March, 2004

March 1, 2004

The vicious cold spell has finally let up. Spent a part of the weekend cleaning up the shop. Picked up some stainless rod at ASAP for the blocks and got the bodies varnished.

March 4, 2004

Cut down three feet of stainless rod and assembled the block bodies. Time to get serious about a rope order. Have begun shopping around for a three-strand synthetic that looks like manila. There are a couple of possibilities, but both are pricey.

March 8, 2004

Got started on bookshelves over the weekend. The trim section is going to match the main doorways in the rest of the house. Some boat progress last week, however. Ordered 600 feet of line for rigging, rope stropping and bolt ropes. Worked through most of the "Ditty Bag Apprenticeship" from The Sailmaker's Apprentice. Finished assembling the block bodies. Also lucked into 1840 pounds of lead in 25 lb bricks that my employer is selling to me for scrap prices. These bricks are exactly the size I thought I was going to have to cast myself.

The rope work has inspired me to re-think the method I'll use to hang blocks from the masts. I was going to make up some stainless or bronze tangs. I think instead I'll use the design in the sketch. The block will be secured by a toggle passing through the block's soft eye. The toggle will be in one end of a parceled and served grommet that passes over the mast and is supported by the two fixtures shown.

March 15, 2004

Spent the weekend on bookshelves and a lengthy honey-do list. A few more weeks of work on the house and the weather should be warm enough to start working epoxy again.

Varnished block bodies drying.

A little over half the lead bricks and a partially completed ditty bag.

Roughed-in bookcases of MDF and pine. The middle third is a window seat. More on this project.

Sketch for rigging.