Work? A priority at the moment so going very slow on the boat unfortunately … so close! Back full on in July we hope. Winter weather not too exciting anyway. Did manage to squeeze in the engine hatch handles & hinges in our teak cockpit floor. Real test will be testing that they are waterproof. … Read More »
Winter is here, but with a few sunny dry days on the radar and a long weekend, we have managed to squeeze in a few boat working days. So outside jobs it is! Neville worked on the cabin roof solar panels and then installed the safety rail on the port side. Hoping this rail does… Read More »
Of course Amanda takes most of the photos so obviously doesn’t appear in many. Here are a couple of telling snaps from my phone, and I should add that anyone out there thinking of a project like ours, find a partner up for this type of work if you can! Apart from the stanley knife… Read More »
Sorry no posts lately. Work commitments have overtaken boat building the last month or so. We just today revisited the boat … had to reconnect to ‘where we were at’ … not easy! Just as well we had some lists. Hopefully more posts soon!!
After many months of researching, Neville decided on a Seldon rig. He left at 5.30 am yesterday on a road trip with his friend JA to Sydney, to collect his rig. A very very long trailer in tow!
Why on earth would you want to go and collect your own rig from Sydney on a very, very long trailer! My only defence is to say that it seemed like a good idea at the time! However, a 12 metre long borrowed trailer does not mix with Melbourne or Sydney traffic that well and… Read More »
While the momentum seems to have wavered lately due to work commitments getting in the way, we are hoping we have picked it up again this last week. With rig here now and all other parts, it’s back to us. The weather is crappy with an excessive amount of rain over the last few weeks,… Read More »
The tender!! We visited the Sydney Boat Show last year and one of the items on our ‘shopping list’ was a tender. Well, our ‘research list’ I mean. After listening to all the usual players sprout their stuff on the pros and cons of hypalon versus PVC, aluminium versus fibreglass bottom etc etc … and… Read More »
Good to be back on deck with a few days of uninterrupted boat work. With a break in the weather we ‘fixed’ the main-track and placed the helm seat pedestal. A bit of thought needs to go in to this one as the seat has to be strong and secure. We figure when you are… Read More »
It really struck home today … the end is near! We have our table in place, ready for bolts through the bridge deck … and we have started sanding the floors! Starting with the main bathroom and port hull, floors are sanded AND we have our first coat on our bathroom floor. Looks brilliant! Just… Read More »
We do feel we are close now. Meeting with our transport man today, signwriter yesterday & shower screen fitted yesterday as well. A few days of ‘finishing’ inside and we’ll be ready to seal the inside teak floors. They have been sanded so ready to go. We have even put a mattress in! Not an… Read More »
Wow … our floors are sealed! Lots of sanding, taping and then our oil sealer. With the bathroom floor sealed with a polyurethane because it’s in a ‘wet’ area, we decided on an oil product for the main floors. Easy to put on (one coat), and easy to maintain and recoat if we need to. … Read More »
We can feel the ‘end’ now. A rather disconcerting feeling really. This project has been a huge part of our lives for so long and the thought of it finishing is rather sad … can’t believe I’ve said that!! No more dirty fingernails or permanently bruised knees, no more aching fingers and sore backs …… Read More »
The weather …. we have had rain, then hail, then sunshine today. We don’t want rain … our paddock exit is near!
Lots of things to do but the list is shrinking and not too fat now. Today was spent ‘tweeking’ the cupboard doors, polishing & cleaning inside AND watching our boat finally be given its name!! Very exciting. After a false start on Friday our signwriter Shane revisited this morning. (Thousands of trips up and down… Read More »
So close now. Spent the weekend pulling out all the old boat gear, sorting new boat gear, and all those jobs that just don’t seem to go away. Great weather, ground dry and great for washing the decks. Our new rib arrived. No one was allowed to touch it, Tim’s job. Set it up on… Read More »
Last Sunday we had 30 degrees here. Come Monday, it had all changed. Rain, wind, hail and cold! Delaying things by a week isn’t really that bad in a 3 year project. So, the countdown is on! We have days of sunny forecast late next week (at last) which is just what we need to… Read More »
After rain last week we decided to postpone the launch. Main concern was getting the intraprotect & antifoul on in the dry. Not to be. Gives is breathing space to do all those little things … and even oil the cockpit teak? Two thoughts on this, we will see!
Waiting for the truck … write a post, visit the dentist … we are ready.
After some fairly ordinary weather, the sun was shining, and our truck came.
Wow … a few BIG days … intra-protect (can someone please spill that tin) seemed t go on forever, then we did three coats of anti-foul . What better way to pass the time with songs that captured the mood!! Thank you Andree, JA & Tim who helped.
A few pics … Neville is still on a high from the buzz of this morning (and now organising the tender), so his thoughts will follow.
Well the day finally came, after almost 3 years, Bossa Nova had to finally leave it’s nest in our paddock and journey down the road to the Yaringa Marina, ready for its launch in a few days…
I suppose the video tells half the story, so I wil try and fill in the blanks. This trip had been long anticipated and very much planned for. We had selected Glen from Oversize Transport Service to do the job and what a good choice that turned out to be. From the moment he… Read More »
We can’t believe it, the day has finally come when we launch Bossa Nova. Fingers crossed and our rig will be on as well. After a few false starts this week beyond our control, our crane man is booked for late this afternoon. What a journey this has been and while keeping this blog up… Read More »
Here’s some pics … (video soon … when we catch our breath!) Shortly after 6 pm Thursday 7/11/13, Bossa Nova was launched. What a journey. The weather was kind, our last-minute helpers out in full force (thankyou John, Tim, Tony and Chris) and Mick our crane drive gently lowered Bossa Nova in to the water… Read More »
Nothing could equal the excitement of the launch but it was still great to fit the mast, all 17.6 metres of it. As the base is about 1.8 metres above water we are going to need some pretty high bridges in order to fit under! The first fitting allowed the rigging to be marked for… Read More »