The main was hosted for the first time today.  The halyard was run from an external block off the masthead, untidy & easier to lose so it needs running internally.   The sail itself looks in very good condition,  quite crisp & flat. softer this I set up the trimming sheet blocks.  A bridle over the transom etc. At this stage it trimmed ok,  but I'm not happy with its strength.  I will try to locate the gear from my old Mirror & try that.  The requirements are that it's easily released,  &! to withstand heavy loads & is comfortable to use.  At this stage,  I want to avoid clearing or jamming it off. A cleated main sheet,  or one that gets tangled can give way to a heightened risk of capsize if the main can't be released immediately.   I am ok with the forestay halyard,  but it's old & have no confidence in heavier conditions.   Otherwise,  sitting on the stern seat,  things come to hand ok,  but the tiller needs an extension .    Ground tack

 Well,  the weather threats were exaggerated after all.   -------------- Roger Barnes taped his well worked parts around their bellies with epoxy & tape.   I had done this previously except I ran the tape longitudinally due to cracks in the laminating. So,  during the dodgy weather,  I filled, sanded, primed & painted in a grey/ black combo.   Essentially,  I need to secure the seat & I'm right to shake it down.  

 Today Jack will meet his first gale, with lashings of  rain and possibly hailstones. Quite the ordeal for an old fellow,  but his timbers are sealed from the elements & he had two layers of wet weather gear all tied down.  I'll be watching over him as well & spending my best.   In just 2 hours that strong cold front passing over the state, will arrive.  Snow will fall to 800m elevation, there will be rain & hail elsewhere. So they say. There are no school holidays or public holidays in the offing,  so one can assume they're being only moderately overly cautious. For years I have suspected that the Bureau of Meteorology puts the fear of god into people as they are about to leave on road trips during school holidays.  I get that forewarning is warranted,  but it's commonly overcooked with threats of hell & damnation to any that venture forth.  When it typically fails to eventuate nothing is mentioned of the "error". And the public remain at home;  o

 Work done today.  * Made a new to pintle block.  * Fitted lower pintle on centerline, using thickened epoxy& through bolts.  * Removed outboard motor pad on transom. Fitted new top pintle & block, sealing with epoxy,  through bolted.   * Hung rudder.  * Removed old grease tubes for prop shaft & sealed openings internally & externally.  Sealed these with mat & epoxy.  * Blocked off old stern shaft tube with 3 min "underwater" putty.  Reinforced with epoxy & mat.  * Toughened cleats either side of cockpit.  

 Today,  I loaded Jack back on his trailer.  Put all the floorboards back in position & lashed the tarps on during the onset of a rainstorm. A cute ass shot & a lubber on an "oodie". Loading your boat alone,  from the ground onto her trailer is a liberating thing to do.  Paying a slipway to do the job would cost a pretty penny & disable or deskill the sailor.  The bare minimum I need to go sailing is a refit of the top pintle. Tell me I'm not busting my balls to go sailing.