Catching-up for launching
I’ve finally recovered after two weeks of illness so I rush with preparations for launching of Meritaten.
It will be 2 weeks later than usual - launch is booked for 15 May.
During last week I removed tarp and halogen lights flooding the deck. Mounted life-lines and cleaned the boat inside.
I finally mounted ceiling in pilot berth.
Remaining mahogany stock which I kept above the boat had to be moved to my place. I chose calm evening, with no wind and hardly any traffic to avoid problems with floppy and oversized load.
What is good in this year’s delayed launch is that we are now moving to a house close to the boatyard. I finally have my own workshop and proper wood-racks which can accommodate 6m long planks.
Would we not move I would have to cut these planks to fit them in my old storage - but that would be a pity. As Jim said: their value is in their length. I keep them for future boat building!
Saturday was chilly but sunny and dry - perfect day for varnishing. I did cockpit and front hatch with Epifanes and tried Owatrol on Sampson post.
Today weather has deteriorated so I was glad that all varnishing is done already. Cockpit is still not cured so I had to move cautiously around varnished surfaces and wait with installing hardware.
I screwed back most of deck hardware and applied Farm100 onto keel plank-stern post joint where I suspect leakage. Mechanical log is greased with Selden marine grease. Maybe it will make it work again.
Engine and log propellers treated with first layer of antifouling.
Electrical system is up again and bilge pumps are installed.
She is now ready for final steps before launching:
antifouling
engine re-start after winter sleep
mechanical log - finalise installation
chimney - sealing deck interface
changing sacrificial anode on engine shaft
Otherwise all is ready - with some small details to be done but not critical for launch.