Sewing New Cabin Cushion Covers

Starting with the old foam.

Cutting fabric to size.

                                                       

                                    

Sewing the pieces together.

Looking good!

2015 The Redwing Keeps Getting Better

I'm off to a good start this season.  It was a race against time to get my projects finished.  The winter was cold and skiing good, so work started in late March.  Every year I have to varnish the bright work.  That's the price I paid when I epoxy coated all the exterior teak.  It looks fantastic, but any lapse in annual maintenance will create a nightmarish refinish job.  A light sanding and two coats of fresh varnish are keeping the bright work gleaming and weatherproof.

Also during the off season I worked on my sewing skills.  I warmed up with new cabin cushion covers.  Next I moved up to making a new sail cover.  Finally I competed my ultimate goal of sewing a new dodger.  The boat came with a well worn dodger that I didn't consider fit for use.  I patterned a new one on the old frame.  Weeks later my new and improved dodger was complete.

Other off season projects included carburetor rebuild, complete interior and exterior cleaning,  bottom paint,  re-caulk  port lights, a lower shroud replacement, and epoxy repair of a genoa track screw embedment.  Back to ship shape!

Another Great Season Ends

This season I was able to venture a little farther down the Hudson.  This was the season for me to do some overnight stays.  I've slept on the boat at the mooring in the past.  But that was it.

I did an overnight at a dock in Newburg.  Between the waves slapping up against the boat, the freight train blowing its whistle with every passing, and a dock fee that could have gotten me a nice room at a hotel, I decided that's not the way to go.

Next time I anchored below Beacon.  That was a much quieter night and no dock fee.  I put my cock pit shower to work for the first time.  It was a cold shower but it did the trick.

The third overnight on the boat I anchored in Poughkeepsie.  Just as I set anchor an unexpected fireworks show lit the night sky.  That was perfect.  I made it past West Point and the Bear Mtn Bridge down to Stony Point then back to Beacon for another overnight at anchor.

I used my spinnaker this season.  The spinnaker was from the Columbia 30 so a bit large.  It came with a sock which didn't seem as easy as it should be. 

There was no real damage to the boat this season other than scratches on the port side from the dinghy I used.

I have some minor improvements to make off season:
*My fuel gauge needs repair. 
*Need to mprove my cockpit shower setup. 
* I want to clean and rebuild my carburetor.  I had too many difficult starts.
* Port side Genoa track needs rebedding.
* I hope to put my sewing machine to work this winter and remake my dodger and some cushions.

Pot of Gold!

My Redwing is at the end of the rainbow!

Repairs Complete & Back In the Water!

I spend nights and weekends from the end of March through the middle of May making repairs and upgrades to the Redwing.  This included repairing my busted combing and reconfiguring my traveler system, replacing sanitary and water lines, painting the head and lockers including the bilge, installing a receptacle and distribution panel for AC shore power, installing a DC to AC inverter, installing a pump for a cockpit shower, greasing my rudder stock, and varnishing bright work.

Time to make repairs!

My combing busted up during my last sail of last season.  I need to modify my traveler arrangement and reinforce the combing among a list of things to do on the boat before launching.

End of Season Sail to Poughkeepsie

With winds from the west I sailed straight down the river to Poughkeepsie and back.  A great way to end the sailing season!