Launching!
I’ve built a custom launching cart, based on old bicycle tender. I could of course buy a proper cart in Biltema for 1000 SEK but it’s less fun than to make one myself. It fits the boat and many other purposes around the farm.
Glypto weights around 60-80 kg but if placed with her centre of weight just above the cart’s axis it is almost effortless to move.
It’s been very hot the whole week so I waited until evening when air becomes cooler. Since there is no real night here at this time of year one can go for evening launch even at 10 p.m.
I have circa 3 km to the harbour and launching place so I took a walk with my boat.
Almost the whole way the road is well paved and goes through woods or silent, summer-house areas. Few people were around so I could smoke my pipe and walk with my boat undisturbed.
Finally we arrived to the harbour. An obstacle appeared: non-members are not allowed to launch their boats here. Road is closed with väggbom. I’m not a member (yet) and don’t have a key to this gate but… there is a space to squeeze my boat around this obstacle!
Entrance to the harbour is very steep - the island is high so going down to water is indeed going DOWN. It was a bit challenging to wheel-barrow the boat there but it went good.
On launching ramp I met a pair of people who wanted to helped me with launching. Not that I needed that but I appreciate it, especially that Glypto got complements!
And so we launched!
I jumped into the boat and row away, looking into bilge if we take water. We did, of course, but just a bit. Around 1-2 litres within these few hours and then she stopped leaking.
It was a very pleasant rowing evening. I kept us close to land - just in case - but I have now confidence that she is again a seaworthy little boat.
We landed on a beach nearby for some photo session at midnight.