First off, this is for Brenda.
Went for a walk on the beach this morning, there's a trail down from the North Head Lighthouse, here's the view.
Then while on the beach, I saw the most amazing sight, a first for me anyway. Check this out.
A parade of Pelicans.
Now for the hat stuff.
The installation of the new mechanical systems on board will require a number of custom holders, brackets, shelves and so on. On going maintenance on a metal boat eventually involves welding. Hence, I reasoned it would be a very important skill to have in order to maintain the level of
independence I would like. So I picked up a MIG welder on
Ebay and then asked Cap if he would teach me some basics, to which he immediately agreed.
Which reminds me of a story, I once decided that I would like to try my hand at painting, as in landscape painting. So I thought, I'll go out and get a bunch of supplies and see what happens. Went to the art store and stocked up on water color stuff. It wasn't until after I had been at it for a while, that I learned that painting in water colors is the most difficult medium to master. And so it is with my foray into welding, it seems that I couldn't start at the bottom,
noooo, I had to start with the most difficult medium to weld in. The fact that the boat happens to be aluminum, meant the die was cast.
At any rate my lesson started this morning, with a thorough briefing on how not to get electrocuted and die, I watched as Cap made a number of welds and then took matters into my own hands. Eureka! It seems I'm a natural. The lesson was cut short and I got my first homework assignment. I'll be practicing this weekend on a number of different welds, then on Monday when Cap gets back from his weekend, I'll get graded. Fingers crossed.
This afternoon, I completed the first of seven hatches that need re-bedding.
The hatches though well
constructed, had suffered from UV degradation, causing the old bedding compound to breakdown and leak. I mean really leak. I've been sort of getting by putting out buckets to catch the rainwater, not sure of how I was going to accomplish the repair. The first one is done, and I must say, I'm really pleased with the result. Amazing stuff, teak is, this wood was covered in algae and moss when I first saw it. Some sanding and viola! It is beautiful wood again. Thanks to the wonders of chemistry from 3M, the new bedding compound should be good for as long as I'll need it to be. One down, six more to go.
Then while on the beach, I saw the most amazing sight, a first for me anyway. Check this out.
A parade of Pelicans.
Now for the hat stuff.
The installation of the new mechanical systems on board will require a number of custom holders, brackets, shelves and so on. On going maintenance on a metal boat eventually involves welding. Hence, I reasoned it would be a very important skill to have in order to maintain the level of independence I would like. So I picked up a MIG welder on Ebay and then asked Cap if he would teach me some basics, to which he immediately agreed.
Which reminds me of a story, I once decided that I would like to try my hand at painting, as in landscape painting. So I thought, I'll go out and get a bunch of supplies and see what happens. Went to the art store and stocked up on water color stuff. It wasn't until after I had been at it for a while, that I learned that painting in water colors is the most difficult medium to master. And so it is with my foray into welding, it seems that I couldn't start at the bottom, noooo, I had to start with the most difficult medium to weld in. The fact that the boat happens to be aluminum, meant the die was cast.
At any rate my lesson started this morning, with a thorough briefing on how not to get electrocuted and die, I watched as Cap made a number of welds and then took matters into my own hands. Eureka! It seems I'm a natural. The lesson was cut short and I got my first homework assignment. I'll be practicing this weekend on a number of different welds, then on Monday when Cap gets back from his weekend, I'll get graded. Fingers crossed.
This afternoon, I completed the first of seven hatches that need re-bedding.
The hatches though well constructed, had suffered from UV degradation, causing the old bedding compound to breakdown and leak. I mean really leak. I've been sort of getting by putting out buckets to catch the rainwater, not sure of how I was going to accomplish the repair. The first one is done, and I must say, I'm really pleased with the result. Amazing stuff, teak is, this wood was covered in algae and moss when I first saw it. Some sanding and viola! It is beautiful wood again. Thanks to the wonders of chemistry from 3M, the new bedding compound should be good for as long as I'll need it to be. One down, six more to go.
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