After sky-fall rain - maintenance visit
Meritaten is doing fine. She is surely not too happy for not being sailed but she is fine in her new berth.
I payed her a visit after particularly heavy rain. Wanted to make sure there are no leaks and there were some small jobs to attend, waiting since winter.
Heavy sun and tropical temperatures in recent weeks did leave some marks on her. One seam on whaledeck, port side, got open. Same as last year - I need to fix that during coming winter.
Ettan is leaking from below portlights, also on port side.
I also finally found the leak on cabin corner - it’s a joint between planks which got open. It was so small that I could not see it last year but after hot days it opened a bit more to notice it.
It was about to rain again so I sealed it temporarily.
Later today, after rain I came back to remove the tape and allow the crack to dry. As the forecast for next day was dry and sunny I left it to dry properly. Evening after I came back with brown Sika and closed the joinet for good. The leak is now gone and Sika will also blend with surrounding mahogany after I varnish the cabin again.
Messing around with boats during Swedish summer is a joy. On warm night, close to midnight, one still does not need any light to read or work.
Kaika, moored close-by, is bathing in moonlight.
Cockpit locker was waiting for new piano-hinge. It was finally delivered from Toplicht, together with bronze screws so I rushed to install it.
Working in the field requires creative solutions: here is my mobile station for cutting metals in the harbour.
Before screwing the hinge all wood-metal interfaces were sealed with Ettan. Bronze screws were also doped in it - both to seal from moisture and to minimise friction upon installation.
Rubber seal added and the locker is back in service again.
One more detail to fix: pentry locker which I made last winter was embarrassedly hard to close. That required some trimming of brass catches.
Not exactly smooth yet but working now.
Before I headed for home I went to take a look on another Arvid Laurin’s design boat. She was wintering close to Meritaten and Kaika for many years but then disappeared. I saw her on Blocket for sale and now she was here, at the crane, with some new people working on her.
She is one of Laurin’s experimental boats, very radical in her time.
It turned out that she was finally sold to Danish pair who was preparing her to sail to Bornholm. Today was the last day before planned departure so I’m happy I managed to see her before she vanishes behind the horizon.
I chatted with the new owner and got invited to see her inside. Then we went to see my boat inside. Sailors’ etiquette. Really nice boat!