San Diego: hatched
San Diego: hatched
That I haven’t been able to get anyone to take my money might be seen as a sign that the economy is improving, except that this is the marine industry--‘industry’?--and in most places and most times that is the norm. I have had excessive opportunity to wonder about this and have concluded that it may be because people attracted to work on or around boats are not businessmen. Neither am I, but I think the basics are pretty simple: you have a good service or product; you make it easy for your customers to avail themselves of your service or product, not difficult; you charge a reasonable amount and do the work or ship the product expeditiously.
But this is not how things work with boats.
A week ago Monday I attempted to initiate three projects: order a new mast and boom; get some canvas work done; get information so I can make specific decisions about what I will buy to propel GANNET with oars.
Despite providing detailed information and photographs and a second follow-up email, I have made no progress with the mast/boom order. None. Zero. Zilch.
Two days ago I did receive a response from one source of oars. I have never had a response from another source who seems to have a product I would prefer.
And yesterday afternoon, Junior, the canvas man, who works with his father, Senior, finally appeared on GANNET, after, of course, saying he would be here in the morning.
As I’ve mentioned before, I wanted him to do three jobs: a new tiller cover; extend the mainsail cover; make two covers for the main hatch.
He left after taking measurements and making patterns, saying he would be back later in the afternoon.
When he had not reappeared by 5 p.m., I assumed that I would next see him today.
At 9:00 p.m., long ensconced in my sleeping bag, reading on the v-berth, I felt GANNET heel as someone stepped aboard. I knew I wasn’t being robbed and, grateful to have the work done at any time, slithered from my warm sleeping bag, dressed, and held a flashlight while Junior finished.
This morning I was able to confirm that he did excellent work. The tiller cover and mainsail cover are just what I wanted, as are the covers for the companionway, though now I see that perhaps the way I wanted the top one made was wrong. That’s my mistake, not Junior’s.
I already had Velcro in place around the inside of the companionway, and the forward hatch as well, to secure screens.
The two clear plastic covers Junior made can be fitted from inside the cabin, one on the outside of the sliding companionway hatch, one on the inside.
I wanted the outside one to be secured by a track on the forward edge, Velcro on the sides and bottom, with weight at the bottom that would with the boat’s motion secure the Velcro there.
Now that I have the covers, I see that the track leaves a gap at the forward corner. There is no way I can have a track on the sides and still be able to remove the cover quickly from inside the cabin. I’m going to think about it a while, but I may remove the track and use Velcro on the leading edge as well, which would make the cover lie flatter.
Will these covers make that hatch, which does not normally leak, water tight? I doubt it. But I do think it will make it water tighter and still enable me to get in and out. And it has the advantage of being a minimally invasive experiment.
The covers in these photos were put in place from inside the cabin. I got on deck by climbing through the forward hatch.
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After posting Monday’s entry, I prepared to go on deck for a sunset glass of wine and music.
When I stood in the companionway, I startled my Great Blue Heron neighbor, who instead of usual momentary immobility, turned disgusted eyes toward me and uttered a loud “Brrwarckk!” before flying off.
I do not speak Heron, but there is little doubt that I heard a Heron expletive combined with “This is simply too much.”
Thursday, March 21, 2013