Rain blues.

It looks like another day in the rain today onboard Harbinger. The rainy season is here and here in full wet mode. We did not even get a warning - its basically raining all the time. It is predicted that we will continue to have rain until March with a chance of sun sometime in August. I'm struggling with a way to finish coating the bowsprit in this rain and hope the temporary mast rigging holds. 

Another issue lately...

...The starboard side scupper is plugged up and with nothing but rain forecasted it’s going to develop into the next big deal. We already found a small hole spurt water into our battery tray completely submersing the battery bank. Lucky for us its fresh  water and I caught it early. We have tried using a coat hanger, heavy gauge electrical wire and a snake but nothing can un-clog this pipe. I’m afraid I’ll have to take it apart and unplug this dam clog from the inside but I seriously hesitate for now because something else may snap in the process.

On a more positive note our wood stove skills are improving. We are able to fire up the stove and produce lasting heat without it overheating. Patience is a virtue if you want a warm cabin I have learned. Keep the coals hot and keep tossing bigger logs in until bed time. We have settled on good types of material to burn and materials we shall never use again. It’s fun to watch the humidity drop in the boat when the fire is working at its best.

Some notable challenges.

Living aboard a sailboat can bring many types of challenges; some are small yet will annoy you to no end, like the banging of a loose halyard in the middle of a windy night. Other seems completely outrageous making you want to just abandon ship. Take last night for example. We received such a tremendous amount of rain that our dinghy was almost completely submerged under water. Our bilge contained about two feet of water that came from our leaky cap-rail and to make things a touch bit more amusing; our head overflowed with piss and required a complete scrubbing during the morning rain. It was an exciting day and a definite challenge.

On the other hand, today I realized these challenges are not always dramatic or painful. Take walking to the store for instance and how simple it can be. Yet living in the marina you can never just walk out someplace because the people are so friendly that conversations develop and develop into something lengthy. Before you know it your bladder could be ready to rupture or you’ll want to send out a team to look for your missing loved ones. Something as simple as walking to the store or bathroom can become such a challenge when time is of the essence. It seems to me about 9 times out of 10 when I exit the boat I will without question encounter another liveaboard and consequentially have to stop for a chat along to my destination. 

Normally this is not a big deal but today we had to get to the store before it closed and along the way there we ran into one of the locals and talked for almost half an hour. Then on the way back we came across four different liveaboard’s and that took almost 2 hours. Not challenging unless your groceries have meat thawing or you have to pee so badly you are forced to be rude. I would wager that the time it takes a city-slicker to walk to the store would take a live-aboard five times as long. 

Just between you and me living on a sailboat is a challenge. 

Propane troubles

Today we walked into town to grab some breakfast, fill one of the propane tanks and check out "Sand in the City" here in Olympia WA, but with a explosive twist...

After filling our propane tank this morning we needed coffee and food badly so we headed to a restaurant nearby. We walked in and sat down thinking we should check out some of the sand sculptures afterwards. While eating breakfast and enjoying the strong coffee with a now full aluminum propane tank sitting next to me, I could see the other costumers looking me over sternly. I wondered why for a bit till it dawned on me that we now live in a world of terror, or so it was advertised this way last time I watched the news and our propane tank looks like a bomb somewhat. Lucky for us no one harassed us or called the police. 

Next we strolled over to the festivities but this time we agreed that I should just continue carrying the tank back to the boat and meet up with my wife and son as soon as I was done. So off I went lugging this propane tank over my shoulder and my family heading the other way. This proved to be more trouble than I initially suspected because I was questioned by some stranger as to why and what I had slung over my shoulder. A man, woman, child and propane tank paints a safer picture than a single man and a tank I suspect. Anyways I proudly said with a smile that I'm a sailor and use propane to cook my food and that I live on a sailboat and I have to replenish my supplies. I walked and talked as to keep the man from causing a scene and with so much of a crowd I envisioned it getting ugly. Around this time I was near the boat yard area of our marina and figured id better cut through as to keep people from wanting to shoot me. At least people in the boat yard know what the hell I was doing. 

Well as soon as I entered the gate and transferred the now heavy propane bottle to my other shoulder I laid my eyes upon Emma. Emma is a 1976 Westsail 32 #572 owned by Joe who had just placed her on the hard for bottom paint. He spoke about her freely as most proud Westsail owners do. I was pleased to meet him and wanted to speak about our Westsail all day yet, he had to work on Emma and I needed to get back to the boat so we shook hands and said good byes. I did ask permission  for a photo once I return without the propane tank and he granted it. 

Another day in-between two worlds - one filled with terror, or so they say and the other filled with Westsails! 

Boomkin work

The survey we had done back In march mentioned rudder-cheeks and boomkin issues but nowhere did it mention that its "rotted beyond repair". 

The boomkin rebuild begins...

I found a close replacement for the boomkin wood in Seattle and for me this was the toughest part of the job. I have limited tools being a lveaboard and with that said, finding timber a guy can work with in this unusual size was frustrating. I eventually setteled on a 10' long, clear vertical grain, kelin dryed 4" x 2" Doug Fir timber. 

Removal of the old boomkin was very simple consisting of 3 carriage bolts, 6 stanchion bolts, 1 brace bolt and 1 wood screw. The boomkin was rotted so badly it crumbled into flakes leaving me with no template. 

Without a template I sized up the new piece using an angle finder and a tape measure.

Using a router I curved the edges of the boomkin. 

Today ill treat the wood and cut out the rudder cheeks.