The" LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!"

This bright light is our friend Eric welding a stainless steel stanchion on our bow rail. The stanchion is clamped in a jig that exactly (we hope) replicates the fore deck of the boat in three dimensions. It has been a interesting challenge. This is the last major fabrication task to be completed on the boat. The rails will be polished and we will get them installed the next few days. Hopefully the rails reduce the number involuntary swimming sessions.

Larry gets under foot

We are getting down to the small stuff now and today finished the foot rail in front of the pilothouse bench/berth. The cushions are some 28 inches off of the floor (deck for the purists) and you really feel silly and insecure setting with you feet dangling six inches off of the floor. The rail folds up to stow flat against the teak bench front so as not to interfere with our dancing in the pilothouse.

Joan gets it all together, finally

After five years of planing Joan finally got all of the bedroom elements together. The crowning piece of course is the magnificent quilt handmade by Joan's good (real good!) friend Fran Mueffelmann. The picture does not do the quilt justice and it is a work of art when seen in place. Larry thinks it is beautiful but doubts he will get to sleep under it unless it is a very special occasion with royalty aboard.
Double click on the picture to see detail :-)

Sleepeze

Perhaps the most important cruising accessory is the anchor. We am naming this 65lb beauty "Sleepeze". We expect to rest comfortably many nights when the wind blows knowing Sleepeze is down there holding tight. Getting it aboard in the morning may be a chore but at least we will be rested for the task.

New pictures on Picasaweb

The new interior photos are finally here. As you will see the mattress has at last been assembled so we are close to overnighting if the weather will cooperate. Should finish the propane system tomorrow and bring up the fresh water system early next week. With those we essentially have a whole boat except for the stainless bow rail still at the fabricators. Pictures at www.picasaweb.google.com/lropka