We have a go for launch!

Last items on launching checklist done today.

“Winter dress” was removed and taken to storage. I checked the hull for any openings but it seems that cold and wet spring has kept the wood humidified. No seams were open.

Antifouling applied on primed areas and along waterline. I had a bit rest so I painted the whole rudder and propeller opening - marine critters seem to like these places.

Marked Tufnol winches with tape, so that Anders hopefully not uses them for attaching 3,2 ton boat to launching platform.

Interior emptied from remaining tools and materials. Toilet valve closed, engine water intake opened. Deck equipment secured.

I forgot to make a proper deck fixture for this fisherman anchor so it will hang here for a while. It’s so heavy that I don’t want to store it under deck - I know that then I will never use it! It has to be at hand.

Danish sailor who was living these few days on his Caruselle was luckily still at his boat. I asked him if he found steering panel for Wallas heater.
He did!
It looks like home-made project but matches my boat quite well in fact.

Having some time left I took measurements for auto-pilot placement.

First I needed to extend rudder axis all the way up, as a base for measurements.

Checking with something longer if I eyeballed the axis correctly.

Then we take a right angle to that axis. Some tape-creativity was needed.

Then we measure given distance at this right angle, determining a line in the air. From this line we take another right angle and imagine new line intersecting with the tiller. No photo of this step.

A few measurements gave the same result: autopilot should be connected almost at the tiller’s base.

Yet another line at the right angle to determine where the second end of Raymarine should be placed. A bit outside of the aft pulpit.

Damn far from where I sit in the cockpit!

I checked on Rolf’s page that Freja has it installed far closer to the steersman.. Much more convenient.

Lennart on his Andrina has, on the other hand, attachment points in the same spot as I measured. Janne has made very nice fixtures for both ends.

I think I will follow Lennart/Janne and do simillar arrangement on Meritaten. But that will happen during the season or next year.

Waiting for launching crew!