2nd May

Weather has been miserable here in Faial.  Put a stop to painting schedule.  Started some more fun stuff though.

First deck hatch cut out and and compass fitted.  

Teak hatch mounting frame ready for pre gluing (done).  It is a frame to be shaped to take the small curve of the deck to fit the flat shape of the hatch.  On the left are some strops waiting to be test stressed or broken. 1 x 6mm short strop with copper sleeves squashed by my little hydraulic crimper (16 ton).  1x 5mm strop with a copper crimp on one side and a Flemish wire splice plus crimp on the other. A 3mm and 6mm chineema strop with an eye spliced on each end.  Both strops have a too short buried taper to keep the strop short so will only be better when done properly.  My tractor still hiding down the road in a garage waiting for the rain to stop so testing on hold for a bit.