WEIGH IN

After a several false starts, I did get the bare boat on the pallet scale and it weighed 503 kg (1109 lbs). Bare bones boat, as light as she can ever be, holes drilled for most equipment, backing pads glued on, but nothing installed or on board (not even exterior paint). I took a video (and it was awful and dark) so I took another video the next day (with light this time), the boat by this time had already gained weight -  another coat of filler, some primer, thru hulls, and a galley sink. Anyway, here are two 1-minute videos.

Lead bulb halves - I have them here on the scale in these pictures. I stamped the weight on each one: 69.6 kg (153.44 lbs) and 71.8 kg (158.29 lbs). I counter bored the bolt and nut holes, then milled the keel side flats until they weighed within specs.

Port bulb half

Starboard bulb half

The pair

Finally final paint - several coats of white on deck, fluorescent orange (guaranteed to fade) and a lemon yellow hull. Now, I can start bolting down hardware. I can not make the paint dry faster, but as soon as it was dry, I installed equipment as fast as I could. Shipping can be ANY SECOND or not at all….

Final paint - white

Final paint - fluorescent orange

Final paint - white and fluorescent

The portlights were glued in, deck hardware installed and the bow and stern pulpits were welded up. Our welder went on vacation so I am tack welding the stainless myself and sending the pieces to a real welding shop for finish welding. Then of course off to the electro-polisher.

Glueing in portlights

Welding bow rail

Stanchions and lifelines

Fitting stern rails

The mast step was built. It was built even better, faired, painted, remeasured and torn off…arghh! The redo’s are killing me. This time I feel 100% about the boat being level/measured several times, several different ways. I will be ready for the rigging when it arrives.

Start of electrical

First coat of yellow