More fiddling and futzing with the board yesterday, trying to get it in to the boat and retracting properly. With Kathy's patient help and proper sanding, we were able to coax the board to do that, but it would leave the wooden shims exposed to the water, so I had to seal them again with some epoxy. Kathy cleaned and waxed the hull while I applyed the resin and I was able to give some help after I finished that.
I got up earlier than normal this morning, after a fitful night filled with a disturbing dream of undergoing an abdominal operation in the hospital where I had too little anasthetic. I was dully aware of what was going on, but could feel the operation happening, and I could see everyone I know in the world watching it happen. - Perhaps I identify with this boat too much.
5:45 am to 6:45 am was spent doing a little more sanding, applying petroleum jelly to the head of the board as a lubricant, going without coffee or breakfast, and working up such a muck sweat in the thick warm humidity of a gulf coast summer morning that I found myself uttering some cursings and execrations when things didn't go as smoothy as I wanted. But eventually, the board did as she was supposed to, and is now finally installed.
Getting the boat back on the trailer was easier than I thought it would be. The winch strap is too short to reach the boat when she's entirely off the trailer, so I used a trick I learned from Dick Hoover. I took a length of line, tied one end to the winch hook, reeved it through the bow eye then made the other end fast to the winch mast on the trailer just below the winch. It multiplied the power by two and brought the boat easily to the end of the trailer, that Kathy stood on to get the tilt operating while I cranked the winch. Once the bow was on the roller, it was easy. I removed the extra line and attached the winch strap directly to the bow eye and we cranked her up into place.
And so, this evening comes the first real sea test. Will the board lower and raise easily? Will it snap under load on our first upwind beat? Will it render the boat as slow as molasses in winter, or will she sail against wind and tide? Or will there be no noticable change at all? How will the boat change in her character after having such a fundamental part replaced?
Tune in tomorrow.
Posted by Bob at June 9, 2004 08:46 AM