The night before launch

I could not leave work earlier today so it was dawn when I arrived at the boatyard. A few things needed my attention before launching tomorrow.

It was very sunny and warm today so I expected to see a few more seams opened. Not that much it turned out but just in case I painted them with diluted (white spirit) tar.

Dyviken closed with new plug.

Offer anode is good enough to stay for this season. Propeller sprayed with second layer of antifouling.

Name plates installed.

Now to Yanmar-san! First comes belt tensioning - I leave it slack for winter storage, it saves the belt from too early wear.

While in the “engine room” I checked bilge pump. It started fine although I need to really invest in a new one - this one is quite old already.

I flushed the cooling system with fresh water - to remove glycol before going into sea.

Lastly I drilled holes between the cabin and cloth cabinet inside the bulkhead, to route heating hoses. Both convectors will be mounted under starboard berth, to shorten the line and avoid abrupt curves. This should, in theory, allow for self-circulation of hot fluid after the system gets into temperature. I have water pump anyway but it would be nice if it works without need for electricity.

Kerosene heater GeHå POD is mounted inside the cloth cabinet, with chimney emerging just behind the mast. I plan to replace plastic reservoir tank with original, brass tank but I need to first scrape ugly, gray paint which someone covered the brass with. This season we will live with non-original but functional plastic tank.

There we go!
All done, launching is scheduled for tomorrow morning.