February 19, 2018
As the days get longer and warmer, we are managing to get more done. Following the last of the cloth going on to the cabintop, we concentrated on the inside of the boat. The galley all came apart yet again and carried to the paint room for paint. I ran 500 more feet of electrical wire for navigation lights, cabin lights, radar, bilge pumps etc. More plumbing for the water tanks and galley sink found its way into place. I settled on a layout and place for the circuit breaker panel and various disconnects.
One sunny day I started drilling holes through the hull for the rest of the chainplates for the forward shrouds and the midship cleats – 28 holes in all 13/16” in diameter. Then I had to finish drilling the chainplates themselves. Eventually I realized that this batch of chainplates was 316 alloy and much harder than the 304 I’d used for the bigger chainplates for the mainmast. The bits got dull and I resharpened them but still they gave up as I got done and turned into red hot useless lumps. This meant yet another trip to the hardware store. The steel reinforcing brackets for the inside of the hull were much easier to make holes in.
I made a two-foot long bolt an inch and a half in diameter out of stainless steel for the mainsheet blocks to ride on that is now in place on the afterdeck.
Now I’m working on making the companionway steps that will split and hinge up out of the way to gain access to the house batteries and circuit breakers.
Our friend Chris Taylor, of Drummond, came by for a couple days to lend a hand making finish trim for the berths.
On Saturday, February 17th, the Rhonda Walker Foundation brought about 40 teenagers from Detroit to Drummond Island for their Winter Wonderland Retreat. Part of their adventure was to come for a tour of the schooner. We really enjoyed showing them the schooner and telling them about how dreams can come true.
After many inquiries our social media maven, Julie, put us on Instagram – follow us there at @ditallship.
On March 3rd we’ll be in Lansing for the Quiet Waters Symposium to show and tell folks about our project. Come say hello if you’re in the area! Also mark your calendar and save the date of Saturday, June 23rd for the official celebration and christening of Schooner Huron Jewel at the Drummond Island Yacht Haven. We’ll have lots going on – including a concert by Lee Murdock, balladier of the Great Lakes, so you won’t want to miss it!
– Captain Hugh
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