Sand Castles and Squirrels

I managed to get out on sunday for the first potter of the season.  The first job was to strip the carb on the outboard, which although having new plugs and filters decided that it didn't want to run unless on choke.  A good squirt in every nook and cranny with carb cleaner and it was running fine again. 
I headed off without a plan or even knowing the tide times, I was just glad to be afloat again. The wind was fairly none existant but it gave mejust enough forward motion to get around the back of Brownsea island.  By now the tide was flowing out quicker than I could go forward under sail so I nosed her onto the beach so I could explore the island.





Strange how I can't wait to get out on the boat and as soon as I'm on it I'm looking for a place to stop :-)  Brownsea is a wonderful place to visit ,as any scout will tell you.  I'm not going to ramble on so here's a few piccies.

 One of the islands most famous residents

 a mistle thrush (I think)

No mistaking this one... it's a dog

The ugliest floater I've ever seen.

I spent about 3 hours wondering around the island, talking to the animals and having tea with hot cross buns, well it is easter. I was back on board by 5.30 but the tide wouldn't be back for another 1/2 hour or so, so I found some more little jobs to do. The main one was fitting the ariel connector on the new ariel lead.  With the boat afloat once again I drifted with the incoming tide to the top of Brownsea but as I got to pottery pier the flow slowed and the lack of wind became apparent.  I fired up the outboard and motored back to the mooring.

That's the first one out of the way, I can't wait to get an organised trip under my belt.  Bembridge is on my list this year.... Better check the calender.

and breathe

At last, she's in.

It was pretty busy down at Baiter yesterday so as soon as I had the straps off and every thing on board I backed the trailer down the slipway, unhitched and pushed her in.   Unfortunately one of the wheels dropped of the slipway so I enlisted the help off a couple of fellas to help push her off the trailer and drag the trailer back up the slip way.

Car and trailer secured I clambered aboard and motored over to the mooring where I set about putting the mast up and adjusting the rigging.  I also had to have a huge tidy up... I didn't get time for a sail but she's now ready to go at a moments notice... It's just me that'll take some getting going :-) 

Launch day... I hope.

So what's left to do?


1. Sikaflex along the top of the rubbing strakes.

2. Paint underside of floorboards.

3. Make second block for anchor stowage, varnish, bed in sikaflex then bolt down.

• I'll do this once afloat.

4. Finish antifouling

5. Fit hawk aerial/windex.

6. Extend battery leads to reach new battery position.

• I'll do this once afloat but still need to fit battery into secure position before towing.

7. Launch and enjoy:-)

On top off these few things in need to strap her down on the trailer again and remove all the clutter from inside the cabin (Tools, boxes of fasteners, tins of paint/resin and general rubbish).
Then, because I've left it until the school holiday, I'm going to have to compete with the Tourettes Tourists for the use of the public slipway. If I miss the tide this morning I'll have to wait until early evening when the light will be fading.

Hopefully the next picture will be when she's in the water.

A quick update :-(

Hi. Sorry I've been so quiet but I have been busy. The long and the short of it is that Jelly Bean is still on the front garden and it's killing me seeing the moorings fill up when I should be out there.
The repair to the bow took longer than I thought, thankfully it is finished now. The top sides are painted, the anti foul is done although there are a few bits inside the bilges that need redoing; I ran out of antifoul, however I put an ad on freecycle and a very nice man said I could have the last knockings from his tin.. Top notch it's just enough.
The boot top is done, the name is painted on the transom and all the wood has had at least 2 coats of varnish. I have fitted two Gibbs winches and have made one of the wood blocks for storing the anchor on the fore deck. I have also started to repair my tender which got seriously damaged in the storms last year!
So what's left to do?
1. Sikaflex along the top of the rubbing strakes.
2. Paint underside of floorboards.
3. Make second block for anchor stowage, varnish, bed in sikaflex then bolt down.
4. Finish antifouling
5. Fit hawk aerial/windex.
6. Extend battery leads to reach new battery position.
7. Launch and enjoy:-)

All this is not helped by reading other blogs where people are swabbing about without a care in the world .... GRrrr! Hopefully I'll be out swabbing with the best of them this weekend :D