Boat's Fixed!

     The Comp-Tip Mast Head went on rather nicely. This time around, Aaron and I found the drill out and riveting process to be much easier, and the action as a whole, was complete in under an hour, a milestone for the boat so far. To date, we have had one moderately successful sailing trip, here's how it's gone so far:

First Trip
Costs: $4 (pain killers) & Our Pride

                       
Tried in vain to get her out to show off to Matt and Michelle,
but my hangover, the persistent rain, inability to get the sail
past half mast and the sun setting before we could get it
resolved meant no sailing for that day.
                

                    
Second Trip          
Repair Costs: $12 (rubber o rings) 

After resolving the sail issue as having some leaves stuck on
the mast head pulley, We headed out to go sailing, but a huge
thunderstorm delayed our adventure. When it looked like it was
going to clear up, we ventured out to the lake, bringing
Two girls with us, in hind sight, these extra passengers likely
pushed the weight limit of our boat. We got out to the lake and rigged her up,
then set sail, it was all glorious until we got a mile off shore,
and after much argument about which way the wind was coming from
we discovered, that the wind had died, we all paddled for about
15 minutes, before a passing sailboat offered us a tow, I was
in the water rigging the tow line to the frame, while everyone
had gone to the back of the boat, unbeknown to all of us at the time
the hull plug o rings were cracked, and all the while the hull's
had been taking on water. with everyone at the aft of the boat,
it pitched upwards bringing the bow out of the water, I yelled
for everyone to scramble forward, and it reset itself, after
loading it back onto the trailer and having opened the plugs,
it drained water all the way home.

Third Trip                      
Repair Costs: $58 (base plate)
Repair Video Here

After having repaired, replaced, and re-caulked the hull plugs,
Aaron and I set out on a picture perfect day, 70 degrees, clear,
and with a 10 mph wind. We ran into difficulty stepping the mast
(raising it upright and seating it to the frame, and attaching 3 guide wires)
Attaching the fore stay ( front most guide wire ) proved impossible.
While our A-Team'esq plan to use the trailer winch to bring it forward
worked for a while, the which cord eventually broke sending the rope
across my neck, and the mast hurtling backwards slamming into the frame.
After the dust settled, we were awestruck to see the base plate joint had
sheared off completely, promptly cutting our adventure short, and bringing
the first major repair to light.

Fourth Trip        
Repair Costs: $117 (comp tip mast head) + $67 (main sheet halyard rope)

Nearly half a year later my brother was due in town, the boat having sat
through the winter without repair, suddenly had priority. Aaron and I
having never drilled aluminum, or riveted embarked on an adventure of
hazardous proportions. Long story short, in around 4 hours we successfully
drilled the broken base plate, drilled the new one and riveted it to the
base of the mast. When we got it out to the lake, the mast stepping process
went without a hitch, baffling Aaron and I as to why it was so difficult the
previous time. But just as things were going so well, we ran headlong into a
brand new problem, the sail wouldn't go up all the way, we assumed it was an
issue with the halyard cleat at the head of the mast, and instructed Matt who
was holding the Main Sail halyard line in front of the boat to haul out and
pull hard. A couple of these maneuvers resulted in the sail becoming hard stuck.
Unable to tip the boat over, we lowered the mast with the sail still on it, an
extremely dangerous task. After we got it down, we inspected the mast head,
to our total dismay; we realized that in our efforts to force the sail up,
the 30+ year old plastic mast head pulley had shattered under the stress,
bringing yet another promising day to an abrupt end.

Fifth Trip       

Next Tuesday....

     Aaron did sustain a minor injury to his hand while using the pop rivet gun though as a result of the damned stainless steel rivets. A combination of the strong rivet material and the probability that our cheap rivet gun is going soft, made riveting a strenuous activity, and required considerable fore arm and wrist strength. It was this necessary force that Aaron, exerted while his hand was over one of the finger ridges that caused a subtle lump of plastic to penetrate his skin.

    After the mast head was on, we ran the new all rope main sail halyard through the mast threading up and over the comp tip mast head, and down to the cleat. A job well done in my opinion. 

     We plan to take her out Tuesday next week as a test ride, and if all goes well, a fantastic adventure!