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.