Skin on frame boats and Swedish North

More on that on Inspirations timeline

Hit the road Jack - and come back tired

After driving more than five thousands kilometres - up North and then to Poland - we’ve finally came back home yesterday.

I went to the harbour to check on Meritaten. She waited in her place, with usual amount of water in the bilge (automatic bilge pump did the job) and many spider nets on the deck.

I’ve cleaned the deck from birds’ scrap, test-started Yanmar-san diesel and provisioned the pentry with fresh water and some food supplies. We plan to sail during the remaining part of our vacations but we need some home rest first: after so many miles on the road I don’t feel like continuing the journey as of now.

Anyway, the boat is there ready for sailing. We’ll get some rest at home luxuries and if weather permits we’ll put some miles under Meritaten’s keel.

Meritaten waits as we go North!

It’s windless, calm night. Contrary to continental Europe temperature is moderate - 15 degrees C.

I went to the harbour to pick some trekking equipment from Meritaten - and to check if she sits safely in her berth. We are leaving her for some time and drive further North.

Silent in the marina. Most boats are back after Midsummer celebrations. Only one other boat has young crew in the cockpit, enjoying sunset and calm evening.

Vintage navigation lights

I’ve found them last Friday in our local vintage shop. They were sitting well exposed on the front window. Strangely enough this shop is open only 3 days per week and today was the first day after Midsummer.

At this price it was a bargain so I wanted to be the first customer who visits the shop in the morning. I took a bicycle and rushed there to manage before opening. Of course it started to rain…

When I arrived, soaked, they were already open and there were people already in!
But lamps waited for me so I grabbed them and started inspections. They are in good shape although two kerosene containers look as if they might have a hair-crack. Maybe I’ll need to lightly braze them. Wick in two lamps is stalled but that can be fixed once I soak it in kerosene.

I bargain a little, left my other vintage railway lamp as an exchange and took all three of these at a price lower than half for one new lamp at Toplicht. They look to be made of brass rather than copper - brownish oxide on the surface. Hong Kong made, quality build.

I’ll try to fix them as my “parade” lamps or emergency lights - or maybe I’ll rebuild them for electrical power, to replace my ugly and worn plastic navigational lights. Not strictly legal but old boats have their rights.

Night watch

As a member of a boat club I am obliged to stand a watch one night during the season. I usually chose midsummer night - which then gives me a bonus of no night watch next year.

As no Swedish wants to take a watch during Midsummer I was alone on my watch. No problem at this time of year - there is really no night here, one can read a book at midnight with no artificial light.

This time I met Björn in the harbour who accompanied me during half of the watch. We took his car to drive around all our club’s marinas. Otherwise I would take a dinghy and row across the Bay.

As last time - is was a very calm night. Most boaters are out in the Archipelago, enjoying great weather at this longest day of the year.

One crew was staying in the harbour, their captain is professional sea captain and sea pilot. We had a great talk about fisherman anchors and stuff (my club colleagues laugh at me that I use this huge fisherman anchor on my boat. Well, Americans claim it is the best overall anchor for most bottom types - they cannot be wrong. My interlocutor holds the same opinion - and also uses this anchor)

The watch ended at 5 a.m. I went to my boat and had a good sleep in the berth. Maybe I’ll sail in the afternoon.