Christmas is right around the corner, and in less than a month i'll be back in California with the race boat. I've been working on the boat every day, as well as trying to line up sponsors and preparing to head west. The boat work is going pretty well, if not a bit slowly; the weather has been holding us back a bit. Cold and wet. Can't believe it's been a month since i've sailed. :(
We put the lifeline stanchions and bow pulpit back on today. We had to drill all new holes, dry fit everything, make some adjustments and then final install with sealant.
It's all of about 36 degrees here in North Carolina, so we had to build a tent around the boat and put a diesel heater in the cockpit, so that the polysulphide sealant would cure properly, so that we wouldn't have leaky lifeline fittings. I doubt the local fire marshall would approve of our heating arrangement, but it should be okay. (???)
It seems like the more that I do, the longer the to-do list gets. Stupid list...
we ghetto vacuum bagged the rudder, after opening up some spots on the leading edge and finding some moisture. It wasn't much moisture at all, but we got it out and re-sealed the rudder.
epoxy sealed and faired rudder. On my last boat, I put exactly 0 minutes of work into my rudder and it fell off. On this boat, i've put like 30 hours into the rudder and it's super awesome. hopefully it won't fall off this time.
Wearing this pretty sweet gas mask that Don had laying around the shop. Definitely better than breathing in tons of fiberglass dust and stuff. Working inside the boat on some fiberglass work. Messy.
This is Toby, the official Golden Retriever of "Team Warrior's Wish". He mostly just chews stuff up and tries to be cute. Notice him chewing a piece of wood in this picture.
Cleaned up front chainplate. Every part that goes back on the boat is being completely cleaned and prepped for re-install.
Super clean chainplate and super messy install. I really didn't care what the install looked like, I just tried to get tons of sealant on there. More concerned with how dry things are than how pretty they are.
Custom dodger that we're building to fit over the existing hatch. Hoping to strengthen the existing structure of the boat and keep more water out. Kind of like a first layer of defense, just to keep waves and spray out of the boat.
First layer of glass that I laid when making the dodger.
First test-fit of the dodger. It's kind of crooked in this picture, but actually fits perfectly, and should end up being pretty nice. Once we finish it, sand it down smooth, paint it, create a mostly water tight sliding hatch and then mount it, it should be quite nice and look pretty decent.
All in all, things on the boat are going well. I am learning a ton from Don about boat work and proper boat prep. I've probably said this before, but Don used to be a boat builder and a sailmaker, so he really knows what he's doing when working on, and prepping a boat. Not only that, but with as many offshore miles as he has (lots and lots of miles, as well as probably 10,000+ in solo ocean races.), there is just a lot that I can learn from him. This is definitely becoming a very good experience and a very valuable one in my development and training as a sailor. I'm very excited and happy about how things are going.
We are working on some sponsor stuff and some other exciting things that I will write about once they are final.
I had my first engagement with Hope for the Warriors a few days ago. Don and I went to Camp Lejeune, my old base, for what was basically a Christmas party, to thank all sponsors, contributors, helpers and volunteers for a great year. It was pretty neat to meet everyone, learn more about the organization and see how I will be helping out in the next year. Hope for the Warriors is a really awesome organization, with an awesome cause, and I could not be happier to be working with them and helping to support their cause. www.HopefortheWarriors.org
Going home in a week for Christmas. Going to spend a few days with my mom in Atlanta, and also hike the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail with one of my old roommates. I'll need to do some shopping for new things, with some insurance claim money, because UPS lost ALL OF MY STUFF when I shipped it out from California. Thanks a lot UPS. :( I keep on under-insuring things. Maybe i'll learn one day.
If you notice lots of weird stuff in the site in the upcoming blogs, it's because i'm beginning to do a lot of the site work myself, instead of just typing the blogs and emailing them to RJ. Like on this blog, the text randomly gets smaller about halfway through. Trying to figure out how to fix that.... Hmmm..... Here's an experiment, i'm going to try to embed a really neat promotional video of Alinghi 5 and BMW/ Oracle's BOR 90; the two boats competing for the next America's Cup. Enjoy. (That is, if this video works.)
end
10 Comments
GANLOgan
December 12, 2009 66.91.230.197 Votes: +0
Ronlo,
My level of excitement for you is off the charts. Every one here in Dago feels the same. Trevor let-out on the Swan 68 a few days ago. All my friends are bailing on me to go yachting; PROPER yachting.
You're good people boy. Can't wait to watch you single hand your way under the golden gate bridge with sights set on Hawaii. Just don't forget the Goldfish and S'more Pop-tarts.
Givem' hell son.
-GANLOgan
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ronnie
December 13, 2009 24.224.82.45 Votes: +0
Thanks Logan. or Ganlo. Whatever.
Just to fill everyone in, Logan is one of my buddies from the Tripp 40, "Trippin". We used to call each other and go "yachting" every single weekend on my $1,000 Cal 25 in San Diego. We would take the very cheapest beer available and a $20 hand crank radio with a bent antenna. The wind died one day and it was very slow going on the way home. We were hungry, and just by chance, the only food on the whole boat was Logan's two favorite things; Cheddar Goldfish and S'more's Pop Tarts. Gooooood times.
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Ralph Brogdon
December 13, 2009 99.27.139.166 Votes: +0
NICE RUDDER!
Hey Ronnie, have a nice Christmas man!
Ralph
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John Carraro
December 13, 2009 216.166.43.194 Votes: +0
I was wondering how things were going, great update, great pictures. You impress the hell out of me Ronnie. I hope you have a great Christmas.
John
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ronald a simpson the first
December 14, 2009 24.224.82.45 Votes: +0
thanks ralph and john. and merry christmas to everyone. you guys should check out my christmas-themed running lights that i'm installing on the bow pulpit. they're red and green.
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ronald a simpson the first
December 24, 2009 76.97.181.173 Votes: +0
haha, we've been hit by a robot sales tool! merry christmas!!!!!!!!!!
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Ralph Brogdon
December 24, 2009 99.27.139.166 Votes: +0
Gotta watch those spammers...
Ronnie, when are you moving the boat to SF? Have you got a schedule yet? Keep us updated when you can, and Happy Sailing in 2010!
Ralph
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John Carraro
December 27, 2009 216.166.43.194 Votes: +0
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Ronnie. Looks like 2010 will be even more exciting than 2009, if that is even possible!
Like Ralph said, let us know when you are hitting the road. If you guys have any problems, I want to be able to help out!
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Ralph Brogdon
January 02, 2010 99.27.139.166 Votes: +0
UGGG....Go Away! Happy New Year anyway...
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ronald a simpson the first
January 03, 2010 24.224.68.94 Votes: +0
ok, i just deleted all of hte Ugg Boots spam ads and blocked those IP's. If anyone tries to post a comment and finds out i just accidentally blocked their IP, email me and i'll try to fix it. stupid robot spamming sales tools... planning to update the blog tonight and make some more site changes.
December 12, 2009
66.91.230.197
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