Solid little boat

The weather has been dry and mild lately. That's a lucky break for me as I've been working on my Oday 19 sailboat. Getting ready for sailing next month.

The problem with projects, as any one with a tool box knows, is that projects grow. I thought I could do a bit of repair on the shelves in the boat. Before long, both of them were removed and thrown away. I had not realized how bad the rot had settled in. Fortunately I was able to salvage enough to use as templates to cut out new parts.

Most of the work I'm doing on the boat won't even be visible. Upgraded wiring, rebedded hardware, and even the new shelves, aren't very visible. Epoxy, new hardware, paint, caulk and marine grade adhesives might be hidden, but the boat is much stronger because of it.

Of course, anyone with a boat knows that it's possible to repair and upgrade forever. At some point a sailor has to say: good enough!

There are some more visible upgrades: a new depth finder, a new heavy duty anchor, and a second gas tank.

Even with all the repairs and upgrades, it's still a tiny boat. Most people will assume we are on a day sail, or an overnight trip at most. Few would guess that we are planning an extended coastal cruise.

It's not like we are trying to some heroic endurance thing. This is a small boat, yes, but it's a small boat we are comfortable in. I've read about a couple who did a similar trip in a 16 foot boat. They had oars. We have a 6 hp outboard -luxury!

This is what we do to relax. Knowing that the boat has all these little things fixed takes a load off my mind.

-Sixbears