Lashing strakes and such

 

Survived what, that's the question? Certainly this t-shirt didn't survive. Someone-or-other sent it off to GIRO (Gabriola Island Recycling) and then it met its fate -- doomed to become an oily rag, and thus spend some considerable amount of time hanging on the garden fence in splendid isolation. (Spontaneous combustion. It's a real thing. Oily rags do not get to stay in the boat shop!)

The oiling in question was for the lashing strakes. They are rubbed with boiled linseed oil -- five coats of boiled linseed oil, applied hot with rags.

We found a most excellent way to keep the oil hot while we were working on the last hull -- a small rice cooker. It works really well, and holds the oil at a good temperature. No need to be overly-hasty, since the oils stays a constant temperature, and no need to worry about oil and open flame. (I would worry if we were heating it on the barbeque, and heating it in the house -- yuck.)

Oiled purpleheart looks amazing. Here are the lashing strakes and the pads that go under them awaiting installation.

Robbie added japan drier to the last couple of coats of oil to hasten the drying process. Who names these things? According to Wikipedia:

"Japan drier is a common lay term and generic product name for any oil drying agent that can be mixed with drying oils such as boiled linseed oil and alkyd resin paints to speed up "drying". The name refers to "japanning", a term for the use of drying oils as an imitation or substitution for urushiol based Japanese lacquer."

So there you go. Who said blogs aren't educational.

 

They're installed now. Here you can see the first one in the background. In the foreground you can see me getting the camera in position. (Glasses from Gabriola Optical!)

Not everyone seems as happy about the process as I am. Perhaps he does not appreciate having his view obscured by oily rags.

Raphael supervising.

 

So much progress, so few posts!

I know, I know. 

But we are moving onward ever onward with the boat. Beams are now painted, lights (aka windows!) are about to be added to the galley hull, lashing strake is mostly attached which means many coats of oil have been added... 

Progress is definitely happening. At least a couple of days' progress each week, which is actually a lot.

And this summer we had visitors! 

Any Wharramites recognize these smiling faces? Robbie and I are on the right.

Another day...

Another colour!
 
No more white hull! Trevor used the roller, Robbie did the brushed bits and took the pictures, and from today we have two blue hulls.

My role: staring admiringly at the results.
Breathing and this kind of paint don't, I find, go well together.

 

Yes, the other side is painted too. 

And it's all really that shiny.

Friday's errand list includes
flattening agent.

Call me Ishmael

Because really, why not? I haven't posted for so long, you've likely entirely forgotten my name if you ever knew it. 

And, well, I do see a slight resemblance ...

And while "obsessed" seems like a rather strong word, we are extremely determined. And very glad to be back to boat work once again.

Why the long silence? 

Sometimes things just seem to happen.

But we're back now.

Painting bulwarks. Getting ready to see the hull turn blue.

See? Just fine now.