Friday Funny 05-22/20 (Dinghy Doldrums)

Remember hearing, "we interrupt this regularly scheduled program, to bring you...."? I think it was usually a test of the emergency warning system, or a news broadcast.

I don't have anything quite so dramatic, but I did interrupted my cockpit enclosure project to get the dinghy chaps on. Bill took the dinghy off of the davits, and put it on the dock, he put on a couple of patches, cleaned it up, and applied a coat of 303 Protectant. I ran out of the binding I needed to continue with the port side bimini curtain, so ordered some more, and I moved on to the dinghy chaps project.

 

Patched, and clean. [20 year old Caribe Hypalon RIB]
Why not buy a cheaper PVC dinghy?

Last summer, we removed the original chaps, they had worn through, and reached the absolute end of their useful life. The previous owners had already patched them up multiple times. On a sunny day while we were docked at a state owned float in Swanson Harbor, I cut up the old chaps to make a pattern, and then cut out the new ones. I had some Tan Sunbrella left over, and I cut out the pieces. That was before we decided this spring to completely redo the boat in burgundy.

27 year old cover [20 years in the tropics...] Many patches, and very worn material.
It did its job well...

I had thought I would be done with this project by the time I wanted to publish this post, but alas, it's not to be. I still used the tan that was ready for sewing, and then I added in some burgundy pieces.

Partially done, with burgundy accents. [i.e., leftover scraps from other canvas projects...]

I'm working on the rub-rail chafe protection, then the outside hem with a drawcord, and then the inside hem with new snads, (snaps) from the chaps to the boat. (Is that all?) It's at least a couple of days work. Bills says, "now we need an outboard cover". [Actually, Bill said 'Now I suppose you're going to want to make a new matching outboard cover...'] There's always another project, another day.

I received new materials in the mail for the continuation of the bimini/dodger project, so now, I'm anxious to get back to that. 

Gus approves of the new color.

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Friday Funny 05-15/20 (Coffee, Sew, Wine, or is that Whine?)

My life.

The bimini is installed, not quite done, but up, and fitted. In addition, the starboard side curtain is zipped in, also not quite done, but fitted. I'm waiting to do final adjustments until I have all important pieces in place, like the bimini, both side curtains, and the dodger. We got the Makrolon windshield this week in UPS, so that will mean the dodger is next, especially since we may have a couple of days without rain, except that the dinghy doesn't have a cover yet either, and it needs protection from the sun. Decisions, decisions...

At one time, I thought I might do canvas work for profit, but now I have changed my mind. 

• I don't have the room to sew.
• I don't have the room to store sewing materials, and supplies
• I don't ever want to do this again.

What a mess!

Since the previous owners advised the old canvas enclosure was made in 2007, and had never been taken off, I'm totally okay with doing it that way again. I'm not sewing a new enclosure, not even in 13 years.

A lump.

Gus had to try out the new bimini, he's the lump as we try to stretch it out over the bars. Big help buddy!

As chief QC officer, he's making sure the curtain fabric is up to his standards.

We've been enjoying the recent spate of warm weather, it's good to be able to work out in the sunshine, but bad, because we're working out in the sunshine, not cruising.

Hmmm, brown, burgundy, tan, hopefully at some point it will all match, to keep my spirits up, and my motivation going, I envision it in my mind.

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Friday Funny 05-01/2020 (Gus Gets a Snootful)

Gus wisdom.

During this process of creating the new bimini, we have discovered that Gus likes new plastic/vinyl. See that black strip he is sitting on, it's a chafe guard material called "Shelter-Rite" that we purchased through Sailrite. It's used in areas that may receive a high amount of rubbing by something else, and it protects the Sunbrella material from that chafe. It will be sewn onto the leading edge of both the dodger, and bimini.

I unrolled it out on the pilothouse floor to measure and cut. 

sniff sniff

hmmmm

I love it!

Gus rolled in it from one side to the other, so it was covered in hair, and he was purring so much, that he drooled kitty spit all over it. Ugh. Bill called him a huffer from the pungent plastic smell that Gus seemed to love.

I put a scrap piece on the settee, and Gus was so worn out, he curled up there, and went right to sleep.

Don't disturb me.

This became his favorite place to sleep.

He is so enamored of this stuff that he can't help but assist everytime I work with the same roll of material...

Gus was much chagrinned when I had to roll up the parts I cut out to move to the sewing station:

However the plastic smell went away, and the vinyl lost it glamor. Gus is back to normal, off of his "high". 

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.