After the storm damage a couple of years ago, we neglected to replace the damaged platform, instead using it as-is with a new roller installed. It was functional, if ugly, so the project got put off for a bit.

During the spring of 2007 however, we decided to take care of the jagged old platform and replace it with a new, lower profile unit.

After our winter bilge flood, we were greatly looking forward to the addition of a bilge drain to prevent any unfortunate reoccurance of that unfortunate event. Installation of the bronze plug was a quick, and simple procedure.

Well it's been a pretty horrid spring here in Maine, with two large April snowstorms, followed by a tremendous rain-and-wind northeaster that slammed us on Patriot's Day. But as it always does, the weather finally began to improve by mid-month and on April 24 I finally got the cover off the boat. Unfortunately, there was a nasty little surprise waiting for me.

Remember the damage to the bow? After suffering through two seasons, I finally got the patch covered with topcoat. This spring I managed to fill, fair, and prime the damage, but persistant rains prevented me from getting it painted.

I took advantage of a nice warm October day this fall to make good the repair. After masking off the repair, I sprayed several light coats of Alexseal topcoat using a Preval sprayer.

These sprayers aren't exactly a fine finishing tool, but I managed to get good coverage without it looking too horrible. From a few feet away the repair is only noticeable by a slight difference in gloss due to the slight orange peel. Good 'nuff! At least it is green now!

I don't know how it is in other parts of the country, but anyone who has ever cruised in Maine knows that the bug situation can be intense at times. Sometimes I almost believe the old saw about the mosquito being the Maine State Bird. After building our nice new forward hatch over the winter of 04-05, we needed a new bug screen solution for it.

Since I am, shall we say, somewhat prone to sunburns, we decided during our 2005 cruise that a cockpit awning would be a valuable addition. In fact, we have even rigged a mickey-mouse-awning using a quilt in the past. Obviously, something a little better needed to be built.

After sailing for a couple of years on Dasein, it became clear that a new tiller shape was in order. The current oak tiller—besides being aesthetically unpleasing—was functionally deficient. The shape was very flat and the tiller exited the tiller head at much too low of an angle, leaving the tiller well below the height of the cockpit seats. Further, the tiller was quite slender and did not inspire confidence with regards to strength.

Winter 2004-05