Preparations for launching
Closing on tasks left before launching.
Tiller is being oiled in the workshop. There are many coats left before I can install it, I’m on 3rd today. I use Owatrol my own way - like I did with Glypto. Not stopping after applying several coats within one hour, as the label says, I continue laying next coats during many days. Similar to varnish but with oil the work is simpler, no risk for uneven finish. A few more days and the job should be done.
I went to boatyard to install sole boards in fo’c’sle. All parts had enough time to cure. Starting with oak supports. I screw them to floor timber with bronze screws. Contact surfaces get Ettan, to prevent moisture trap.
Two screws are enough, they just hold supports in place, no big forces expected.
Support under battery bank is different - it will hold batteries in case the boat heels heavily. I screw them with four long, bronze screws.
Battery supports in place. Belts shall hold them in place - they do but battery boxes still can move a bit. Before sailing around the world I will have to reinforce this construction somehow but for now it will do.
This small art-deco detail has a task to hold the bank from lifting in heavy sea. Brass piece I found in garbage, suits the purpose here.
Battery boxes placed and secured. Easy access for maintenance - that was my goal.
Adapters for connecting aku boxes to the main rail fit well. Screw tight, will be covered with vaseline after connecting the battery bank.
Through-hull opening left after marine toilet is now sealed. I will eventually remove both of them and glue wooden bungs to close the hull but for now I just plugged the through-hull bronze valve with conical wooden plugs, one from the outside, one from the inside. Sika all over them, filling the whole valve. As extra insurance I bought cap screw with washer to close the valve inside. Judging from the looks this part is a zinc-rich alloy. It would not last long in contact with salt water, hence I used all these wooden plugs and Sika. That should seal everything and not allow water to reach the cap.
While at zinc-topic, I need to replace propeller axle sacrificial anode. Although there is still enough metal to perform this function the nut cavities are almost gone. If I wait too long it might be a messy job to remove it so it’s better to replace it already now.
I primed places where antifouling paint flakes from the hull. I use järnmönja which preserves wood well but takes time to dry if coated too thick. Some rust points still pop out on ballast keel, especially in places where I removed epoxy cover to reach keel bolts’ cavities.
We have a diabolic plan with Jim to remove antifouling paint after the season. We will use caustic soda with wallpaper glue. I did that during Motoko’s renovation but that was fibreglass hull. No risk that NaOH damages it. With wooden hull we will need to proceed cautiously. Meritaten needs her bottom to be refreshed - paiint layers are too thick and peeling more with each autumn. I prime these areas with mönja and paint antifouling in spots. That will do for this summer but coming winter will be dedicated to bottom renovation.
Toilet pedestal is installed. This season we will have toilet visible and to keep it in place I use simple strap. Next winter I will build wooden cover for this unit. It will serve as a step for hatch above and will keep the toilet securely in place.
It turned out quite OK: I can access the whole fo’c’sle and while using the loo one is not exposed to the crew so much. Fine tuning with wooden floor and some furniture will make this part more refined.