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The ice is starting to break up I just got my new Boom Brake

3/29/2015

This is the 1st time in several weekends I haven't been down to the boat to do a few projects. I,ve had a sinus cold all week hopefully I am on the mend now:( On a brighter note the ice is starting to break up and it's a gorgeous day out there. We got a bit of snow last night (5cm) but it won't take too long for it to melt, spring is finally on the way. I have been doing some research on boom brakes/preventer's. On Rose Lee we have a large boom which holds the foot of our large main sail in place. When you are running down wind with the wind on your back it can be pretty crazy, not to mention dangerous, trying to jibe the boom around onto a new tack. A boom brake is used to tame the boom so that it doesn't pick up any momentum as its swinging through the wind. Its a pretty simple set-up with three blocks/pulleys that you weave a rope through and adjust the friction as needed. After reading several reviews I decided that the Dutchman BB750 is the best brake for our boat and I found one online at a great discount. It arrived yesterday so I am looking forward to mounting it once the weather gets a little warmer. I'll post some pics when I install the new brake, then you can see how it actually works. Chow for now.

March 29, 2015

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It is starting to warm up here today

3/25/2015

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I don't ever remember having this much snow for this time of year. I had quite a few outside boat jobs that I completed last spring, Last year I had staging set up around the boat and was making great progress I am super fortunate I didn't have to deal with this snow. The weather is starting to warm up and we are expecting warm temps for the next several days with rain so it won't take too long to get rid of the white stuff. I can't wait to start seeing the boat tarps coming off and the spring commissioning, such a great time of year.

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I finished the fridge/freezer project

3/22/2015

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Well we finally dug ourselves out after the big storm on March 18th and I decided to get back on the boat and finish insulating the fridge and freezer. I put 2" of closed cell Styrofoam SM rigid board on the floor which I wrapped in heater pipe insulation. I also added 1" of rigid board to the interior walls of the fridge and freezer and wrapped these as well in heater blanket. Because I did reduce the interior space a bit I had to cut down the shelves to fit and remount the shelf supports with longer SS screws. I think it turned out pretty well, but will have to wait a bit for the weather to warm up to give it a real test, making ice:) This was a very inexpensive upgrade <$50 just took a a bit of time cutting and fitting etc.. everything is friction fit or held in place with the shelf supports.

This is a top down look at the freezer I also removed the condenser and insulated behind it as well. I put quite a bit of rigit board on the bottom shown without the shelf

Just another shot of the freezer with the bottom shelf in place. I have about 6" of storage below this shelf.

The fridge is front loading and top loading this is looking from above without the shelf.

Another shot of the fridge from the front, looks pretty good aye. I am putting flexible cutting boards on the bottom to protect the insulation from damage.

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Work is cancelled again today because of snow

3/19/2015

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Thirty one years with the phone company and this is the first time we have not opened offices in Halifax for two consecutive days. I was able to get my company car out today and dropped by the office today to help out a technician who was involved in a MVI. He was broadsided by another driver, everyone is fine, the vehicle not so much:( The yacht club has pretty much cleaned up the boat yard and it should be fine by tomorrow. This is the most snow I have seen here since moving to Halifax over thirty years ago. One of the greatest things about owning a boat is having some great adventures to look forward to, and great memories to recall. Can't wait for the summer and all that it brings, we will get there it will just take a little time. I will finish insulating the fridge this weekend and start on expanding my battery house bank next weekend. Come on summer:)

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One more day till spring

3/18/2015

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March 5th

March 10th

March 14th

March 18th??? Another 30cm

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Summer Trip planning (while a snow storm rages outside)

3/15/2015

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We had a late winter storm today that made any outdoor activities out of the question, so it seemed like a great time to start planning out our summer trip. We want to get a bit more offshore experience so we are planning a five week cruise with stops in along the Eastern seaboard as far as Newport RI. If we have a favorable wind out outbound trip will be a straight shot to Marblehead. If we have the normal SW we will likely make Mt, Desert out 1st stop to avoid a nasty beat to weather. With any plan we will go with what works for us and will be flexible based on wind and weather.

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I can feel spring around the corner

3/10/2015

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Fridge & Freezer Upgrade continues....

3/1/2015

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I put in a few more hours today on insulating the freeezer, the fridge is pretty much finished. The freezer is taking a bit longer since I have to make templates for the curve of the hull before I cut my rigid board. However it is coming together and I hope to have it pretty well finished after next weekend. I also have to cut down my shelves in both the fridge and freezer to allow for the slightly smaller space, but it's worth it to have an effecient set-up that doesnt demand so much battery power.

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