To all my faithful followers

I'm sorry I haven't posted any pictures in the past few years.  I have now finished the boat and launched it May 18, 2022

Please follow me on Instagram for pictures and videos

I may also post here in more detail, but right now I have limited wifi access.

Depth Sounder System

 I read  years ago that one could mount a transducer on the inside of the hull in a bath of oil.  I tossed the idea around for several years whether to drill yet another hole in the hull or somehow attached something that would hold oil on the inside of the hull.  ...  After a lengthy consultation with the transducer manufacturer, he told me that yes, on can mount the transducer on the inside of the hull, but in a seawater bath.  He also reminded me that the main ingredient in polyester resin contains styrene, also, one of the ingredients in ABS.  So, there's my answer.  Cut a length of 3" ABS plastic pipe on an angle to match the hull and set it in place with thickened polyester resin with milled glass.

Then just run the transducer cable to the Nav Station where the ST-60 Depth Gauge is located, and out to the ST-60 Multi-gauge.

Chain Locker

 Spencer 42s were not designed with an actual "chain locker".  Most lockers are located in the bow as close to the waterline as possible.  However, on my boat there's 14 inch fiberglass bow plate which runs from the bow point to the fwd bulkhead.  So, I removed a section of the plate, installed a structural tying the flat plate end to the hull and also creating a fwd barrier so the chain doesn't get caught underneath.  I also overlaid the entire chain area with 3 more layers of glass so the chain didn't create osmosis on the original hull.  This overlay glass also covered the wood bulkhead so the entire chain area is not sealed.  With that section of plate now removed, any water that gets in the locker can freely drain into the bilge.  Also, just aft of where the chain falls and in the bilge drain run I glassed in a pad eye to attach a 6 ft length of rope which attaches to the end of the chain as a shock cord.

Pilot berth gone :-)

Couple years ago I made a pilot berth for the mid-section.  The idea was a straight settee and a higher, flip up pilot berth.  To do this I pulled the settee board out into the passageway about six inches.  Not only was the settee narrow and not very comfortable it made the passageway rather narrow.  The pilot berth was very comfy even though it was quite close to the underside of the walk deck.  Sorry, no pictures.  I've been mulling over changing it but didn't have a really good design yet.  Thanks to a video I watched last week it gave me both the idea and incentive I needed to make this modification.
I cut out most of the middle storage compartment, cut all the corners back fifteen degrees, and fitted new panels allowing for foot room, but also when one sits their natural tendency is to have their feet less than ninety degrees down.  That's the fifteen degrees that you see.  It will make for a very nice relaxing place for lots of pillow.  At sea some one can sleep outboard without getting in the way of the passageway settees.  In port two people can sleep side by side with lots of room.

Bulkhead ladder

After almost two weeks of working, obviously not continuously, I finished the bulkhead ladder for exiting the forward hatch.  I still have to make the grab rail.

Stateroom book case

I've been working on fitting a book case into the fwd stateroom.  I like the word stateroom.  It simply means that's where me, the cap't, sleeps and it's the only sleeping quarters that's both private and you can turn stand and turn around.
So, lots of trips up and down the ladder cutting and fitting all the parts, then final assembly had to be done in place as only individual parts would fit though the doorway.

It's Not All Boat Work

Transmission rebuild on my Jeep

All finished and ready to go back in ...
Only to discover after it's in that I installed the 5th gear fork backwards
As of today, Aug 2018, I still have no 5th gear.

Main Sail

I put up the main today.  It look great but it's about a foot too tall.  I'll have to do some adjusting either on the head, the foot, or the boom & sail track.

Ceiling Fan

Running the diesel stove all the hot air collects at the overhead.  A couple days ago I google searched and found the tiny ceiling fan.  It arrived today.  It's 12 vdc.  It's small enough I can walk under it but I'll shorten the stem and mount it a couple inches higher.  For being so small it really moves a lot of air.  It should help make the boat comfortable in the tropics.  The motor is brushless so there is nothing to wear out.

Spinnaker sailing

The wind was light, at least for a while, and I flew the spinnaker.  I need about 400 feet more line.  Each tack get 2 lengths of 90 ft.  I also need to rig a topping lift for the pole.

Stepped the Mast ...

For the first time in about 30 years the mast on Chasing Summer, a Spencer 42, hull # 17 has the mast standing proudly on it's deck.  As you recall the boat was abandon for almost 25 years with the mast laying on dollies.  After building new spreaders, running electrical conduit inside the mast, and installing and navigation lights the mast was ready to be stepped on the deck.  A few days ago the crane arrived and after a few hours ... well, it finally looks like a real sailboat ready to go to sea.

Fwd Compartment and cabinets

A few weeks ago I set my mind on starting at the bow and completing one compartment at a time.  For years I had been jumping around; starting this project and that and never really completing any project completely.  Naturally the bow would be first.
Typically the tiny, V shaped forward compartment is set up and called the V-Berth.  It is an ok place to sleep in port or an anchor but not so good for sleeping while at sea.  Also, many sailors, leave many of their sail at home or in a storage lock because they have no place to store them.  Since I only plan on cruising with a maximum of four people I decided to change the V-Berth into sail locker, chain locker, overhead storage lockers.
Several months ago I had completely torn out what was originally installed by the first owner of the boat.

After completely sanding all the surfaces I glued insulation to the hull walls and the overhead.  (now it is just plywood)  Through that hole in the front is the pointy end of the boat.

The overhead is insulated and paneled.  The Port and Starboard cabinet frames are made and fitted.

The cabinet frames with the oak face attached.  The read light is Red LED lighting.  Red is used for night sailing so you do not lose night vision.  White for day ... Red for night.  The cabinet frames are not ready for paint and I can start making the doors to fit into the frames.

My little April is not much help on the boat but she sure is a little cutey and always is glad when my work is done and we can curl up and watch a movie or go for a walk.

The first of 6 doors to be made.  The pieces are cut to size on the table saw.

Besides a standard table saw this is radial arm saw set up to cut mortise and tenon on the frame and door pieces.

Another picture using the radial arm saw to make cabinet pieces a few months ago.

Fitting and attaching the cabinet faces using wood biscuits and glue.  Once fitted I'll paint the cabinets.

Port side cabinet installed and 2 of the doors set in place.  Not hinged yet.  The LED light strips are installed.  Wow, they sure make a lot of light.  Next week I'll start on the Starboard side paneling and cabinet.  The Forward compartment should be almost finished by the end of next week.

V-berth Cabinets (actually, sail storage)

Each rail has to be cut with a mortise or tenon

Doors are glue and clamped

The frames are ready for paint, then installed

Installed but no door yet.  Each compartment on the boat has both red LED & white LED

Here the red is light

Mast Steps

I form all the pieces on the blue bender just beside the step, then TIG weld them together and add to mounting tabs.

Well there :-) only 20 more to make.

Picture sequence of installing Newfound Metal Portlights