Back to the Grind

We're getting back into "work" mode after a wonderful weekend away. We headed to NC to witness a beautiful and wonderful couple tie the knot. It was a fantastic weekend! Our wedding was a crazy blur so it was so nice to actually enjoy a wedding! We drank, we danced (we got do our waltz) and met lots of wonderful people! We wish C&A the best of luck and lots of love in their marriage! 

So now that we're back we've got lots of work to do before we head back out of town this coming weekend (does the crazy ever end??).  First up we have to prepare all the new halyards. I started this task last night. J and I have been going around and around about these - do we eye splice them or do we use hitches? Our previous halyards, as well as halyards on all of our previous boats were spliced. However, we feel there are some disadvantages to this. First, there have been accounts of increased chafe from the eye splice rubbing against the mast head sheave box. Second, if it does chafe and we redo them (if it's possible and hasn't elongated too much) we'll have to sacrifice a few feet of line to do so.  Third, we're unable to end-to-end the lines if they are spliced. And last, it takes a while to do eye splices (and we've each only done them once before). Based on our research, a buntline hitch is an option. This is a very strong knot and commonly used for halyards. Chapman's recommends it as well as Brion Toss - both reliable sources in our opinion. 

So we've made the decision to give the buntline hitch a try. Worst case we can always eye splice them later. First thing to do is to whip both ends of the new lines. We decided to go with a sailmakers whipping as opposed to the regular whipping as we feel it is a better whip. 

       

                                                  Handy palm, needle and waxed twine. 

                                      

                                            Finished product except for hot knifing the end. 

While I am working on the halyards J is working on making adjustments to the headstay. As with most boat projects lately things are not going according to plan. What should take an hour is now already at 2.5hrs and counting. The roller fuller has three stripped screws which are refusing to come out. J was able to get one out last night but the other two, no such luck.  On to plan D which is yet to be determined but may end up being to enlist the yard to take care of it.