do, understand, and apply. I am sure learning that I didn't have a clue of what I was getting myself into!

Usually it doesn't take me long to get an idea how long it takes me to do things. I am thinking I have worked on cars before. There is nuts and bolts on the boat. It is pretty much the same, right? Well not really, because there are several bolts on this little boat that I can get to the bolt, or the nut. I can't get to both at the same time. Something I have not had to deal with working on cars.

Another very different thing is that when I put the nuts and bolts back together, I have to make sure they are water tight! So they have to be bedded properly. After reading some reviews and information about butyl tape, that is my go to stuff!

So I have found that the last person that did a lot of the hardware on this little boat did it in a way that it should not have been done. So not only does it take the time to take it apart. After finding a second set of hands to hold on to the bolt from the top. I also have to clean up the mess that the last person made.

So when I think it should take me about 10 to 15 minutes to remove a few bolts, it turns out my estimation is way wrong! So things like getting the nuts and bolts removed, I find that the bolt is rusted. So after getting it torn apart and and cleaned up I have to run out and get new bolts. So my little project takes me over an hour!

I find it funny that when I am out sailing time seems to slow down. We get the sails set. We have a nice breeze going. The boat is sailing across the water. We get to hear that nice sound of the water rolling off of the hull. It is just so peaceful. So calm and nice.

But right now she is sitting on her trailer needed some work. I am also really wanting to learn how to do everything I can about taking care of, repairing, and rebuilding a boat properly. So I want to take my time and do it right. So that means things are taking a lot longer then I expected.

For example the "U-bolt" that the trailer wench attached to the boat didn't have a good backing plate. Also the poor nuts where pretty rusted. Plus there was a chunk of the old nasty carpet stuck under it. So I soaked the nuts in some penetrating oil. Trying to get them loose. The top one I was able to get. The other nut was actually falling apart! So I had to chisel it off the "U-bolt"

Why no backing plate?

So laying down on the plastic in the V-berth made it very interesting to try and get the nuts off. You sure do slide around a lot on that plastic when you are trying to muscle off rusted bolts! So that is a new issue I never thought of.

I am surprised at how hard it is to work with stainless steel. Man that stuff is tough! So I got some 1/4 inch stainless steel stock to make backing plates. I got myself a drill press. It is just slow going drilling holes in that stuff.

So I got the holes drilled in my new backing plate. Got the butyl tape all wrapped around the U-bolt. Got it all put back together.

Backing plate!

So I know that it is taking longer then I would like it to be. I do want all of the projects done. Being a pretty typical male I really focus on the goal and getting stuff done. I am working on learning on taking a deep breath and going with the flow. I am very happy knowing I am working on doing the best possible job. That this thing will be so well cared for and put together that my family will be very safe. That this boat will take good care of us out on the water. Because so much is being done to take good care of her now!