15th January

Went to Horta today to visit my fishing boat and give it some love and buy some paint.  Boat fine and happy but paint shop gave me a shock.   1liter of PU paint, 1 liter of thinners and a roll of masking tape = 40euros plus!!  That includes my 40 percent commercial discount!!  

Unfortunately the colours available here  for mixing are restricted in the PU range and our ideas for the inside of the boat were not available.  I had to choose a colour via phone call to Mrs Nuts.  I am rubbish with colour selection but did my best.

The colour is is growing on me and I like it.  It looks a bit like an off white in these photos but not white at all. Mrs Nuts has still  to see it as it is close to midnight and I just finished painting after a nice peri peri chicken at my sisters home.

 14th January

Bunk backrest and locker in the painting system.  Had a coat of epoxy resin and 2coats of epoxy primer so far. Got to wait for drying times so taking life easy.  Off to Horta tomorrow to select a colour (or two) for the interior and give my little fishing boat some love and attention.

 11 th January

A bit windy in Horta today

Nuts cosy and warm in the workshop.  Diesel heater working very well on waste oil mix to keep the temperature in the 20c range which is good for epoxy work. 

Bunk backrest with shelf fitted and ready for backrest.

Backrests cut and fitted. Now ready for epoxy coating, painting and gluing the whole lot in.  Also made provision for running wiring from the battery which will be mounted under the starboard bunk to the mast base and up to the electronics which will also be on the starboard side away from the steering compass to be mounted on the port side.  The weight should help compensate for the extra weight of the galley and foreward locker.  I was a bit worried about the weight of installing backrests to the bunks but after cutting and weighing all the materials it will add about 5kg per side including the epoxy and paint.  It will create a good amount of storage.  Nuts is not being built as a racing machine but hopefully as a safe and as comfortable as a 5m boat can be for long distance sailing.

 6th January

Did some gluing and fillets inside so decided to play with stainless steel while it cures.  I cut the pieces for the rudder pintles and tiller mounting from 5mm plate and drilled the holes for mounting bolts. I had previously made 2 solid round pieces for the pintles and drilled them with 12,5mm holes for 12mm pivot bolts (I didnt have a 12,2mm drill bit as specified on the plans) and was not happy with the sloppy fit of the 12mm bolts so I made new pieces and drilled them with a 12mm bit and they are a nice sloppy free fit.  Got to make a jig to hold all the bits together for welding so I can get everything nice and straight.  I also spent some time on my diesel workshop heater by adding a second fuel tank with change over valves so I can use old engine oil.  All ready to test. 

 4 th January

Been busy with a paint brush and sandpaper.  

Finally got all the coats done.  1 coat epoxy resin, 2 coats epoxy primer and 2 coats polyurethane top coat. (light sanding with 240 grit between coats)  Now I can glue the pieces into position then back to painting.  I am planning to finish the whole interior before putting the deck on.  It is easier to work inside and much better ventilation for the painting.

Started on the stbd bunk backrest supports.  Woodwork was restricted while painting to avoid dust in my workshop but no painting for tbe next few days.

 2 nd January

Been sanding and painting. 

Doors, drawer and shelving bits getting primer on the workbench.

Forepeak with primer.  Will get a sand and then ready for top coats.

Started with the framing for the port bunk backrest and side lockers/shelf.  The backrest will be 8mm ply with 5mm ply shelf and partitions.

 1st January 2024

Happy New Year!

Just home from new year celebration in Horta Marina.

Big party.  I hope this new year will be a good and prosperous one for all. 

Nuts has taken a back seat the last days as the weather has been very good and calm here in the middle of the Atlantic.  I took the opportunity to go fishing offshore the last days to fill the freezer with some success.  (need a bigger freezer now).  Did manage a few bits here and there though.

Bunk tops now all glued into position and epoxy filleted.  I have also made up the forepeak division and shelf.  The supports are all glued in and now everything is ready for the painting process. I dont have any photos as I dismantled it all after the prefit for painting. Im slowly working my way up to deck level when I will smack the lid on.