15 th April

Tick tock - summer is on its way.  (I hope)

Port side aft is done.  Welding, bending, cutting, grinding and polishing stainless steel is almost as bad as sanding fiberglass.  My welding skills have deteriorated with old age so required more finishing / patching up .  Fitting the nuts and washers on the very aft corner was a mission.  Had to tape the nut and washer into a ring spanner and hold it with a vice grip to reach.  Mrs Nuts on the outside to screw it in.  All fitted and nice and tight.  (got a long handled socket on the nut once it was threaded on) Also got mounting ladder brackets sealed and bolted on.  All home brew bits.  I added a U bolt on the cockpit edge for using as a tiller fixing point to lash the tiller or add a bungee for self steering as well as main sheet fixing option.  Maybe when running under two jibs I can fix the boom to one side to stop me banging my head when climbing out of the cabin.

Aft compartment refilled with flotation foam and closed off.  Mrs Nuts sewing skills on show.  Had many complaints about the fact there was a frame butting into the cushion but she did an amazing job even though the slot is at an angle.  Lee boards and spray dodger still on the cards (but dont tell her yet - got to keep her happy!!) 

Opened up the Stbd side and removed some of the foam so I can seal and bolt up the Stbd tab holder, outboard mount and the railing.  Tomorrow job and then can refit foam and close up.

Running out of jobs to do.  Cockpit gas storage box (plus space for other goodies) just needs its topcoat.  It might end up pink as I have some pink paint left over.

Been going through navigation stuff.  Printed up a bunch of plotting sheets (only A4) and the almanack for sun Dec and GHA.  Still have my sight reduction tables for air navigation and going to take a plastic sextant.  Hope I dont need it but if the shit hits the fan and GPS goes down Im fine. (or total power failure).  Have to motivate the brain to go back in time but it could be fun.