Ready to go...almost

Thursday saw me back at Ashlett - servicing the engine and making last minute preparations for next weekend's cruise.

Sharon came down to see how the engine service went..and as usual with someone watching it took far longer---tools didn't seem to fit,,,some gaskets in the service kit seem to have been left out..

We had to visit Lymington to get the extra bits,,but Sharon knew the chandler from working at the Boat Shows so handy discount obtained.

Once all the bits were obtained it went very smoothly, even the fuel flow was established with ease...the hardest bit being Sharon's giggles as she blew down the fuel line.

The main benefit was having a note taker who religiously recorded what size tool and and part went where...very useful for next time.

Rigged and ready to go...almost

Launching is planned for Thursday,,,with departure on the tide for Newtown.

I still have a couple of jobs to do ..the main sail isn't properly laced on, and I need to replace the lifting line on the drop rudder as well as not forgetting to tighten the bolt on the lifting rudder or risk losing it at sea......

Roll on Thursday...and hope the weather outlook improves...

Progress ..slow

Grabbed a couple of days to start getting ready....and by the time I had to head home I'm sure there were more jobs to do than I had done.....

I touched up the wood work and fitted the brown shampoo bottle as my patient device to stop further mast rub.  Having sorted out all the ropes and re-threaded them , I was grateful for Sharon's help in raising it, especially as it needed to come down again to untangle some crossed wires, as it were.

Even now it needs to come down again as the masthead lights look as though they've been knocked and look a little tilted at the top.

The Rhino sheathing came off........but left behind the glue that proved very time consuming to remove...so much so that I have put the idea of sheathing the whole side, on hold. Just too much effort in a few years to replace it.

So I only managed to get one side polished, but it does look much, much better.

I tried out the ClitIt Bang on the coral bloom residue and it worked like a treat, but it was too cold to be lying under the boat so I'll finish that other day.

I emptied the cabin - completely ..Sharon's face as box after box of bits and bobs emerged was a picture...Like the one below...

Contents of Daislebee

A good sort through and it was amazing what went to the skip or potential charity bag - but the cabin looks spic and span...for awhile at least

So a good session, but still to put sails on,, polish the port side and service the engine before the season can begin.

Getting there.....