Mar 9, 2015 | Flotsam
Encouraged by all this recent ‘warm’ weather.
Captain and I have decided to work on
our boat muscles.
Those first few days onboard last year felt like a whole new fitness routine
with achy back and limbs for the first few days,
not to mention the bruises.
Oh the bruises!
I have to smile every time I remember when I started sailing so many years ago,
I visited my doctor for an annual check up
and he asked if everything was OK at home…
Half the time we can’t even remember how we got them…
Anyway,
after a fairly sedentary winter we have started our spring training…
…Captain likes his cardio
…not a bit fan of cardio, I take to the ‘muscle machine’.
…Feeling energized and ready!
…now to keep the routine…
…may need to exercise our discipline muscles….
Feb 28, 2015 | Flotsam
MacGregors typically lack good easy access storage
and with this season taking us away from our home for at least two months
we wanted to make some small improvements
by adding a place to store extra supplies.
We found the seat between the galley and V-berth
to be wasted space – who wants to sit opposite the head (toilet).
And last season it became a catch-all for clothing bags, ball caps and galley gear.
After gaining some great insight and inspiration
from a fellow Mac owner, Doug Wendt aboard
Captain François undertook his winter project
(keepin’ the boat dreams alive)
Measure twice…cut once…
…the first cut (back panel)…
…Important next step…
…rough assembly + trip to the boat to make sure it fits…
A couple of minor adjustments then piano hinge installed…
…securely glued and screwed…
…it’s looking disturbingly like a coffin…
…front panel stained and silver trim to match the galley refrigerator assembly
with 4 coats of varnish…
A visit to R.E.D. and the new addition fits perfectly…
…and we can still easily access the storage below…
…Captain (of course) is very pleased…
…the seat cushion is back in place…
…showing that we will be able to access the new storage
with cushion in place (a latch with bungee still to come)…
…and Captain can still sit comfortably beside the galley
without bending over.
Now if only all this snow will melt so we can get this season started…
May 11, 2014 | Flotsam
Now that we have consistently mild weather,
and since it will be a few days before we can ‘splash’ our lady
we are using the time to clean and polish.
…scrubbing the deck and hull…
…polishing the chrome…
…the wooden crutch in the cockpit I will be explaining in a later post.
…it involves a plan to make travelling with mast down a little easier
for the first protion of our summer Rideau loop trip.
…she looks really shiny and we haven’t even applied the wax yet.
…the club was a bustling hive of activity with others preparing their boats for launch
and these lucky folks already having enjoyed a brisk sail.
