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As I expected, with Chip Ahoy parked outside my front
door, it kept calling to me. On Thursday I could resist no longer,
despite still being sore. It was time to uncover the boat for the
upcoming season. Let Sailing Season 2009 officially begin -- at least
the projects in preparation for it!
-- More of
the ritual uncovering -- |
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The first big project this season will be replacing the
boom with the longer one
I bought last fall. Chip Ahoy's old (with the
boat since I bought it) boom is 4 inches too short, I learned last year.
I'll get started on the hardware swap-over as soon as we get the mast up
and can hang it.
(Apr. 9, 2009)
--
See close-up
comparison -- |
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With the able assistance of Wally Riddle and Michael
Sullivan, yesterday we raised Chip Ahoy's mast. (Apr. 15, 2009)
-- Raising Chip
Ahoy's mast -- |
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Initially and for years I thought the foot of the old
main sail was stretched when there was no room on Chip Ahoy's boom for
an outhaul. When I replaced it last spring with a new
Ullman Offshore main sail
there still was
no room for an outhaul. From inquiries to the
discussion group, I
discovered the boom that came with the boat was 4 inches too short! Last
fall I found a replacement locally, with the plan to replace it for the upcoming
season. (Apr. 19, 2009)
--
Replacing the Boom
-- |
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In 2005 I installed a new traveler car and rigged control
lines forward outside the coaming and into the cockpit. I was never truly satisfied with the result. I decided I wanted the pull to be into
the cockpit, not forward. After last year's cruise up to Chebeague Island and back, I planned to rearrange the situation this spring. I need to have the control line make a 90 degree curve
inboard, and a cheek block on each side could accomplish that. (Apr. 19, 2009)
--
Tweaking the Traveler
Control Lines -- |
 |
The keel, its
'thunk' repaired last spring, still appears
to be in great shape.
Port Side
=
Starboard Side |
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I picked up the new vinyl Catalina 22 logos from
All
Kinds of Signs in Peabody yesterday and applied the decals this afternoon.
Chip Ahoy, near as I can tell, never had the standard logos, and for
years I'd
been meaning to add them. Jeff Struck on the
discussion group had the design work done in
Minnesota for his boat. He sent me and other list subscribers his
artwork files. I had the pair made up in red (of course) with a silver outline.
--
Closeup
-- |
Download a copy of the logo artwork, in
various formats
catalina 22 logo.gif
=
catalina 22 logo.tif
=
catalina 22 logo.pdf
The below two files require Adobe Photoshop to
open, handy for a printer/sign shop
When downloading them, use the "Save" option
catalina 22 logo.eps
=
catalina 22 logo.psd
All
Kinds of Signs
has my/Jeff Struck's Catalina 22 logo decal artwork on file for reorders/new orders |
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The male of the pair of wild mallards I feed takes a look
into Chip Ahoy's cockpit. (May 16, 2009) |
 |
After last year's coast of Maine cruise (and deluge), I
decided to spring for a larger tarp for Chip Ahoy's "pup
tent" this season. The old
one measured 6 feet by 6 feet. This new heavy duty tarp measures 8 feet by 8
feet, found online for under $10 at
Shadenthings. |
 |
The new boom provides a few more
inches of length. The new tarp covers another two feet over and along
the boom, reaches a foot closer to the lifelines on each side, where
it's secured with bungie cords like the old one. (May 19, 2009)
Another View
=
Another View |
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Today -- a perfect summer day in May with the temperature
heading for 90° -- Wally Riddle (left) and Michael Sullivan (behind me)
arrived to help take down Chip Ahoy's mast. (May 21, 2009)
--
More photos -- |
 |
After dropping the mast, Wally and I picked up my
Honda outboard from Ryan Marine Services. I had them tune it up and lube
everything over the
winter -- and add a quick-connect plug for the battery cables. Routing them
through the aft cowl vent and beneath the cockpit to the battery busses
inside the cabin each spring, reversing the process each fall, has always been a nuisance.
Mark Ryan suggested the quick-connect plug when I'd inquired, so I had his company put one
on for me while he had the outboard for servicing.
--
Closeup
-- |
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Manufactured by
Anderson Power
Products, this quick-connect plug seems to be the perfect solution [specs]. Only once more will I
ever need to route
those positive and negative battery cables. Next fall when I remove the
outboard, I'll simply disconnect the fuel line, and the battery
cables plug -- leave everything on the other end in place, waiting for next
spring's quick connection before launch. (May 21, 2009) --
Closeup
--
-- More
Observations -- |
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NEXT |
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It's never-ending ... but Sailing Season '09 has arrived! |