Boat projects

Because the wind was up more than we preferred this morning, and because awesome Dockmaster Glenn gave us the local-knowledge report about crossing Delaware Bay in this wind (short version: don’t do it”), and because Glenn said we were welcome to stay a third night at the dock for free, we postponed our plans to sail to Delaware today.

She's actually reading an ebook, not writing in the log. Look how lovely and smiley!

That left the day free for boat projects and more beach. We’re having lunch now (pasta) and will then head to the beach. But this morning, such projects!

Ellen got us caught up with the ship’s log. We were about nine days behind. Moss had some school (metric makes so much sense, why don’t we use that system in the USA again?).

Gooseneck.

And I tried to refine the reefing system (see “Busy Busy” from February 20, 2018). There was an odd clutch system in the forward end of the boom that would prevent the reefing lines from running free. So I had to take the boom off the gooseneck and figure out how to pull out the clutch parts, then figure out how all the lines were supposed to run. I think I got it all back together correctly, but we will need a calm day when we can raise the sail at anchor and practice with the reefing system to know for sure.

Winch we seldom use. But it works great now.

Then I decided to rebuild a mast winch that probably hasn’t been serviced since the boat was launched. It certainly hasn’t been serviced since we have owned Cupcake. Winches are supposed to be re-greased every year or two. Ellen scored an excellent tin bucket where I could wash the parts. Mission accomplished.

People say cruising is nothing more than boat repairs in exotic ports. I don’t know if Cape May counts as exotic, but we certainly got things done.

Didn't lose a single part.

It looks like the composting head likes to be emptied every two weeks, not every three weeks. So we do have poop excitement planned for the afternoon. That revolution will not be televised.

Our neighbor yesterday. Her bow thruster woke us up this morning at about 6am when she headed out.

Lovely Cape May sunset.