Bilge work. Preparations for varnish

Snow is melting again. Hopefully last time this spring.

I went to the boatyard with a plan: measure size of copper plates needed to close through-hulls on the inside, mark the size and lashings places on planned cross-beam (stick) in battery compartment and start preparations for varnish.

As is often the case I started with something entirely different: cleaning and servicing bilge pump. Since launching day is coming soon and since linseed oil in the bilge has hardened it was high time to do this.

Sump sieve required attention: accumulated debris clogged it almost entirely.

Air vent was non functional for the same reason.

Cleaned o-rings and assembled all parts again. It took a good part of an hour, leaning in the bilge.

Screwing it all to the keel timber, in so confined space that hardly one hand can be turned inside, is a curse. Still not as bad as on Skärgårdskryssare!

I could finally put back cabin sole boards. No more balancing on floors and frames!

Battery compartment. I will install oak beam behind batteries and use it to lash them tightly in place. That should keep them in place and allow me to access everywhere around them.

The main part of the show today is abrading the hull prior to varnish. I use scotch brite this year. No need to sand the varnish every year, it is enough to scratch it so that the new layer can have mechanical bond to the last one. I managed to do half port side today.

Last thing before leaving - I removed the tiller to clean and oil it at home. It got some damage from rope I used to hold it in place during stormy weather.