It seems that every time I try to write a blog I get about 3 paragraphs done then it magically gets erased. I love technology. But anyway I figured this time the prudent thing to do would be to use a word proccessor and then paste it on the website when it's done. We'll see how that works.
It's almost february now, I need to put a deposit on the boat slip in the marina soon. It's a bit risky putting down a non-refundable $500 when I'm not even sure if my boat is going to float. Not that I'm worried, it's just the worst case scenario that I'd be left there with a slip and no boat to put it in. Oh well, if she does sink I can just charge money to take people diving on it. Who doesn't want to scuba dive on a shipwreck at least once in their life? I shopped online today for some used sails, and I figure I can pick up a mix and match set that should fit for around $500. The one thing that I'm worried about now is making sure that the standing riggin will all fit in the right places; afterall the hull is a Bristol 24, and the rig is off of a Columbia 26. I really don't have the money to go buying all new stainless wiring for her. I suppose I could just use extended turnbuckles if I need to. So really all I need to do to get her in the water is patch up the drain holes, buy some sails, and rent a slip in the marina. Roughly $1600. I do still need to put in a cabin floor, and paint the hull with anti-fouling paint below the water line. I can worry about batteries and lights after she's in the water. I don't plan on doing too much night sailing until July anyway.
The weather here has been bitter cold. It's sad when a 25 degree ferenheit day feel like T-shirt weather. Last week we had a wind chill of -30 degrees! Periodically I'll go check my boat, so far there's been no swelling and bursting. There is one section up on deck that was a bit spongy in the summer time, and now it is making an annoying cracking noise when I step on it. I'll have to repair that before I cross the Atlantic, but nothing too serious to keep me out of the water this summer.
I have friends in England who have expressed a desire to come over and go sailing with me this summer, so I have to make sure it all works out. How horrible would that be for you readers to have all of this rising action and then it fizzles and turns into nothing. Rest assured I will do my best to not let that happen.
