98 days to go....

That's right folks, we're now under triple digits. And that's 98 days 'til departure, not haul out. Getting close, eh?

You'll note there's not been a blog update for a couple of weeks... that's because I've been building a f*!~"!g sliding hatch out in the cold, windy UK winter weather and have cursed the boat more times in the last few weeks than I can remember. And that includes the summer of welding. Anyway, the sliding hatch is now built and other than some wood trim to finish it off, I can happily tick that job off the list. Bloody boat (actually, bloody weather. It's not the boat's fault I chose to build it in this cold country).

With the hatch now done, that effectively leaves just the mild steel plate to drill and bolt in for the steering pulleys, and construction is DONE. Thank goodness for that. I'm going to get that job sorted this weekend (as well as the last of the filling and fairing), then it'll be time to sand and paint. Oh how I can't wait for those days.

The two of us also knocked off an RYA first aid course yesterday. With the trip we have planned putting us well out of general help's way, we both decided having even basic first aid would be more beneficial than standing around, watching the other person bleed to death. Anyway, it was a good day and we're now both certified.

I've also finished sourcing all the rigging components for our haul out and re-rig. Turns out Norseman very helpfully decided to stop making the replacement inner cones for their re-usable swageless fittings (so not so re-usable any more). Anyway, I finally sourced some in France (through a UK company), only to have them sell the items before I could finalise the order. Ugh. They've since found more for me and I've also managed to find a stack in the US that I'll collect on a business trip 'Stateside next week, so we're good on rigging.

Now a gripe though - what is it with the marine industry being such shonky bastards? I sourced some rigging eyes from a local guy and specified a single piece inner cone (as the three-piece ones failed last time). He sends the three-piece ones. I chase him up on it, and he says "oh yeh, I didn't have any single piece ones". Now I have to go through the rigamarole of returning them. It's not just that tho - a 3/8 ball valve that doesn't fit 3/8 thread, a Rutland wind gen controller that failed during some 40kt winds (and we all know the palava I had with the shitty Istabreeze wind gens), the entire engine saga, the Dickinson diesel cooker that never worked, and the "runs really well - like new" outboard that required £315 worth of parts. Seriously, in aviation everything is bagged, tagged and works. In the marine industry, it's all about how much can they charge for something that doesn't really work. Wankers.

Anyways, enough of that. I'm pleased to report my younger brother just got back from a tall ship sailing trip and had a great time. It seems like I might have some crew in the making.....

'til next time.