Wednesday October 9: New Anchor Platform

The number one project is to put a new anchor platform on the front of the boat. This was a job we'd started before leaving for Canada and it was definitely now time to finish it.

The old teak board (with many holes from various windlasses) was removed along with the anchor roller.

The teak will be replaced with white oak - a bit longer and 12" wide instead of 7" wide. This will allow us to carry a second anchor in a more easily deployable position (as opposed to it being stored in the aft under deck storage area).

The challenge of course is to make sure everything is lined up, straight and the holes all in the right places!

We very strictly adhere to the rule (set up by Matt, the safety guy) of "no cutting after 5 pm". Too easy to make errors.

And of course we always measure twice and cut once ... except of course when we forget to do that :-)










The marina here at New Bern is very nice and is only about 20 minutes or so away from Matt and Wendy's home on base. So we keep stuff both place. Makes it easy then to stay either on the boat or at their place depending on what's going on.

Because it has rained the last two days, Steve moved the anchor platform to their garage. All holes are now drilled and the wood has one coat of cetol.

Meanwhile, I've been sewing drapes for Becky's bedroom. Didn't have time and no sewing machine in LA so it has worked out well being able to use Wendy's machine.

The sunsets are still quite nice (well, they were before the rains and winds started a couple of days ago) and we usually have a pretty good view from the flybridge!


Matt and Wendy both spend the days working - Matt at his office on base and Wendy in her office at home. Steve and I spend the time working on projects or running around the area for supplies.

Saturday is usually a 'play day' and Sunday is usually again a work day so it's easy to get projects done around this place - lots of work going on around us!

I did manage to sell an excess anchor on Ebay - now if I could just get the guy to pay me! He has until tomorrow and then I'll file a protest with Ebay. That usually works pretty quickly so we'll see if that happens.

Steve helped greatly by packing the anchor up in a self-made box. Nice that the anchor comes apart.

Tomorrow it's back to Matt and Wendy's for some more sewing. The material I ordered to use to make a new front rain cover for both this boat and Guppy came in today so hopefully I'll be able to get at least the one for this boat done.

This weekend - starting Friday noon? Becky is making quick trip east to spend a few days! Sounds like a party to me :-)