Rudder progress

 weighing in at 50lbs the rough blank still has to shed at least 40% to get into shape, the finished rudder may even weigh less than the min 60lbs class limit at about 1/3 the cost, the structural core is made up of 3/4" Douglas Fir laminated with epoxy and 9oz tape, a skin of two layers of 6oz cloth will be all that is required

Rudder Project Started

 1 x 8 Douglas Fir stock

 ripped and sorted alternating grain

 laminating process

9oz tape and epoxy between strips

KiwiGrip (2)

did not think the first application yielded a course enough surface, for the second application the material was spread evenly with a 3/16" triangular notched trowel and then rolled, resulting in an even and courser non-skid surface

KiwiGrip Test

before and after, 1/2 hour task compared to 24 hour task with Awlgrip.

 before (Awlgrip)

 after (Kiwigrip)

Portholes rebuild

the view

Sprit+furler+asymmetrical=FUN!

asymmetrical spinnaker on sparcraft sprit and facnor1500 furler required raising the jib furler and fitting a custom open pulpit

the open pulpit is a vast improvement making anchor rode and mooring line handling much easier

 

 navigation lights had to go and a masthead tricolor installed

dinghy time

open bow rail & sprit

Narragansett Bay: first sail of the year

leaving Greenwich Bay snowy shores to solo around Prudence Island January 1, 2011, south winds 5 - 10 knots, air temperature around 50

Solitude - Fall Sailing on Narragansett Bay

 off fox island towards jamestown bridge

dutch island light house

life is good!

block island

Friday August 13th 7hrs mooring to anchorage

the cliffs Saturday August 14th

 anchorage at great salt pond

beam reach @ 6 knots st2000 at work

a very popular ranger 23

a nightmare!

end of july 3 island cruise

 

overnight stops at wickford and fogland, lunch time stop at potter's cove

Thunderstorm Saturday July 24

Just south of the Newport Bridge (RI), a monstrous cloud turned off the lights over Narragansett Bay last Saturday. Notice the funnel (center) that actually touched down between Castle Hill and Beavertail Lighthouse! Moments later a white wall of torrential rain, 4' waves, and gusts to 50kts reduced visibility to 100ft!

we sailed through it! boom was buried on a broad reach with main only, rounded up and all over in 5min, zero damage

4th of july cruise

new crew member

sunset at wickford harbor

sunrise at wickford harbor

neighbour at wickford harbor

40' schooner by george stadel

apponaug cove at night

apponaug cove sunset

deckshot

new primary winch location, cabin top refinish spring 2011

beforeafter

sacrilegious!!! a tinkered j30 bottom

2010 deckwork done!

what's inside is what matters

painting done!

awlgrip oyster white and course griptex

winch tower

finally all done hardware to be reinstalled