So I started getting the boat ready. The mast was taken down without too much trouble. Dave from Atlantic High Reach, used his high reach to help take the mast down. The mast had a little trouble coming free from the sleeve it goes on, so the high reach slid a little out of level. Once the high reach is out of level, it locks everything and unfortunately Dave was stuck up there. He was stuck up there for about 45 minutes until his friend could get there and help get it level again. Besides that it was pretty easy.

I am replacing all the standing rigging (wires that hold up the mast), they should be coming in the mail this week. riggingonly.com is the company that is making them.

The other big project is making a new bowsprit and sansom posts. The original 25 year old ones had some rot and the plies were delaminating, so I thought it would be a good idea to replace them. The bowsprit was made of douglas fir, and the sansom posts were made of white oak. Douglas fir is not very common on the east coast, so no one really sells it around here. It is more common on the west coast, which is were my boat was built. So we had to use Mahogany, which is very good for exterior wood, since it is rot resistant. We got white oak for the sansom posts. When I say we, I mean me and Dennis. Dennis owns an O’day sailboat named Alice, and keeps it a few slips down from mine. He has been unbelievably nice, and spent a huge amount of his time to help me make the bowsprit and posts. He also has a great wood shop, and knowledge and skills in woodworking. It would have been a struggle if I had to make the peices on my own. Thanks again Dennis!

Here are a few pictures of the old and new bowsprit. I will put up some better ones this week.

Bow Pulpit on old Bowsprit

Old Bowsprit Removed

New Bowsprit glued up