HR Services IT Services News Heartbase   Privacy Recommended Links Yachting

back print Continue to Page 4 of Morning Magic Refit Sparkman & Stephens 34 Morning Magic - Refit - continued (page 3) February 2008 - Nearing the end of the hull work - a light sand and the fitting of the thru hull fittings then a wait until the final undercoat followed by antifoul within 12 hours. Interior also slowly taking shape with slowly the operative word. People who should know have told me that it won't be finished on my schedule - I'm sure it would have if I had the time. A few hours a week is not enough. The laminate is completed and the window frames in place (not yet sealed and mounted permanently) and the rear hatch mount prepared (require enlarging the opening in the cabin roof by about 6 inches). The cable dangling through the ceiling is the power cable for the instruments. Teak veneer has been ordered and should be applied in 4 or 5 weeks and then the trim can be fixed. The photo below gives and idea of what the coachroof will look like with windows in place. Sikkens oiling of the grab rails, toe rail and hatch surrounds just completed along with bulkhead compass mounting. March 2008 And now for another major decision - the above waterline paintwork (which I thought was gelcoat) has apparently already been painted. My intention was to buff up the hull and that's about all. However, we have found that the paint is patchy in places and with a little rubbing the top coat will rub off leaving undercoat exposed. The decision is either to leave it for 18 months and then have it painted or spend the money now - there goes a new main sail! Decision made - Morning Magic is to become a blue hull with white trim and waterline. Wrong again! The hull is not as uniform as I'd thought and my expert painter (Bruce) convinced me that a navy blue gloss will show up the hull imperfections - better to stick with the off white rather than torture board significant areas of the hull. So the hull will be off white (with navy trim, waterline and maybe some additional stripes). Hull preparations for painting. April 2008 Olin's birthday is rapidly approaching and there is now no chance of getting near the water before May or June. The above waterline has been primed and with a few hours sanding is almost ready for the top coat. Delays again due to illness and work priorities has meant that no work has been possible for the last few weeks. After pumping out over 80 litres of diesel from the fuel tank we finally got the tank out from under the port divan and sure enough a small hole was discovered in the seam. The tank is now with Superior Masts & Rigging to be fixed. A LCD TV and new electric head have been purchased and the framework commenced in the port pilot berth to construct bookcases, storage and mounting for the TV. The starboard pilot berth will remain as a berth. Happy birthday Olin! Shiny new paintwork - awaiting boot and cove line, final hull primer, skin fittings and antifoul by end of month. With Joe Tarantino's help the skin fittings, tranducer and log are now installed (difficult to be both inside and outside the hull at the same time). The fuel tank has been repaired and pressure tested although I don't expect too many years service (4 holes being repaired). Continue to Page 4 of Morning Magic Refit

colbarling@yahoo.com.au