Poor David - you have my sympathies.  And it probably explains your recent email silence.  I hope the hill walking is enjoyable - I'm sure it will be.  As for exercise - I run up and down the stairs a zillion times a day, duck and weave to get inside the boat, jump up onto saw horses and scramble up onto the bottom of the boat.  I think I'm getting plenty of work-outs!  Last time they checked me, I was told that I had the blood pressure of a 23 year old and my 'good' cholesterol was the highest they'd ever seen, while the 'bad' one was way down.  Thank my lucky stars.

As long as you're enjoying your days, it really doesn't matter when you get Weaverbird finished.  That's what I keep saying to myself, anyway!

Phil Brown wrote:

David Tyler wrote:

There was a small "whoo-hoo" moment with Weaverbird yesterday. At 1400, I brought her round to the hard part of the beach at Ravenglass so that a HIAB could drop the mast in. Only a ten minute job, but one that's hard to do safely and quickly without a crane. (Duh, I  see the quote button will try it next time )

With the lighter mast for Brenda B we used a 19ft  ginpole / single derrick as shown in PJR. Even on the steady trailer it was a challenge with two of us with a few stressful moments.  Looked a lot easier on paper but would go better a 2nd time, I think.  Wouldn't you know a short time later a truck mounted crane came in getting ready to set masts on schooner being trucked in and launched from our town ramp.  It turns out the crane will be back in the fall to pull masts from some other boats in the harbor. So I'll set the gin pole aside and plan to sweat it less at haul out.

I toyed with the idea of an A frame but went with the HIAB and all done in 30 minutes. Sorry to hear about the medical problem there David, glad you've got it sorted though.

You may have been wondering why there haven't been any updates on Weaverbird's refit recently.

Back in June, I thought I'd better register with the local medical practice, just in case I needed them. Of course, I had to submit to a medical checkup, was found to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and was prescribed pills for both. My big mistake was to start taking them both together, as the side effects knocked me sideways, both mentally and physically, and I didn't know which one was causing the problem (I now have a BP pill that is suiting me better). At the same time, I succumbed to another bout of gout, or pseudo-gout, in my knee, so for two or three weeks, I was pretty much out of action.

Now I'm back in action, but have come to realise that I need to spend more time to looking after my fitness, or when Weaverbird is fit to sail, I won't be fit enough to sail her. So I'm devoting a few hours each day to my other pastime, hill-walking. This slows down the refit, but needs must*.

It won't be long now. The galley is workable, and there's not too much more to do on the composting heads, the rewiring and the rig. I should be sailing soon.

* Annie (and other boatbuilders) - please note, and get out for some exercise on Sunday afternoons, at least! 

Darren Bos wrote:

I could post a frame grab from the video if that is in line with copyright allowances (does anyone know this?).

I have no idea of the legalities but I'd like to see this if possible...

David Tyler wrote:

There was a small "whoo-hoo" moment with Weaverbird yesterday. At 1400, I brought her round to the hard part of the beach at Ravenglass so that a HIAB could drop the mast in. Only a ten minute job, but one that's hard to do safely and quickly without a crane. I poured polyurethane at the heel, but only put in some temporary wedges at the partners while I make a final decision on wedges vs polyurethane. Could go either way.

Off again on the next HW - at 0200, with fresh onshore breeze and pouring rain to make it more interesting. To make it more interesting still, I've bought a Bison 62lb thrust electric outboard, hoping that I can live with it rather more comfortably than with a petrol outboard. I'd intended to get the mast put in last Friday, but the brand-new Suzuki 2.5 that came with the boat wouldn't start. Maybe only needs a new plug, but if it needs a new plug after only 3 hours of running, I don't find that too impressive. However, the electric outboard may not be much better. It only just managed to get me off the beach after some bumping and grinding, in the fresh breeze and with the flood tide making things awkward. At least it demonstrated that the Hunter Duette is strongly built.

So, off the beach at 0200, at new moon and with a cloudy night, and I couldn't spot my mooring buoy, of course. Had to anchor and wait for dawn twilight and a bit of ebb against the fresh breeze to make it safe enough to go close to the railway embankment, where my mooring lies, with a woefully underpowered boat. All very nerve-wracking. Declared today a day of rest.

Great about the mast.  Shame about the outboard.  No doubt some Duettes have an inboard diesel :-P

Still, it must feel wonderful to have your mast in.  Now the fun starts as you try out yet another new sail.