I spent a little time today trying to determine if the mast was exactly athwartship. I reassured myself that in fact it was, this time by measuring a set distance from the stem instead of using the chainplates. Still, I’m noticing, despite the rocking of the boat, that there’s still a list to port. It has to be something below and I just have to compensate for it when the time comes.

As I was leaving I noticed a man hoisting a young girl up the mast to attach something to the shrouds. I didn’t get a very good picture of her though.

I have to put this work aside in order to paint the bilges in my trawler while it’s in the boat yard.

I stopped by the boat and attached the blocks I have collected to complete the new mainsheet system. I had picked up some blocks in the consignment chandlers, one of which is a tufnol double block. Eventually, if this system works, I’ll find a tufnol lower block. For now I’m using the Lewman.

The problem I see right now is the interference from the old cam cleat post. I removed the cam cleat but I think I’ll also need to remove the post.

And finally, I’m trying to figure out how to use the eyes on each side of the bar to attach lines for adjusting the position of the traveler block. I’m thinking the padeyes on the toerail may be there for that purpose. But I’m not sure.

And there’s always this little reminder to myself of the damage to the rub strake that needs mending.

Another gorgeous day, in the high 70s, low 80s. With the little time I had after work I rushed back to the boat and today started by trimming and sanding off the bungs on the poopdeck. After that I immediately tackled the final steps for installing the traveler bar. I marked and drilled the holes with the new hole cutter I had picked up on the way over. I found I had to abandon using the backing blocks I had prepared for this because the traveler posts were too short to clear them, but I decided that I can make some backing blocks out of my scrap 1/4 inch FRP at some later time (said, when I unravel my things in the garage).

Anyway, I installed the bar with large fender washers and bedded it all without the blocks.

Today I drilled and plugged all the holes that remained on the after deck from assorted hardware that has been removed. I used resorcinol to glue in the plugs after having sanded, vacuumed and washed all the areas with acetone.

I also drilled holes in the backing plates for the new traveler bar and realized I need to go and buy new hole cutters before I tackle the holes in the poop deck. I decided to do that on the way to the boat tomorrow.

The weather is finally coming around, and since the wind was very light I pushed Bisous out of her slip and turned her around.

I escaped to the boat after work and cleaned the filled areas in preparation for drilling the final holes for the traveler posts. I had fully intended to drill them today but then I got a phone call . . . This is as far as I got. I have to do some grinding below the decks because the epoxy filler made its way past the tape I had placed there. Live and learn. I’m going to try and use the same wood backing plates that were there for the original blocks. Will try to sneak back tomorrow.

Today I filled the holes I’d made for the new traveler installation with thickened epoxy. It actually set up pretty fast, but I’d managed to bring the fast-drying hardener along with me instead of the regular hardener that is somewhere in my garage. I also used West 403 filler instead of the 406 I usually use. I had carefully prepped the holes first, making a little chamfered edge with a chisel.

I also removed the three blocks on the poop deck. I plan to drill all the residual holes for plugs. I could have completed this today but I had no plugs with me. Again, that 15-mile drive to get supplies.

And I took a picture of the damage to the port side rub strake. It’s so odd to me. It’s as if something came smashing across the dock into my boat. The damage is far too high to have been from striking the dock, so it’s very odd.

Finally, the sun has deigned to show itself here in the northwest. That isn’t to say summer has arrived, but it’s a start.

I decided to make installing the new traveler bar the most important thing for restarting my work. Toward that end, I measured, re-measured, and measured again, until I felt I had the exact positioning for it. I drilled over-size holes so that I may afterward fill them with epoxy and re-drill for the final installation, a standard practice.

Here are the results.

Much of my problem lies in the fact that all my tools are not readily available. A big move over the winter now has all my tools stored in a garage 15 miles from the boat. I ultimately had to leave at this point in order to retrieve the things I need to remove the blocks and to fill the holes, which will I will do tomorrow. I’ll have to find a workshop closer by so that I don’t have to make one out of the boat.

I’ve added an epoxy fillet on the sea hood mold. The problem is that in and around all of this I’m in the process of moving out of my very beloved garage. This is hugely interrupting the progress of work on Bisous.

I’m making progress on the sea hood mold. I’ve completely assembled it and used a putty filler for the big gaps. The top consists of a piece of masonite board I had on hand. I nailed it to the frame. I’ve also leveled the flange areas with filler.

My fear is that I don’t have enough of a fillet around the top edges of the hood. Spurr’s Boatbook shows far more putty applied there. I’ve used my router to radius all the frame lower edges.

Things are going slowly. The weather is so bad that it takes away all the initiative to proceed. One wishes only to sit inside and read. Or go shopping.

I’ve added a lip to the forward mold board on the sea hood in order to be able to bolt down that end. I’ve made the sides of the mold and checked the placement. There’s a curve in the cabin top that I needed to cut into the side sections.

I took this to the boat today and between heavy squalls tried to get a feel for whether this size would work. I think the curves are about as close as I’m going to get them. But I have to make absolutely sure that there’s enough clearance in the mold on each side of the hatch as well as above it. I will go back for another mold fitting. I’m striving for a hood that takes on this shape, from Spurr’s Boatbook.

Somehow I feel like I’ll end up doing this twice before I get it right. I’m enjoying the process though.

I also spent some time cleaning all the old, tar caulking off the traveler bar bolts and teak spacers, and sanding the spacers clean. I’ve ordered new mainsheet blocks from Sailnet to get this installed. I haven’t ordered from Sailnet in a long time, but they’re now under new ownership and I thought I’d give them a try.