Sunday, November 15, 2015

The Starling Project - Part 42

Shipmates, we are on the downwind leg of this project. The big spinnaker is drawing in a fresh breeze and I can see the finish line. Some have said, "What the hell will you do with yourself when you are finished?" I can answer that in seven words; one for each day of the week. I will go sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing and sailing.

The photo (above) shows all the turning blocks and jam cleats installed on their respective mounting blocks. The controls from the center line outwards are: boom vang, mains'l 'out haul' and mains'l cunningham. The controls are repeated port and starboard. The turning blocks attached to the mast base plate lead the controls from the sail through holes in the splashboards to the deck turning blocks and the jam cleats.
All the deck hardware has now been masked with masking tape as has the perimeters of all varnish areas ready for the last big varnish. There are already two coats of varnish on the deck. I will apply at least four more coats. I am looking for a smart 'yachty' look - not a Steinway piano look.
The deck gets sanded with 320 grit sandpaper between each coat of varnish.
A third coat of varnish has now been applied. The tiller and the centre board hanging in the background of the photo also got their next coat of varnish.
I removed the plywood deck of the new boat trailer and gave both sides a couple of coats of undercoat paint. The underneath of the deck was given a finishing coat of grey gloss paint. I gave the top of the deck a couple of coats of non skid deck paint.
Once painted, I refastened the deck including this black Teflon type plastic strip which has a very slippery surface. This strip helps when hauling and sliding the beach trailer up onto the road trailer.

8 comments:

Dan Gurney said...

Your Starling is looking good. It's fun, even from this distance to feel the thrill of getting this near to the end of your restoration. I hope you'll continue to blog about this boat even after you've had it out for its initial sea trials. Sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing, and sailing will make for interesting reading, as each outing will have its own story to share.

Alden Smith said...

Thanks for your encouraging comments Dan. I will certainly continue to blog about this little boat. As you have shown on your own blog with your exploits in your kayak, on your bike etc there are a lot of interesting things to do and places to go in this great world we live in.

Bursledon Blogger said...

looking good, it's niormally the fun part of the restoration, and the part that takes a lot of time.

Alden Smith said...

You are right Max, it is the fun part and perhaps the most satisfying, as all the work comes together for the final result.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

So close you can smell it, and the varnish.. :o)

Alden Smith said...

All of that Steve - and the taste of a few celebratory beers as well. I've enjoyed this restoration immensely but it really is time to go sailing.

George A said...

I like the Teflon strip on the aft end of the trailer--a nice touch and better than indoor/outdoor carpet as a skid.

Alden Smith said...

Yes George you are right, it's much better. I've had a couple of dummy runs putting the Starling and its beach trailer onto the road trailer and found this old fella can do it easily - the Teflon strip greatly facilitating the maneuver.