Readying for Launch 2017

Just about as ready as we're going to get.

  Everyone knows that two days before you're going to do a shakedown cruise is the BEST time to do some major refits to your rigging, right? With the date looming where I may take someone else aboard my vessel I need to get things right now. So today was spent taking off and re-positioning hardware to better ensure success in that upcoming endeavor. I've never really been happy with my odd combination downhaul/boom vang set up. It's kind of like front wheel drive, both doing the steering and the breaking. Or in this case setting bottom sail tension and keeping the boom in check. After scouring the web and watching videos and looking at pictures of different set ups I decided trying to get a straight up downhaul in front of the mast was the best way to go.

Knew I'd find a way to re-purpose those blocks.

 In addition to the downhaul work the Typesetter noted I had no set-up to keep the boom and yard to the mast. So I went down to the local craft store and picked up some multi-colored beads with holes in them. Knowing were to find parrel beads locally is great. $.30 each sure beats $.75 plush shipping! I used some light line to attach them and now even when yard sailing the sail seems to be in much better trim.

Mast needs a coat of paint.

At the top of the mast, multi-colors!

  I also renewed the bungees that keep the hatch covers on. They had disintegrated after their six months of storage.

Should be good for another season.

  I have but a few more things to take care of before my hopeful splash on Thursday. Going to try and get some paint on the boat where I can. Provision it for a short sale. Double check everything I can. It's very much it's like prepping a eleven foot long space shuttle. This craft my father and I built will be the only thing that will help keep me safe as enter once more onto the deep blue. We know the theory, I know it floats, but it's still a whole lot of unknowns and yet-to-be-discovers. It doesn't come with the same feeling of reassurance that the Lido gives me. I just don't know it well and we've had a rocky relationship so far. But I have faith. Faith in the boat and it's designer, and that I know well enough to keep me out of trouble.
 The weather is the same on Thursday no matter were I look. Winds just below 10mph, 56 degrees and rain at 3pm. That's the forecast to the north of me (Flathead) and to the northeast (Salmon). Not sure yet where I plan on putting in. On one hand Polson would be quiet this early in the year although the ramp would be very long. Big Arm is a known quantity but perhaps a bit big for me in this boat at this time without other watercraft support. Salmon is nice but the winds can be quite shift at times due to the canyon location and the islands. I guess I'll wake up and see what I feel like.
 I guess there is nothing to do but finish the final checks and wait the 48 hours until launch. Fortune favors the prepared so that's all I can do.

Getting Ready for the Season

The Boat Yard

 With a rare spring day in Western Montana I figured I'd best get the boats ready for the upcoming season. The Typesetter came over and helped me round off my mast for the Piccup in preparation of the addition of parrel beads. Then my father came over and we cleaned up the property, put the mast on the Lido and I showed him around the boat he helped build. He had never seen it with the rig up. So here are some photos from the day. It's cold here again. And there is still a bit of work left to do. I'd love to get a quick test sail on the Piccup before May. We'll see if the weather allows. I did get news the ice is off Flathead Lake. That's a good sign.

Lido centerboard case top being sanded. Just a quick sand, nothing to intense.

Playing with the macro on my camera.

Current rigging set up on the Piccup. Might make some changes here.

Liked how this one came out.

The Gypsy. She needs a bit of work but we have a decent starting place in this hull.

Two and a half coats of varnish. Not sure I did it right but that's how it was done.

It's the small classic touches that make these older Lidos worth owning in my opinion. It's tough nowadays go get warm wood and brass on a 14' fiberglass boat. And yet here i it is. 

As a note we are holding our first messabout on the 6th of May at Big Arm State Park. Festivities start at 10:00 AM and run until we get tired and go home. Check out our Facebook Page for more information on the event. Hope to see you there!

New Year, New Beginings

The Bolger Gypsy

 It's been very quiet here at the Inland Packet Company but only because were are ready to get very very busy. The big news is a new boat! There was a Bolger Gypsy hull on Craigslist my partner in crime and I had posted back on forth to each other for a few years. Never wanting to pay the price suggested but a very nice 'what if'. Well it's fallen into my hands. Seems someone else paid the price, kept it for several years and ended up giving it away. To me. So now I have 16' of sailboat out in our front lawn and the need to finish it up before it becomes an eyesore. Looks like my father and I have another project!
 Speaking of projects, the Lazy Shamrocks first and so far only sail was an adventure. There was some sailing. Then some crashing. Then some capsizing. Then some swimming. Then the fire department was called. Then heading home following an official report with the state park caretaker. Needless to say great fun was had by all.

SV Lazy Shamrock underway

There is a lot to do around the boat yard. The Gypsy alone needs quite a bit of attention before it hits the water. The plan is to use the same rig as the Piccup for time saving and the fact it's a good rig. The Piccup needs some work on said rig and some paint but for all intents and purposes it's ready to go. For the time being I'm not planning on sailing with the mizzen but hopefully by the end of the summer the boat will be sorted out enough to allow it. The first Heron gathering of the year is set for the May 5th. We have some interest and both the Lido and the Piccup should be attending.
 I hope to try and maintain the Sieges as a bi-monthly thing. My summer schedule is so busy that anything more is a tough sell. But as long as we have water to sail over I see no reason why we should not go sailing. I'll hopefully be doing a lot of personal sailing, after work, on my days off and the like as well. The goal of getting some distance under my keel has not left. Nor as the goal of doing over night sailing. So far every year I've wanted to do more. Might as well make this the year to do so.
 I've also started getting interested in taking better pictures. Not sure how that will shake out on the boating front as I have a waterproof point and shoot for use on the boat. But here is to hoping to feature some better sailboat photography here on this blog in the near future.