Pierless Adventures - April 6 - Halyard Fix

Another day of projects and progress.  We started the day with me going up the mast again - hopefully for the last time...  I tidied up the steaming light then went to the top of the mast to install the fairlead that should fix our roller furling problem.  When I say "went to the top", I mean Dave and Scott labored over the winch in tag team fashion while I enjoyed the breeze and the view!

Dave on the winch:

The new fairlead should keep the halyard from wrapping when we furl the main jib (genoa) sail.  I had to drill some holes and place some rivets, but it worked out great.

 Halyard fairlead fix:

We plan to go out tomorrow to begin our practice sails.  We finished rigging the mainsail and set up the staysail, so our three main sails are ready to go.  Most of the deck is cleared or secured and we will put up the dodger tomorrow.  The dodger is like a little tent that protects the entrance to the cabin (companion way) and provides some shelter in the cockpit.  Here is an example:

In other news, we put the outboard on the dinghy and got it running.  It needs some adjustment, but nice that it does run.  We will work on tuning it up.  I also arranged a haulout for Saturday morning.  Having hit that rock in the channel, I want to have a look at the hull to make sure there isn't any significant damage.  The crane operator is giving me a break on the cost, as they should.  My boat - their rock!

From Scott:

America is losing the snack race!  While the country slept, Mexico, under the direction of the Secretary of Salad, developed Advanced Peanut Technology in the form of Japones!

These highly addictive treats are roasted peanuts covered in a crispy seasoned outer shell.  No doubt secretly funded by Big Peanut money, the Mexican snack food industry has surged ice bag years ahead of the U.S.  While we struggle with trails of the M-9 Tactical Almond, across the border the Mexicans are churning out metric tons of highly advanced legumes designed to decimate our Junk Food Industrial Complex.  We will be test-eating more in the future for your safety.

This is Dave's toe.  Dave's toe did not listen to the First Mate's safety lecture pertaining to the Toe-Breaking Thingamajig.  Dave's toe paid a heavy price for its insolence and has since been nationalized by the Mexican Little Piggy consortium to be used in future PSA's to promote steel-toed socks.

It kind of looks like a japone, doesn't it?  Soylent Purple comes to mind.  Good night and mind your First Mate.

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