Grand Reveal

Cabin side paint is done, chrome is fitted, looks great.

And we've finished sanding up the starboard cabin and primed it ready for varnishing, Once this is done it's just the foredeck and capping rail, and then I can hang up the varnish brush for a while.

It's a Miracle!

Here's me trying to convince Sharon that I do in fact walk on water. I was not successful.

The transom work is all done and I have five coats of varnish on so far. With luck it will be finished by next weekend, with lettering, etc all fitted, and I will post the grand reveal. It's looking awesome...

We also have finished painting the cabin sides (big thanks to my Mum for her help and A1 painting skills), and I hope to re-fit all the chrome this weekend and will post shots of the finished job.

"Captain To The Bridge"

The binnacle has come together nicely. We re-chromed the compass mount as a nice touch. Since these shots I have mounted a new stainless steel rail on the forward side which will be fitted with a teak instrument cluster. The wheel will be coach-whipped, as it was before, a job for Sharon over the holidays...

Some may notice the cockpit dodger screen is looking a lot clearer. My Dad has been busting his butt polishing it, and has removed most of the scratches and hazing.

It's The Little Things...

Anyone who's tried to attach or detach the main halyard on Kamalii in a seaway knows what a bitch it can be, unless you are 7' 6" and have four arms. Not having a captured pin made it all the more exciting. Have fixed that, and will be starting on a number of other small, simple jobs that should make handling her that much easier, such as more steps up the mainmast, but alas not the new boom gallows, which will have to wait until next year given the time constraints we have to get ready for going away at Xmas.

No More "What's the name of that boat?"

Well, only from the port side at the moment...

Battleships

After weeks of prep work (it just went on, and on, and on....) on the timber and portholes we have finally this weekend applied the first coats of primer to the cabin sides. If the weather plays ball then we may have the painting done by next weekend. This is making me very happy - this job has been gnawing at me for a long time.

Removing Old Cord...

While we were at the binnacle I decided I'd get the wheel dipped and powder-coated. This meant removing the old coach-whipping around the rim. The whipping had been soaked in glue and then painted; couldn't cut it off with a saw, and couldn't take it off with a heat gun. Had to use a disc grinder to cut if off! There was a lot of oxide buildup - looks like that whipping had been on for decades.

Binnacle Under Way

We've stripped the binnacle, have filled all the old holes, removed the temporary instrument pods Rick made, and made the cut-outs for a new control panel and DC power outlet.

Hull Repairs Complete

John has finished up the hull repairs. Was more involved than we thought, and therefore more expensive. Could have been easily dealt with when the transom was done, so very annoying.

Repairs complete prior to painting.

Reassembled deck and new backing block for mizzen highfield lever. We replaced the blocks on both sides.