Hey, sports fans… Happy July 4th weekend, and God bless America!
I travelled up to the boat yesterday morning (on July 4th). Nobody there. I guess even the Russians and Latvians celebrate Independence Day. Love it. (Re) took the few progress pics I lost yesterday.
It’s a wrap…
And here is the core material destined for the side decks (between inner and outer layer of fiberglass decking). This is fourteen pound per cubic foot. Mid-weight (for foot traffic only – no structural fittings need to be bolted through) and very strong. The foredeck will get the ultra-strong twenty-four pound stuff.
My latest thru-hull. Note ample white goop (3M 5200 adhesive) oozing out around the edges of my King Starboard (marine lumber) backing plate (distributes any stress from the fitting to surface area on the hull). That goop means this fitting is NEVER coming out again. As Alex from Latvia would say, “lifetime warranty, yes?”
Now in order to keep sea water from sloshing in through that new one inch hole just above the waterline, the next step is to tightly install the seacock below. It’s also a valve that I can close until I get the additional (forward) bilge pump and hose installed.
Since I had lost these pics once, I didn’t want you to feel cheated, so took them again and present them here. Why, I’m not sure. I’m thinking some day I’ll turn this blog into a(nother) book that will stay with the ship (along with the first book of our trip down the waterway) long after Kay and I are gone. As Dr. Joe, the previous owner of Sojourn once said, “we as owners are just custodians of little pieces of history like Sojourn as she’ll be around long after you and I are gone.” Piece of history, you might ask? To capture the answer to that question, you’ll have to read my first novel, due out some time within the next one to five years (the way it’s going, at any rate). The good ship Sojourn plays a central role in that plot, much of which is based on her factual but somewhat intriguing past.
After a short day at the boat, we enjoyed dinner, dancing and watching the fireworks from the waterfront view at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club as guests of Marti and Doug. Best table in the house, of course, so we could choose to watch the aerial display either from the air conditioned comfort of our table in the gorgeously appointed dining room, through floor to ceiling windows overlooking the several mile wide Peace River waterfront, or we could sit out on the dock with a gentle breeze mostly keeping the countless flights of mosquitos at bay. It was great fun to listen to patriotic and military marches that piped up once the rockets went up. Doug got a lump in his throat while watching the magnificent fireworks display to “Anchors Aweigh” being played through the outdoor speakers on the patio overlooking the CHYC marina. I must admit I got a little choked up too.
Today will be another short day. I decided that since the boat will continue in residence on the hard for a few more weeks that I’m finishing charging the batteries today and disconnecting them for the duration. They’re now fully charged, and today’s task is simply to disconnect them. I might also try to get that seacock installed, but that’s about it. We need to pack for our trip to see the kids and grandkids in Minnesota. On this trip, I’ll also be working to kick up my Morse Code speed up another notch (still only 10-15 words per minute – unacceptable!).
Lator, ‘gators…
