First Sail of the Year

Finished up the to-do list and got out on the water last weekend! Still snow in the mountains but a perfect 80 degrees at the lake though we had to wait until late afternoon for some wind. I hope all of you on the east coast thaw out soon!

The new mainsheet is so much more user friendly and the engine runs noticeably better after replacing the fuel pump diaphragms. Hopefully I can get a few more upgrades accomplished this season but I'm just happy to be sailing!

Ship Shape!

I spent a perfect Sunday (80 and sunny) cleaning the boat to the Mrs standards in anticipation of the season. It was nice to have some me time and take care of some things I've been meaning to get accomplished.

• Sails taken down and inspected, rinsed and sail covers repaired as needed
• Rigging tension adjusted as need, chafe points taped
• Fuel tank cleaned and filled with fresh mixed fuel
• Engine test run (issues found)
• Deck and hull rinsed
• Kid's cabin cleaned and bug free, ready for fun

The engine is having some fuel supply issues and and won't run any longer than a few minutes before stalling. It started awhile ago and progressively gotten worse but hasn't bothered me as I normally leave and return to the dock under sail. Most likely a stuck float or a failing fuel pump?? I'm going to remove the carb for a good cleaning, replace the diaphrams in the fuel pump, replace the fuel filter and possibly the fuel primer bulb as that has gotten stiff and may have a check valve hanging up.

I've also been wanting to make this boat easier to singlehand and have a couple upgrades I may or may not be able to accomplish this year, these are my daydreams I had while admiring my work and enjoying a cold adult beverage...

• Replace mainsheet and blocks (in process, waiting on the new sheet)
• Install proper topping lift (fed up with pigtail on backstay)
• Halyards led aft to cockpit
• Install a jib downhaul
• Design a Cunningham or downhaul with a mechanical advantage
• Install a proper outhaul
• Install an organizer plate under the mast step
• Fix windex (bird damage)
• Rebed all deck hardware
• Figure out how to rig the 150 Genoa as there is no track or blocks

Should be able to knock a few of these of the list I think, if anyone has installed a topping lift I'd really like to know how you made the connection at the masthead. Engine parts will be in on Thursday so I'm hoping to make the repairs and get some sailing in. 

Cheers!

Mainsheet Blocks

Haven't posted in quite some time but truth be told I've been struggling to squeeze sailing into my busy work schedule and just haven't had any projects to post. I still really enjoy sailing this boat but sometimes grow tired of the same small lake where it's moored. Unfortunately there aren't many options when it comes to lakes in SoCal so until I trade up to a bigger ocean going boat this is where I'll be.

I was starting to have some concerns about the mainsheet blocks and decided it's time to replace them. I ordered some 25 series blocks from Garhauer as they were the most reasonably priced set I could find.

It's the same 3:1 purchase but the sheaves are slightly larger and use ball bearings, thinking this should make operation easier and smoother. I'm going to make a trip to West Marine tomorrow for some fresh 5/16 Sta-set and two stroke oil and get out on the water this weekend for the first time this  year.