Odds and Ends

 Been confined to the house so no actual work on the boat for the foreseeable future.  Been working on some items that are off the boat.  I cleaned and polished the last of the stanchions and the bow pulpit and stern rail.  I ran new wires for the forward navigation lights through the bow pulpit.  I took apart the two nav lights polished them.  They were originally chromed bronze but were pretty corroded and when I buffed and polished only the bronze was left.  I can't seem to keep the bronze finish shinny.  I have used Brasso but it starts to turn green within days.  Going to try a recommended product "Wrights copper cream" to see if that will help.

 The lamp holders were corroded to a non usable state and the ceramic isolators disintegrated.   I ordered new Perko lamp holders and plan on ordering some LED bulbs, but may just use the regular bulbs and put the money into an LED anchor light which will get used more and for longer time periods.  The lamp holders fit nicely into a fire wall grommet that we had at work and they are all put back together.

I ordered new wire crimpers and will make the final connections soon and reinstall.  I also ordered a new bilge pump, 2000 GPH but really only 1300 GPH at the lift I have.  I have some primer paint for the cockpit that I would like to spray and topcoat with Toplac but I need a couple of good days in a row and my time is taken with other matters at the moment.  I painted the floor boards of the cockpit with an epoxy primer then a coat of Interdeck. I sprinkled some silica sand when wet.  When dry I brushed off and re coated with Interdeck.  Came out OK, not too abrasive.  I think I will do that in the bottom of the dinghy.

Last bit o' varnish

I put on the required coats of varnish on the hand rails (4) and all the window trims (10).  I also did the base plate on the mast step and the new stern light pad mount that I made and one additional teak cleat that I found in a box.  I removed all the tape and cleaned up around the edges the best i could.  It is still a 10 foot job.  I have learned so much in my first go around with painting, prepping, masking, etc.

 The next time will be totally different.  I have learned from my mistakes.  Everything that I thought would be a time saver, turned out to be a slower way of doing things with poorer results.  There is only one right way and many ways of doing it not right.  I believe i have done all of the later but that has helped to clarify which way is the best way.

I am concerned with how easy the Toplac topsides paint is scratching.  I need to see if i can touch up these areas when I do the cock pit.  Which is the next area to be sanded and prepped for paint.  Then I get to start bolting thing back on the boat.