Party Time

     We had the museum's 50th birthday party this week. The shop and all the boats in it were as spiffy as we could make them and not interfere too much with actual progress towards the water.  We got Silent Maid's cabin together with all the new parts in place and the cushions on the bunks. Had soft music playing and the crew at the ready to answer questions . A good percentage of the 400 party goers came aboard for a look. All seemed admiring or exceptionally polite and there was universal curiosity about the upcoming cruise. It was all worth putting a suit on for, especially the fireworks at the end of the party. Now its all work all the time as we push towards being afloat in three weeks.

     Joan's PR efforts are paying off. There is a great deal of interest in our upcoming races with Kathleen, the CC Hanley catboat built by the Beetle Cat Boat Shop a few years back. We plan to meet up five times over the course of the summer and race one on one as well as in a larger fleet. One race will be over some distance as we travel from Arey's Pond on Cape Cod's Pleasant Bay, to Bristol, RI.  Two big cats going toe to toe, that's history and the excitement of racing.  What could be better?  

Details

We are immersed in a world of technical minutia. It must be remembered that the big items are done, the boat did sail for a season after all, but that is difficult to do when these details are pouring in like sand flowing down the face of a dune. The number of little pieces to be found in every system can be disheartening when it s time to fill out purchase orders. Sifting through plumbing parts, electrical connectors and fasteners consumes hour after hour, often in the form of homework. That's where we are and all that can be done is to work through it.
To brighten things up I've put getting the stereo hooked up at the top of the list. At least we can sort through the details with good accompaniment then. This week there is a big fundraiser party at the museum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the place. We need to be looking good for that, I'm thinking Silent Maid's interior should be pretty much done and there should be classical music playing down below as we give tours. This is sort of a pre deadline deadline for us. We'll have the boat looking good and be preparing to regroup for a push to the water.
Fifty years, the Workshop has been part of the place for about thirty of those. We keep making boats, restoring boats and maintaining boats. It keeps us young. Or something.

Movement

     Jeff has moved the 24 volt battery bank forward which will help the boat's fore and aft trim. The batteries are charged and the panel powered up. Now he is wiring the foredeck winches. When short handed these will be a godsend for ground tackle, halyards and reefing. Carolyn has been coming in most evenings to varnish. The doors, wheel and all the new furniture are getting shiny. We like shiny. I've been working on the steps into the cabin. One of these will be a sump for the cockpit drains, the other is just a step but  complicated for all of that. We need access to the space under the cockpit, we need a chase for wires and the  bilge pump hoses that empty into the centerboard case, we need clearance for doors and ease of removal. Everything left in this job seems to have 15 conflicting requirements that have to be prioritized and met. somehow.  But we have movement.
     Spring is in the air and we are inching towards the water. The garvey and sharpie that stayed in the water all winter have been uncovered, a row or even a sail are within the range of possibility.