The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

The Keel "Thunk" Repair Project (2007-08)
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Description

I called Tom down at the boatyard this morning.  He wanted me to get the width measurement for the keel trunk slot (2 inches) so he can add the additional keel spacers onto Chip Ahoy's keel at his shop.  This shot is looking aft.  (Jan. 8, 2008)

When he asked for more details on the slot's configuration, I crawled back under the boat and took a few photos.  Fortunately, we're in the midst of the annual (?) "January Thaw," whatever that's about.  It's 60° out there today and the snow of a few weeks ago is disappearing very quickly.

When I described the taper at the aft end, he asked for more details.  Here they are.  This and the next shot are looking forward.

I figure a picture (or more) is worth a thousand words.

We've broken the all-time temperature record for this date in January, having just hit 66° Fahrenheit.  Most of the feet of snow that preceded the zero degree days last week has melted.

The snow's just about gone!  This is quite the "January Thaw" for sure -- I remember December 20th -- merely a few weeks ago -- only too clearly!

Getting under the boat in January was not only comfortable but, with the bed of leaves beneath, easy and dry.  (Jan. 8, 2008)

I went down to the boatyard this morning to check on progress with Chip Ahoy's keel.  Tommy's got the new zinc drilled and fastened, the keel pin bushing is looking good.  (Jan. 22, 2008)

A close-up of the zinc and keel pin bushing.  Tommy, the boatyard manager, is fully-engaged in making Chip Ahoy's keel work and last this time.

The new stainless steel keel pin bushing.

The two spare marine bronze keel pins Tommy had machined for me, besides the one that's now on the hanger waiting to be installed come spring.  The plan is that these will be the sacrificial replacement part for any keel hanger "clunking" problems in the future.  I dropped off the new Catalina Direct keel bolts fastening kit while there this morning.  (Jan. 22, 2008)

With spring here and Chip Ahoy uncovered at last, I began getting the boat ready to trailer down to the boatyard when the call came.  Tommy had told me he wanted it brought down before the yard got busy with its hectic launching season or I'd have to wait:  Getting the keel hung sooner than later sounds good to me.  The first thing I needed to do was install the new keel cable and grease the winch.  Then the refinished teak trim had to be quickly put back on and fastened so Chip Ahoy could be closed up at the boatyard should it rain while it was there having the keel hung and bottom painted.  (Apr. 16, 2008)

Late yesterday I got the call to trailer Chip Ahoy down to Marblehead Trading Company's Beacon Street boatyard, leave it parked in the lot.  Tommy would be ready to hang the keel first thing this morning.  I dropped it off last evening; when I arrived this morning at 8:15 he already had it up in the crane's slings.  A Catalina 22 sure is a little boat, when surrounded in a boatyard.  (Apr. 26, 2008)